The Uchiha Survivors Pledged Their Loyalty, and Danzo Missed His Chance

Phantom God left to roam the Ninja World.

The clone said, "Original, the name Phantom God is way too cringey and embarrassing. I want to change it to Nirvana. It means enduring hardship and embracing rebirth, and it's also the highest Buddhist state—transcending reincarnation, immortal and indestructible. What do you think?"

"Heh, whatever makes you happy." Qingwu watched the solemn-faced Phantom God... Nirvana, the corners of his mouth twitching. As expected of me. Even his showing off is completely shameless.

Nirvana did sound more impressive than Phantom God, and it was also a true reflection of Shisui, the clone's former self.

"Gotta spoil myself. Approved."

"I'm awesome!"

The Small World.

"This visualization method modeled on the Demon Refining Pot really is amazing. Not only does it continually temper my soul, it also keeps purifying my energy and branding it with my will..."

Qingwu sat cross-legged beneath the God Tree, meditating. This was his daily mandatory practice. Great power needed a matching state of mind to control it, or he would gradually become a slave to that power.

"Remember, Lord Qingwu saved our lives. From today onward, we live for him. Understood?" Izumi Uchiha fixed the remaining clan members with a stern gaze.

Now that someone had saved them and they were living under his roof, these survivors had to make their position clear if they wanted their clan members to survive.

Izumi had no choice.

She firmly believed there was no such thing as a free lunch, especially when the other party belonged to the Hyuga Clan, another prominent clan like their own.

"Yes! Lord Qingwu's commands are our will."

A group of little children and Uchiha women holding babies knelt on one knee and pledged their loyalty to Qingwu.

No one had forced them.

The tragedy of that night remained vivid in their minds.

Over the past few days, they had heard and seen much from the shadows. Learning of the Uchiha's ultimate fate and how the village had divided up their clan's assets left them devastated.

"Aaah!" At the thought that the Uchiha Clan had been erased from the Ninja World, its assets carved up and its survivors left like wandering ghosts, everyone except the infants awakened their Sharingan in a burst of rage.

Izumi Uchiha, the girl killed by the man she adored, had turned dark. She went straight to three tomoe. If her foundation had been a little stronger, Qingwu had no doubt she would have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Qingwu said, "Holy shit! I hit the jackpot."

The Uchiha were a clan of love.

Their feelings were all extreme: romantic obsession, devotion to younger brothers, devotion to older brothers, bonds between comrades...

Once they lost what they loved, those extreme emotions gave rise to extreme power, awakening the Sharingan and even affecting their personalities.

Once they made up their minds, nothing could sway them.

Stubborn to the core.

"Remember what you said. I truly hope I never have to execute any of you with my own hands." Three tomoe appeared in Izumi Uchiha's eyes, and killing intent poured from her.

"Yes," all the Uchiha answered in unison. They did not doubt her in the slightest.

"The Uchiha are no more. Please grant us a new name, my lord."

Izumi Uchiha lowered her head and bit her lip, endless sorrow filling her eyes. Any Factions that took them in would not want its subordinates carrying too strong an identity of their own.

Give up the Uchiha name?!

The others' hearts trembled too. Yes, the Uchiha Clan had already been wiped out. They...

"Very well. From today onward, you are the Shadow Guard. Keep the Uchiha surname. It is the only mark your clan has left behind. Always remember where you came from. If an opportunity arises in the future, I will allow you to take revenge with your own hands."

After some thought, Qingwu granted them a name. He could not bring himself to make them change their surname. The Uchiha Clan was gone, leaving only these young seedlings. He ought to give them something to hold on to.

Little did he know that this very act...

Won the Uchiha survivors' hearts completely.

"Thank you, Lord Qingwu. I swear to serve you loyally unto death. Wherever you point, our blades will follow!"

Izumi Uchiha looked at Qingwu with gratitude, as did the other Uchiha survivors. They did not have to abandon their name. That was wonderful.

"We swear to serve Lord Qingwu loyally unto death."

"Good. I accept your loyalty. Rise." Qingwu nodded his agreement and waved for them to stand. Having come from Blue Star in his previous life, he still was not used to people kneeling before him.

"Thank you, my lord!"

Izumi Uchiha and the others breathed a sigh of relief, their anxious hearts finally settling. All that mattered was that he had accepted their loyalty. They were not afraid of being used; they were afraid they would be of no use to Qingwu.

Survivors of a bloodline clan who were of no use...

Would, more likely than not...

End up on an operating table.

"However, given your unusual identities, you cannot appear in the Ninja World yet. Stay here and focus on your training."

"Help me take good care of this place while you're at it. You'll probably be living here for quite a long time..."

Once he finished giving his instructions...

Qingwu vanished in a flash.

"Done!"

Do not mistake Qingwu for some innocent soul indifferent to worldly matters who would trust them after hearing a few words.

Do not forget where this was.

Qingwu's Small World.

When Izumi Uchiha and the others swore an oath to Qingwu, it was equivalent to swearing before the Heavenly Dao. The Small World branded their souls. Betraying the Heavenly Dao would, of course, mean a terrible death.

The Small World would absorb everything as nourishment, denying them even the chance to reincarnate. It was more terrifying than any cursed seal.

"Don't blame me. Your Uchiha love is too extreme for me not to take precautions. If you betray me after I saved you and preserved the seeds of your legacy, then you don't deserve to live."

Qingwu had long since put away his kind heart after coming to the Ninja World.

"Don't blame me. It's all this world's fault. As long as you remain loyal... rebuilding the Uchiha in the future isn't out of the question..."

"Wouldn't you agree, Mikoto?"

"You're right, Qingwu."

"Ahahaha..."

With the Uchiha Clan wiped out, Konoha became much quieter. At least, that was how it felt to civilians and children like Qingwu.

A world where only the Uchiha suffered had come to pass. The world really did keep turning, no matter who was gone.

Over the course of a year, Konoha decisively repelled every probe from the other ninja villages. Virtually every suspicious Factions that entered the Land of Fire during that period was annihilated, striking fear into all sides.

"Deploy the entire Anbu. It's time they learned what the Shinobi Hero is. I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, have only grown old, not died." With no need to monitor or guard against the Uchiha, Sarutobi Hiruzen's Anbu Factions had their hands freed and went on a killing spree.

Even Qingwu was stunned. "Damn, impressive! Since when did that old bastard Sarutobi Hiruzen have so much guts?"

The other ninja villages were shocked too. Holy shit! Everyone said Konoha's Third was a spineless coward. Why was he being so tough this time?

"Everyone, passage beyond this point is forbidden."

Crackle, crackle! A white-haired Anbu who had killed many people spoke coldly, lightning held in his hand.

The Anbu leader was none other than Kakashi.

He fought his way to fame as Copy Ninja Kakashi. After displaying over a thousand copied ninjutsu, he became known among Konoha's own people as Konoha's First Technician, the man of a thousand techniques.

Asuma Sarutobi also earned a respectable reputation with his Flying Swallow Piercing Sky. Worthy of that thirty-five million...

Might Guy's taijutsu was fierce and overwhelming. His Morning Peacock and Daytime Tiger shook heaven and earth, earning him the title of Blue Beast.

Gekko Hayate's swordsmanship was astonishing. Unfortunately, excessive use of Transparent Escape allowed someone to discover an opening, injuring his lungs and leaving lasting complications...

Yamashiro Aoba excelled in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu alike...

Word had it that Ōnoki cursed the heavens for their unfairness, raging over how much they favored Konoha. The Raikage smashed another desk, the Kazekage was thankful his village had not participated in the probes, and the Mizukage was under control...

Root could have used this chance to rehabilitate its reputation, but instead sank into a strange silence, missing a golden opportunity.

Qingwu could not help sneering. "That old dog Danzo is probably busy digesting what he plundered from the Uchiha and modifying himself."

"You really are hopeless. Even when handed an opportunity, you're useless. When it's time to act, you do nothing.

"And you still want to become Hokage? Eat shit!"