Instant, Uchiha Forbidden Jutsu

Uchiha Setsuna let out a sigh and said leisurely:

"Mo, do you know? You're not the first person to propose this idea."

As he spoke, Setsuna raised his head, seeming to sink into his memories.

"That was decades ago. The legendary ninja—the great Clan Head, Madara Uchiha... He once had thoughts similar to yours, but none of the Uchiha were willing to follow him back then."

Setsuna then lost himself in his memories, calmly recounting that piece of history.

Mo merely watched him quietly. Only after Setsuna finished did he speak calmly:

"Chief Elder, are you saying the Uchiha won't accept my ideas?"

"In theory, yes. Even with the great Clan Head's tremendous strength, he still couldn't make the clan members commit themselves. Much less you, Mo, at only ten years old? But..."

"..."

"But time changes everything. If you want to do it—if it's you—then I believe you can definitely succeed, Mo."

Setsuna looked into Mo's eyes with a serious expression and an inexplicable certainty.

"Why?"

Mo was somewhat puzzled. Although the talent he had displayed was astonishing enough, the Chief Elder's immense confidence seemed to stem from something beyond talent.

"..."

Uchiha Setsuna fell silent for a moment. Then, he suddenly raised a hand and poured himself a cup of wine before speaking slowly.

"The Uchiha have been passed down for a thousand years. Although the Warring States period was chaotic, the clan still preserved relatively complete historical records for ceremonial purposes..."

"During the Warring States period, the various clans were constantly at war, and there was no time within the clan to organize those historical documents. But after the Hidden Leaf was founded, the Uchiha went through a relatively peaceful period. So the clan's upper ranks at the time discussed compiling the Uchiha's historical records..."

"Once they were organized... the clan head and elders discovered an astonishing pattern!"

Hearing this, and recalling how Uchiha Setsuna had suddenly mentioned Madara earlier, Mo had already formed a rough guess.

His expression remained calm, but inwardly, he was truly shocked.

Had the Uchiha already discovered that Indra's chakra would continuously reincarnate?

It seemed unbelievable, but if that guess was true, then there was a plausible explanation for why the Uchiha in the original story had insisted on a coup despite seemingly foolishly failing to understand the clan's own strength...

Some of the informed radical upper ranks must have regarded Shisui as Indra's chakra reincarnation. That would also explain why Shisui's death had provoked such an enormous reaction from the Uchiha, and why, after Shisui was gone, they had already reached the point of no return...

Uchiha Setsuna drained the sake in his cup and continued.

"We discovered that every century or so, an extraordinarily special individual would appear within the Uchiha... He might not reach the terrifying level of the great Clan Head, but to other ninja, he would already be an existence beyond reach... And now, around eighty years have passed since the great Clan Head was born..."

He raised his eyes, and a sharp gleam suddenly flashed through his aged, clouded gaze.

"This discovery circulated among the clan's upper ranks for a long time. Some believed the Uchiha were simply blessed by nature and that it was merely coincidence. Others believed it was a certain pattern that objectively existed in the fate of the Uchiha clan! By now, many who knew of it have passed away. Only a few old men like me are still alive..."

"..."

"This old man has been waiting. I thought I would have to wait at least another ten years before seeing that person, but now..."

As he spoke, he set down his cup, leaned forward, and moved close to Uchiha Mo.

"This old man believes that person... has already appeared!"

"Mo, ever since you began to make a name for yourself, this old man has been watching and observing you. Your talent is the greatest I have ever seen in an Uchiha. Even the great Clan Head might not have been your match at your age. Your combat instincts and killing techniques are equally outstanding—far too outstanding for a boy..."

"Most importantly, your way of thinking is closer to the great Clan Head's than anyone I have ever seen! You are clearly an Uchiha born in an age of peace, yet the darkness within you runs deeper than that of us descendants of the Warring States era."

"You... are the person this old man has been waiting for!"

Uchiha Setsuna straightened up. A faint flush colored his aged face as his bright eyes stared intently into Mo's.

"..."

Mo's expression remained calm. He showed no excitement over this misunderstanding.

"I am myself, Uchiha Mo. I am not anyone else."

"No! You are the person the Uchiha have always been waiting for!"

However, Mo's denial did not shake Uchiha Setsuna's confidence. Instead, it made him even more certain of his guess.

So alike! Too alike! Someone as self-centered as the great Clan Head would never acknowledge something like this! Setsuna thought.

"..."

Seeing the increasingly excited look on Setsuna's face, Mo gave up on explaining.

"So what? Even if I am that person, what does it change?"

Setsuna's lips curled into a faint smile as he suddenly rose to his feet.

"Wait a moment."

With that, Setsuna quickly left the living room and returned to his bedroom. Within just a few breaths, he came back carrying an enormous scroll.

"Take it." He held the scroll out before Mo.

Mo glanced at the excited Setsuna, then raised a hand and accepted the scroll.

Setsuna sat cross-legged on the floor again, pouring himself another full cup of sake as he spoke:

"This scroll contains every ninjutsu, taijutsu, secret technique, and forbidden technique collected by the Uchiha... including those two legendary taboo techniques!"

"Izanagi and Izanami?!" Mo's pupils contracted in surprise.

Setsuna nodded. "That's right! Izanagi and Izanami! But you know the price of using those two techniques as well... Mo, unless it is absolutely necessary, you must never use forbidden techniques!"

Mo spread open the scroll, scanning it as he nodded.

"I already know what you intend to do. More than forty years ago, the Uchiha failed to seize the position of clan head, but now..."

"This old man and a few other old fellows will fully support your decision. Just focus on growing stronger. This old man promises you: when the time is right, the Uchiha will follow closely in your footsteps!"

"The Uchiha's future... rests on your shoulders! This old man believes you can bring new light to the Uchiha, who have languished in silence and darkness for over forty years!"

Slap!

Uchiha Mo put away the scroll, a smile curling across his lips.

With only a cursory scan of the table of contents, Uchiha Mo had already found several techniques he needed, including Transcription Seal, Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change, and Five Elements Seal.

"I will use the power of these eyes to carve out a new future for the Uchiha!"