I Am "Madara"

Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in his wide office chair. Hearing Uchiha Itachi's report, he took a puff from his pipe and said, "You're saying Uchiha Yan put you under a genjutsu with just a glance?"

Uchiha Itachi lowered his head in shame. "That's right, Lord Hokage. Uchiha Yan trapped me in a genjutsu with just a glance."

At Itachi's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke, his thoughts heavy.

He found Uchiha Yan, a member of the Hawk Faction, deeply troublesome.

Yan was powerful in his own right and held great influence within the Uchiha Clan.

On top of that, he had the backing of those madmen in the Uchiha Hawk Faction.

Hiruzen had also tacitly allowed Danzo to keep Uchiha Yan under surveillance. But according to reports from his Root informants, something seemed to have gone wrong on Danzo's end as well.

Irritated, he set down his pipe and said, "Itachi, I understand. Keep a closer eye on Uchiha Yan from now on, and report any moves he makes."

Uchiha Itachi lowered his eyes. "Yes, Lord Hokage."

Uchiha District, Naka Shrine.

The Uchiha Clan had gathered for another clan meeting.

Izumi followed close behind Uchiha Yan, careful not to stray even a step from his side.

As for why Izumi's parents hadn't come, the reason was simple: non-shinobi weren't allowed to attend clan meetings.

It was also Fugaku's way of protecting the clan members.

But he had clearly underestimated the severity of the coup and the resolve of the Konoha High Command.

Following behind Uchiha Yan, Izumi leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Yan, these clan meetings are happening more and more often. Do you think...?"

Uchiha Yan glanced at Izumi and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "They're just routine clan meetings. Don't worry."

But in his heart, he was weighing ways to break the deadlock.

This was the weakest the Hokage faction in Konoha had been in years.

The Sannin had either defected or left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had grown a few years older.

Even so, the Uchiha couldn't stand against the full might of Konoha, and the Hokage faction's rule over the village remained firmly entrenched.

But what if he brought in outside forces?

At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku, his face dark, asked the trusted subordinate beside him, "Have Itachi and Shisui still not arrived?"

The subordinate replied, "Reporting to you, Clan Head, neither of them is here."

Meanwhile, Itachi and Shisui were sitting in a tree outside the Uchiha District.

Shisui looked at Itachi hesitantly. "Itachi, is it really all right for us not to attend the clan meeting?"

Standing on a branch with his back against the trunk and his arms folded, Itachi said, "What would be the point? We'd just shout a few lines about the glory of the Uchiha."

His eyes were full of disappointment in his clan. Aside from Shisui, the Uchiha had far too little vision.

All they ever cared about was the Uchiha. They couldn't even see the difficulties the village was facing.

Shisui lowered his head, lost in thought.

Half an hour later, the Uchiha clan meeting came to an end.

Itachi stood up. "I'm going for a walk."

Shisui nodded, then used the Body Flicker Technique to go report to Danzo.

Itachi went to an open field and waited patiently.

Just then, the space in front of him warped, and a man wearing a tiger-striped mask and carrying a sword stepped out.

Itachi looked at him. "Madara, you're here."

"Madara" nodded. "My time is precious. Tell me, what do you want?"

Uchiha Itachi stared at him. "What exactly is your goal?"

Beneath the mask, "Madara"'s expression didn't change. He replied casually, "I'm just revisiting an old haunt. Feeling nostalgic, that's all."

With that, space warped, and "Madara" vanished before Itachi's eyes.

Itachi tried to speak, but it was too late.

At that moment, at Root headquarters, Shisui knelt on one knee before Danzo and gave his report.

Danzo looked at the renowned Uchiha prodigy kneeling before him like a dog.

The gloom that Uchiha Yan had stirred in his heart earlier had lifted somewhat.

He nodded. "Well done, Shisui. Keep working hard for the village."

Shisui said he understood, then slowly left Root headquarters.

Danzo suddenly turned to Yamanaka Fu beside him and said, "Yamanaka Fu, don't you think some people are just pathetic? Someone has their hands around their neck, and instead of fighting back, they try to make peace with their abuser."

Yamanaka Fu lowered his head. "It is rather strange."

Danzo continued, "Hiruzen is an absolute fool, too. A few years ago, he praised a seven-year-old child for having a Hokage Mindset. Did that mean Sarutobi Hiruzen's own thinking was on the level of a seven-year-old?"

"He's not even afraid of the other villages laughing at him."

Yamanaka Fu's mouth twitched. He lowered his head and didn't dare respond.

After dinner, Uchiha Yan lay alone on the roof, gazing up at the stars.

He suddenly glanced at the empty space beside him and said coolly, "Come out, you sneaky rat."

The intruder was clearly surprised. It was his first time spying on Uchiha Yan, and he hadn't expected to be discovered.

A figure appeared in Uchiha Yan's courtyard. In a hoarse voice, he said, "It seems our Uchiha Clan has produced an impressive young talent."

Uchiha Yan shot him a cold look and asked, though he already knew the answer, "You sneaky rat. Who are you?"

Obito's tone was flat as he lifted his chin. "I am Uchiha Madara."

He watched Uchiha Yan, expecting to see a look of surprise on his face.

But Uchiha Yan disappointed him. He merely said, "Madara? I wouldn't recommend making a habit of impersonating the dead."

Obito's face darkened beneath the mask. "This arrogant young upstart needs to be taught a lesson."

Uchiha Yan turned his head and fixed him with a hard stare through his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Beneath Obito's mask, the Mangekyō Sharingan was revealed as well.

"Impressive ocular power. Too bad my Sharingan is superior to yours."

During their exchange of glances, Uchiha Yan and Obito had already tested their ocular powers.

Uchiha Yan had even gained a slight advantage.

Looking at his old classmate, who was the same age as him yet shone so brilliantly, Obito's expression grew complicated.

Uchiha Yan said calmly, "Let's find somewhere quiet. Meet me at the Forest of Death."

As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished before Obito with the Body Flicker Technique.

He acted as though he were certain Obito knew where to go.

A vein seemed to pop beneath Obito's mask. He muttered, "You're still as unpleasant as ever."

Space warped, and he vanished as well.

At the Forest of Death, Uchiha Yan found that Obito had already been waiting for him.

But Obito seemed lost in his own art, unable to tear himself away.

In a hoarse voice, he said, "Arrogant young upstart, as your senior, I really do have to teach you a lesson."

But before he could finish, Uchiha Yan launched his first attack.

Uchiha Yan casually tossed out three shuriken. The instant they left his hand, they multiplied into a sky full of blades, swooping toward Obito from every direction with no blind spots.