Sorry Uncle Shifang, Uchiha Needs Lies Now (Seeking Collections, Follow-ups!)

"This... this is!"

For the first time in over thirty years since Uchiha Madara's defection, the Uchiha Clan had seen such eyes again.

His heart pounded, his emotions surged—Shifang couldn't resist the impulse and activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan.

It wasn't that he didn't believe Qingguang, but the Uchiha Clan had been dormant for far, far too long. He even wondered if he'd fallen under a Genjutsu.

Yet when he saw the deep, profound color in Qingguang's Sharingan pupils, he instantly dispelled the last shred of hesitation in his heart.

"Qingguang, don't waste your dojutsu. Close your Sharingan!"

If this kid just wanted to tell him this, why waste his dojutsu?

Even if just activating it consumed little, it was still a drain.

Qingguang closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his irises had returned to their original jet-black color.

Shifang immediately cast a Shizune barrier, looking at Qingguang with deep meaning, barely suppressing the urge in his heart as he said, "Qingguang, you might not know this yet, but even among Mangekyo Sharingan, there are levels."

"An ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan is like a bucket filled with water. Every bit of dojutsu used is like water poured out—it can't be recovered, and eventually, you lose your light completely."

"Only the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan above that can grant eternal power."

This kid Qingguang was still too young. To prove his resolve, he'd even flashed his Mangekyo right in front of him.

But this also proved that Qingguang's trust in him and his sense of belonging to the Uchiha had never waned—in fact, it had deepened with time!

"Besides me, who else has seen these eyes of yours?" Shifang asked.

"Uncle Shifang, no one else."

"Even though I know Lord Hokage's kindness to me, him becoming my guardian had other motives. I know it's for the Leaf's sake, but I'm still an Uchiha."

With that, Qingguang silently lowered his head, his face full of guilt, as if he'd wronged Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Shifang picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea for Qingguang, and pushed it in front of him.

This kid was still too kind-hearted—even purer than Kagami had been in this regard.

If not for that kindness, why would he have revealed the truth about his Mangekyo to him?

And why would he still feel apologetic toward that old monkey Sarutobi?

Did that kind of person even deserve Qingguang's kindness?

At that moment, Shifang made a certain resolve: "Qingguang, don't use the Mangekyo's power unless absolutely necessary. As for the clan's affairs, I'll find a way to help you."

"In half a month, it'll be the next clan meeting. In that time, I'll do my best to unite every clansman I can. We'll put you forward as the next clan heir."

"Your only rival is Fugaku Uchiha—the clan head's son."

"Even though he has his father's backing and has won over many clansmen, the Uchiha still speak through strength. When the time comes, that'll be your chance to shine in the clan. Don't hold back—if you can't beat him to death, beat him until he's half-dead!"

Shifang had been sick of that father-son pair of troublemakers for far too long.

Now, Qingguang was the Uchiha's only hope. Only he could lead the clan back to its former glory.

"But..." Qingguang frowned, looking troubled.

"No buts!"

"I know you can't bear to strike your own kin, but I'm not telling you to kill him. Just show your strength."

"Otherwise, every clansman from now on will have their edges worn down by the Leaf in the factional infighting—or even lose their lives!"

"Qingguang, they're your clansmen, your elders who watched you grow up. Can you bear that?"

By the end, Shifang's gaze was distant, his voice trembling.

Those words struck deep into Qingguang's soul, leaving him silent.

After who knows how long, Qingguang slowly raised his head, murmuring, "For the clan... for everyone..."

"I understand, Uncle Shifang. I'll make up my mind and carry out this task."

Seeing Qingguang's reaction, Shifang felt a pang of guilt.

He was exploiting this kid's kindness...

But it was all for the clan. Qingguang, it's not that your uncle doesn't love you—it's because I love you, trust you, that I do this, deceiving you with such sophistry, such lies.

The Uchiha right now desperately needed a pillar to step up.

As for everything behind this—let your uncle bear it for you. I'll become the foundation stone on your path!

Just then, Mikoto, having finished her bath, walked slowly toward them, draped in a pink kimono adorned with cherry blossoms.

Shifang immediately dispelled the soundproof barrier he'd set up, signaling Qingguang not to leak what they'd just said.

"Qingguang-senpai, Father, you're still chatting?"

Mikoto tied her still-damp hair behind her head. After her bath, her skin looked much smoother and more delicate all over.

That annoying senpai—he's never this patient when talking to me. What's so great about this old geezer? I really don't get it.

"Nothing much, Mikoto. Take Qingguang out for a walk. He hasn't been back in eleven years—the clan's changed quite a bit. You can show him around."

Hearing this, Mikoto wrapped her arm around Qingguang's and pulled him toward the door.

"Senpai, let's go~"

Even her tone had softened in that moment.

Shifang watched Qingguang wave goodbye to him, and silently began to hatch another idea in his mind.

That boy Qingguang wasn't much older than Mikoto—truly a fine match of talent and beauty.

Only an Uchiha this outstanding, capable of leading the clan, was worthy of being his son-in-law.

As for that Fugaku—sorry, not familiar.

I've always favored that boy Qingguang the most~

On the street, the moonlight had just begun to show, casting pure white light over the two of them.

Strolling along the road, the cherry blossom trees by the wayside, dyed by the night's veil, were no longer the pink of daytime—they had taken on a touch of mystery.

Mikoto kept sharing amusing stories with Qingguang one after another.

Qingguang replied verbally, but the ache in his eyes made him somewhat distracted.

The pinnacle of the Three Tomoe Sharingan was 1,000 proficiency points. What Uncle Shifang had just seen was merely an illusion he had created through Genjutsu.

Though he didn't have the Mangekyō, a Sharingan with over 2,000 proficiency points had never appeared in the Uchiha Clan before.

And since Shifang had never seen the Mangekyō either, he could rely on that gap in information to make Shifang believe it was real.

After all, timeline-wise, Shifang could only have seen Uchiha Madara's Eternal Mangekyō.

And his own ocular power—higher than the Three Tomoe, yet lower than the Eternal Mangekyō—paired with a Genjutsu Shifang couldn't see through...

Even if Shifang saw the ocular power in Qingguang's eyes, he would only think it was the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Hey, senpai?"

Seeing that Qingguang hadn't responded for several sentences, Mikoto raised a hand and waved it in front of his eyes.

"Hm? What is it?"

"You jerk of a senpai, you really were spacing out!"