Little Fugaku Bowed on the Spot: Big Brother Xuan, Take Me Away!

Uchiha Xuan's declaration, like a peal of thunder, echoed across the plaza before Nanga Shrine for a long while.

"Follow me, and there'll be meat to eat! There'll be dignity!"

Those ten words were like the sharpest awl, brutally piercing the battered hearts of every Uchiha clansman.

They had had enough!

Enough of the humiliation of being pointed at and gossiped about while walking down the street.

Enough of living on thin ice under ANBU surveillance.

And even more, they had had enough of those old bastards in the Hokage Building treating them like trash to be discarded at will!

Rage burned wildly in everyone's chest, but years of indoctrination by the "Will of Fire" still made some of the older clansmen instinctively hesitate.

Defection!

That was a capital crime—becoming enemies with all of Konoha!

If they failed, the Uchiha clan would truly be wiped from this continent.

"Lord Xuan..." An elder with graying hair trembled as his lips moved, wanting to say something.

But before he could utter those discouraging words—

Bang!

A dull sound of knees striking the ground suddenly rang out from the front of the now-silent crowd.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn over.

A boy of twelve or thirteen, with short black hair and a face still carrying some childishness, yet eyes firmer than ever before, rushed out from the crowd without hesitation.

He charged to the foot of Nanga Shrine's towering steps.

Then, before thousands upon thousands of clansmen, he faced Uchiha Xuan standing at the very top.

His knees gave way, and he dropped heavily to the ground!

"Big Brother Xuan!"

The boy raised his head. His face, usually overly composed and even somewhat indecisive, had now flushed crimson!

In his black eyes, which had yet to awaken the Sharingan, blazed a dazzling light called "fervor" and "faith"!

He nearly exhausted every ounce of strength in his body, tearing his throat raw as he let out the loudest, most wholehearted roar of his life!

"I, Uchiha Fugaku!"

"Swear to follow you unto death!"

"To hell with Konoha! To hell with the Will of Fire!"

Fugaku's voice cracked from extreme agitation, even carrying a hint of tears. It was the exhilaration of completely venting years of suppressed grievance and frustration.

"Please..."

He slammed his head down, his forehead smashing heavily against the hard bluestone slabs and leaving a trace of blood.

"Take us away! Take us to build a Divine Kingdom that truly belongs to the Uchiha!"

At this moment—

This future head of the Uchiha clan, the tragic man from the original story who had willingly allowed his own son to kill him for peace between the village and the clan—

Under Uchiha Xuan's butterfly effect, had completely deviated from his original fate!

He did not choose foolish endurance.

He chose the most fervent, most absolute submission and resistance!

Silence.

Deathly silence.

Everyone was deeply shaken by Fugaku's sudden, all-or-nothing action.

A twelve-year-old boy had such courage and resolve!

Even Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Kagami could not help but be moved.

"Good!"

Uchiha Xuan looked at little Fugaku, kneeling below the steps with blood flowing from his forehead yet still staring fixedly at him, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes.

This was exactly the effect he wanted!

The power of an example was boundless.

Especially the example of a boy who bore pure Uchiha blood and was regarded by many as the hope of the future!

Xuan walked down the steps one at a time.

He came before Fugaku, reached out, and pulled the trembling boy up from the ground.

"Fugaku."

Xuan dusted off his shoulder. His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable force.

"You made the right decision."

"From this day onward, you will be the fastest blade in my hand."

He turned and pulled Fugaku to his side.

Then his Golden Flame Divine Eyes, burning with golden fire, swept slowly over the older clansmen below who were still hesitating, like two peerless blades.

"Do you see clearly now?"

Xuan's voice was so cold that it made them feel as if they had fallen into an ice pit.

"Even a twelve-year-old child has the courage to fight this rotten world for the clan's dignity!"

"You old fools who have lived half your lives—are you really inferior even to a child?!"

"Where is your fighting spirit?!"

"Where is your pride as members of the Uchiha clan?!"

"Do you really have to wait until that old dog Senju Tobirama slaughters you one by one like chickens before you know regret?!"

Every word struck at their hearts!

Xuan's words were like resounding slaps, viciously striking the faces of those wavering elders and clansmen.

Shame, fury, resentment...

All sorts of emotions intertwined, eventually becoming an unstoppable torrent!

"Damn it! I've had enough!"

Uchiha Yan was the first to redden his eyes. He yanked out his ninja sword and raised it high!

"I, Uchiha Yan, am willing to die for Lord Xuan! We'll kill our way out of Konoha!"

"I, Uchiha Tekka, swear to follow Lord Xuan unto death!"

"I, Uchiha Inabi, am willing to brave fire and water for the Divine Kingdom!"

Fugaku's action was like a detonator, completely igniting the hot blood of the Uchiha's younger generation!

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

One Uchiha youth after another.

Without hesitation, they pushed aside the elders beside them, rushed forward, and like Fugaku, dropped heavily to their knees before Xuan!

There was no fear of the unknown in their eyes.

There was only worship of strength, longing for a new world, and the purest fervor for the "king" before them!

Within mere seconds—

A vast, dark mass of people had already knelt across the front of the plaza!

The older clansmen who had still been hesitating watched the resolute backs of their own children and felt the fervent atmosphere that seemed capable of overturning everything.

The last trace of hesitation in their hearts was finally crushed completely.

That was right.

The children were not afraid of death.

What did these old bones have left to fear?

"Ah..."

An elderly elder let out a long sigh.

He walked forward unsteadily and tossed aside the cane in his hand.

Then this proud old man, who had never even knelt before the First Hokage—

Before everyone's shocked eyes, he slowly and laboriously fell to both knees.

"This old man... is willing to heed Lord Xuan's command."

It was like the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Whoosh—

Like falling dominoes.

Before Nanga Shrine, over ten thousand Uchiha clansmen, men and women, young and old—

At this moment, every single one of them knelt and bowed to the ground!

No one had forced them.

This was submission to the strong from the depths of their souls, and pursuit of hope!

"We!"

More than ten thousand people spoke in unison, their voices converging as though they could tear apart the heavens!

"Swear to follow Lord Xuan unto death!!!"

The sound surged like a tsunami, wave after wave, echoing through Konoha's night sky and lingering for a long time.

Uchiha Xuan stood atop the towering steps, looking down at the sea of dark figures submitting to him.

There was not the slightest excitement or wild joy in his eyes.

There was only the depth of an ancient well and absolute calm.

Because he knew that this was only the beginning.

"Very good."

Xuan slowly raised a hand, suppressing the deafening cries.

He turned his head toward the village center, toward the Hokage Building that was still brightly lit.

"Since no one has any objections."

An exceedingly cruel yet excited sneer curled across his lips.

"Then..."

"It is time for the main event to begin."

"Setsuna." Xuan tilted his head slightly and called out.

"Your subordinate is here!" Uchiha Setsuna immediately stepped forward, his eyes fervent.

"Spread the word."

Xuan's voice seemed especially cold in the night wind.

"The plan is moved up."

"Tonight, we will not wait until midnight."

He slowly drew a short blade glinting with cold light from his waist.

"Since we're leaving, we should leave our Lord Hokage an unforgettable... parting gift."