The Radicals Were Too Radical, the Conservatives Too Conservative

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"If the Three-Tomoe Sharingan were that easy to awaken, our Uchiha Clan would have conquered the world long ago!"

The next moment, Shota's eyes flew open as he lay in the recliner.

An eerie light flickered in his scarlet eyes.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan was spinning wildly.

"It really is the Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

"He went from nothing to awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in just one hour?"

"What exactly is psychological therapy surgery? Is it an S-rank genjutsu? Can I go in and try it?"

"I can trust the Psychology Clinic too! I can talk, too!"

"Who said Doctor Kazuhiko was useless? Step forward and own up! I won't allow anyone to insult our Uchiha Clan's great psychologist!"

"..."

Operating room.

Shota stared blankly at Kazuhiko, unable to make sense of what was happening.

The memories of the genjutsu world and reality intertwined, leaving him in a daze.

"Brother Kazuhiko, have I finally died too...?"

In the genjutsu, Kazuhiko had checked out early and left the stage ahead of time.

Kazuhiko released Shota from his restraints and said softly:

"Welcome back, Shota."

[You withdrew from the target: Negative Trait · Genjutsu Susceptibility (Blue)]

Shota silently surveyed his surroundings, unable to tell whether this was reality or a dream.

The genjutsu world Kazuhiko had created was too real.

So real that Shota had been completely immersed in it, even suspecting that the Kazuhiko before him was the illusion.

The operating room doors opened.

Yuta, Mako, and Moe stood at the front, beaming.

"Dad... Mom... Moe..."

Shota's voice trembled. Tears streamed down his face, and he broke into sobs.

Yuta charged forward and wrapped his arms around his son, laughing uncontrollably.

"Ha ha ha..."

He shook Shota by the shoulders, almost delirious with joy.

"My good son, my wonderful son! You successfully awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, so why are you crying? No crying! Laugh with your old man!"

"Ah ha ha ha..."

"My son, Yuta's son... awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan! Ha ha ha..."

Mako stepped forward and wiped the bloody tears from her son's face. Her eyes glistened as she watched him sob.

"Go ahead and cry. It's okay. Mom will make your favorite Porpoise Rice Ball tonight."

Moe climbed onto her father's back and reached out to touch the three tomoe, but remembered that she shouldn't rub his eyes with her hands. She moved closer instead, eyes wide as she studied them carefully.

Shota clung tightly to his family. He had returned completely to reality, choking up and unable to speak.

Some things needed no words.

In the Observation Room, the Uchiha had recovered from their shock.

Shio, the First Elder, kept his eyes closed as his fingers tapped the armrest.

He was weighing the value of this "psychological therapy surgery."

What did everything that had just happened mean for the Uchiha?

Mass-producing Three-Tomoe Sharingan users meant the Uchiha Clan—

Would soon conquer the world.

Shio felt his heart tremble.

Pick a fight with the Konoha High Command?

What the hell kind of plan had he proposed this morning?

Radicalism was a terrible idea!

The Uchiha didn't need to do anything. They only had to maintain the status quo and protect Kazuhiko, and the entire Shinobi World would tremble beneath the Three-Tomoe Sharingan!

Yutaro watched the operating room with a genial smile, a similar flame burning in his eyes.

Artificially inducing the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

His plan had indeed been far too conservative.

Impeach the Third Hokage?

Choose a new Hokage?

What utter nonsense!

One of us Uchiha should simply step forward and become Hokage!

Eri rose with a smile and turned to the two elders.

"First Elder, Third Elder, about this medical evaluation..."

Shio nodded at once.

"Approved. The Psychology Clinic must be established."

"Also, today's 'therapy surgery' is to be classified as an S-rank secret. Everyone present is to be sworn to silence."

"Elder Yutaro, what do you think...?"

Yutaro nodded slowly and looked at Eri with a genial smile.

"Let's do as the First Elder says. Director Eri, bring Kazuhiko to the next shrine meeting."

Eri bowed slightly.

"Thank you for your esteem, Third Elder. But with Kazuhiko's abilities, would it be appropriate...?"

Yutaro waved his hand and glanced around at the Uchiha in the Observation Room before finally looking at Kazuhiko.

"Kazuhiko is already qualified to decide the fate of the Uchiha Clan alongside us."

Shisui stood in a corner, the corners of his mouth lifting.

He had known all along:

Brother Kazuhiko was the one who could change the fate of the Uchiha Clan.

He slipped away unnoticed, took out the Anbu mask in his hand, and fell into thought.

Should he report what had happened today to Lord Hokage?

"Lord Danzo, an urgent report."

At Root's underground headquarters, a Root shinobi knelt on one knee and presented a scroll.

Danzo unrolled it. His eyes widened and his pupils contracted.

"The Three-Tomoe... They used psychological therapy combined with genjutsu to awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan..."

He was perplexed, but a strange excitement soon followed.

If it could awaken the Three-Tomoe, what if they went further?

"Kazuhiko... Uchiha Eri's son... A Medical Genin..."

Danzo stood and paced back and forth in the secret chamber.

He was already imagining the value Kazuhiko represented.

If he could control this person, if he could obtain his techniques...

Danzo gently stroked the Sharingan beneath his bandages, his heart surging.

"I want Kazuhiko's complete file. Now!"

The Root shinobi hurried away, returning moments later with a stack of files and surveillance footage.

Danzo began to read, eventually stopping to watch the footage.

In it, Kazuhiko was speaking passionately in Shota's courtyard.

"We Uchiha have never been inferior to anyone! Many Uchiha have inherited the Will of Fire and aspire to become Hokage!"

"Wherever the leaves dance..."

"We Uchiha... are the new shoots that have inherited the Will of Fire."

Danzo sneered. The light in his single eye shifted from excitement to gloom, then from gloom to fury.

"The Uchiha as Hokage!"

"Outrageous!"

"An utterly treacherous villain pretending to be loyal!"

He slammed a palm down on the table, sending splinters flying.

"This boy is a treacherous villain pretending to be loyal. He will surely become a grave threat to Konoha!"

Danzo paced back and forth in the secret chamber, like a beast whose tail had been stepped on.

"He spouts the Will of Fire, yet secretly helps the Uchiha produce Three-Tomoe Sharingan users!"

"He wants to lull us into complacency! To lull weak-willed Hiruzen! To lull all of Konoha!"

Danzo stopped. Killing intent gleamed in his single eye.

"If we can't bring him under control as soon as possible..."

"He must be eliminated immediately!"

"Report this to the Hokage at once. Tell him I demand that Kazuhiko and Shisui be transferred to Root immediately."

In the Hokage Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the footage with a completely different expression.

"The Hokage is a fire. He burns himself to light up the village..."

"When the firelight kisses the fertile earth, when the cold wind sweeps through the forest, when war takes those we love, our hearts will still beat in time with Konoha!"

"I have always believed that one day, Uchiha shinobi will earn everyone's recognition and become Hokage!"

Just listen to those words. How beautifully said.

What was the Will of Fire?

That was the Will of Fire!