Shisui left.
He left with regret and resentment.
The courtyard grew quiet once more. Only the waters of the Naka River flowed silently past the front of the courtyard.
Uchiha Itachi stood obediently behind Uchiha Mirai's reclining chair.
Three years had passed.
It had been exactly three years since Uchiha Mirai had gone into seclusion.
Over those three years, Itachi had visited this courtyard from time to time, pouring tea for him, rubbing his shoulders, and massaging his legs.
Uchiha Itachi couldn't see through Mirai.
But he knew very well that this man, who seemed lazy and indifferent to everything, hadn't gone into seclusion for such a simple reason.
It was more like...
lying low?
Uchiha Mirai leaned back in his chair, calmly watching the Naka River flow by.
Memories from the past fifteen years slowly replayed before his eyes.
Fifteen years ago.
He hadn't even had time to clear his browser history when he transmigrated into the Uchiha Clan.
From then on, the Night of the Nine-Tails had become a Damoclean sword hanging over his head.
Fortunately, he'd brought a cheat with him when he transmigrated.
A giant beast slept within his body.
The King of the Monsters! Godzilla!
By constantly digging deeper into Godzilla's power, he'd developed the ability to control nuclear radiation.
After that, he'd developed the Godzilla Cloak, Godzilla Mode...
He'd made a name for himself in the Third Great Ninja War!
Enemy-nation shinobi had dubbed him... Calamity Uchiha!
After the war ended, Konoha was left in ruins, and he entered a crucial period of developing Godzilla's power.
But just then, a flood of rumors harmful to him spread throughout the village.
At first, they only claimed that his abilities affected the environment.
Then all kinds of outrageous rumors spread everywhere.
They said that tentacles would grow on anyone who went near Uchiha Mirai, and that as long as he was in the village, their descendants would grow tails, a third leg, and other such things...
The absurd rumors were just like what Naruto had endured as a child.
In an instant, Uchiha Mirai went from being the village's hero to a demon who threatened its safety.
On the eve of the Fourth Hokage's inauguration ceremony, Uchiha Mirai was forcibly dismissed from his post.
Uchiha Mirai didn't resist.
On the one hand, he knew it was a scheme by the Konoha F4. Their goal was to deal with him, a thorn in their side, and clear the way for Namikaze Minato.
If he resisted by force, he'd only prove the rumors that he threatened the village's safety.
On the other hand, he was in the crucial phase of developing Godzilla's power and needed a long period of recuperation.
When Namikaze Minato took the Hokage Position, Uchiha Mirai, once his equal in fame, began a leisurely life of drinking tea, keeping birds, and living in seclusion among the mountains and forests.
The memories slowly faded. Uchiha Mirai opened his eyes.
The Naka River still flowed steadily before him, but the person watching it was no longer who he'd been.
"Little Itachi, I've been lying here for so long. Tomorrow, I should get some exercise."
Uchiha Itachi's breath caught. A glimmer of anticipation and shock appeared in his eyes.
"Mirai, could it be that you're planning to..."
Uchiha Mirai didn't answer. He simply smiled as he looked into the distance.
"I wonder how many people still remember the name Uchiha Mirai after these three years."
Uchiha Clan Compound.
Naka Shrine.
This was where the Uchiha Clan held its clan meetings.
Whenever one was called, it meant the clan was facing a major issue.
The shrine was packed. Dozens of clanspeople sat cross-legged, glaring indignantly at Uchiha Fugaku, who sat above them.
"Clan Head! Konoha has gone too far!"
"We put up with the Night of the Nine-Tails! We put up with the relocation of the compound! How much longer are we supposed to put up with this?"
"We simply can't swallow this insult!"
Violent shouts rose and fell throughout the shrine.
A bunch of late-stage Red Eye sufferers looked ready to charge straight into the Hokage Office at the slightest provocation.
Uchiha Fugaku remained impassive, watching the shinobi below with an authoritative gaze.
He knew very well that he absolutely couldn't speak first right now.
If he spoke first, the angry clanspeople would find an outlet for their emotions.
As long as he held his nerve and waited for them to vent, that would be the best moment for him to speak.
"Fugaku, all these years later, you're still as weak-willed as ever."
Suddenly, a cold snort interrupted his thoughts.
He looked over and saw an elderly Uchiha elder staring at him with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brows.
Uchiha Setsuna.
The leader of the Uchiha Clan's hardliners, he had even more seniority in the clan than Fugaku.
Only this man could address him so bluntly as Fugaku.
"Elder Setsuna, what are you trying to say?"
Uchiha Setsuna's deep, eagle-like eyes turned cold.
"The higher-ups have gone too far. Our Uchiha Clan was one of the founding clans, yet we've never enjoyed any privileges. Instead, we've been oppressed time and again, and even forced to relocate our compound."
"Rebel! That old Sarutobi is too far gone to stop the Uchiha!"
Ambition's flames began to rise in Uchiha Setsuna's eyes.
"That's enough!"
Uchiha Fugaku shouted.
"Do you want to lead the Uchiha Clan to ruin?"
"You're the one leading the Uchiha Clan to ruin!"
Uchiha Setsuna glared right back at Fugaku.
"Look at what's become of the Uchiha during your time as clan head! We've been suppressed at every turn! We've lost our compound! Our clanspeople have suffered every kind of humiliation!"
"What's become of the Uchiha's pride? They've trampled it into the dirt!"
His stirring words made the hardline clanspeople around him breathe faster. Their Sharingan activated against their will.
The atmosphere in the room abruptly turned tense.
Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath, trying to rein in his surging emotions as he looked down at Uchiha Setsuna.
"Setsuna, don't forget. I'm the clan head."
Uchiha Setsuna's expression darkened.
"Fugaku, you'll regret this! Sooner or later, the Uchiha Clan will meet its end at your hands!"
The clash between the two highest-ranking members of the Uchiha Clan made the atmosphere in the meeting room instantly tense.
The hardliners and moderates all turned their attention to the two of them.
Suddenly, a soft chuckle broke the tension, making countless clanspeople turn to look.
"I didn't expect to walk in and find such a good show."
A figure stood at the entrance to Naka Shrine, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
At the sight of that familiar face, the young clanspeople in the shrine were all startled, their expressions filled with excitement and disbelief.
"Mirai?! Is that Mirai?"
"Mirai's come out of seclusion?"
"Three years! It's been three whole years! He's finally come out!"
Before you continue