Uchiha Sou drifted off on a sickbed in the Medical Corps, only to be repeatedly jolted awake by the throbbing pain of his wounds and bizarre nightmares. His dreams were filled with the cold gleam of kunai, the horrifying sight of high-pressure water jets slicing through human bodies, and the utterly emotionless eyes of Tobirama Senju, as if they could see through everything.
When he finally managed to open his eyes again, the faint light of dawn had begun to filter through the window paper. The Medical Corps still smelled of medicine, but it was much quieter than the night before. Only a few badly wounded patients occasionally let out pained groans.
The terrible pain in his chest reminded him that the previous night had been no nightmare. He tried moving his fingers. Thankfully, though his body was weak, it seemed he had recovered a little strength.
Just then, an exceedingly faint sound of footsteps came from outside the door, yet it seemed to still the very air around them. The steps were not deliberately quiet; rather, they carried a presence that was powerful yet restrained, with an unquestionable authority.
The faint sounds in the Medical Corps fell silent at once. Every clan member who was awake, whether injured or a medical ninja, instinctively held their breath and turned their reverent gaze toward the entrance.
The curtain was lifted.
A tall figure walked in.
His long black hair hung loose, and his stern face showed not the slightest ripple of emotion. A little dampness from the morning dew clung to his red lamellar armor, as though he had just returned from a patrol outside. Most striking were his eyes: calm and deep, yet imbued with an air of looking down upon the world. He had no need to make a show of it; his mere presence was enough to weigh down the air around him.
Uchiha Madara.
He had come to the Medical Corps in person.
His gaze swept over the entire room, as tangible as a physical presence, before settling on Uchiha Sou, who was struggling to sit up.
"Clan Leader!" The head of the Medical Corps and the wounded who were able to move all tried to salute him.
Madara casually waved a hand, signaling that they needn't stand on ceremony. He walked over to Uchiha Sou's sickbed and looked down at him, his gaze passing calmly over the thick bandages on his chest.
"Looks like the Grim Reaper's scythe just grazed your neck." Madara's voice was low and resonant. It revealed no emotion, yet carried an undeniable weight.
Uchiha Sou endured the pain of his wound pulling and did his best to straighten his back. Lowering his head, he said, "Clan Leader... I've brought shame upon you and the clan."
"Shame?" Madara raised an eyebrow slightly. "Surviving an encounter with Tobirama Senju is no easy feat. Izuna did well to save you."
His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were stating a simple truth. Yet when he mentioned Izuna, his expression seemed to soften for the briefest moment.
"Yes... I owe it to Uncle Izuna," Uchiha Sou said quietly. Madara's personal visit left him both flattered and under even greater pressure. It was highly unusual for the clan leader to visit an injured lower-ranking ninja in person.
Madara's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, as though assessing something. It stayed a second longer on his eyes, which had yet to awaken their Sharingan because of his weakness.
"Izuna has already told me what happened," Madara said calmly. "Tobirama deliberately targeted you... Interesting."
The word "interesting" made Uchiha Sou's heart tighten.
"I... I don't know why," he said, repeating the same words. Part of it was true; the rest concealed his deepest, most unsettling suspicion.
Madara did not seem to expect an answer. He simply continued, "Tobirama never acts without reason. If he chose to attack you at that moment, he must have had a reason. Perhaps your potential caught his attention, or perhaps... something else did."
His words were laden with meaning, carrying the deliberation and calculation of a man in power. Uchiha Sou felt as if he had become a chess piece under a magnifying glass.
"Focus on recovering." Madara did not press him further, his tone returning to its former calm. "The future of the Uchiha depends on everyone capable. Get stronger as soon as you can—strong enough to make Tobirama pay for his recklessness the next time you meet."
The words were a direct command, but also carried a hint of encouragement that was difficult to detect.
"Yes, Clan Leader!" Uchiha Sou held back his excitement and answered solemnly.
Madara gave a slight nod and said no more. He turned and left the Medical Corps. He came and went like the wind, but the pressure he left behind lingered.
Only after he had disappeared completely did everyone in the Medical Corps seem to breathe easier. Quiet murmurs began to rise.
"Clan Leader came in person..."
"Looks like Tobirama really has his eye on Sou this time..."
"Getting the Clan Leader's attention... I wonder if it's a blessing or a curse..."
Uchiha Sou lay back down, his emotions in turmoil. Madara's personal visit and those words were undoubtedly a sign of recognition, but they had also pushed him into a more conspicuous position. It meant more attention, and... greater risks.
He knew that after the previous night, his standing in the clan and the attention he received had quietly changed. He was no longer simply a promising young clansman; he was now a "special" one who had received "special attention" from Tobirama Senju and even prompted the clan leader to make inquiries in person.
In the afternoon, Izuna came by. His face was still somewhat pale, but he seemed much better, and had changed into clean clan clothes.
He dismissed the others and sat beside Uchiha Sou's bed.
"Did my older brother come by?" he asked directly.
"Mm." Uchiha Sou nodded.
"What did he say?"
"He told me to focus on recovering and get stronger as soon as possible."
Izuna's lips curved into a cold smile. "That's right. My older brother is right. We can't let this go! That mad dog Tobirama has to die!"
The flames of hatred blazed in his eyes once more.
"Has the clan... made any decisions?" Uchiha Sou asked cautiously.
Izuna snorted. "My older brother is furious. What the Senju did this time was an outright provocation and a scheme. The clan has begun investigating whether information about the mission was leaked, and we'll also intensify our retaliation against the Senju."
He looked at Uchiha Sou, his tone turning serious. "As for you, Sou, Tobirama has his eye on you now. You'll have to be much more careful whenever you go out on a mission. I'll arrange for people to protect you in secret for a while. You need to prove yourself, too. You survived this ordeal—your Sharingan should have improved, shouldn't it?"
Uchiha Sou's heart stirred, and he tried to gather Chakra. A familiar warmth came from his eye sockets. Though the feeling was faint because of his weakened body, the single Tomoe was indeed spinning more smoothly than before, and the barrier seemed thinner still.
"Yes, Uncle Izuna. I feel like... I'm not far from the next evolution."
"Good!" A hint of satisfaction flashed in Izuna's eyes. "That's the way an Uchiha should be! Hatred and pain will become the source of our strength. Remember this humiliation and pain. They'll drive you to become stronger!"
He gave him a few more instructions about caring for his wounds, then hurried away. Clearly, there was still a great deal of clan business for him to handle.
Uchiha Sou lay alone on his sickbed, mulling over Madara and Izuna's words and feeling the contradiction between his weakened body and the growing power in his eyes.
The clan council had evidently decided to retaliate, and the hatred between the Uchiha and the Senju would only deepen. As for him, Tobirama's targeted attack had swept him into the heart of an even deeper maelstrom.
Fortune lurked within misfortune, and misfortune leaned upon fortune.
He closed his eyes and began trying to guide his faint Chakra, carefully nourishing and attuning himself to the eyes that yearned to evolve.
A storm was gathering beyond the walls, and he had to gain the strength to weather it as quickly as possible.
The Two-Tomoe was the only clear goal before him.
The dark clouds hanging over the clan grounds seemed to grow even heavier.
Before you continue