Seize the Mangekyo, War Begins! (Seeking Follow-ups)

Naka Shrine.

A torrential downpour hammered against the tiled eaves of the Uchiha compound, gathering into streams that scoured the bluestone pavement.

Uchiha Fugaku stood silently under an eave, his face set in a stony expression.

At this moment, the jonin Yakumi broke through the curtain of rain and hurried inside. He was neither a hardliner nor a moderate, but an aide loyal to the clan head.

He leaned into Fugaku's ear and whispered, "Clan Head, Itachi has gone and not returned. After the meeting, Shisui went home to be alone for a while, and his whereabouts are now unknown."

Unknown?

Upon hearing this, Fugaku's expression turned stern.

Has he completely defected to the Third Hokage Sarutobi!

"Heh, the Uchiha really is a breeding ground for traitors."

A sense of helplessness welled up in Fugaku's heart. Just as Shisui was wary of him and dared not act rashly, he was equally terrified of Kotoamatsukami, fearing his own ocular power could not contend with that ability.

That was right; Fugaku had already vaguely grasped the power of those shuriken-shaped Mangekyo—it was mind control.

This was because one of his own primary abilities focused on foreseeing blurred timelines of the future.

And the reason he had steeled his resolve to act alone stemmed from a future he had accidentally glimpsed not long ago—

The result was exceptionally clear and definitive: after the entire clan rebelled, an Uchiha with a Mangekyo and blurred features actually became Hokage, wearing the Hokage haori emblazoned with the character for "Fire"!

That was more than enough.

"Does the Third think he can dismiss me by throwing a dog bone? Kagami, Obito—who among them ever reached the center of the village's power? I cannot ruin Sasuke's future."

"Besides, Xiu was not wrong."

Fugaku muttered to himself as his vision blurred once more, a single drop of blood trickling from the corner of his eye:

"Confirming one last time... Hahaha, it is a very good result. My blood will not have been shed in vain."

"..." Yakumi remained silent.

As a high-ranking member of the Military Police Force and a confidant of the clan head, he roughly understood the price Fugaku paid every time he used his Mangekyo ocular jutsu.

Yet, he could not afford not to use it!

"What about Xiu?" Regaining his composure, Fugaku mentioned the key figure in tonight's rebellion once again.

According to the hastily finalized plan, the suddenly rising Uchiha Xiu was to lead an elite force consisting of eight clan jonin and sixteen chunin to launch the first wave of the assault on the Hokage Building.

And this force, capable of turning the tide on any major front during the ninja wars, was merely an appetizer.

The main force would follow, led by him and Elder Setsuna, commanding the Military Police Force.

Take down Sarutobi!

The monkey must die tonight.

As for whether other ninja clans would stand against the Uchiha? Regarding that business with the Hyuga Clan, you handled it too poorly, old man. They will only act as fence-sitters.

"After leaving the ancestral secret chamber, Xiu also disappeared."

Yakumi said helplessly, "He left a note saying not to worry about him breaking his word; he went to track Shisui."

"Furthermore, he told everyone to act according to the situation. If they see the commotion caused by fighting erupting within the village, the faster the support arrives, the better."

"Good." Fugaku nodded, remaining calm.

Only failure is called a rebellion.

But success?

The look of absolute certainty infected every clan member who passed by, even those who had been feeling uneasy.

Follow the Clan Head, the Elder, and Xiu—just charge in, and that's all there is to it.

They have confidence, so we have confidence!

—The children attending the Ninja Academy had already been escorted home safely by the Military Police Force.

—The clan's forces had completed a full consolidation.

Not far from the shrine.

In a tatami room deep within a large mansion, the atmosphere was heavy. Uchiha Yashiro knelt before a low table, his knuckles tapping against the wood involuntarily.

He was deeply agitated.

Bang!

Suddenly, smoke exploded before his eyes.

A large, fat orange cat appeared.

"Elder Yashiro, sorry to keep you waiting." The fat orange cat spoke in human tongue, its voice carrying the languid tone peculiar to felines, but its glowing green slit pupils were exceptionally eerie.

Yashiro looked up abruptly. "Where is the item?"

It extended its tongue to lick a paw, then said in a leisurely manner:

"Three thousand Explosive Tags, five thousand refined Kunai, five thousand Shuriken, three hundred giant Fuma Shuriken, fifty custom-made short blades capable of conducting chakra, and enough military rations and antidotes for five hundred people to last three days."

"Meow, next time you plan on doing something big, remember to tell us in advance, meow. That way we can stock up~"

As it spoke, three scrolls as tall as a person were summoned by the Ninja Cat.

"Go ahead and check them, meow."

Yashiro did not touch them immediately, instead staring fixedly at the fat orange cat before him: "Your clan... are you certain you can remain uninvolved?"

The orange cat stopped licking its fur, its green eyes meeting Yashiro's scarlet Sharingan, and sighed: "Granny says the Ninja Cat clan only deals in trade. As long as there is money... we sell to whoever pays, which doesn't count as picking a side, meow."

"We've all agreed on the same story: the 'family affairs' between the Uchiha and Konoha are things we have no intention of prying into, nor the power to interfere with. We know nothing."

It paused, its tail tip sweeping lightly across the damp tatami mat, "However... Elder, I hope you succeed, meow~"

"Oh my, I really didn't expect that a delicate-looking young man like Xiu could help the Uchiha make such a firm decision, meow."

Hearing that name—which felt so striking coming from the cat's mouth—Yashiro took a deep breath to suppress his agitation. He pulled a thick stack of banknotes from his robes, placed them into a bag, and pushed it toward the orange cat.

"No need to verify the goods. This is the payment, double the amount. After all... it really is a trouble for you to bear this risk. Every banknote can be used at any underground exchange."

The chatterbox orange cat quickly used its paws to nimbly open the bag, took a peek, and a satisfied purring sound began to resonate.

It clamped the money bag in its mouth, "The Uchiha's generous reward, we have noted it."

"I wish you... all your desires fulfilled, Elder Yashiro."

"Actually, Cat Granny also wanted to meet this boy Xiu. She said that if an accident occurs, the Ninja Cat clan will use the Reverse Summoning Technique in time to save a few talented Uchiha. That is the limit of what we can do, meow."

With those words, the fat orange shadow vanished without a trace.

Only the three large scrolls remained standing.

"Xiu, you must bring Shisui back as soon as possible. The operation will begin before long."

Elder Yashiro stared blankly out the window, his heart a tangled mess.

"Rest assured, before Xiu left... I gave him four three-tomoe Sharingan."

Uchiha Setsuna appeared via Body Flicker, as if he could read minds, and spoke in a low voice:

"They were all taken from clansmen who died in battle, at their own request before cremation. They said they wanted their eyes to see the clan restore its glory and reach the position it deserves."

"Good, then I am relieved. I will go distribute the final batch of war supplies now."

The Uchiha Hawk Faction was not a force that had just emerged when the Third Hokage took office.

As early as when Hashirama passed away and Tobirama served as the Second Hokage, the suppression of the Uchiha had already been brought to the table.

"Four Sharingan mean four chances to use Izanagi, four periods of invincibility. For Xiu, that is enough."

Setsuna recalled the scene from five days ago: Uchiha Xiu had easily defeated Old Man Shin.

Where is your limit?

At the same time, from people to cats, from the Uchiha to the high-ranking officials of Konoha, and even the well-informed heads of small ninja clans, everyone was whispering a single name.

Forest of Death.

The area was filled with dense woods, the roars of wild beasts echoing from time to time.

Root ninja came and went, constantly reporting various intelligence to Danzo.

"Hmph, the Hyuga Clan!"

"At a time like this, Hiashi actually refuses to send members of the Main House to participate in the operation... Once the Uchiha are wiped out, the Hyuga will become the number one noble clan in my Konoha. Short-sighted fools, is there not a single intelligent person in that entire clan?"

Danzo grew increasingly irritable: "Just two Caged Bird Seal branch members temporarily added to the Anbu to protect and monitor the Jinchuriki on the periphery. Heh, Monkey, I can't believe you actually had the gall to swallow that!"

Yet, at the thought of the person he was about to meet, Danzo forced himself to calm down.

Not long after.

A figure appeared like a ghost in a clearing deep within the Forest of Death.

Shisui knelt on one knee, rainwater sliding down his forehead protector.

"Lord Danzo."

"I implore you to join forces with the two advisors and advise the Third to give the Uchiha one more chance, to give Xiu one more chance. He is still young... he doesn't understand."

"Fool."

Deep inside a rock not too far away, Uchiha Xiu wore an "I knew it" expression.

Sure enough, a dog cannot change its habit of eating excrement.

The fence-sitter is still sitting on the fence.

Even with a Mangekyo and Kage-level strength, his knees are still soft, and he loves to kneel here and there.

"I don't need you to plead for me. Rebellion is not a dinner party; would that old dog Danzo ever show mercy?"

Earth Style: Rock Hiding Technique, a high-level skill that allows the user to move freely through rock, making their path difficult to detect.

As long as he didn't get too close, there was no reason for him to be discovered.

Especially at this moment, because it was an impromptu meeting, Root had not deployed enough high-level sensory ninjas to conduct a sweep.

Danzo leaned on his cane, his heart burning with intense fervor, the three-tomoe Sharingan hidden beneath his bandages spinning: "Shisui, your loyalty... this old man understands."

His withered palm slowly lifted, as if to offer comfort—

But the moment it touched Shisui's shoulder, it transformed into a viper-like grapple!

"But the loyalty of the Uchiha is worthless!"

Squelch. His fingertips, wrapped in Wind Style chakra, gouged directly into Shisui's right eye.

Blood mixed with rainwater sprayed onto the decaying leaves.

"Argh—!!"

Facing a shameless sneak attack from a Kage-level powerhouse, Shisui let out an instinctive scream.

The moment the excruciating pain tore through his nerves, he saw the greed filling Danzo's single exposed eye.

Clearly... he was clearly a comrade-in-arms of Grandfather Kagami, both of them disciples of the Second Hokage, inheritors of the Will of Fire.

Why?

The next moment, the shadows of the trees all around burst apart!

More than a dozen masked ninjas lunged out like ghosts.

The voice of Uchiha Xiu surfaced in Shisui's mind:

"Harboring fantasies about the Konoha high command? Shisui, you are laughably naive!"

"If you seek peace through compromise, then peace shall perish."

So, I really am an idiot.

"Danzo!!!"

In Shisui's left eye, the Mangekyo spun frantically, and emerald-green ribs erupted from his body.

The giant arm of the Susanoo swept horizontally, and the Root ninjas, despite being elite Jonin, were sent flying backward like trash.

However, the burden of manifesting Susanoo with a single eye left him flickering like a candle in the wind.

"A deathbed struggle." Danzo sneered and retreated, his palm clutching that warm, blood-weeping Kotoamatsukami, his entire being floating in ecstasy.

This kind of power is something only this old man is worthy of wielding~

Just as he was getting carried away, a hand covered in mud violently burst from the earth, precisely gripping Danzo's wrist.

"Wha—?" Danzo's pupils shrank to pinpricks.

The figure of Uchiha Xiu erupted from the mire, his other hand striking out directly.

His palm glowed with blue light.

A seal-less ninjutsu, Rasengan!

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; this thing is mine...

A violent force slammed into Danzo's face, and the eyeball he hadn't even had time to warm up changed owners on the spot.

Simultaneously, Uchiha Xiu spun around, throwing three Kunai attached to Explosive Tags, aiming straight for Danzo's face.

"Boom—!"

Amidst the explosive firelight, Danzo, his bandages already injected with Hashirama Cells, barely managed to save his own life, though his entire face was a bloody mess.

The last person to take a Rasengan to the face and survive was Uchiha Obito.

The two shared a commonality:

They were beneficiaries of Hashirama Cells.

However, the technology Orochimaru used on Danzo was not very mature; green sprouts were emerging from the man's face, a side effect of the cells growing out of control due to excessive regeneration.

"Xiu... you..." Shisui stumbled to his knees, his Susanoo dissipating.

"Shut up! You idiot, let's break out first!" Uchiha Xiu tossed a test tube over, "Or, we can raise the curtain on the rebellion right here..."

Shisui raised his blood-stained hand, catching it instinctively.

A three-tomoe Sharingan was soaking in the solution.

Why not my original Mangekyo?

In an instant, a flash of realization crossed Shisui's heart; a person like him truly did not deserve to possess that power.

As the three-tomoe entered his eye, the still-living optic nerve immediately completed an autonomous connection.

The value of a hot-swap was beyond doubt.

Though not as good as the original, it stabilized his condition, restoring his combat power to a weak Kage level.

If I fight with my life, taking down one Kage-level combatant from Konoha will be no problem at all!

Seek peace through struggle!!

"Earth Style: Earth Flow River."

Beside Shisui, Uchiha Xiu, having harvested a Mangekyo, finished his hand seals, and a torrent of mud instantly swallowed a dozen figures.

The Root ninja swept away by the Susanoo were dead!

Filled with fury, Shisui flashed forward.

With a flash of blade light, three heads aligned on a diagonal line left their necks in unison, taking flight on the spot.

"Tsk tsk, when this fool stops thinking about politics and focuses on killing, he truly is a peerless weapon."

"Even without the Sharingan, his masterful Body Flicker Technique alone is enough to make one wary..."

Stowing his spoils into a storage scroll, Uchiha Xiu kicked out casually to the left.

Instantly, the rain atomized.

The taijutsu-specialist Root ninja who had initiated the attack flew backward.

Forget about being a mere Chunin; even an ordinary Jonin, without a powerful Kekkei Genkai to rely on, is... only slightly stronger than a stray dog on the roadside in front of me.

The torrential rain washed over the blood-soaked forest.

"My lord, are you alright?"

At this moment, a ninja wearing a special mask that revealed only his mouth flashed into view, shielding Danzo.

"Kill them! Torune, kill them! My eyes!!"

His entire face twisted into a spiral, Danzo crawled out of the mud, still a bloody mess, and roared in a loss of composure.

At the same time.

In a dark corner, Yamanaka Fu, who had arrived late due to drawing on his power, raised his hand, focused his mental energy on a single point, and aimed his hand seals at Uchiha Xiu from afar:

"Got you. Enemy becomes mine."

"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"

An invisible, massive surge of mental energy flew out.

Whoosh!

Uchiha Xiu, who had just displayed his might, turned into a puddle of water, merging with the curtain of rain.

"I was already guarding against you, Yamanaka Fu."

Having obtained intelligence on the upper echelons of Root in advance, Uchiha Xiu emerged from a mud pit not far away.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear."

A pitch-black fist smashed out with brute force.

Yamanaka Fu, paralyzed by the Mind Transfer, had no power to resist.

Bang! In the face of a body capable of deflecting anything, a head blossomed.

Sizzle!

Sticky, foul-smelling hot steam sprayed out.

"Ninjas are truly too fragile once their intelligence is suppressed by the enemy."

"Fu!"

Aburame Torune, having lost his companion in an instant, spread his arms—

Secret Technique: Rinkaichu.

"Hum~"

Countless nano-poison insects, invisible to the naked eye, gushed from his cuffs, condensing into a large, eerie gray mist amidst the downpour!

In the curtain of rain, this poison mist did not dissipate; instead, it spread rapidly by utilizing the moisture.

"Insect Sphere: Bind."

One patch of gray mist surrounded Danzo's location, while another transformed into two poison dragons, coiling toward Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Xiu respectively.

Wherever they passed, the vegetation rapidly withered and turned black.