Seizing the Eye

"Just mere Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms."

Uchiha Siming tossed over a bundle. Neji opened it in confusion, then his pupils abruptly contracted: "This, this is the body's meridian chart for the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, along with its key points and precautions?!"

His breathing couldn't help but quicken.

The Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms he had just demonstrated was already enough to thrill him, but the secret manual before him only made his heart race!

This was clearly a secret technique that only the Main Family of the Hyuga Clan could possibly master.

His teacher copying the form of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms with the Sharingan was understandable, but this secret manual...

"Teacher, you, you stole... stole..."

Hyuga Neji's voice stammered, unable to finish.

Uchiha Siming cut him off: "What nonsense is my disciple talking about? I'm just teaching you an ordinary taijutsu."

"Everything else is entirely because of your own exceptional talent, learned by yourself, understand?"

He revealed a meaningful smile.

Hyuga Neji instantly understood, his face brimming with excitement: "Yes, teacher, I understand!"

All of this was stolen by his teacher and taught to him!

He had to keep this secret well hidden.

"Alright, go train. If there's anything you don't understand later, ask me anytime."

Uchiha Siming waved his sleeves, concealing his merit and fame. He yawned and began to bask in the sun and nap.

The sound of Hyuga Neji's training movements in his ears didn't disturb him at all.

Instead, it became white noise for his sleep.

A few days passed.

Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes swept across the room as he took a sip of tea: "Liuhuo, has there been any change with Neji lately?"

"Reporting to the Clan Head, there hasn't."

Hyuga Liuhuo bowed with utmost respect: "The things Uchiha Siming teaches Neji are just ordinary Uchiha taijutsu, completely unable to bring out the true power of the Byakugan. Instead, they waste Neji's time and talent."

"Please rest assured, Clan Head, I will keep a close watch on Hyuga Neji."

Hearing this.

Hyuga Hiashi set down his teacup and lightly waved his hand: "Alright, I understand."

Since there was no progress, there was no need for further attention.

He lowered his eyes: "Also, three days from now is the Hyuga Clan's monthly tournament. You're in charge of the Branch Family matters. You understand what to do, don't you?"

"Yes, Clan Head!"

Hyuga Liuhuo's eyes revealed a hint of delight. Finally, he had waited for this day!

As for the Clan Head's meaning, he understood it all too well.

The Branch Family, after all, was merely the Main Family's sparring partner. Even in matches, they must never overstep. That was his task. But there wasn't much to worry about, since Branch Family members couldn't even learn secret techniques, so how could they possibly defeat the Main Family?

Senju Clan.

Uchiha Siming's good days didn't last long. Today, a rare visitor arrived. He looked up in surprise: "Huh? Why are you here?"

Another mixed-blood of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Izumi.

Her mother was just an ordinary person, so her status in the Uchiha Clan was somewhat lower, but her talent was not. She now had the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

"Brother Siming, it's bad! Shisui, Brother Shisui has been taken away by Root!"

Izumi's eyes were full of panic as she urgently said: "I was walking in the Back Mountain this morning and saw many Root members lying in ambush. The place Brother Shisui went to was exactly the Back Mountain!"

Oh?

Uchiha Siming's eyes showed a trace of doubt. He and Izumi didn't seem to be that familiar yet. This matter should have been reported first to Uchiha Itachi, who was closer to her.

Right, the Senju Clan was closer to the Back Mountain.

Realizing the reason, he couldn't help but feel a bit helpless: "Damn it, confident Shisui, huh? You think you're Minato coming home? That guy Minato really can make it home, but you might not be able to pull off that confidence."

He had warned Shisui before.

It seemed Shisui hadn't taken it to heart, or rather, he trusted the Konoha higher-ups too much, to the point that even after his warning, Shisui still didn't take it seriously.

"I understand."

Uchiha Siming nodded slightly: "Go tell Itachi to come to the Back Mountain immediately. Don't inform anyone else."

"Neji, go home right now. Come back tomorrow."

As his words fell, in Uchiha Izumi's view, Uchiha Siming's figure turned into a streak of black light and shot into the distance in an instant—there one second, gone the next, vanishing without a trace as a black dot.

"Such speed!"

Uchiha Izumi was stunned.

She had only thought the Senju Clan was close to the Back Mountain, so she came first to notify Siming, hoping he could play some supporting role.

But only now did she realize.

Siming seemed far from as simple as he appeared on the surface!

"Little one, you should head home too."

At the same time, she noticed Hyuga Neji beside her. After speaking, she turned and quickly left.

"Is Sensei in trouble?"

Hyuga Neji looked toward the direction Uchiha Siming had gone, thoughtful. After a moment's consideration, he resumed training on the spot.

Elsewhere.

At the mountain peak.

This was Konoha's Back Mountain. Because of its remoteness, few people ever came here. Uchiha Shisui felt a flicker of wariness rise in his heart. He always remembered Siming's words. Though he trusted the village's higher-ups, he still kept a sliver of caution.

"Danzo, what is it?"

Within the forest, Danzo stepped out. His triangular eye, even devoid of emotion, radiated a chilling cold: "Shisui, that immensely powerful Mangekyo Sharingan of yours—you actually wanted to use it to control the Uchiha Clan Head."

"Such a thing, I will never allow!"

Uchiha Shisui's expression shifted: "Danzo, what are you trying to do?"

Danzo didn't answer, continuing in a grim tone: "Even if you controlled Uchiha Fugaku, would that put an end to this? The best course is to destroy the entire Uchiha Clan!"

As his words fell.

His figure shot forward like a gale, but the moment he closed in, a pair of crimson eyes emerged, and his body instantly froze!

The three inches before his eyes seemed like an insurmountable chasm.

So close, yet forever unreachable.

—Hum!

The Three Tomoe Sharingan slowly stopped spinning. Uchiha Shisui said calmly, "This is just a basic Illusion Technique. You'll wake up soon."

Toward Danzo, a Konoha higher-up, he ultimately held back some strength.

The annihilation of the Uchiha Clan would disrupt Konoha's peace, and Danzo's death would do the same.

He turned to leave.

The next moment, Danzo's figure vanished like an illusion, reappearing before Uchiha Shisui. In that moment of relaxation, a swift, fierce strike tore out a crimson Sharingan!

But as he reached for the other eye.

Shisui was faster. Enduring the searing pain, he twisted like a swallow to dodge the lethal blow!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

Seeing his strike miss.

Shimura Danzo unwrapped the bandages from his face, revealing a dull, ashen eye, and said coldly, "Shisui, the Sharingan is wasted on you. Hand over the other one as well!"

Swoosh—!

A piercing sound rang out.

Several figures appeared beside him instantly, wearing masks of various designs.

Uchiha Shisui's heart sank.

All... Jonin!