Light and Darkness

In the Uchiha compound, Lu Yan stood before the gate of a rather luxurious courtyard, his expression somewhat hesitant. "Brat, if you're back, then come in."

A deep, middle-aged man's voice drifted from inside the room, carrying a hint of suppressed excitement.

Lu Yan let out a breath, straightened his clothes, and pushed the door open.

"Uncle."

Looking at the middle-aged man kneeling by the table, Lu Yan called out respectfully.

"Mm, sit."

Uchiha Mokuen was dressed in a casual kimono, his hair held up by a wooden hairpin with the rest cascading down his back. His features were resolute, his posture upright.

Lu Yan nodded and sat cross-legged directly opposite Uchiha Mokuen.

"Still can't sit properly."

Uchiha Mokuen shook his head, brewing tea with the set on the table in a pleasing, rhythmic manner.

After handing a cup to Lu Yan, Uchiha Mokuen slowly poured one for himself and took a gentle sip.

"As long as you're safe, that's what matters. What happened this time?"

Lu Yan had already prepared his excuse on the way over, and he spoke slowly: "I seem to have been hit by a ninjutsu like a Reverse Summoning Jutsu. I appeared in a strange space filled with many books and a peculiar fruit. I fell unconscious after eating it."

"When I woke up, I had awakened this."

The tomoe in Lu Yan's eyes spun rapidly, transforming into a pitch-black pinwheel.

"Mangekyo."

Uchiha Mokuen's voice trembled. As a Jonin, he naturally knew of the Uchiha clan's supreme ocular technique, the Mangekyo, but he never expected his own nephew to...

"Does anyone else know about this?"

Uchiha Mokuen leaned forward, grabbed Lu Yan by the shoulder, and stared intently at his Mangekyo, asking in a low voice.

"No."

Lu Yan shook his head, his blood-red eyes reverting to pitch-black pupils.

"That's good."

"This is a matter of great importance. Come, we're going to see the clan head."

Uchiha Mokuen looked delighted; he stood up, paced back and forth a few times, and then pulled Lu Yan toward the exit.

Just then, the door suddenly opened, and a beautiful woman in a kimono walked in, leading a little girl by the hand.

"Obito, you're back."

"Mokuen, where are you two going?"

Uchiha Naomi looked at Lu Yan with joy, then asked with a puzzled expression.

Uchiha Mokuen leaned toward Lu Yan's ear and whispered, "I didn't tell your aunt about your disappearance, so don't let it slip."

Lu Yan nodded hurriedly, walked over, scooped up the little girl, and rubbed her chubby cheeks with a smile. "Izumi, did you miss Big Brother Obito?"

Uchiha Izumi squirmed in Lu Yan's arms, shouting indignantly, "Obito, put me down! I'm already in the Ninja Academy; I'm not a little kid anymore."

"Is that so?"

Lu Yan grinned, using both hands to stretch Uchiha Izumi's little face further and further.

"I won't surwender, you bad guy."

Uchiha Izumi glared at Lu Yan with her big eyes, her words coming out garbled.

"How about this, then?"

Lu Yan reached his right hand toward Uchiha Izumi's armpit and gave a light tickle.

"Haha!"

"Stop it!"

"Big Brother Obito, I was wrong!"

"Good Big Brother Obito, please let me go!"

Uchiha Izumi rolled around in Lu Yan's arms, laughing until tears streamed down her face.

Watching the two children play, Uchiha Mokuen shook his head with a smile and turned his head. "Naomi, Obito and I are going to see the clan head. You go ahead and prepare dinner; we'll eat when we get back."

"Mm, come back early."

Uchiha Naomi nodded gently and took Uchiha Izumi from Lu Yan's arms.

"Goodbye, Aunt."

Lu Yan made a tickling gesture toward Uchiha Izumi, who was making a face at him, and bowed respectfully to Uchiha Naomi.

Inside the clan head's office, Uchiha Fugaku stared at Lu Yan's Mangekyo Sharingan with burning intensity, muttering, "Heaven bless the Uchiha, heaven bless the Uchiha."

"What are the abilities of your Mangekyo?"

Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath, his expression gradually calming as he stared into Lu Yan's eyes and asked.

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, cast a look of mild surprise at Uchiha Fugaku, and replied, "The Kamui Dimension—a unique pocket space. It can be used to store and retrieve items, or to render one's own body intangible, allowing one to evade any attack."

"Good."

Uchiha Fugaku exclaimed, though it was unclear whether he was praising the power of Lu Yan's Mangekyo or his candor.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and an Uchiha clansman entered to report, "Clan Head, Advisor Danzo demands we hand over Uchiha Obito. He claims Obito went missing without cause during a mission and killed Root ninja within Konoha, raising suspicions of defecting to the enemy."

"Danzo."

A flicker of gloom crossed Uchiha Fugaku's eyes as he stared at Lu Yan and said slowly, "What do you say to this?"

Lu Yan's expression remained unchanged as he looked straight at Uchiha Fugaku and said firmly, "I have already told you, Clan Head."

"Good."

Uchiha Fugaku patted the shoulder of the anxious Uchiha Mokuen, a faint smile touching his lips. "When the time comes, say exactly that. Mokuen, do not worry; the Uchiha clan will never abandon any of its members, let alone the hope of the Uchiha."

"If Danzo wants the boy, tell him to come and confront me in person."

In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned at Danzo, who sat before him, and said in a deep voice, "Danzo, why did you move to capture Minato's student, Obito?"

Danzo's face was grim, his aura unyielding. "He went missing without cause during a mission, and his behavior is highly suspicious. I am bringing him back to Root for questioning."

"Minato has personally vouched for him, promising that there is no issue with Obito."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was in the prime of his middle age, his aura as a legendary ninja at its peak, and his stance was incredibly firm.

"He killed a Sunagakure jonin, Arakawa, at the border, and later killed several Root ninja I sent after him within Konoha."

Danzo remained unmoved; he knew Sarutobi Hiruzen too well, and he added this line with a casual, dismissive tone.

"Is that so?"

A sharp glint flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. He turned to look out the window at the bustling, vibrant streets and sighed.

"Uchiha Obito possesses immense strength, yet he hides it completely in daily life. He and the Uchiha clan are definitely hiding something. Hiruzen, you don't need to concern yourself with this; I will handle it."

Danzo stood up as well, a flicker of greed and jealousy crossing his eyes as he looked toward the Hokage's seat, then spoke in a flat tone.

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen remain silent, Danzo knew his decision had been made. As he turned to walk out the door, he let out a strange, mocking laugh: "Hiruzen, you be the shadow of Konoha, guarding the light, while I shall be the root of Konoha, defending the darkness."