Fuyue's Bewilderment

As his wounds healed, Uchiha Fugaku's body essentially returned to a state fit for combat.

Fugaku even felt that since experiencing that life-or-death struggle, the ocular power of his Sharingan had grown significantly.

Ordinarily, this would be a cause for celebration.

However, over the last two days, he suddenly felt that the Uchiha clansmen around him had fallen into a strange atmosphere.

Everyone seemed to respect him even more, yet the previous sense of mutual closeness was gone.

Instead, there was a sense of keeping him at a respectful distance.

Even his personal guards, Uchiha Qingming and Uchiha Huoying, appeared somewhat peculiar.

At night, Uchiha Qingming even mysteriously slipped away from the camp.

Puzzled, Fugaku specifically summoned Uchiha Huoying to inquire.

"Why haven't I seen Fucheng these past two days? How is he doing? Before I lost consciousness, I seem to recall Fucheng's Sharingan changing its appearance."

Upon hearing Fugaku say this, Uchiha Huoying's expression turned somewhat agitated.

He checked to ensure no one was around before nodding vigorously.

Huoying whispered in reply, "Yes, Lord Fucheng awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. It was the Mangekyo Sharingan's special ocular technique that saved you!

According to Lady Tsunade, it is a high-level secret medical technique. It was only thanks to the timely treatment of this Mangekyo technique that your life was preserved. Otherwise, no matter how skilled Lady Tsunade is, she wouldn't have had time to neutralize the poison."

"Mangekyo?! The Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Fugaku's pupils dilated in shock.

"Doesn't that mean many people know? They know Fucheng awakened the Mangekyo?!"

Uchiha Huoying didn't understand his concern.

He stared blankly at Uchiha Fugaku and nodded, "Yes, many people on the battlefield saw it at the time.

Because you were heavily wounded and collapsed, Lord Fucheng awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan in his rage. With just one ocular technique, the dozens of wounds on your body stopped bleeding instantly.

The reason your wounds were so numerous later was because Lady Tsunade had to reopen them to drain the toxins."

"It's ruined, everything is ruined!"

Uchiha Fugaku, who had been relatively calm just moments ago, was now pale with terror.

"Fucheng has definitely been targeted. If the village knows that the Uchiha clan has produced another Mangekyo Sharingan, they will certainly suppress the Uchiha with targeted measures. They will surely find someone to frame Fucheng."

Huoying was somewhat confused.

He didn't understand why Lord Fucheng, having become a Mangekyo master comparable to the Hokage, would be targeted and framed by the village instead.

However, seeing the look of sheer terror on Fugaku's face, he could only take Uchiha Fugaku to find Fucheng in the middle of the night.

Neither Uchiha Fugaku nor Uchiha Huoying knew about this counter-offensive operation against Root.

Their search for Fucheng was limited to wandering around the Uchiha clan's encampment, asking everyone they encountered.

By this time, Fugaku had already sensed that something was wrong from the attitude of his clansmen!

Even if Uchiha Fucheng had awakened the Mangekyo and possessed the Uchiha clan's supreme Sharingan, the way these clansmen treated Fucheng seemed far too deferential.

Even the ninjas of the Great Elder's faction, who usually kept their distance from him, were now showing an extraordinary level of respect toward Fucheng.

As for tonight's special operation and Uchiha Fucheng's specific location, the two of them learned almost nothing.

The three Uchiha jonin left to guard the camp kept repeating that it was a matter of confidentiality and required Lord Fucheng's personal authorization.

They refused to tell Fugaku, the "heir-apparent" to the clan head, anything useful regarding Uchiha Fucheng.

"What are they planning? Why have the vast majority of the Uchiha jonin left the camp?" Fugaku felt anxious.

Inside the Uchiha command tent, Fugaku paced back and forth. This constant circling made even Uchiha Huoying feel tense.

Huoying tried to console him.

"Lord Fugaku, you don't need to worry about Lord Fucheng; he has thirty Uchiha jonin with him. That's enough to fight a localized war against a ninja village. Lord Fucheng won't have any problems."

But when Fugaku heard this, he became even more on edge.

"That is exactly why it's so worrying!

If those thirty-some Uchiha jonin cause any trouble right now, those who want to frame Fucheng will pin all the blame directly on the Uchiha clan.

We will have even less of a place to exist within the village."

Huoying hadn't expected Uchiha Fugaku to take such a grave view of the situation, and he was too stunned to know how to respond.

The tent flap lifted, and the Uchiha Fucheng they had just been discussing walked in calmly, flanked by several jonin.

"Big Brother, is your body feeling better?"

He took off his outer coat and handed it to Uchiha Yashiro before smiling and saying, "There's no need to be too lenient with those who want to frame me and leave the Uchiha clan with no place to stand.

We should strike back when we need to, and compromise when we must, but there is no need to view them as a sharp blade hanging over the heads of the Uchiha clan.

If we spend every day worrying about others harming us, how are we supposed to live our lives?"

Seeing the look of astonishment on Fugaku's face, Uchiha Fucheng simply pulled over a stool and sat down directly across from him.

"Big Brother, there is no need for you to worry. We truly haven't caused any trouble, and of course, we won't let others cause trouble for us either."

Fucheng's untamed and arrogant temperament left Fugaku stunned.

Fucheng laughed, "As for those who want to frame us, in this era of endless war across the ninja world, they won't lose their sense of reason."

"With the war in such chaos right now, they want to force the Uchiha clan out?"

"Heh, there aren't that many fools in Konoha, nor is their political wisdom that low."

It was as if he were looking at an alien.

In Fugaku's eyes, it seemed that his "foolish little brother" from the past had undergone a complete change in temperament the moment he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.

He seemed to have transformed into an "old fox" like Uchiha Setsuna.

Fugaku was somewhat worried, "Shimura Danzō, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Senju clan—these people will not be willing to see the Uchiha clan possess another pair of Mangekyo Sharingan."

The look in Fugaku's eyes as he gazed at Fucheng was filled with concern, "I am afraid, afraid that you will be in danger."

Seeing Fugaku, who was somewhat timid and hesitant, still caring most about him—his younger brother—at a time like this, Fucheng felt a sense of warmth.

Although Uchiha Fugaku was not an "outstanding" clan leader with exceptional capabilities.

But as a family member, Fugaku could be considered a "good man."

Uchiha Fucheng gently patted Fugaku on the shoulder.

He said confidently, "Rest assured, Big Brother. I will not come into conflict with the village for the time being."

"Lady Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru, and Lord White Fang in the camp all have good relationships with me. Besides, I am not the type to be reckless."

"But the Uchiha clan cannot remain indecisive forever."

"Since everyone knows I possess the Mangekyo, hiding it away is no solution."

"A tiger must bare its teeth and claws to make more hunters shrink back in fear."

"Often, you must land one punch to avoid a hundred more."

Fugaku was left deep in thought by this speech.

After a long while, Fugaku finally looked up, appearing somewhat bewildered.

"Then, what should we do next?"

Fucheng wore a meaningful expression as he pointed toward the direction of Hatake Sakumo's tent.

He smiled at Fugaku and said, "Don't worry, the Sand Ninja from the Land of Wind have already sent someone tonight!"