Let's charge with the family one more time!

April 5th, the 58th year of Konoha. It had been five days since Sasuke enrolled in the academy.

It was also the fifth day since Uchiha Xiu rose to fame.

For the past four days, he had sequestered himself in the building housing the clan's inherited ninjutsu, never stepping out once. He had mastered all the mainstream non-bloodline Fire, Water, Lightning, and Earth Release techniques recorded there.

In the field of sealing arts, he had also made minor breakthroughs.

The Thread-Light Formation, an E-rank basic barrier ninjutsu, uses the "Kun" and "Gen" hand seals to manipulate chakra, generating earth-attribute sealing patterns beneath the target's feet to form a binding barrier.

The Five Elements Seal, an A-rank close-range auxiliary ninjutsu, uses the five fingers to inject chakra and form a seal, blocking or disrupting the flow of energy within the target.

The Transcription Seal, a specialized ocular jutsu, allows the caster to pre-seal a dōjutsu or ninjutsu into their own or another person's Sharingan. When preset conditions—such as visual contact or the completion of information transfer—are met, the sealed technique triggers automatically.

During the Battle of the Valley of the End, the ancestor Madara sealed Izanagi into his right eye, using the technique to fake his death and resurrect, thereby slipping out of the public eye.

In the future timeline where the Uchiha are annihilated, Itachi implants Amaterasu into Sasuke's eyes, setting it to trigger upon contact with Obito's Sharingan.

Because this technique has shifted the tide of battle multiple times, it is highly regarded and guarded against in other ninja villages as well.

Given how practical and powerful it is, there was no reason for Uchiha Xiu, who had joined the Main God Space and become the captain of the East Sea Team, not to master it.

To this end, he split off five Shadow Clones, willing to endure the bombardment of information flooding his brain!

The Uchiha Flame Formation, this exclusive barrier technique, was currently being mastered...

Its moment of glory would come during the Fourth Ninja World War, when Obito used it to protect the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. It could withstand a full-power attack from the Eight-Tails while reflecting damage back at the attacker, making it a high-level skill that combined physical isolation with counter-attacks.

"Time to come out of seclusion."

"I need to swallow more bait."

Pop, pop, pop. The smoke exploded into a cloud.

The Shadow Clones used their Sharingan to forcibly memorize a series of techniques he hadn't yet mastered, waiting for future study.

After a brief moment of dizziness, Uchiha Xiu walked out of the building.

The spring sunshine was pleasant.

Cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their pink and white petals drifting down like rain.

Naka Shrine.

The Uchiha clan was holding its monthly routine meeting.

In theory, any clansman who had successfully embarked on the path of a ninja was eligible to attend.

However, ever since the hawks became the dominant voice, those Uchiha who leaned toward moderation and advocated for the status quo had all stopped coming.

Furthermore, double-agents and turncoats like Itachi and Shisui showed up only sporadically.

"This is Xiu's first time attending the clan's routine meeting. Although he only graduated a few years ago, he has not only awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan but was also able to fight Elder Shin to a standstill..."

Elder Yashiro introduced Uchiha Xiu enthusiastically, helping the other elder save face, even though their political views differed.

One looked disheveled and battered, while the other had only a slightly dusty hem—the difference was clear, wasn't it? The clansmen who had witnessed that battle tacitly assumed Xiu possessed at least the strength of an elite jonin.

He was a top-tier force they could rely on when the rebellion began!

Indeed, the clan had progressed to the point of staging a coup at any moment.

Six years ago, on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, it was Danzo who advised Sarutobi Hiruzen to explicitly order all Uchiha to stand by. Yet, afterward, he offered no explanation, allowing the villagers to vent their dissatisfaction and abuse onto the clan, letting this dangerous resentment fester.

Furthermore, the Konoha high command reorganized the layout of the village, moving the Uchiha to the outskirts and placing them in a position where they were checked and monitored by all the major families.

These various changes naturally sparked dissatisfaction within the Uchiha clan, who flocked to Fugaku to complain, hoping their clan leader would seek justice.

Back then, for the sake of the bigger picture, Fugaku had decided to agree to the arrangements made by the four giants of Konoha.

As a result, the high command continued their provocative maneuvers, acting as if they were deliberately trying to force the Uchiha into rebellion, intensifying their suppression without signaling any intent to ease tensions.

Pressed by the pressure of mainstream public opinion, the indecisive Uchiha Fugaku had decided one week ago to secretly plan a coup, intending to seize leadership of Konoha by controlling the Nine-Tails.

To this end, three days ago, he had once again ordered Itachi, who served in the Anbu, to act as an informant to gather intelligence and coordinate from within and without.

"We're just waiting for a suitable opportunity to make our move!"

"If we can truly unite as one and show our strength, even if we don't suppress the other ninja clans or force an Uchiha Hokage onto the seat, we can at least secure the position of Hokage Advisor or consultant, entering the highest decision-making level of Konoha."

Facing the grand introduction from the hawk elder, Uchiha Xiu stood in the center, feeling a sense of sorrow in his heart.

The middle and upper-level ninjas, unaware of the truth, gazed at Uchiha Xiu with fanatical eyes, feeling increasingly optimistic.

The older generation had Elder Setsuna, a guaranteed elite jonin-level combatant who was the anchor that had weathered the dark era of Tobirama.

The middle generation had Clan Leader Fugaku, Elder Yashiro, Tekka, and other high-end combatants; they could lead the entire Military Police Force to contend with the Root and the Anbu.

Among the younger generation, with Shisui, Itachi, and Xiu working together, they might even be able to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen!

Complete the decapitation strike!!

By then, the die would be cast, and the moderates led by Elder Shin would surely compromise and join the operation.

Using the strength of the entire clan to suppress Konoha~

Thinking of this, the impassioned Elder Setsuna could not help but activate his Sharingan, the tomoe spinning at high speed.

"The Uchiha were the founders of Konoha, yet now we are suppressed to this point. If the ancestor Madara's spirit in heaven could see this, he would surely hate his descendants for being so spineless."

"The First Hokage was a Senju, the Second Hokage was a Senju, the Third Hokage was a student of Senju Tobirama, and the Fourth was the Third's grand-student."

"For the Fifth, it is time for an Uchiha to take the seat."

Upon hearing this, the clansmen began to release their resentment while fanatically shouting that they must push forward an Uchiha Hokage.

They cursed the naturally evil old ghost Tobirama, cursed the Third, cursed Danzo, cursed Utatane Koharu, cursed Mitokado Homura, and cursed that bunch of unruly commoners in Konoha...

One by one, they revealed their Sharingan.

Three Tomoe, Two Tomoe, One Tomoe; hundreds of eyes manifested in the dim secret chamber, the aura belonging to Yin Release being unleashed wantonly.

If a ninja of another surname were to burst in at this moment, they would likely be scared to death by the terrifying momentum coalescing in the room.

Clan Head Fugaku raised his eyes, his gaze landing on the high-spirited Uchiha Xiu. As their eyes met, the former took a deep breath.

His resolve grew firmer:

Do it!

As long as Xiu makes his stance clear, what does it matter if I consolidate the power of both factions and lead the entire clan in a charge!

Once I reveal my Mangekyo Sharingan, my wavering eldest son Itachi will understand where the tide of the times is heading.

In Fugaku's view, when the First Hokage was in power, the functions of the Police Force were far greater than they are now.

The distribution of benefits was fair.

But as soon as the Second took office, he couldn't wait to establish the Anbu, stripping away a large portion of the power that originally belonged to the Police Force. By the time the Third succeeded him, he was still not satisfied, and outside of the Anbu, he established yet another secret department:

Root.

"Can we talk?"

When the clan meeting's attention shifted away from individuals, Shisui used Body Flicker to approach Uchiha Xiu as he stepped down from the platform.

Two years ago, this clansman had been insignificant and ignored by him, but now he had suddenly become critical.

It was his forceful performance a few days ago that had lit the fuse of the powder keg, giving the Hawk faction the final shot of adrenaline.

He also represented the once-wavering Moderate faction.

With seven or eight Jonin and over a dozen Chunin, once they merged with the Hawk faction, the greatest noble clan in Konoha would instantly transform into a war machine.

At this moment, another figure stood before Uchiha Xiu:

"Xiu, the Hokage requests your presence."

Itachi, wearing a cat mask, stated coldly.