Rekka in the Rekka

After Uchiha Rei gained the Kurama Clan's Genjutsu from the sign-in system, he gradually discovered that this power was far more than just deceiving opponents. It could also be combined with his Jonin-level Medical Ninjutsu to perform long-distance healing.

This was an extremely rare ability in the Ninja World.

If the village knew he possessed this power, they would likely treasure him like a gem.

Especially Tsunade, if she were in the village, she would have eagerly taken him as a disciple long ago.

However, Tsunade's whereabouts had long since vanished. He had personally scoured every corner of Konoha these past few days but had still failed to find one of the legendary Sannin.

The other two Uchiha were also missing.

Uchiha Obito was clearly no longer in the village;

As for Uchiha Itachi, he was definitely still in Konoha, but he hid his tracks like a Ghost, making him impossible for Uchiha Rei to find for the moment.

"Should I think of a way to lure him out..." Uchiha Rei pondered to himself.

However, what concerned him more at the moment was someone else.

Uchiha Rekka, the man once hailed as a genius of the clan, was now sealed within the Yellow Springs Space.

Burned by Karmic Fire, he alternated between lucidity and madness, as if caught between life and death.

Rei entered the Yellow Springs Space and stood before Rekka.

"Perhaps you are the one who truly inherited the Will of Fire," Uchiha Rei whispered, "At least... you are truly burning."

Now, he could transform the Karmic Fire in the Illusionary Realm into substance, turning the death of the illusion into a real end in reality. This was the True-Illusion Combination, the Genjutsu of the Kurama Clan.

He waved his hand, and the Karmic Fire extinguished. Uchiha Rekka regained some clarity as a result.

"Kill me..." Uchiha Rekka said in a low voice, a look of hopeful relief in his eyes.

"Won't you have any regrets dying like this?" Uchiha Rei asked calmly.

"Okay." He activated his Genjutsu again, and the Karmic Fire reignited Rekka's soul.

"Ahhh—!"

After the Flames burned out, he woke him up again.

"Kill me..."

Another burning, the second time.

"Ahhh!!"

The third time.

"The Fourth... Ah!!"

Finally, Rekka trembled as he spoke, "I have regrets... I have regrets."

"Speak."

"Why... didn't I become Hokage?"

His voice echoed in the Yellow Springs Space, deep yet filled with obsession, "I've never told anyone... actually, I, too, had a dream of becoming Hokage."

"But I'm Uchiha."

This last sentence was spoken through gritted teeth.

"Just laugh," Rekka said with a bitter smile, "I'm dying anyway."

"I will not mock those with dreams," Uchiha Rei gazed at him, "Everyone's dream is the most precious existence."

"You're the first... to respect my dream." Rekka lowered his head, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

"Stop burning me... I'll tell you the information you want to know."

Uchiha Rei didn't reply, merely watching him quietly.

Rekka continued, "I was ordered by the Clan Head to silence you. I just didn't expect my strength to be inferior to yours and for you to trap me... The Clan Head, he... he wants to make the Uchiha great again."

"I respect the dream you spoke of," Uchiha Rei suddenly said, "but the information you mentioned is actually less important than your dream."

Rekka was stunned.

"However," Uchiha Rei slowly opened his mouth, "for the sake of your desire to become Hokage, I can tell you one piece of information."

"What?"

"The Clan Head you pride yourself on has already defected to the Hokage," he said calmly, but his voice was like a sharp blade.

"You're spouting nonsense!" Rekka roared, "Impossible! How could the Clan Head--"

"If that weren't the case, why would Uchiha Itachi massacre the clan? Why would the Clan Head turn a blind eye to the secret actions of Konoha's higher-ups? And why would he send you to kill me?" Uchiha Rei pressed coldly.

Rekka's face turned pale, as if his soul had been burned by flames once more. His lips trembled, seemingly trying to refute, yet unable to utter a single word.

Many things suddenly became clear.

The pain brought by the information was more unbearable than the pain of the Karmic Fire burning his soul in the Illusionary Realm. Uchiha Rekka's expression was dazed, as if the last supporting bone of his belief had been removed.

"We fought with all our might for the Uchiha's Revival... but in the end, the Clan Head was the first to surrender?" he whispered tremblingly, his eyes no longer filled with anger, but with despair after his faith was betrayed.

"You need to think carefully about the path ahead," Uchiha Rei's tone was calm, "I can save you, or I can end you."

Rekka was silent for a long time, tears welling up. Every clan had people who fought for it. The Kurama Clan did, and the Uchiha Clan did too.

"We fought desperately, only for our clan to abandon us."

"My dream, it's laughable, isn't it?" he chuckled, his throat dry. "I once... wanted to become Hokage. A Uchiha becoming Hokage, doesn't that sound like a joke?"

Uchiha Rei's gaze shifted slightly, but his tone remained steady. "I will not mock anyone with a dream. Those who truly possess a dream are the most respectable. In my eyes, your dream is more important than the information you've given me."

Rekka looked up, gazing at him with complex emotions. "You... really aren't going to kill me?"

"I considered it," Uchiha Rei said calmly. "But now, I want to see if you can continue to burn. Not ignited by karmic fire, but by your own conviction."

Rekka gritted his teeth. "Then what's your plan? Kill all the Uchiha?"

"No." Uchiha Rei smiled faintly. "I just want to put on a good show. Perhaps the ending of this show will mean that all Uchiha... will no longer be caged birds."

Rekka's eyes brightened, as if he had grasped a lifeline. "Let me join you!"

"Reason." Uchiha Rei's tone deepened slightly. "I need a reason."

Rekka did not hesitate:

"First, you are strong. I, Uchiha Rekka, only obey those stronger than me."

"Second, the Clan Head and the Hokage both want to destroy our Uchiha Clan, and you are the only one who remains neutral."

"Third," he paused, his expression becoming resolute. "You are a Uchiha. I believe my own kin are at least more trustworthy than the Hokage."

Uchiha Rei stared at him for a long time, a strange emotion flashing in his eyes. Then, he smiled slightly, flicked his finger, and a genjutsu was quietly activated.

Yellow Springs Karmic Fire slowly gathered, and Phantom Flames condensed into a ring of fire in his hand. It then transformed into a point of light, landing in his palm. The ring of fire gradually shrank, condensing into a black ring, its surface faintly showing crimson patterns, as if burning flames were sealed within.

He extended the ring. "Put it on. From now on, you will address me as 'Lord'. Your codename will be Kirishima."

Rekka took it without hesitation, his hand reaching out and decisively placing it on his right ring finger. The moment the ring touched his finger, a scorching energy pierced his soul, as if flames were igniting from the depths of his bones, making him almost cry out.

"This ring is not just a token," Uchiha Rei said slowly. "If you ever betray me, this ring... will turn you into true flames."

Rekka nodded silently, without the slightest hesitation. "I understand."

"Recover here properly, and leave on your own after one hour," Uchiha Rei said, forming hand seals. A green medical chakra seeped into Rekka's wounded body.

"But I've already been missing for a whole day," Rekka suddenly looked up, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. "If the Clan Head and the Hokage ask, how should I explain?"

Uchiha Rei's gaze remained unchanged as he replied calmly, "I have already thought of a solution. You will tell them the truth."

"The truth?"

"Tell them," Uchiha Rei smiled, "that in this Clan Annihilation Game, besides Konoha, there is another force operating in the shadows, 'Akatsuki'. Their existence is enough to explain your disappearance and enough to disrupt Konoha's situation."

"This information is sufficient."

Uchiha Rekka remained silent for a long time after hearing this. He looked down at the scorching ring, his eyes like fire, and felt as if hope had been rekindled in his heart.