Tracking Kirigakure

After the transplant was complete, Uchiha Akira spent a few seconds sensing the changes before manipulating his scarlet left eye to revert to a black pupil.

Now was not the time to study this Mangekyō Sharingan, even though he could already feel the subtle changes following the transplant.

As a member of the Uchiha Clan, he could control the eye with ease, even if it wasn't his original, unlike Hatake Kakashi who was unable to deactivate his Sharingan.

Uchiha Akira did not leave the battlefield immediately; instead, he began to inspect the area.

The traces of Wood Release had already vanished from the scene, likely because Uchiha Obito did not want to expose the fact that someone was capable of using it.

Furthermore, Uchiha Akira did not find the corpse of Nohara Rin, which led him to believe she had been taken away by Uchiha Obito.

"What is this!?" Uchiha Akira's gaze suddenly sharpened. At the edge of the forest, he spotted some viscous white liquid.

Uchiha Akira carefully recalled the plot, and an image surfaced in his mind.

It was the moment Uchiha Obito saw Nohara Rin throw herself onto Hatake Kakashi's Chidori, awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan and going on a rampage, during which some white substance had emerged from his body.

Uchiha Akira thought, Perhaps this stuff is Hashirama Senju Cells!

With that in mind, he took out a transparent container and collected about half a bottle of the white, viscous substance splattered on the ground and tree trunks.

Once finished, Uchiha Akira left the scene; after a delay of several minutes, Konoha's rescue team should be arriving soon.

When Uchiha Akira returned to the Konoha camp that evening and found Uchiha Fugaku, he appeared quite surprised.

Uchiha Akira's return was a bit too fast.

"Ming, back so soon?" Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Akira with a stern expression and asked in a deep voice, "Did you find anything?"

Uchiha Akira nodded solemnly: "The hundred-man Kirigakure pursuit squad is dead, and they died miserably!"

"What?"

Uchiha Fugaku's stern expression finally broke. He looked at Uchiha Akira in disbelief and pressed for details:

"A hundred Kirigakure ninjas, all at least Chunin level, are dead? Does Hatake Kakashi have the strength of the White Fang at his age!?"

"It wasn't his doing. When I arrived, Hatake Kakashi had already fainted on the ground." Uchiha Akira shook his head and said in a low voice, "Someone else killed those Anbu."

Uchiha Fugaku whispered with a grave expression: "There are few people in the Ninja World with such strength; this is enough to change the course of a war."

After pondering for a moment, he looked at Uchiha Akira and asked: "Is Hatake Kakashi's Sharingan still there?"

"It is," Uchiha Akira replied.

"Who could it be? It's impossible for a master to just appear out of thin air..." Uchiha Fugaku fell into deep thought.

At this moment, Uchiha Akira looked at Uchiha Fugaku with a hint of hesitation: "Clan Leader, I found something at the scene, but I'm not entirely sure what it is."

Uchiha Fugaku's expression shifted, and he asked: "What is it?"

"It is suspected to be the cells of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!" As he spoke, Uchiha Akira took out the bottle containing the white viscous liquid.

Without a sound, Uchiha Fugaku activated his scarlet Sharingan, staring fixedly at the bottle in Uchiha Akira's hand.

Upon seeing it, Uchiha Fugaku's face filled with shock, and he muttered: "It really is the First Hokage's cells. This chakra, carrying such rich vitality, cannot be mistaken."

Uchiha Akira had already confirmed this on his way back, which was why he brought it out.

When it came to researching Hashirama Senju Cells, one person's power was ultimately insufficient.

The Uchiha Clan was wealthy and influential, possessing vast resources and connections, making them the perfect candidates to study Hashirama Senju Cells.

"So, it's possible a powerful ninja with Wood Release killed the Kirigakure Anbu..." Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned gloomy. "Hatake Kakashi is unharmed, so is this Wood Release user Konoha's trump card?"

Uchiha Akira found it amusing; Uchiha Fugaku had thought it through and ultimately pinned the blame on Konoha.

But that was fine; under pressure, the likelihood of his own proposal being implemented was much higher.

"I never imagined the higher-ups would silently bring back the First Hokage's bloodline limit..." Uchiha Fugaku let out a long sigh, feeling the weight on his shoulders increase.

At this time, Uchiha Akira spoke up: "Clan Leader, perhaps our Uchiha Clan should also make some changes. Back then, even Uchiha Madara with the Nine-Tails was no match for the First Hokage..."

Upon hearing his words, Uchiha Fugaku understood what he meant.

He remained silent for a long time before speaking: "Ming, the First Hokage's power is not so easily mastered. Konoha conducted transplant experiments in the past, but there were no survivors, and those experiments only accelerated the decline of the Senju Clan."

The Senju Clan was now a shell of its former self, and a large part of that was due to the Wood Release experiments of the past.

"But Konoha has succeeded now, haven't they?" Uchiha Akira said in a low voice. "Even if our Uchiha Clan possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan, it is difficult to contend with Wood Release. Uchiha Madara proved that back then. We must find a way to possess equal power."

Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath and looked at Uchiha Akira: "Ming, this matter requires careful consideration. Keep the First Hokage's cells safe; we will discuss this after the war ends."

"I understand." Uchiha Akira nodded, then said: "Clan Leader, if there is nothing else, I will head back."

"Wait, be prepared to go on a mission at any time." Uchiha Fugaku stopped him.

"Clan Leader, has something happened?" Uchiha Akira looked at him, puzzled.

A faint smile appeared on Uchiha Fugaku's face: "Members of the Hyuga Main Family have gone missing during patrol. We found traces of Kirigakure ninjas at the scene, and a Byakugan has been taken."

Ever since the Senju Clan had become a shadow of its former self, the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan had been the ones vying for dominance within Konoha.

Seeing his old rival suffer a setback, Uchiha Fugaku was in a very good mood.

"A Byakugan was lost!?" Uchiha Akira was stunned, then recalled something.

During the Third Ninja World War, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan was indeed lost, eventually falling into the hands of a Kirigakure Jonin named Ao.

"Therefore, be prepared to head out on a mission at any time." Uchiha Fugaku nodded solemnly.

"I understand." Uchiha Akira nodded.

Deep within the secluded forest, Uchiha Akira held a gleaming Kunai, its polished surface reflecting a pair of extraordinary Sharingan.

In his right eye, three pitch-black tomoe spun—a standard Three Tomoe Sharingan; his left eye, however, was entirely different, resembling three scythes linked together.

As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Akira felt no difficulty in wielding this eye.

"It's not difficult at all... After transplanting this eye, the quality of the chakra I refine has improved significantly. My visual prowess has increased tremendously; it truly lives up to the name Mangekyo. Even in its base state, it is a cut above my right eye!"

Carefully sensing the changes following the transplant, Uchiha Akira nodded slowly, feeling extremely satisfied with this left eye.

Uchiha Fugaku's judgment had been spot on; Uchiha Akira had only rested for an hour before receiving his orders.

The objective of the mission was simple: he was to intercept and kill the Kirigakure ninja who had infiltrated the Land of Fire to steal the Byakugan, ensuring that the Byakugan did not leave Konoha.