Not a Uchiha? No Way.

In a hidden room at the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui stared at Obito with aggrieved looks, saying nothing.

"Ahem, ahem."

Under their stares, Obito felt a little guilty. Hearing the explosions continue without pause, he went straight to the Uchiha who was causing the most frequent blasts and kicked him flying.

"Ah!"

Uchiha Kenichi clutched his backside and got to his feet, looking wronged. "I knew it. The clan head is picking on me, Kenichi. He must be jealous of my handsome looks."

"What did you say?"

Obito stood behind Uchiha Kenichi, wearing an almost-smile.

Uchiha Kenichi's expression changed. He turned around and put on a fawning look. "The clan head is wise and mighty. I, Kenichi, have failed to live up to the clan head's cultivation and feel deeply ashamed. I'm willing to brave fire and water for you, and never shrink from a thousand deaths."

"Is that so?"

Obito nodded with satisfaction, his face full of approval. "Since you're so loyal, I'll give you a chance to quickly learn how to make medicine."

"Really?"

Uchiha Kenichi grinned like an idiot and bowed. "Thank you for cultivating me, clan head!"

"I hope you'll still thank me later."

Obito patted Uchiha Kenichi's shoulder with a teasing smile. The Mangekyō Sharingan appeared in his eyes, its pinwheel spinning rapidly.

"Wait..."

Uchiha Kenichi sensed something was wrong, but before he could stop him, the world spun around him. He found himself back in the hidden room.

He looked around and realized something was off. The densely packed clan members and the nonstop explosions had all vanished in the blink of an eye. Only he and an experimental table remained.

"Is anyone there?"

Uchiha Kenichi walked around and found that there was a boundary ten meters from the experimental table. An invisible film blocked the way, hard as stone. No matter what he did, he couldn't get past it.

Then, Obito's figure appeared out of thin air. Smiling warmly at Uchiha Kenichi, he said, "Kenichi, this is an illusion. A month will pass here, while only a little over ten minutes passes outside."

"Practice making medicine here, and you'll learn it in no time."

"See? Your clan head treats you well."

Uchiha Kenichi pinched himself hard and yelped. With a long face, he said, "Clan head, I don't think I have much potential. I'm not worth all this effort."

"Uchiha Mahiro and Uchiha Aoki are both better than me. You can focus your efforts on them instead."

Obito smiled and patted Uchiha Kenichi's shoulder, his face full of mischief. "Kenichi, don't be so modest. You awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan before you were twenty. You have plenty of talent."

"Is that so?"

Hearing the new clan head's praise, Uchiha Kenichi tried to smile, but his expression looked more like he was about to cry.

"Of course."

Obito sounded completely certain. His figure slowly faded, leaving only his amused voice hanging in the air.

"I almost forgot to mention: if you go an hour without making medicine, you'll get struck by lightning."

"You'll also get struck if your medicine explodes or turns out useless."

"Have fun!"

Back in the hidden room, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Kenichi, who had collapsed on the floor, and asked in confusion, "Obito, what happened to him?"

Obito smiled broadly. Seeing the Uchiha clan members sneaking glances his way, he announced, "He's caught in my illusion. A little over ten minutes outside equals a month inside. If he doesn't make medicine or gets it wrong, he'll be struck by lightning."

The Uchiha clan members gaped at Obito's smiling face. They stared at him in shock, then shivered and all took a few steps back.

Uchiha Fugaku's eyes lit up. He strode forward and shouted, "Why aren't you all making medicine? Do you want to try this too?"

"Yes!"

Everyone bowed respectfully to Obito, then scattered like startled birds.

"Senior Fugaku, what do you think of this method?"

Obito seemed not to notice the clan members looking at him as if he were a demon. A pleased smile played on his lips.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded firmly and praised him. "Good idea, Obito. Can this method be used on everyone?"

Beside them, Uchiha Shisui looked at the two in alarm, concern in his voice.

"Obito, can Senior Kenichi take it?"

Obito nodded confidently. "Don't worry. Kenichi awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, so his mental strength is no joke. He'll be fine for a month."

"No side effects?"

Uchiha Shisui watched Obito suspiciously. He'd known Obito for half a year and understood his mischievous streak all too well.

"Haha."

Obito wore a carefree smile and held his fingers close together. "Just a little. He'll be dizzy for a few days, but some rest will sort it out."

Uchiha Fugaku waved a hand dismissively. "What's a little side effect? Obito, you still haven't told me whether this method can be used on everyone."

"Not for now."

Obito shook his head and glanced at the Uchiha clan members in the distance, who were straining to listen. He sighed regretfully.

"There are three difficulties with this method."

"First, even though time is accelerated in the mental world, the person caught in the technique needs enough mental strength to keep up. Otherwise, they could suffer serious mental damage."

"Second, the caster needs to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan to create an illusion that feels real and has a different flow of time."

"Third, to make it completely realistic, you need to know the properties of every medicinal ingredient inside out. Otherwise, it's all for nothing."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded regretfully, then glared at the Uchiha clan members in the distance, who looked as if they'd just escaped certain doom.

"But!"

Obito watched the Uchiha clan members as the explosions continued. A genial smile tugged at his lips. "If there are a few who really can't manage it, I can help them out."

He strolled closer and fixed his Mangekyō Sharingan on them with a smile. "If you can't do it, just say so. Your clan head is always eager to help. I'll be sure to give you a hand."

The Uchiha clan members all shivered and chimed in, one after another. "There's no such thing as an Uchiha who can't do it. I can definitely manage!"

"Exactly. If you can't do it, you're no Uchiha. That Kenichi kid is just useless."

"Clan head, you're so busy. How could we trouble you?"

Obito nodded with satisfaction and shot Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui a smug smile. He continued to threaten them. "Then I'll be off. I'll come by tomorrow and see who's failed the most. I'll help that person."

As Obito headed for the door, Uchiha Fugaku hurriedly grabbed him and complained, "Obito, you can't just leave me to handle everything. I have to take care of all the clan's affairs and keep an eye on this place. I haven't been home in days."

Obito awkwardly rubbed his nose, then had a sudden idea. He said righteously, "Senior Fugaku, how could you say that about me? Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

"Didn't you say last time that you wanted me to take Itachi as my disciple? I was going to go and see how he was doing."

"Since you need to go home, I suppose we'll have to leave it for another day."

Obito shook his head regretfully, looking like someone whose good intentions had been mistaken for ill will.

Uchiha Shisui shot Obito a doubtful glance. He was just about to speak when Obito glared at him.

Better a friend perish than myself. Sorry, Senior Fugaku.

Uchiha Shisui fell silent and guiltily turned his head away.

Uchiha Fugaku had no idea how devious Obito was. He looked apologetic and hurried to say, "I'm fine. As the former clan head of the Uchiha, surely I have the resolve to handle this. Go ahead, Obito. I'll keep an eye on things here."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Fugaku."

Obito held back a laugh, kept his face solemn, and walked out.