Turbulence at the Clan Gathering and Shadows of the Future

After awakening the One-Tomoe Sharingan, the pace of Uchiha Sou's life accelerated sharply. Izuna's training became more rigorous and meticulous. He moved beyond basic Nintaijutsu, beginning to systematically teach him the fundamental applications of the Sharingan—insight, mimicry, and the simplest form of Genjutsu: Hypnosis.

Uchiha Sou absorbed all this knowledge with a thirst that could not be quenched. His adult mindset allowed him to grasp the delicate manipulation of Chakra and the logic behind tactical maneuvers much faster, while the dynamic vision and insight provided by the One-Tomoe Sharingan made his learning twice as effective with half the effort. He was particularly obsessed with the study of Genjutsu; the ability to influence others' senses and spirits through subtle Chakra felt more... interesting and offered more room for tactical creativity than the straightforward Fire Style.

Of course, high-intensity training also meant higher consumption. Uchiha Sou clearly felt his appetite growing and his body tiring more easily. This forced him to start exercising with intention while pondering how to acquire more nutrition, or perhaps... make some money.

The Uchiha Clan was considered a major power during the Warring States period, but resources were not distributed without limits. As a war orphan like him, although he had Madara's protection to ensure his basic needs were met, wanting anything extra required mission rewards or spoils of war.

That afternoon, just as training came to a close, Izuna wiped away his sweat and said, seemingly offhandedly, "There's a clan meeting tonight. Big Brother asked me to bring you along to listen."

Uchiha Sou was stunned. "A clan meeting? Me?" According to the original owner's memories and status, a junior like him was not yet qualified to participate in such core meetings.

"Yes." Izuna nodded, his eyes growing profound. "You've awakened your eyes, which means you are now part of the clan's true core strength. Besides... the rumors from outside have been tense lately, and the Senju have been making frequent moves. The clan needs every capable hand. There is no harm in understanding the situation early."

Uchiha Sou's heart stirred, and he nodded in agreement. "Understood, Uncle Izuna."

Night fell, and the assembly hall of the Uchiha compound was brightly lit.

The atmosphere was so heavy it felt as though it could drip with water.

Uchiha Sou followed behind Izuna, taking a low-profile seat toward the back of the hall. He could feel countless gazes sweeping over him, mixed with scrutiny, curiosity, and even a trace of imperceptible... disdain? Clearly, he was just a brat who had entered this space relying on his status as the clan leader's nephew and his recent awakening, and he was not taken seriously by some of the veteran ninja.

The meeting was presided over by several clan elders, but everyone's focus was on Uchiha Madara, who sat at the head of the room with his eyes closed in meditation. Just by sitting there, he exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

The content of the meeting was exactly as Izuna had anticipated: it revolved around the conflict with the Senju Clan.

"...Three more outposts in the northwest have been wiped out. It was Tobirama Senju who led the attack! The methods were clean and efficient; our men couldn't even send out a signal!"

"The mines in the south have also been harassed. Although we haven't lost them, production has come to a complete standstill!"

"That old dog Senju Butsuma seems determined to wear us down to the bitter end!"

The elders spoke with agitation, filled with resentment and murderous intent.

"Blood debts must be paid in blood! We should organize an elite force and retaliate with a heavy hand!"

"Exactly! Let them know the might of the Uchiha!"

"Lord Madara, please give the order!"

The voices calling for war held the absolute upper hand. The Uchiha Clan had always been known for their toughness and their tendency to hold grudges.

Uchiha Madara slowly opened his eyes, his scarlet pupils sweeping across the room, and the noisy assembly hall fell silent in an instant.

"Retaliation? And then what?" Madara's voice was cold and calm. "Draw out Hashirama Senju and have another massive battle? More people die, deeper hatred is forged? A cycle that repeats until the clan bleeds its last drop?"

His questioning caused some of the fanatical elders to cool down slightly, though their faces remained defiant.

One elder said in a deep voice, "Lord Madara, are we just supposed to swallow this insult? If this continues, what will become of the clan's honor? We keep losing resource points, and the morale of our clansmen will plummet!"

"Honor?" Madara sneered. "Honor is won through strength, not piled up by meaningless sacrifices. Tobirama Senju excels at ambushes and assassinations, so we shall return the favor in kind. Form an elite squad and pay them back in full. The goal is not large-scale conflict, but precision strikes on their outposts and resource points. Izuna."

"Big Brother," Izuna replied.

"I leave this matter to you. The personnel must be absolutely reliable, and the actions must be swift and ruthless."

"Understood." A sharp light flashed in Izuna's eyes.

Uchiha Sou listened quietly, but waves of emotion surged within him. Madara's decision seemed tough on the surface, but it already revealed a strategy different from the pure head-on collisions of the past—one that prioritized efficiency and practical interests, perhaps even tinged with... helplessness? Was he trying to avoid a direct confrontation with Hashirama Senju? Because of Izuna?

The meeting went on to discuss other matters, primarily resource allocation and defensive deployments.

Just as the meeting was nearing its end, an elder in charge of intelligence hesitated before speaking up. "There is one more thing... several small clans on the border seem restless, especially the Hagoromo Clan. Their contact with the Senju side seems to have become more frequent."

The Hagoromo Clan?

Uchiha Sou's heart skipped a beat upon hearing that name. If his memory of the original story was correct, Uchiha Izuna's death seemed to be linked to this clan. It happened during a large-scale conflict with the Senju, where Izuna was mortally wounded by Tobirama Senju while protecting Madara, eventually succumbing to his injuries!

He couldn't recall the exact date, but it was definitely before the final peace treaty between the Uchiha and the Senju! Could it be happening now?

He subconsciously looked at Izuna, who was sitting in front of him, then snuck a glance at Madara.

Madara's expression seemed to grow colder, his fingers tapping the armrest unconsciously. "Hagoromo... just fence-sitters. Continue the surveillance. If they truly dare to betray us, then along with the Senju, we shall give them a lesson they will never forget."

The meeting ended, and the crowd dispersed.

Uchiha Sou followed Izuna out of the assembly hall, his mood unable to settle for a long time.

"What's wrong? Were you scared?" Izuna noticed his distraction and asked gently, "Clan meetings are always like this, filled with strife and killing intent."

"It's not that..." Uchiha Sou shook his head, hesitated, but couldn't help asking in a low voice, "Uncle Izuna, that Hagoromo Clan... are they very troublesome?"

Izuna looked at him with some surprise, not expecting him to be concerned about this. "Just a bunch of sycophants. They lean toward whoever is stronger. Don't worry, the clan has its own ways of dealing with them." He paused, his tone filled with absolute confidence. "In the face of absolute power, any scheme or trick is futile. As long as Big Brother and I are here, the Uchiha will never fall."

Looking at Izuna's confident and resolute profile, the words "be careful of Tobirama Senju" stuck in Uchiha Sou's throat, unable to be uttered.

What right did he have to warn him? Based on a "premonition"? In the Uchiha Clan, power was the only currency for influence. Who would believe a brat who had just awakened a one-tomoe eye? It might even invite unnecessary suspicion.

He could only bury this unease deep within his heart.

"Alright, don't think too much." Izuna patted his shoulder. "Focusing on improving your strength is the right path. Starting tomorrow, you can join my squad to perform some simple patrol and reconnaissance missions. Real combat is the best teacher."

"Yes!" Uchiha Sou suppressed his emotions and nodded.

That night, Uchiha Sou lay on his futon, unable to sleep.

The elders' hateful rhetoric in the assembly hall, Madara's cold and oppressive decisions, Izuna's confident yet unsettling smile, and the name "Hagoromo"—like a curse—echoed repeatedly in his mind.

The wheels of history seemed to be rumbling forward along their predetermined track, grinding toward that known, sorrowful ending.

Once again, he felt his own insignificance and powerlessness.

A One-Tomoe Sharingan was utterly negligible in the power struggles of this clan, let alone the grand tide of the Warring States period.

"Power... I need to gain power faster..."

"But... what can I do? Just watch helplessly?"

He rolled over, his gaze seemingly piercing through the roof to stare at the silent and dangerous night sky outside.

A vague and bold idea sprouted quietly in his heart for the first time.

If... if he couldn't change anything head-on, could he perhaps... quietly... nudge some insignificant chess piece from the shadows where no one would notice?

For instance, making a messenger from the Hagoromo Clan "accidentally" lose their way? Or having a surprise attack targeting the Uchiha supply lines "coincidentally" be discovered just a little bit earlier?

He did not know if these newly awakened eyes could accomplish such things, nor did he know what kind of chain reaction might follow if he did.

But that urge to do something, to break free from the trajectory of fate, had taken root in his heart like a seed.

The night was still long.