第7章:启动资金

Uchiha Setsuna remained silent for a long time, his withered fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of his teacup. The calluses on his fingertips were rough enough to scrape wood shavings.

Outside the stone house, the rustling of wind through the pine forest mingled with faint shouts in the distance.

That was the patrol signal of the Konoha Military Police Force, which had now become the shackle binding the Uchiha.

He slammed the teacup onto the stone table, causing tea to splash and soak his cuffs. A flash of resolve, no less intense than that of a young man, flickered in his eyes.

"You are right. We have endured for too long."

"From the day that old dog Tobirama established the Military Police Force, we became the 'outcasts' of Konoha. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō sing from the same hymn sheet, treating us like fish on a chopping block."

"The clansmen are either numb and resigned or blinded by rage, yet no one dares to truly take that step. When I was young, I fought alongside Madara and guarded our home with Izuna, but in the end, we Uchiha were still reduced to a state where everyone shouts to beat us."

Setsuna's voice carried the suppressed fury of many years, as well as the bleakness of an old man.

"Shaoyu, you are a courageous young man, and what is even more rare is that you see things more clearly than anyone else. I support you."

He walked to the wall and pressed a hidden mechanism. The wall slid open, revealing a secret chamber behind it.

He took out a scroll engraved with the fan crest and handed it to Shaoyu.

"Inside are some things you might find useful, including copies of certain clan secret arts, information on several hidden outposts in the ninja world, and... enough funds for you to get started. There is only so much I can do; there are too many people in the clan watching me."

He then walked into the courtyard and let out a low whistle, similar to the cry of a night owl.

Within moments, ten figures landed silently and knelt on one knee before Setsuna.

They were all young, the oldest barely over twenty and the youngest looking only eleven or twelve, but every one of them had sharp eyes, a fierce aura, and carried the unique pride of the Uchiha mixed with a restlessness that had been suppressed for a long time.

The leader was a long-haired Uchiha with a resolute face and eyes burning like stoked charcoal.

He was Uchiha Setsuna's grandson, Uchiha Renhuo.

"Grandfather," he said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping quickly over Shaoyu with a look of scrutiny.

"Renhuo," Setsuna's voice was beyond question.

"This is Shaoyu. You should know him. His words are my words. From this moment on, you ten are to sever ties with the Konoha Uchiha, follow Shaoyu, and leave this place."

Renhuo's body trembled slightly, and an astonishing radiance erupted in his eyes—a light mixed with shock, ecstasy, and resolve.

He naturally knew Uchiha Shaoyu, the genius of their Uchiha clan and one of the leaders of the Hawk Faction. Renhuo was also a genius in his own right, but in front of Uchiha Shaoyu, he could not help but feel inferior.

The nine people behind him also caught their breath. Two men who appeared to be Jōnin clenched their fists, and the seven Chūnin—including two young women with beautiful faces but determined expressions—also had flames igniting in their eyes.

"Grandfather, we..."

"Say no more!"

Setsuna interrupted him, his gaze sweeping across these ten young faces.

"The decaying high-ups of Konoha and the cowardly authorities have already pushed the Uchiha to a dead end. If you stay, it is either assimilation or death. The future of the Uchiha does not lie in this stagnant pool of Konoha. Follow Shaoyu, go outside, and use your Sharingan to carve out a world of your own! Let the ninja world remember that the blood of the Uchiha has never cooled!"

A slight commotion erupted in the stone house. Some had surprise in their eyes, some showed hesitation, but most felt a long-suppressed excitement and resolve.

Renhuo pondered for a moment before speaking first.

"Since Grandfather has decided, I have no objections. Staying in Konoha is merely a slow death; we might as well go all out."

"We are willing as well!" The other nine echoed in succession. They had long since grown tired of the suppression in Konoha; they had simply lacked a leader.

Shaoyu swept his gaze over the group, seeing that everyone's eyes burned with unwillingness and resolve.

Aside from Renhuo, the Jōnin, there were two other Jōnin whose steady auras marked them as veterans who had experienced many battles.

The remaining seven Chūnin, though younger, showed no cowardice. Their Sharingan were already active, the tomoe spinning rapidly in their pupils.

"These are the core strengths of our Hawk Faction, and the young people in the clan with the most backbone."

Uchiha Setsuna walked to Shaoyu's side and patted his shoulder with a withered hand, the force unexpectedly heavy.

"Renhuo is a Jōnin with rich experience who can share a lot of the burden for you. The other two Jōnin are elite combatants of the clan, skilled in both offense and defense."

"The remaining Chūnin are all elites with high execution capabilities. I am old and can no longer walk far; I cannot go with you, but these children are now in your hands."

Uchiha Renhuo stepped forward and said in a low voice.

"Shaoyu-sama, we know the path of defection is perilous, but as long as you lead the way, we will follow you through fire and water."

One of the female Chūnin, dressed in purple, also spoke up.

"Shaoyu-sama, my name is Uchiha Rei. I specialize in Genjutsu and medical ninjutsu. I can handle any injuries on the road."

This made Uchiha Shaoyu take a second look. Because most of the Uchiha clan possessed Yin-style chakra and very few had Yang-style, it was rare to find someone capable of medical ninjutsu. That the girl before him was an Uchiha who could use medical ninjutsu was truly remarkable.

Another petite female Chūnin added.

"My name is Uchiha Mei. I specialize in tracking and reconnaissance, and I can help everyone avoid Konoha's pursuers."

Shaoyu looked at the ten people before him, then at Elder Setsuna, whose temples were gray, and a surge of warmth rose in his heart.

He knew that this seventy-year-old man had not only bought him time to gather his forces but had also entrusted the future of the Hawk Faction to him. With the help of these people, the path of defection would undoubtedly have one more layer of security.

He took a deep breath, slowly raised his hand, and revealed his Sharingan.

Unlike an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan, his eyes, under the enhancement of the Six Eyes, had a faint, flowing light rotating within the pupils, appearing increasingly profound.

"Gentlemen," Shaoyu's voice was resonant.

"From today on, we are no longer Konoha ninja, nor are we lambs waiting to be slaughtered. We will live for ourselves and fight for the future of the Uchiha. The road ahead may be filled with thorns, but as long as we work together, we will definitely find a way to survive."

Uchiha Setsuna's gaze was instantly drawn to these special eyes. His clouded pupils contracted violently, his withered body leaned forward involuntarily, and his breathing suddenly became rapid.

He stared fixedly at Shaoyu's left eye, the tomoe in his own Sharingan spinning crazily as if he wanted to carve every detail of these eyes into his mind. His voice trembled with disbelief.

"This... is this... the Mangekyō Sharingan?!"

Shaoyu nodded slowly and withdrew some of his power. The light bands in his eyes gradually slowed, yet they still maintained their unique form.

"You could say that, Elder. It is a form of the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"Mangekyō... it really is the Mangekyō!"

Uchiha Setsuna stood up abruptly, his movement so sudden he nearly tipped over the stone table. He slammed his withered palms onto the surface with such force that the teacup jumped an inch.

There was no longer a hint of hesitation in his eyes; it was replaced by irrepressible excitement and ecstasy, and his clouded eyes even welled up with tears.

"I thought the Uchiha's Mangekyō had become a legend since Madara-sama, but I never expected it to reappear in your generation, and to be so special! This is the hope Heaven has bestowed upon our Uchiha!"

He stumbled toward Shaoyu and grabbed his shoulders tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. His voice was choked with emotion yet exceptionally firm.

"Shaoyu! You are the future of the Uchiha clan! With these eyes of yours, why should we fear failing to restore the glory of the Uchiha? So what if those old bastards suppress us? So what if Konoha ostracizes us? With the Mangekyō Sharingan, you can lead the clansmen to carve out a bloody path and build a home that truly belongs to the Uchiha!"

The surrounding young Uchiha, though unaware of why Setsuna was so moved, vaguely understood the value of the Mangekyō Sharingan and looked at Uchiha Shaoyu with adoration.

This was Uchiha Shaoyu-sama, their future leader.

"We are willing to follow Shaoyu-sama in defecting from Konoha, until death!"

The ten shouted in unison, their voices causing the stone house to vibrate slightly. The soundproofing here was excellent, so they did not fear being heard. Their Sharingan ignited simultaneously, the scarlet light weaving together in the dim stone house, reflecting off a row of resolute faces.

Uchiha Setsuna watched the scene, a trace of relief flashing in his clouded eyes as the wrinkles at the corners smoothed out. He took a scroll wrapped in linen from his bosom and tremblingly handed it to Shaoyu.

"This is a map of the secret passages on the perimeter of our clan grounds. I helped build them when I was young, and they can bypass Konoha's patrol teams and Root's hidden sentries. Take this route, but have you thought about where you are going?"

Shaoyu nodded and said.

"Kumogakure."