Uchiha Rekka's Mission

Uchiha Rei stood quietly on the high ground, a gentle breeze ruffling his long hair.

His Phantom Clone had just left the Clan Compound. The main body, relying on Genjutsu, precisely captured one person's aura.

It was Uchiha Rekka.

He was indeed waiting there.

Beneath the large tree next to the clan grounds, Uchiha Rekka stood with his arms crossed, having waited for a long time.

He didn't say much, only speaking in a deep voice the moment Uchiha Rei arrived.

"The current situation... is very bad."

Uchiha Rei nodded silently, not surprised. He had already guessed some of it, merely waiting for confirmation.

"The Clan Head has lost control of the clan," Rekka said, his gaze lowered, bitterness evident in his words.

"The Uchiha Hawk Faction has taken advantage of the situation. Some of the Direct Lineage members have been marginalized. For the current talks, even the Clan Head is not invited."

"As expected," Uchiha Rei murmured, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. "The war between the Konoha higher-ups and the Uchiha will likely happen in these few days."

Rekka's expression grew even graver. "You know the 'Akatsuki' organization has already begun contacting the Uchiha Hawk Faction, right?"

"I know," Uchiha Rei replied, his voice devoid of any inflection.

"Last night, they held a secret meeting, and I was also notified to attend," Rekka said, a flash of anger in his eyes. "But the Clan Head... was not invited."

"They no longer trust the Clan Head."

"We met a man calling himself 'Uchiha Madara'," Rekka gritted out, recalling the man wearing the Black Swirl Mask. "He proposed two conditions as the price for his assistance."

Uchiha Rei closed his eyes. "Find Itachi, and... the Nine-Tails."

"That's right," Rekka said in a deep voice. "The first demand is to find Uchiha Itachi. Many in the Hawk Faction are now targeting Uchiha Sasuke, attempting to lure Uchiha Itachi out with him.

He paused, then continued, "The second demand is... to control the Nine-Tails and create a new Nine-Tails' Rampage. That masked man swore that he had succeeded once before, and this time, he can make Konoha collapse completely."

"Foolish," Uchiha Rei interrupted coldly. "They have no idea who that person is."

Rekka was stunned and looked at Uchiha Rei. "You know who he is?"

"Of course," Uchiha Rei raised his eyes. "That so-called Uchiha Madara is merely a lost soul wearing the guise of the past. His real name is Uchiha Obito."

"Uchiha... Obito?" Rekka was struck as if by lightning. "That... Obito from your batch who died on the battlefield?"

"He didn't die," Uchiha Rei's tone was emotionless, as if stating a commonplace fact. "Instead, he was reborn from the brink of death, taking hatred as his vessel, and personally orchestrated the Nine-Tails' Rampage."

"He is the true mastermind behind the scenes?"

"That's right. During the Nine-Tails' Rampage back then, the Fourth Hokage and his wife were killed, and the village was almost destroyed. The Uchiha Clan was consequently burdened with heavy suspicion. Do you think that was a coincidence? That was Obito's design. He even personally attacked his own teacher."

Rekka's face turned pale, and cold sweat slowly trickled down his temples. He muttered, "Killing a teacher... Who could be so evil..."

"He is no longer that passionate young man, but a monster whose soul has been corroded by hatred," Uchiha Rei said. "He inherited Uchiha Madara's legacy, and also his will."

As the words fell, the night wind stirred slightly, and fallen leaves swirled beneath the large trees. The silence was so profound it was as if the entire Konohagakure held its breath.

"What should we do now?" Uchiha Rekka asked in a low voice, his expression filled with unease and urgency.

Uchiha Rei didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Rekka and asked, "What is your current standing within the clan?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Rekka was slightly taken aback, then replied solemnly, "Since Uchiha Itachi defected, my position has risen rapidly. After all, I was originally an elite Jonin second only to Itachi in the clan. Now, in many meetings, whether it's the Hawk Faction or the Neutral Faction... I can participate in some of them. Although I can't lead the decisions, I've already gained access to a lot of core information."

Uchiha Rei nodded and closed his eyes, falling into thought.

Time flowed by in the silence. Rekka didn't speak again, afraid of disturbing his contemplation. It wasn't until a branch swayed and a leaf fell, like the gentle chime of fate's pendulum, that Uchiha Rei opened his eyes.

"You have only one mission now."

Rekka instinctively asked, "Is it to find Uchiha Itachi? Many people are looking for him now, and the Hawk Faction is particularly persistent—"

"No," Uchiha Rei interrupted him, his voice firm. "What we need to confirm now is the timing."

"Timing?"

"Yes. The timing of the decisive battle." Uchiha Rei looked into the distance.

The Third Hokage gave him an antidote, which would only last for fifteen days. That was not a kind gesture; the Third Hokage hoped that within these fifteen days, he would be unable to interfere with the Uchiha Clan's affairs.

Now, three days had already passed.

He raised his hand and looked at the almost imperceptible fluctuations of the meridians on his fingers. "So, that means the Uchiha Clan's plan... will definitely be completed within the next ten days."

Rekka gasped.

"You need to figure out the Uchiha Clan's true intentions within these ten days, especially the time they plan to go to war with Konohagakure."

"What about you?" Rekka asked.

"I will approach the Hokage and Root," Uchiha Rei's gaze turned cold. "Obito won't just contact the Uchiha; he will also contact Root. I must find out his next plan."

"How will we... contact each other in the future?"

"We'll use the rings," Uchiha Rei said, looking down at his hand.

Rekka, however, showed a hint of embarrassment and said in a low voice, "I... lost it before. That time at Root... when I fought Danzo, I was almost killed. That ring saved me. It transformed into the Fire Guard and blocked that attack... and then it dissipated."

His tone was full of guilt. It was the first token Uchiha Rei had given him, and he hadn't managed to keep it safe.

Uchiha Rei merely smiled calmly, "What I give will never truly disappear."

As soon as he finished speaking, Rekka's fingers suddenly twitched. The ring that had once vanished quietly reappeared on his fingertips, glowing faintly.

It gently detached and floated up, landing in Uchiha Rei's hand. It continuously changed shape in his palm.

"I have strengthened it," Uchiha Rei said. "You can choose any form, even transform it into a weapon. It will resonate with your Chakra."

Before he finished speaking, the ring had already transformed, becoming a short blade for a moment, then a long sword, and finally a sharp Kunai.

Rekka's gaze flickered, and he said earnestly, "Then I choose the Katana."

I will be your samurai. A samurai dies for one who knows him. Rekka thought to himself.

Uchiha Rei didn't respond, just smiled faintly. The ring transformed again, finally solidifying into an ancient and steady Katana. Its scabbard was like ink, and its blade was restrained and not flashy, but one could tell at a glance that its edge was meant for killing intent.

"It can resonate with your spirit. As long as you activate its abilities, I will be able to sense it," Uchiha Rei handed the Katana back to Rekka. "From now on, our meeting point will be on the largest Ancient Tree outside the Uchiha Clan Compound."

Rekka solemnly accepted the Katana, bowed deeply, his eyes burning with determination.

With all arrangements made, Uchiha Rei turned and left the Uchiha Clan Compound.

He did not go home.

Outside the village, another person was waiting for him.