Uchiha Shisui

"I'll make you pay for this!"

After leaving behind that venomous threat, Obito's figure twisted within Kamui's vortex and vanished, leaving only faint ripples lingering in space.

Yoru did not pursue him.

He stood silently where he was, the waves of pain from his left eye reminding him of his current weakness.

Most of Amenomikado's Eye Power had already been spent transporting the clan members. Tonight, he truly had no energy left to catch Obito, whose ability to escape was practically maxed out.

"Let's go. It's time to meet up with the clan. They must be getting impatient."

Once Obito had completely disappeared, Uchiha Yoru wasted no words and led Fugaku and Itachi toward Naka Shrine.

"Yoru, will there really be no problem with sending the clan members ahead first? Yashiro and Tekka don't exactly have good tempers."

Fugaku said worriedly.

He knew the radicals within the clan well. If they found out they had been deceived, there would likely be no peace for quite some time.

"It's fine. I've already arranged for a mysterious person to go ahead. He'll help me calm everyone down."

Yoru spoke without concern.

"Who is it?"

"Secret. It's a surprise." Yoru played it coy.

The three said nothing more and quickly arrived at Naka Shrine. The shrine was empty and silent, with only the ancient stone tablet recording the clan's rise and fall standing quietly within.

Yoru pressed both hands against the stone tablet. The remaining Eye Power in his eyes flowed forth, and ripples like water spread across its surface as a stable, starlit gateway opened once more.

"Let's go."

Yoru stepped inside first, with Fugaku and Itachi following close behind.

After a brief Space-Time transition, the scene before them suddenly opened up.

This was not the barren land Fugaku had imagined, but a valley overflowing with life.

Rolling green mountains rose in the distance, while clear streams and dense forests lay nearby. The air was unbelievably fresh. Looking farther out, temporary tents had already been erected throughout the valley, smoke curling from cooking fires. They were the Uchiha Clan members who had arrived during the day.

"What kind of joke is this?! We were deceived! You said there would be a coup, but instead you dumped us in this unfamiliar place like trash!"

The radical Uchiha Yashiro was red with anger as he loudly berated a figure standing with his back to Yoru's group.

"That's right! Where is the clan head? Where is Uchiha Yoru? He has to give us an explanation!"

Uchiha Tekka chimed in from the side. Quite a few hot-blooded young clan members gathered around, their outrage mounting as the situation seemed on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Just as the commotion was about to escalate, the figure with his back to them slowly turned around.

He wore a familiar black high-collared short-sleeved shirt and trousers, brown armor on his right shoulder, white cloth wrapped around his legs, and a short sword on his back. The Uchiha Clan crest on the hem of his clothes was clearly visible.

When they saw that sunny, handsome face, carrying a trace of unfamiliar delicacy, all the shouting seemed to be seized by an invisible hand, and silence fell in an instant.

Uchiha Itachi's pupils contracted sharply, and his body stiffened at once as though he had seen the most unbelievable illusion. His voice trembled uncontrollably. "N-No... impossible... You... how could you..."

Even the ever-calm Fugaku Uchiha drew in a sharp breath. He instinctively assumed a guarded stance, his voice filled with unprecedented shock. "Uchiha... Shisui?!"

That was right. The person standing before them, whose mere appearance was enough to freeze all unrest, was none other than Uchiha Shisui—the genius once praised by the Uchiha Clan, who had supposedly "fallen" into the Naka River more than half a year ago!

"It's been a long time, everyone!"

Shisui kept his eyes tightly shut, but his face still bore the same gentle smile as ever, as though he had merely returned from a long mission.

"Itachi, take it out."

Yoru suddenly spoke to Itachi, who was still stunned.

"Hm? Take out what?" Itachi did not react at first.

"The thing Shisui entrusted to you. It's time to return it to its rightful owner," Yoru reminded him.

"Sh-Shisui... how is he here? Wasn't he already..."

Itachi's voice was dry as the resolute scene by the Naka River surfaced in his mind—his close friend removing his left eye and entrusting it to him before leaping into the rushing river.

That scene remained an unhealed wound in his heart to this day. It had also been the catalyst for him awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Surprised to see an old friend?"

Yoru smiled, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "He's one of the rare geniuses of our Uchiha Clan. How could Big Brother possibly stand by and watch him die? After he jumped into the Naka River, I secretly rescued him. For the past half year, he's been recovering in a hidden location."

"Clan head."

Shisui turned toward Yoru. Though they were similar in age, his attitude was extremely respectful. After giving a slight nod, he quietly moved to stand behind Yoru, making his position clear.

In truth, Shisui's disappearance over the past half year had only partly been due to recovering from his injuries. More often, he had been kept in a state of "protective" house arrest.

At the time, Yoru had told him plainly, "If you are unwilling to help the Uchiha oppose Konoha, then at least don't appear for the time being. That will prevent you from shaking the clan's resolve and from being dragged into the vortex of the higher-ups' conflict again."

Knowing Danzo's true nature and utterly disheartened, Shisui ultimately chose to cooperate and remained hidden until now. Only when Yoru believed the time was right did he allow him to return to the clan's sight.

Poof~

A faint puff of smoke appeared, and the crow summoned by Itachi obediently landed on Shisui's shoulder.

"Itachi, thank you for keeping it safe all this time."

Feeling the familiar Chakra on the crow, Shisui thanked him gently and reached out to carefully retrieve the Mangekyō Sharingan that belonged to him, containing the power of Kotoamatsukami.

Then he placed it back into his left eye.

Watching Shisui skillfully restore his eye, Uchiha Yoru faced the clan members, who were still shocked and confused, and spoke in a clear voice that carried throughout the entire valley:

"Everyone, as you can see, this is the new beginning of our Uchiha Clan—a New World far from Konoha's schemes and oppression."

"Clan head, what do you mean by that? Didn't you say you would lead us in a coup? Why have we come here? Where is this place? Shouldn't you give us a reasonable explanation?"

Representing the radicals, Uchiha Yashiro stepped through the crowd and fixed his bright gaze on Uchiha Yoru.

"Oh, there was never any so-called coup. I deceived you. I used my Mangekyō's Space-Time ability to bring you to a New World far from Konoha. Everyone can make a good start here!"

With a smile on his face, Yoru admitted without hesitation that he had deceived the clan members.

"Clan head, shouldn't you explain yourself?"

"Explain?" Yoru's expression gradually turned cold. "You want me to give you a reasonable explanation?"

Looking at the outraged clan members below, Yoru asked, word by word:

"Who do you think was truly at fault for causing all this?!"