April 5, Year 58 of Konoha. Sasuke had been enrolled for five days.
It was also the fifth day since Uchiha Xiu had made a name for himself.
For the past four days, he had stayed holed up in the clan's ninjutsu archive, without setting foot outside. He had mastered all the mainstream non-bloodline Fire Release, Water Release, Lightning Release, and Earth Release techniques recorded there.
He had also made some progress in the field of Sealing Jutsu.
The Thread-Light Formation was an E-rank basic Barrier Ninjutsu. By forming the paired seals for "Kun" and "Gen," the user could manipulate chakra to create Earth Release sealing patterns beneath a target's feet, forming a restraining barrier.
The Five Elements Seal was an A-rank close-range support technique. By channeling chakra through all five fingers to form a sealing formula, the user could block or disrupt the flow of energy within a target's body.
The Transcription Seal was a technique exclusive to dōjutsu. It allowed the user to seal a dōjutsu or ninjutsu in their own Sharingan or someone else's in advance. Once a preset condition was met—such as visual contact or the completion of an information transfer—the sealed technique would activate automatically.
During the Battle of the Valley of the End, Madara sealed Izanagi in his right eye, using it to fake his death and revive himself, then disappear from public view.
In the future timeline where the Uchiha Clan was massacred, Uchiha Itachi implanted Amaterasu in Sasuke's eye and set it to activate when he saw Obito's Sharingan.
The technique had changed the course of battle more than once, earning it a strong reputation in other villages as well. They had no choice but to keep an eye out for it.
It was so useful and powerful that Uchiha Xiu, who had joined the Main God Space and become captain of the East Sea Team, had no reason not to study it.
For that, he made five Shadow Clones, willing to endure the flood of information hammering into his brain!
He was currently studying the Uchiha Flame Formation, an exclusive Barrier Ninjutsu...
Its moment in the spotlight would come during the Fourth Shinobi World War, when Uchiha Obito used it to protect the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. It could withstand the Eight-Tails' full-force attack and counterstrike, making it an advanced technique that combined physical defense with retaliation.
"It's time to come out of seclusion."
"I need to swallow more bait."
Poof, poof, poof—the room filled with smoke.
The Shadow Clones used their Sharingan to forcibly memorize a series of techniques they hadn't yet mastered, leaving them for later study.
After a brief moment of disorientation, Uchiha Xiu walked out of the building.
The spring sunshine was lovely.
Cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their pale pink petals drifting down like rain.
Naka Shrine.
The Uchiha Clan was holding its monthly meeting.
In theory, any clan member who had successfully set foot on the path of a ninja was entitled to attend.
But after the hawks became the dominant voice, all Uchiha who favored a moderate stance and were content with the status quo stopped coming.
Besides, two-faced fence-sitters like Uchiha Itachi and Shisui Uchiha only showed up now and then.
"Today is Xiu's first clan meeting. He's only been out of the Academy for a few years, yet he's already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and can go toe-to-toe with Elder Shin..."
Elder Yashiro enthusiastically introduced Uchiha Xiu, while also helping another elder save face, despite their political differences.
One of them was in a sorry state, while the other's clothes were barely dusty. The difference was obvious, wasn't it? Those clan members who had witnessed the battle assumed Xiu was at least as strong as an elite Jonin.
He was a top-tier asset the clan could rely on when they rebelled!
That's right, the clan had already reached the point where a coup could happen at any moment.
During the Night of the Nine-Tails six years ago, Danzo had clearly advised the Third Hokage to order every Uchiha to stand by and do nothing. Afterward, the village offered no explanation, letting the villagers direct their frustration and insults at the clan, allowing this dangerous resentment to spread.
On top of that, Konoha's leadership had rearranged the clans' districts, assigning the Uchiha Clan to the outskirts and putting them in a position where the other clans could keep them in check and under surveillance.
These upheavals naturally bred discontent among the Uchiha. They poured out their grievances to Fugaku, hoping their clan leader would win them justice.
At the time, for the sake of the greater good, Fugaku had agreed to the arrangement made by Konoha's four leaders.
But the leadership kept pulling one outrageous stunt after another, as if deliberately trying to drive the Uchiha into rebellion. Their oppression only worsened, and they showed no sign of easing up.
Under pressure from popular opinion, the hesitant Uchiha Fugaku had decided a week ago to secretly plan a coup. He intended to seize control of Konoha by controlling the Nine-Tails.
For that purpose, three days ago, he had once again ordered Uchiha Itachi, who served in the Anbu, to act as a spy and gather intelligence, allowing the clan to coordinate its attack from within and without.
"All we need is the right opportunity to make our move!"
"If we truly stand united and show them our strength, we might not be able to cow every major clan, but we can at least force them to accept a Uchiha Hokage—and secure the position of Hokage Assistant or an adviser, taking our place among Konoha's highest decision-makers."
As the hawkish elder gave his grand introduction, Uchiha Xiu stood in the center of attention, feeling a pang of sorrow.
The Chunin and Jonin who didn't know the truth, however, gazed at Uchiha Xiu with fervent eyes, growing more optimistic by the moment.
The older generation had Elder Setsuna, at least as strong as an elite Jonin—a stabilizing force who had survived the dark era of Tobirama.
The middle generation had Clan Leader Fugaku, Elder Yashiro, Tekka, and other powerful fighters. They could lead the entire Konoha Military Police Force against Root and the Anbu.
Among the younger generation, Shisui, Itachi, and Xiu could join forces with Hikaru. Maybe the four of them could kill Sarutobi Hiruzen!
A clean decapitation strike!
Once the deed was done, there would be no turning back. The moderates led by Elder Shin would surely give in and join the operation.
With the entire clan behind them, they could crush Konoha~
Caught up in the moment, Elder Setsuna released his Sharingan, the Tomoe spinning rapidly.
"The Uchiha helped found Konoha, and now we're oppressed like this. If our ancestor Madara could see it from beyond the grave, wouldn't he hate us for failing to live up to his legacy?"
"The First was a Senju. The Second Hokage was a Senju. The Third Hokage was a student of Senju Tobirama, and the Fourth Hokage was the Third's grand-student."
"It's time for a Uchiha to become the Fifth Hokage."
Hearing this, the clan members vented their resentment and shouted fervently that they had to put forward a Uchiha Hokage.
They cursed the naturally evil old Tobirama, the Third Hokage, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and those damn villagers of Konoha...
One by one, they revealed their Sharingan.
Three Tomoe, Two Tomoe, One Tomoe—over a hundred pairs of eyes appeared in the dim chamber, releasing the power of Yin Release without restraint.
If a ninja from another clan had barged in just then, the overwhelming, terrifying pressure would probably have scared them to death.
Clan Leader Fugaku lifted his eyes to Uchiha Xiu, who stood there in high spirits. Their gazes met, and Fugaku took a deep breath.
His resolve only grew stronger:
Let's do it!
As long as Xiu made his position clear, I'll unite the two factions and lead the entire clan in one big push!
Once I reveal my Mangekyō Sharingan, my wavering eldest son, Itachi, will see which way the wind is blowing.
In Fugaku's view, the Konoha Military Police Force had held far more authority under the First than it did now.
The distribution of power had been fair.
But as soon as the Second Hokage took office, he'd rushed to establish the Anbu and stripped the Military Police Force of a great deal of its authority. When the Third Hokage succeeded him, that still wasn't enough. He even set up a secret department in addition to the Anbu:
Root.
"Can we talk?"
Once the clan meeting's attention shifted away from him, Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique to approach Uchiha Xiu as he came down from the stage.
The clan member he'd dismissed as insignificant two years ago had suddenly become crucial.
It was Xiu's show of strength a few days earlier that had lit the fuse and given the hawks their final boost of confidence.
His presence also represented the moderates, who had once wavered.
Seven or eight Jonin and a dozen or so Chunin—if they joined forces with the hawks, Konoha's largest clan would instantly become a war machine.
At that moment, another figure stepped in front of Uchiha Xiu:
"Xiu, Lord Hokage wishes to see you."
Itachi, wearing a cat mask, stated coldly.
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