Light and Darkness

At the Uchiha Clan Compound, Lu Yan stood before a rather lavish courtyard, looking hesitant. "You brat, you're back, so come in."

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

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

"Uncle."

Looking at the middle-aged man kneeling beside the table, Lu Yan greeted him respectfully.

"Mm. Sit."

Uchiha Mokuen wore a casual kimono, his hair tied up with a wooden hairpin and draped down his back. His features were resolute, and his build was tall and straight.

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

"You still haven't learned how to sit properly."

Uchiha Mokuen shook his head and brewed tea with the utensils on the table, the process a pleasure to watch.

He handed Lu Yan some tea, then slowly poured himself a cup and took a light sip.

"As long as you're safe. What happened this time?"

Lu Yan had already thought of an explanation on his way over. He spoke slowly. "I seem to have been caught in some kind of Reverse Summoning Technique. I appeared in a strange space with lots of books and a strange fruit. After I ate it, I passed out."

"When I woke up, this had awakened."

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

"The Mangekyō."

Uchiha Mokuen's voice trembled. As a jonin, Uchiha Mokuen knew very well about the Uchiha Clan's ultimate ocular technique, the Mangekyō Sharingan. He just hadn't expected his own nephew to...

"Does anyone else know about this?"

Uchiha Mokuen leaned forward, grabbed Lu Yan by the shoulder, and stared at his Mangekyō as he asked in a low voice.

"No."

Lu Yan shook his head, and his blood-red eyes returned to ordinary black.

"Good."

"This is a serious matter. Come, let's go see the clan head."

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

Just then, the door suddenly opened, and a beautiful woman in a kimono came in, holding the hand of a little girl.

"Obito, you're back."

"Mokuen, where are you two going?"

Uchiha Naomi looked at Lu Yan with delight, then asked in confusion.

Uchiha Mokuen leaned toward Lu Yan and whispered in his ear, "I didn't tell your aunt you went missing. Don't let it slip."

Lu Yan nodded quickly, went over, and scooped up the little girl. Rubbing her chubby cheeks, he grinned. "Izumi, did you miss your big brother Obito?"

Uchiha Izumi squirmed in Lu Yan's arms and cried angrily, "Obito, put me down! I'm already in the Ninja Academy. I'm not a little kid."

"Oh, really?"

Lu Yan smiled, stretching Uchiha Izumi's cheeks farther and farther apart with both hands.

"I won't give in, you meanie."

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

"How about this, then?"

Lu Yan reached his right hand under Uchiha Izumi's arm and gave her a gentle tickle.

"Ha ha!"

"Stop!"

"Big brother Obito, I was wrong."

"Dear big brother Obito, let me go!"

Uchiha Izumi rolled around in Lu Yan's arms, laughing until tears came to her eyes.

Watching the two children play, Uchiha Mokuen smiled and shook his head. He turned to Uchiha Naomi and said, "Naomi, Obito and I are going to see the clan head. Make dinner first, and we'll be back soon."

"Mm. Don't be late."

Uchiha Naomi nodded gently and took Uchiha Izumi from Lu Yan.

"Goodbye, Auntie."

Lu Yan made a tickling gesture at Uchiha Izumi, who stuck her tongue out at him, then respectfully bid Uchiha Naomi goodbye.

Inside the clan head's office, Uchiha Fugaku gazed fervently at Lu Yan's Mangekyō Sharingan and murmured, "May the Uchiha be blessed. May the Uchiha be blessed."

"What abilities does your Mangekyō have?"

Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath, gradually composed himself, and looked into Lu Yan's eyes as he asked.

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Uchiha Fugaku in surprise. "The Kamui Dimension. It's a unique alternate space. I can store and retrieve things there, and I can also make my body intangible to avoid any attack."

"Good!"

Uchiha Fugaku exclaimed. It was unclear whether he was praising Lu Yan's Mangekyō ability or his honesty.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. A member of the Uchiha Clan came in to report, "Clan head, Advisor Danzo demands that we hand over Obito Uchiha. He says Obito went missing without cause during a mission and killed Root shinobi in the Hidden Leaf Village, so he may be a traitor who intends to defect."

"Danzo."

A gloomy look flashed through Uchiha Fugaku's eyes. He stared at Lu Yan and asked slowly, "What do you say?"

Lu Yan's expression remained unchanged. He looked straight at Uchiha Fugaku and replied solemnly, "I already told the clan head just now."

"Good."

Uchiha Fugaku patted the anxious-looking Uchiha Mokuen on the shoulder, the corners of his mouth turning up in a faint smile. "That's what you'll say later. Mokuen, don't worry. The Uchiha Clan won't abandon any of its members, much less give up on the hope of the Uchiha."

"If Danzo wants him, tell him to come face me."

In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned at Danzo, who sat across from him. "Danzo, why did you go after Minato's student, Obito?"

Danzo's face was dark, and his presence was no less imposing. "He went missing without cause during a mission. His actions are highly suspicious, so I brought him back to Root for questioning."

"Minato has personally vouched for him and promised me that there's nothing wrong with Obito."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was only middle-aged, and the aura of a Shinobi Hero surrounding him was at its peak. His attitude was forceful.

"He killed Arakawa, a Sunagakure jonin, at the border, then killed several Root shinobi I sent after him in the Hidden Leaf Village."

Danzo remained unmoved. He knew Sarutobi Hiruzen too well and casually added, "Is that so?"

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

"Obito Uchiha is extremely powerful, yet he never shows it. There's definitely something wrong with him and the Uchiha Clan. Hiruzen, you don't need to concern yourself with this. I'll handle it."

Danzo stood up as well. Looking toward the Hokage's seat, a flash of greed and jealousy crossed his eyes. Then he spoke in a flat voice.

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen remain silent, Danzo knew what he had decided. As he turned and walked toward the door, he gave a strange smile. "Hiruzen, you can be the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, guarding the light. I'll be the root of the Hidden Leaf, defending the darkness."