"What on earth is going on?"
After the many Uchiha clan members had dispersed, Fugaku Uchiha walked into Ensei Uchiha's room first.
Ignoring the conspicuous passage to the basement, the three of them stopped in the living room in perfect unison.
"Clan head, Lord Hokage suspects that Ensei Uchiha has been impersonated by an enemy. I share that suspicion now, so I hope Ensei can provide some crucial evidence to prove his identity."
Shisui Uchiha didn't hide Hiruzen Sarutobi's suspicions. Unlike Itachi Uchiha later on, although he was caught between the village and his clan, he had never wanted to give up either side.
After hearing Shisui's words, Fugaku also recalled some details from the reports about the Nine-Tails' Rampage.
Ensei didn't know the details of the Nine-Tails' Rampage and thought things had happened just as they had in the original story.
In reality, though the Uchiha Clan was in a difficult position, it hadn't been completely shut out by Konoha's High Command.
So Fugaku still knew some important information.
"How ridiculous. You're the fool, Shisui Uchiha. Prove that you're really yourself."
"Go on. Let's see how you plan to prove it!"
Ensei sneered and threw the question back at him.
But the next moment, Shisui opened his Mangekyō Sharingan. The unique ocular power of the Mangekyō Sharingan was impossible to imitate.
"...Why would an idiot like you awaken eyes like these?"
Ensei muttered helplessly, looking as if he didn't want to deal with Shisui anymore.
Watching the two of them clash, Fugaku felt a headache coming on.
"Enough. Let's deal with the problem first."
"Ensei, your recent behavior really has been strange. Awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan out of nowhere would be one thing, but the Ninja Cat Clan has practically become your personal followers."
"And then there are all those supplies and equipment you keep bringing in... What exactly are you doing?"
Fugaku suppressed his anger and did his best to keep his voice calm as he asked.
Ensei fell silent for a moment, then slowly began, "I awakened these eyes when I was five..."
"They aren't the Mangekyō Sharingan, but they aren't a bloodline mutation either."
"I still don't know exactly what they are."
"But with these eyes, I can see the future."
"So after seeing the future, I used a Shadow Clone to deliver a warning about the Nine-Tails' Rampage to the Fourth Hokage at the time."
"..."
A few years ago, Ensei had to hide his existence because he wasn't strong enough to protect himself.
But now that he had the strength to defend himself, it was only natural to let everyone know about his so-called gift of foresight.
That was the only way to get the greatest rewards at the smallest cost.
After briefly telling Fugaku and Shisui a few things, Ensei changed the subject and turned to Shisui.
"Do you know why I call you an idiot?"
"Because in the future, you idiot, you'll reveal the power of your Mangekyō Sharingan, then get ambushed by Danzo, who'll steal one of your Mangekyō Sharingan."
Then Ensei turned to Fugaku.
"And you, you useless fool. You didn't even know that Danzo had stolen the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, and he even learned your clan's forbidden technique, Izanagi."
"Do you know how Shisui's eye was stolen? He lost it to your clan's own forbidden technique, Izanagi."
Ensei didn't spare either of them, letting loose and cursing them both out.
If Ensei had been any older, neither man would have tolerated this. Even if Ensei had been in the right, they wouldn't have stood for it.
But Ensei was only ten, and although what he said hadn't been proven yet, there was a good chance it was true.
So neither of them could hold their heads up in front of him.
"Danzo... really did take the Sharingan?"
Fugaku's first reaction to the news was rage—uncontrollable rage.
The brat in front of him might have called him a coward, but Fugaku Uchiha was still a renowned and powerful shinobi.
During the Third Great Ninja War, his title, "Fugaku the Wicked Eye," had been enough to strike fear into his enemies.
But when he thought of the Uchiha Clan's standing in Konoha, the cold reality drowned his anger, and he gradually calmed down.
"About Danzo... I'll demand an explanation from him. This won't end so easily."
Fugaku's words sounded forceful, but in truth, they were as weak as could be.
"Neither of you act rashly. Even if the Uchiha Clan managed to rebel successfully, Konoha would be left in ruins."
"Then enemy forces would invade, and the Uchiha Clan would be pushed to the brink of extinction."
Clearly, Fugaku knew he was being weak. So he could only reason with them earnestly, hoping these two rising stars in the clan would put the greater good first.
Shisui agreed with Fugaku's view.
Unfortunately, Ensei had nothing but contempt for it.
"Coward! Useless fool!"
"You're afraid of an enemy invasion? Is Hiruzen Sarutobi not afraid? Are Shimura Danzo and the others not afraid?"
"Then why do they dare to keep pushing us further and further? Because you, the clan head, are too weak!"
"Today, you don't care that Shimura Danzo has the Sharingan. Tomorrow, you let Shisui Uchiha get both eyes gouged out. And the day after that, is it going to be your brainwashed, idiotic son who wipes out the entire clan?"
Ensei's tirade finally snapped the last thread of reason in Fugaku's mind.
"Enough, brat! You need to learn to respect your elders."
Consumed by rage, Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan appeared, and he stared straight at Ensei.
Shisui, seeing this, no longer knew which of them he should try to calm down.
As the Uchiha Clan's leader, it seemed only natural that Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. But Shisui couldn't help wondering if Fugaku had just awakened his eyes from sheer anger.
"Respect you? You're the useless fool who let his own son slaughter the entire clan!"
Ensei spoke coldly. At the same time, pale blue ocular power gradually appeared around him, then condensed into a solid, skull-shaped form.
Seeing this, Fugaku finally regained his composure.
"Stop! Don't waste your ocular power. I was wrong..."
Before you continue