"Here? Where is here? Old man, who are you...?"
Their eyes met. Uchiha Obito looked bewildered. The moment his Sharingan met the other Sharingan, his own changed without a sound. Its intricate, elaborate Mangekyō turned the illusory into reality.
Tailed Beast Chakra was mixed and compressed at a yin-to-yang ratio of 2:8, coalescing into a miniature Tailed Beast Bomb in an instant. It shot straight toward Uchiha Madara.
"What is this?!"
A flash of red light. In that brief instant, a huge circular hole was blasted through Madara's chest.
Smoke and dust billowed. After a tremor like an earthquake, only a stunned Obito remained, frozen in place.
"What happened? What happened? Was that attack just now mine? What on earth is going on?"
As Obito stood there dazed, a voice he knew all too well echoed through the secret chamber.
"This is a parting gift. Spying on others is rude, you know. Senior with the Sharingan, have a taste of the care your junior has to offer. Farewell."
The voice lingered in the air. The blood-red eyes in Uchiha Madara's sockets shifted slightly, then lost all color.
"You're nothing but dust, not even worth half of me. Cough, cough, cough..."
The severed pipe behind Madara reconnected to his back. Forcibly using Izanagi made his already failing body feel even worse.
"That voice... Hua Yue? Is it really you? Did you come to save me?"
"Kid, stop shouting. That was a Uchiha Transcription Seal. It seals a dōjutsu inside someone else who has the Sharingan, then automatically activates when the preset conditions are met."
"Though he's just a kid, he has such powerful ocular chakra. That power just now... was it the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
A trace of surprise appeared in Madara's lifeless eyes. He hadn't expected that among the descendants of those traitorous clansmen who had turned their backs on him, someone would be born with the Mangekyō.
"Lord Madara, that's the kid! Uchiha Hanazuki is the one who cut my arm!"
The White Zetsu beside him wailed in complaint. Obito was still bewildered. Lord Madara? Was this old man also a member of the Uchiha Clan? Was Madara his name?
Before Obito could say anything, the White Zetsu's eyes suddenly went blank for a moment, and black ink gushed from his mouth, spreading in an instant.
"Damn it, Reverse Four-Symbols Sealing!"
The one remaining Sharingan glimmered. The black ink swallowed the White Zetsu along with it. Only after the Reverse Four-Symbols Sealing disappeared did Madara and the White Zetsu reappear.
"Not bad, kid! A Tailed Beast Bomb, Reverse Four-Symbols Sealing, no Hand Seals—just ocular power. Are those unique Mangekyō abilities?"
As Madara lowered his head in thought, Obito, who had been confused for some time, slowly raised a hand and asked awkwardly, "Um, old man, are you also a member of the Uchiha Clan? Who are you, exactly...? That strange creature just called you Madara. Is it just a coincidence that you have the same name?"
"No. I am Uchiha Madara. It seems someone you know is an impressive kid who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and can even use a Transcription Seal. What an extraordinary child."
"Seems someone doesn't want you getting too close, Uchiha Hanazuki. Is he your friend?"
Konoha, Uchiha Clan, Konoha Military Police Force office.
"Achoo! Who's talking about me? It's nothing, Lord Fugaku. Please, go on. I must've caught a chill."
Across from Uchiha Hanazuki sat Uchiha Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha Clan and captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, a steady, capable man who had long worked to maintain the relationship between the village and the Uchiha. His expression was serious.
"Uchiha Hanazuki, no matter how dissatisfied you are with the Third Hokage, stop behaving so rudely in front of Lord Hokage."
"Also, you must attend tomorrow's clan meeting. Or are you dissatisfied not only with Lord Hokage, but with your fellow clansmen as well?"
Pairs of red eyes glared at him from behind Fugaku. Hanazuki brushed them off with a few casual words, unconcerned.
"Yes, yes. If there's nothing particularly important, I'll be off."
"Wait. Come by my house later for a simple meal. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this war."
Hanazuki paused, surprised. After a moment of silence, he nodded. The dwindling ocular power in his eyes reminded him that even if he hurried over now, it would already be too late.
After Hanazuki left, Uchiha Inabi turned around, looking puzzled.
"Why invite that arrogant kid, Captain? Ever since he graduated from the Ninja Academy, he hasn't attended a single clan meeting—not even during the time before he became Orochimaru's apprentice."
"Sure, he's made plenty of contributions in this war, and he's been tasked with holding back the Third Tsuchikage, but that kid is just too arrogant!"
Uchiha Yae and Uchiha Tekka both nodded. Fugaku said nothing, but sighed inwardly.
Arrogant? He's clearly making us bid for his favor. Ever since he became Orochimaru's apprentice, there have been very few people in the village who can afford to provoke him. And after killing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen...
The name Flash Phantom Moon has begun spreading across the battlefield. If I don't win people over soon, this kid's goodwill toward the clan will soon be nonexistent.
Fugaku cleared his throat twice, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
"Calm down. Uchiha Hanazuki is a member of our clan too. You've all seen his strength and reputation for yourselves. Our clan's strength comes from unity."
"Uchiha Hanazuki is still young. Once he experiences the warmth of the clan and feels the bond of blood, he'll surely become a pillar of the Uchiha Clan one day."
Meanwhile, Hanazuki hurried home, unaware of what Fugaku thought of him. He was busy using the ocular power he'd expended to judge Uchiha Madara's condition.
"Two chances, and neither worked. So Izanagi really is an absurdly overpowered dōjutsu."
"Still, I should've managed to give him a little Uchiha shock. The most important details haven't been exposed yet, and the infiltration was a success."
A hint of anticipation showed in Hanazuki's eyes.
He'd even managed to get an Immortal entry from signing in at Ryūchi Cave. If he went to the Graveyard of Mountains, surely he'd get the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path or something!
Lost in thought, he watched as the sun sank in the west, gilding the clouds on the horizon with layer upon layer of gold.
In the heart of the Uchiha district, Hanazuki arrived at a spacious, brightly lit courtyard and couldn't help reflecting on the gap between the classes.
"Sorry to trouble you. Lord Fugaku asked me to come see him."
"You must be Uchiha Hanazuki. Welcome."
The long-haired, straight-haired woman before him smiled warmly. Her gentle bearing and manner prompted Hanazuki to return the greeting and present the gift he'd brought.
Uchiha Mikoto. An elite jonin, warm toward others and selflessly devoted. She really is a good woman. What a pity she gave birth to an unfilial son.
He stepped into the living room, where Uchiha Fugaku had been waiting for some time. Steam rose from the green tea. Hanazuki was about to take a sip, but Fugaku's next words made him spit it out.
"Have you awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"