Doubt the World Before Doubting Yourself.

"Sora, what exactly did you mean by what you said last night?"

Early in the morning, by the lake in the clan grounds, Shisui asked with a troubled expression.

He was the one who most hoped to see the relationship between the clan and the village ease, but Uchiha Sora's words at the clan meeting last night had given him an ominous premonition, leaving him unable to sleep all night.

Plop... plop... plop...

Uchiha Sora skipped stones across the water and said indifferently, "I was very clear. I do not view the development of the situation with optimism."

Shisui's brows furrowed tightly: "What have you discovered?"

Uchiha Sora did not answer, instead asking, "Shisui, if the village and the clan go to war, what will you choose?"

Shisui's pupils shrank violently, and he hurriedly shook his head: "Impossible! The village has already accepted us..."

"Heh, accepted."

Uchiha Sora laughed: "It seems you are also aware that they have never truly viewed us as a part of the village."

"Is the Uchiha some outsider who joined halfway? Why would we need their acceptance?"

Looking up at the Hokage Rock in the distance, Uchiha Sora's eyes darkened.

"But..." Shisui wanted to say something more.

"Enough."

Uchiha Sora interrupted Shisui, and the two locked eyes.

"Shisui, I am different from you."

"You are the descendant of Kagami Uchiha. Senior Kagami was taught by the Second Hokage, and his ideology influences you."

"I grew up on the commercial street of the clan grounds; I know what ordinary Uchiha clansmen are like."

"Uncle Shoyaki, Aunt Kome, Big Brother Yakumi..."

"They don't have such grand ideals; they just want to live in peace."

The distance between the two gradually closed. It was the first time Shisui had seen this usually gentle companion look at him with such oppressive eyes.

It was the final day.

Uchiha Sora did not intend to play the nice guy anymore; he revealed his true personality.

Arrogant, paranoid, conceited.

And... a profound love.

"Compared to you, who must consider the relationship between the village and the Uchiha, I only need to consider the clansmen."

"I also hope the clansmen can have a peaceful and tranquil life..."

Uchiha Sora tapped his finger on Shisui's forehead—a somewhat redundant gesture, as the images were being transmitted through ocular power.

Shisui, who had never thought to guard against a fellow clansman, fell into Uchiha Sora's genjutsu.

Just as he intended to break it, the first image he saw made him freeze.

Swish—

A brilliant blade of light severed a young girl's head.

Shisui recognized this girl; she was the daughter of the family that ran the clothing store on the commercial street.

Then...

A blurred black shadow kicked open door after door, dragging out all the children, women, and the elderly...

And slaughtered them.

Fresh blood stained the commercial street red, and even the full moon in the sky seemed to be dyed in crimson.

The scene shifted.

It was the Police Force, littered with corpses.

Finally...

The long blade swung by that black shadow severed the heads of the clan head and his wife.

--

--

Having exited the genjutsu, Shisui was already drenched in sweat. Cold beads dripped from his forehead, and his breathing was ragged.

"What... what on earth was that!"

"That was... the Hell Viewing Technique, right! It certainly triggered my greatest fear..."

As a master of genjutsu, Shisui understood clearly that the Hell Viewing Technique could not construct such detailed environments and characters; it was merely a genjutsu designed to induce fear.

This kind of genjutsu... was more like a transmission of images.

He forced a smile: "Your new technique is impressive, but don't use me as a test subject next time. It isn't funny..."

"That is what will happen in the future."

Uchiha Sora interrupted his words once again, shattering his illusions along with them.

"I have seen the future. The village eventually takes action against the Uchiha clan, resulting in total annihilation."

"The Uchiha clan, which has endured for a thousand years, will be declared at an end in a few years' time."

Shisui shook his head instinctively.

"How could that be... things are clearly moving in a positive direction, and besides... seeing the future or whatever, it's truly hard to believe!"

Clap... clap... clap...

Tossing the last stone shard from his hand, Uchiha Sora stood up: "Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant; you will know by tonight regardless."

"Shisui, your power is important, but it is not indispensable."

Watching Uchiha Sora's retreating back, Shisui hesitated for a moment before he couldn't help but call out: "Sora, who is it that intends to strike at the Uchiha! What exactly are you trying to do!"

--

"You will know tonight."

"I will shoulder the burden of the Uchiha clan."

"I will accomplish... what Madara Uchiha failed to do."

Uchiha Sora did not look back, gradually walking into the distance.

Shisui stood frozen by the lake, his mind flashing repeatedly with images of blood-stained faces and a blurred, dark shadow relentlessly swinging a slaughtering blade.

Who could it be!!

Who is it that wants to kill the clansmen!!

Kill him!!

I must kill him!

As his emotions surged, three black tomoe slowly emerged within Shisui's crimson eye sockets.

--

--

The clan training ground.

Two tomoe appeared in Uchiha Sora's eyes as he scanned the area, finding nothing unusual.

He bit his fingertip, quickly formed hand seals, and slammed his palm onto the ground.

Summoning Technique.

Poof!!

As the white smoke cleared, a blue ninja cat appeared, standing on two legs with a row of throwing knives strapped to its waist.

The blue cat stood roughly at Uchiha Sora's chest height, wearing an eye patch over one eye, giving it the air of a pirate captain.

"Yo, kid Sora, Lord Jialuo has arrived!"

"Today isn't the repayment day, so summoning me at this hour..."

Flick—

The blue cat named Jialuo pulled a cigar from somewhere and lit it, his voice low: "Speak, who are we killing!"

Thwack!

"Meow—"

Uchiha Sora landed a punch on top of Jialuo's head; the cigar fell to the ground, and the eye patch was knocked askew.

He crouched down and whispered: "Tell Granny Cat that the time for our agreement has arrived."

Jialuo picked up the eye patch and switched it to the other eye.

"Sora... are you really going to defect?"

Uchiha Sora shook his head and smiled faintly: "Watch your phrasing. I won't be slinking away like some stray snake."

"I only called for you because bringing too many people would be a hassle, and I need your help moving the luggage."

Jialuo is Uchiha Sora's summoning beast; they have known each other since they were very young. They are true partners, and he knows a great deal.

"Are you sure anyone will follow you? Granny Cat said that back in the day, not a single person followed Madara Uchiha."

"The times are different."

"Back then, peace had just been established, so it was only natural that no one wanted to follow Madara Uchiha."

"Tonight, I will tear reality open and lay it out before them, forcing them to make a choice."

Jialuo picked up a cigar, took a puff, and shook his head. "You're still as wicked as ever, Sora-boy."

"Deciding the path of an entire clan based solely on your own whims."

"Are you certain your choice is the correct one?"

The corners of Uchiha Sora's mouth curled up, brimming with a smile.

"Ah... of course."

"I never doubt my own choices. If things go against my wishes, it is merely because my luck is poor."

Uchiha Sora is a normal Uchiha.

In his view...

The one that is wrong is the world, not me.

--

Time slipped away quietly.

As night fell, Inside the office of the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was helping Namikaze Minato handle affairs, turned his head to look at the full moon outside the window.

For some reason...

A sudden, inexplicable tremor stirred in the depths of his heart.