Uchiha Turmoil

Konoha, the Uchiha Clan compound.

This clan compound at the edge of the village, with its distinctive architectural style, seemed no different from usual.

The Military Police Force members on duty still wore vests embroidered with the fan crest, patrolling with stern expressions. The clan's shinobi were either carrying out missions or training.

Children played in designated areas. The oppressive atmosphere remained, yet everything seemed normal.

Deep within Elder Uchiha Setsuna's stone house, inside a hidden chamber.

Candlelight flickered, illuminating Uchiha Setsuna's wrinkled face, which was now faintly flushed with barely suppressed excitement.

He sat alone at a stone table. A cup of sake sat before him, untouched for a long time, while his withered fingers lightly traced its rim. Unprecedented ecstasy and a trace of complicated emotion gleamed in his clouded eyes.

"They succeeded... They really succeeded..."

He muttered in a trembling voice he could not suppress.

"That child Shaoyu... and Lianhuo and the others... They really established themselves in Kumogakure... and were even granted the position of elders by the Raikage... Good! Excellent!"

At the moment he received confirmation, the heavy stone in the heart of this old man—who had devoted himself to the Uchiha Clan, endured in silence for decades, and even gone so far as to stage a bitter ruse to send away the clan's seeds of hope—finally dropped away by more than half.

What did this mean?

It meant that even if Konoha's Uchiha Clan truly headed toward its darkest ending under the relentless pressure of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō—

Even if they were purged, even if the clan was exterminated, the Uchiha name and bloodline would not be severed.

In the distant Land of Lightning, within powerful Kumogakure, a branch of Uchiha seeds had taken root and sprouted, gaining new identities, status, and protection.

They carried the Uchiha Sharingan and the pride of the Uchiha as they continued the Uchiha legacy in another land.

Creak—

The chamber door silently opened a crack. Uchiha Tiandao slipped inside, swiftly closed it behind him, and activated the soundproofing barrier within.

He carried a wine flask and two small cups as well.

"Elder Setsuna, enjoying yourself alone?"

For once, Uchiha Tiandao had shed the usual composure and gravity he needed to maintain as clan head, revealing a relaxed expression with even a hint of a smile.

As the head of the Uchiha Clan, no one wanted the clan to prosper more than he did.

Now that Shaoyu's success had preserved a spark for the Uchiha Clan, he was naturally delighted.

He set the flask and cups on the stone table and poured two cups without ceremony.

"Tiandao, you're here."

Elder Setsuna did not turn around, but the joy in his voice was unmistakable.

"You received the news as well?"

"Mm, it's confirmed. I was just scolded by Sarutobi Hiruzen, and I brought back more detailed intelligence. Shaoyu not only became an elder of Kumogakure, but the Raikage personally allocated them an excellent clan compound. Their treatment is exceptionally generous."

"It seems Kumogakure truly values them."

Uchiha Tiandao pushed one cup toward Setsuna and raised the other.

"Come, Elder. To the Uchiha seeds taking root in a foreign land!"

"Good!"

Elder Setsuna lifted his cup and lightly clinked it against Tiandao's. They drained their cups in one gulp. The fiery liquor burned down their throats, yet turned into warmth and deep emotion in their hearts.

"It wasn't easy..."

Tiandao set down his cup and let out a long breath, his gaze deepening.

"That child Shaoyu has made his way out. His move was dangerous, but worthwhile. He not only secured a future for himself and the clansmen who followed him, but more importantly... he left a possible lifeline for all of Uchiha."

However, this joy and hope did not last long.

Uchiha Tiandao's expression quickly darkened again. He poured another cup for himself and Setsuna, lowering his voice.

"But, Elder, there is also trouble."

"The young people in the clan, right?"

Elder Setsuna seemed to have expected it. He gave a cold snort.

"Shaoyu's success is like a fire, completely igniting the ambitions and discontent that many had long suppressed."

"Exactly."

Uchiha Tiandao frowned deeply.

"Especially the backbone and younger generation of the Hawk Faction. They were already extremely dissatisfied with the current situation. They merely lacked a successful example and a clear path."

He paused, concern in his voice.

"Over the past few days, I've already noticed unusual agitation among some of the clan's radicals. They're making private connections, gathering information, and even secretly preparing..."

"They think that since Shaoyu could lead over a dozen people away, they can do the same. This sentiment is spreading like a plague."

At those words, the delight in Uchiha Setsuna's eyes faded, replaced by his usual depth and sharpness. He slowly took a sip of wine and spoke in a low voice.

"As expected. Where there is light, there is shadow. Hope brings not only reassurance, but also unrealistic fantasies and reckless actions."

"Precisely."

Tiandao nodded.

"Shaoyu's success was the result of favorable timing, location, and support coming together. We even secretly cooperated to put on a performance, barely managing to deceive everyone. How could anyone else have such conditions?"

"Besides," Elder Setsuna continued, his voice icy, "do you think those two old foxes, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō, will still treat us Uchiha with the same 'tolerance' as before after Shaoyu and the others successfully defected?"

He set down his cup, dipped a finger in wine, and drew several lines across the stone table.

"Danzo suffered terrible losses this time. Nearly all of his elite subordinates died, he himself was left half-crippled, and Shaoyu scared him so badly that he fled back in a panic."

"With his spiteful, ruthless nature, he wouldn't dare place the entire debt on Shaoyu, who is far away in Kumogakure. So..."

"He'll take it out twofold on us Uchiha who remain in Konoha."

Uchiha Tiandao picked up the thought, his tone heavy.

"The surveillance will become stricter, the suppression more blatant, and every restriction and provocation will only intensify. Danzo may even use this as an excuse to push for a more radical purge."

"At a time like this, if anyone in the clan becomes restless and wants to imitate Shaoyu by defecting... they would be courting death, and would hand Danzo the perfect excuse to strike."

Both men fell silent. The air in the hidden chamber seemed to solidify, broken only by the occasional crackle of candle flame.

Hope and danger often came hand in hand.

Shaoyu's success had preserved a spark for the Uchiha, but it was also like a spark thrown into a vat of oil, instantly igniting the clan's already volatile anger and despair while drawing even more dangerous hostility and pressure from Konoha's upper ranks.

"We must stabilize the situation."

After a long while, Uchiha Tiandao spoke decisively.

"As for those restless clansmen, especially the core of the Hawk Faction, we must handle them separately. Some can be guided in secret, made to understand the difficulty of defecting and the danger of the current situation, and persuaded to endure for now and build their strength."

"As for the others... if they truly cannot be persuaded, or if they themselves are problematic and may betray the clan, then when necessary... we must take decisive measures."

A glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

As clan head, he had to take responsibility for the survival of the entire clan, even if the methods were cruel.

Uchiha Setsuna slowly nodded.

"This old man understands. You will take the lead on clan matters. I will cooperate with you, using my status and influence as an elder to soothe and suppress them as much as possible."

The distribution of the Hawk Faction and Dove Faction had originally been an act put on by Uchiha Setsuna playing the villain and Uchiha Tiandao playing the good cop, with the two of them leading the clan in a performance for Konoha's upper ranks.

Who could have known that under Uchiha Fugaku's leadership, the Dove Faction would become the surrender faction?

Tiandao, as clan head, surpassed the Uchiha Clan's future head, Uchiha Fugaku, in both ability and methods. Not to mention Uchiha Setsuna, that old monster who had lived from the Warring States Era until now.

"Externally... we must keep an even lower profile, perhaps even make a show of distancing ourselves. For example, publicly condemning Shaoyu's defection, strengthening control over the clansmen, cooperating with Konoha's investigation... In any case, we cannot let Danzo find any leverage."

"Mm, it can only be this way."

Tiandao lifted his cup and drained the remaining wine in one gulp, as if trying to drown the heaviness in his heart.

"To Uchiha's future."

Elder Setsuna also raised his cup, and the two clinked glasses once more.