Making Up His Mind

"Mm, exactly! You're absolutely right!"

"Our proud Uchiha Clan would never survive by groveling to others. We have to maintain our independence!"

Uchiha Raimon nodded in agreement.

After hearing Uchiha Tenshu's predictions about the future, Uchiha Raimon had become even more resolute. He understood that the entire Uchiha Clan was full of shortsighted people, scheming for petty gains.

Only he and Uchiha Tenshu could see the danger facing the whole Uchiha Clan.

He couldn't help feeling a little pleased with himself.

Very well! Let this old man save the Uchiha Clan.

It was time for him to truly fight for his clan's future!

As Uchiha Raimon thought this, the Sharingan in his eyes grew brighter. The Tomoe, once filled with a bloodthirsty aura, gradually lost their terrifying menace. Now, they shone with the crystal-clear brilliance of gemstones.

His Dojutsu Power had advanced another step.

At once, Uchiha Raimon noticed the change.

His heart leaped with joy.

"My Sharingan has advanced again. Its Dojutsu Power is almost twice what it used to be.

"Although it hasn't reached the Mangekyo Sharingan level, it's far beyond the limits of an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan. It's at the threshold between the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and the Mangekyo Sharingan."

"Too bad this one step makes all the difference. I'm afraid I'll never cross that threshold in this lifetime."

Uchiha Raimon sighed inwardly.

But he wasn't greedy.

After all, awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was said to bring misfortune. If he could keep these eyes from ever awakening in exchange for his loved ones' happiness, why not?

Uchiha Tenshu didn't know what Uchiha Raimon was thinking, but he noticed the change in his Dojutsu Power.

He continued, "Besides that, we need to prepare a refuge away from Konoha in the Land of Fire. That way, if things become impossible to salvage, our Uchiha Clan can send some of our people away from Konoha at any time. No matter what happens, we'll have a way out. And as for this..."

"I suggest putting me in charge of it."

"After all, if an elder like Uchiha Ming could betray us, who knows how many other clan members have been deceived by these years of peace?"

"So we have to stay on high alert."

As Uchiha Tenshu spoke, his handsome young face grew tense with seriousness. His expression made it clear that he considered secrecy essential for the clan's sake.

But in practice, he was also beginning to reveal his true intentions: laying the groundwork for his own venture.

Even if he was helping the Uchiha Clan secure a way out, he could kill two birds with one stone and get more support for his venture outside the village. There was no reason not to do it!

Besides, Uchiha Tenshu had already reached Elite Chunin level, but he lacked real combat experience. To improve further, he would need to fight and travel beyond the village.

After all, every ninja at Jonin level had experienced countless battles.

They were practically killing machines.

Stronger ninjas, beginning with Elite Jonin, had honed their bloodlust to such a degree that merely releasing it could rob ordinary people of all will to resist.

Kage Level powerhouses could even kill with their presence alone.

One of the necessary conditions for reaching such heights was to strengthen one's spirit through enough hardship and resolve.

Killing was the best way to cultivate that strength.

And it was an essential part of becoming strong.

Uchiha Tenshu didn't resist the idea of killing.

As the old saying went, "Kill one and you're a criminal; slaughter ten thousand and you're a hero. Slaughter nine hundred million, and you're the greatest hero of all."

If he wanted to accomplish something extraordinary, something ordinary people couldn't, how could he do it without killing?

Besides, the Ninja World was a world that devoured people.

It was all survival of the fittest.

If you didn't devour others, how could you rise above them?

Kaguya Otsutsuki had devoured all the people and energy on an entire planet and suffered no consequences. She became the Rabbit Goddess.

The Sage of Six Paths had consumed the Chakra of the souls of everyone who died on the planet, yet he still became the Sage of Six Paths.

The other members of the Otsutsuki Clan devoured one planet after another, and nothing ever happened to them.

Even the heroes of his previous life, Qin Shi Huang and Zhu Yuanzhang, whom people praised on their knees, had destroyed countless families and committed every manner of slaughter and plunder. As long as they achieved enough, wiped out their enemies and their descendants, the survivors would either be their own descendants or the descendants of ministers who knelt to praise them. To protect their ancestors' reputations, they would rather distort every fact than stop kneeling and proclaiming that their ancestors had done well, done right, done brilliantly. Wasn't that how it worked?

Of course, Uchiha Tenshu had known his goal from the start: to climb to the very top, step by step, and possess everything.

Killing was simply a tool for reaching that goal.

So Uchiha Tenshu wouldn't lose himself in such petty slaughter.

Given all this, whether he wanted to grow stronger or pursue other goals, Uchiha Tenshu had to leave the village.

Not to mention that he wanted to venture out, start his own enterprise, and carve out territory for himself. He would have to scout all over the Ninja World to see which places were suited to development and which weren't.

Simply imagining it in his head wouldn't guarantee success.

So if he wanted to explore, gain combat experience, and secure more support for his venture, now was the best time.

Hashirama Senju was still alive.

The God of Shinobi's fame overshadowed every other force in the Ninja World. As a Konoha ninja, Uchiha Tenshu could be sure he wouldn't encounter opponents who were too strong or dangers beyond his ability to handle.

And with Tobirama Senju not yet in office, outside forces wouldn't start a war and drag him into it.

Otherwise, once Tobirama Senju took over next year, Uchiha Tenshu expected the Uchiha Clan to start having a hard time.

On top of that, people from the other great nations had begun probing Konoha more and more. Any ninja who ventured out would surely face attacks from enemies disguised as other ninjas. The further the years went, the closer the world would sail toward the abyss of war.

Therefore, he had to take action while the timing was right and make everything seem reasonable. Then, when Tobirama Senju took over, he would consider it business as usual.

That way, he wouldn't grow suspicious.

And keep his eyes fixed on Uchiha Tenshu.

"Another concern is the Senju Clan. They still regard us with hatred and hostility. They've never considered us allies in Konoha. So we have to be wary of their traps, as well as the small clans that support them."

"We have to prevent the entire Uchiha Clan from being wiped out!"

"After all, who knows whether the Senju Clan is just stringing us along? They might wait until we let our guard down, then strike us a fatal blow. We absolutely can't be careless!"

Uchiha Tenshu spoke gravely.

Though he said this, given Elder Raimon's current situation, Tenshu was really telling him outright: Go ahead and treat them as enemies. They've already come after you!

"I don't think that's likely. Tobirama Senju might have been behind this ambush, but it could also have been his own idea," Uchiha Raimon said hesitantly.

After all, in the years since Konoha was founded, he had seen ordinary members of the Senju Clan. They didn't seem to target the Uchiha much; it seemed more like personal grudges were to blame.

"Elder Raimon, don't be so naive. The Senju and our Uchiha Clan fought for years. Hatred like that doesn't disappear so easily. Konoha may be at peace on the surface, but the Senju have never let down their guard against us. And with Tobirama Senju hostile toward us, the ordinary clan members will simply follow orders. They won't care whether we've done anything wrong!"

"In short..."

"We can't entrust the fate of our entire clan to the Senju's goodwill. If they get the chance, our Uchiha Clan will be plunged into ruin." Uchiha Tenshu's gaze was firm, his words earnest and full of caution.

It was only because Uchiha Raimon had been ambushed and nearly killed that he knew of Tobirama Senju's malicious intentions.

Besides, Konoha had only been founded a few years ago.

Every clan in the Ninja World still put its own interests above the village's.

So the Will of Fire, Konoha Shinobi Village's most powerful Genjutsu, hadn't yet taken root in people's hearts.

Otherwise,

Uchiha Tenshu wouldn't have dared to say such treasonous things.

Uchiha Raimon fell silent. A moment later, he slowly nodded. "You're right, Tenshu."

At that moment,

Uchiha Raimon had finally made up his mind.

Ever since Uchiha Tenshu had come here,

Uchiha Raimon's thinking had changed again and again.

Before he knew it,

he had made a decision tantamount to "betraying the village."

"Since you want to do this, I'll assign you a special mission from the clan when the time comes. That'll give you a good reason to leave the village without attracting attention. But once you're out there, you'll have to handle everything yourself. If you run into trouble, I'll send a trusted aide to assist you. Remember to act cautiously. You mustn't let anyone else find out."

Uchiha Raimon looked at Tenshu and gave him a pointed reminder.

Having watched Uchiha Tenshu grow over the past two years, Uchiha Raimon had complete faith in his talent and intelligence. He believed him to be a once-in-a-thousand-years genius of the Uchiha Clan—specifically, a genius in terms of intelligence.

So, knowing what Uchiha Tenshu was like, Raimon was sure that if he had the confidence to take this on, he could get it done.

With that, he was content to let him act as he saw fit.

"Rest assured, Lord Raimon. I'll make secret preparations and secure a way out for the clan. If the Senju Clan really has hostile intentions, we'll still be able to retreat safely. At the very least, we'll preserve the Uchiha bloodline." Uchiha Tenshu was pleased, but kept his expression serious as he thumped his chest and said.

At last, he could take the first step toward his great undertaking!