A Hongmen Banquet? Axemen?

Danzo heard from his subordinate.

The report that Uchiha Genmei had returned to the village safely.

He held the written information Kumogakure had sent him over half a month ago, along with the notification Uchiha Setsuna had just given him.

He waved for his subordinate to leave.

A long while later.

Bang!

He slammed his fist down on the table.

His face twisted as he roared:

"How is this possible?! Kumogakure's failure was bad enough, but the Feudal Lord's reprimand afterward kept the Raikage from making any rash moves."

"What kind of useless fool is Uchiha Setsuna?!"

"The route was clear, and everything was arranged perfectly!"

"How could he still fail?!"

"That evil brat!"

"So what if he has the Mangekyō?!"

He took several deep, ragged breaths.

He calmed down.

His heart was heavy with gloom.

The Sharingan... the Mangekyō...

Kagami...

For now, he would endure it. Just you wait, brat.

Meanwhile.

At Setsuna's residence in the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Uchiha Setsuna sat on his knees in the main hall and listened to Uchiha Rai's report!

He took out Naka's report scroll.

He was silent for a long time.

Then he said calmly:

"That brat has some ability. He was lucky not to be killed by Naka."

"The real problem now is that woman. She actually awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

At this,

Setsuna paused.

He looked at the gray-white eyeball in Uchiha Rai's left socket.

He spoke hoarsely:

"She made you lose an eye just to get away, Rai. That's terrifying!"

Uchiha Rai touched his own left eye and said, still shaken:

"Yeah. That woman's ocular jutsu is far too powerful."

"That surging Yellow Springs Water kills on contact!"

"Susanoo was completely useless. The places it touched were as if dead, and it broke right through my defenses."

As he spoke, he picked up his tea and took a sip to ease his fear.

He slowly set down the teacup and continued:

"Luckily, the moment I touched that water of death, I sensed something was wrong and immediately activated Izanagi."

"Otherwise, Lord Setsuna wouldn't be seeing me tonight."

Thinking of his left eye, Uchiha Rai's expression darkened.

Uchiha Naka, who had been listening for a long time, suddenly spoke.

He said, sounding somewhat troubled:

"What do we do now, Lord Setsuna? We've already suffered casualties. That's tantamount to falling out with the neutral faction."

"We were already at odds with Lord Kagami's faction, and now this."

"Will civil war break out right away?"

At this,

Uchiha Setsuna put down the report in his hands.

He said with a calm expression:

"Don't worry. Hi-no-Kaku isn't the demon of the Warring States Era anymore. After Lord Madara left and he became clan head..."

Uchiha Setsuna paused, then continued in a contemptuous tone:

"He lost his backbone. All he wants is to live his own peaceful life. He'll smooth things over at the clan meeting five days from now."

"Now, more than ever, he'll be figuring out how to take care of compensation for his dead subordinates."

After saying this,

he raised the corner of his eye and spoke in a venomous tone:

"After the clan meeting, I'll find a chance to meet that brat. Then, Naka, you'll use your ocular jutsu and kill him."

Uchiha Rai, sitting nearby, asked in surprise:

"Don't you need me there as backup, Lord Setsuna?"

Uchiha Setsuna stared into his eyes.

He shook his head:

"Rai, I'll give you a new eye. After you implant it, you'll need some time to adjust before your combat strength stabilizes."

"By then, Naka can hide nearby. His ocular jutsu, which is practically as fast as light, will be enough."

"Yes, sir!"

The next day.

Morning.

At Uchiha Genmei's home.

The handsome young man finished washing up and walked over to the dining table.

Watching the graceful figure bustling about in the kitchen, he couldn't help but ponder.

How had things ended up like this?

Chiri had simply woken him up early, then naturally gone to the kitchen to make breakfast. He'd naturally nodded and gone to wash up.

"Ta-da~"

"Here's a breakfast bento to make your morning full of energy!"

Uchiha Chiri brought over the dishes and set out the tableware.

She clasped her hands together, about to say, "Let's eat," when Genmei's voice interrupted her.

"Wait, Chiri. Get another plate ready."

The girl lowered her joined hands and tilted her head.

She asked, puzzled:

"Another plate?"

Uchiha Genmei didn't bother explaining. He waved toward the ceiling beam.

"Matatabi, come down and eat."

At this,

Matatabi? Who was that?

The girl looked up at the beam in confusion.

A small blue cat with black markings stretched lazily.

It leaped down nimbly.

Looking at Genmei, the cat wrinkled her face and jumped onto the dining table.

The girl looked at the cat, then at Uchiha Genmei.

She said helplessly:

"Jeez~"

"Genmei, I know everyone in the clan likes cats, but you shouldn't let them eat at the table."

"A pretty cat like this can't just eat human food. You need to give her special cat food."

Uchiha Genmei heard the girl's complaint and smiled faintly.

He said smugly, "She's no ordinary cat."

"Not an ordinary cat?"

"She's the Two-Tails, right, Matatabi?"

Uchiha Genmei pointed at the blue cat and looked at her smugly.

The girl's eyes widened:

"The Two-Tails? She's the Two-Tails? Wait... she? Do Tailed Beasts have genders?!"

Matatabi heard what the two of them said.

She snorted:

"Hmph!"

"Impudent brat."

Annoyed, she jumped in front of Genmei, stretched out her neck, and grabbed the miso soup on the table in her teeth.

In one gulp, she slurped down a big mouthful.

"Ah! What are you doing, Matatabi?!"

After a warm and cheerful breakfast,

the young man and the girl headed off to work at the Military Police Force together, inseparable.

Five days later.

With tensions in the clan growing ever sharper, the clan meeting at Naka Shrine was unusually subdued.

Everyone seemed to be holding something back. After listening to Uchiha Koh's wishy-washy drivel, they all dispersed without incident.

Uchiha Genmei made his way leisurely into the village and entered an unremarkable barbecue restaurant.

He ordered some barbecue.

He had just sat down in a private room

when someone sat down beside him.

"Lord Genmei, that old man Setsuna will probably invite you to his home tomorrow to discuss clan affairs."

"He plans to have me ambush you at the banquet and kill you, my lord."

Hearing Uchiha Naka's report,

Uchiha Genmei scoffed inwardly.

A Hongmen Banquet?

Axemen?

"If I hadn't heard this from you, I probably wouldn't have gone to meet him."

"But now that I know, I'm going tomorrow."

"Make the arrangements. The brothers there tomorrow should make up at least half the crowd."

After thinking for a moment, Uchiha Genmei beckoned to him.

"By the way, I have something for you to take care of. Make sure you do it well. Come closer."

After a quiet exchange,

Uchiha Naka accepted the order and left.

The following day.

At twilight, with the setting sun red as blood,

Uchiha Genmei was on his way to Uchiha Setsuna's residence.

He turned into a narrow alley.

Uchiha Naka's figure appeared.

"A Shadow Clone? Good. You didn't give yourself away."

"Did you bring what I asked for?"

Uchiha Naka's Shadow Clone took a clay jar and handed it to Uchiha Genmei.

He hesitated before asking:

"My lord, do we really have to do this?"

"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything afterward."

"Watch my signal and act accordingly."

Thinking of the godlike, demonic power of the man before him,

he dispelled the Shadow Clone without another worry.

Uchiha Genmei carried the clay jar and strode boldly into Uchiha Setsuna's residence.

After being led inside, he pushed open the door.

He looked around.

He ignored the ninjas surrounding him.

He strode over and sat on the sofa across from Uchiha Setsuna.

He sat down boldly.

His expression calm, he said,

"Well, old man."

"What did you want to talk to me about?"