If One Day, You Had to Choose Between the Village and Your Clan, What Would You Choose?

After leaving the Hokage Building, Uchiha You did not immediately return to the clan compound.

Instead, he turned into a secluded alley.

Following behind him, Uchiha Chuan lowered his voice and asked,

"You, was the Hokage Building really just sending you out to investigate?"

Leaning against the wall, Uchiha You looked calm.

"On the surface, yes."

Uchiha Chuan's expression changed.

"What about in reality?"

Uchiha You glanced at him.

"In reality, they want me to die out there."

Uchiha Chuan sucked in a sharp breath.

"What?"

Uchiha You said lightly,

"Danzo will not allow someone who dared to trample the Shimura Clan's dignity today to keep living."

"And the Third Hokage will not fall out with Danzo over me."

"So this mission looks like an official assignment, but in truth, they are using someone else's hand to kill me."

A chill ran through Uchiha Chuan's heart.

"Then why did you agree?"

Uchiha You smiled.

"Because I needed to leave for a while anyway."

Uchiha Chuan froze.

"Leave?"

Uchiha You raised his eyes toward the distant Hokage Building, his gaze deep.

"Konoha's waters are too murky."

"I need to get out of here first before I can find the people who can truly flip the table."

Uchiha Chuan did not understand.

But he vaguely felt that after Uchiha You had walked out of the Hokage Building today, he seemed to have changed.

He had become colder.

And more dangerous.

"Those three ANBU..."

The corners of Uchiha You's lips rose slightly.

"ANBU?"

"Heh."

"If I'm not mistaken, those three should all be from Root."

Uchiha Chuan's face turned even paler.

"Root? Isn't that Danzo's..."

"Yes."

Uchiha You's tone remained calm.

"So now you understand?"

"This mission is not sending me to investigate the Land of Water."

"It is sending me to my death."

"They just picked the wrong person."

Uchiha Chuan swallowed and asked in a low voice,

"Then... should we tell the clan head?"

Uchiha You shook his head.

"There's no need."

"Even if the clan head knew, he could not change anything."

"If he had the courage to tear things apart with the higher-ups, the Uchiha Clan would not have been suppressed to this extent."

Uchiha Chuan fell silent.

Deep down, he knew that although the words were harsh, they were the truth.

Uchiha You patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry."

"I won't die."

"On the contrary, this trip out of the village may be far more interesting than staying in Konoha."

Uchiha Chuan looked at him, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

Uchiha You had already turned to leave.

"Go back and prepare."

"I'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

Uchiha Chuan hurriedly asked,

"You're not going back to the clan compound?"

Uchiha You stopped and turned his head slightly, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.

"I am."

"Of course I am."

"But before I go back, there is someone else I need to see."

By the Naka River.

The evening wind swept across the river, carrying a faint chill.

Uchiha You stood on the riverbank, watching the slowly setting sun in the distance, his expression thoughtful.

Just then, a figure emerged from behind a tree.

Black hair, a short blade, and the Uchiha Clan crest.

Shisui Uchiha.

"You."

Shisui looked at him, his brows slightly furrowed.

"I heard about what happened on the shopping street today."

Uchiha You did not turn around. He merely said flatly,

"The news travels fast."

Shisui was silent for a moment.

"You went too far today."

Uchiha You gave a soft laugh.

"Are you here to tell me to endure it too?"

Shisui shook his head.

"I just think you should not have beaten that Shimura Clan member so badly."

"Even if he was at fault, he should have been handed over to Lord Hokage."

Uchiha You finally turned around.

Looking at Shisui, he suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous.

This guy was clearly already standing at the edge of a cliff, yet he was still thinking about setting the table straight.

Uchiha You asked,

"Shisui, do you think Lord Hokage will speak up for the Uchiha Clan?"

Shisui frowned.

"Lord Hokage has always valued the village's balance."

Uchiha You asked again,

"What about Danzo?"

Shisui's expression stiffened.

"Lord Danzo's methods may be extreme, but he does it for Konoha."

Uchiha You smiled.

"That again."

He slowly walked closer to Shisui, his tone terrifyingly calm.

"Then let me ask you."

"Why did Shimura Takuma dare to insult the Police Force in the street today?"

"Why did all the villagers fall silent the moment they heard the name Shimura Clan?"

"Why did the Uchiha Clan enforcing the law end up looking like the ones in the wrong?"

Shisui fell silent.

Uchiha You continued,

"Because in their eyes, the Uchiha Clan is no longer part of Konoha."

"We are an object they can suppress, strike at, and sacrifice whenever they please."

Shisui's brows knitted tightly.

"It will not come to that."

Uchiha You looked at him, his gaze calm yet sharp.

"Do you truly think so?"

Shisui did not answer.

Uchiha You did not press him. He merely said lightly,

"Shisui."

"I'm leaving the village tomorrow to carry out a mission in the Land of Water."

Shisui froze.

"So soon?"

"Who gave you the mission?"

"The Hokage Building."

Shisui's expression changed slightly.

"Why would the Hokage Building suddenly send you out of the village?"

Uchiha You looked at him and gave a meaningful smile.

"What do you think?"

Shisui fell silent.

As one of the Uchiha Clan's sharpest young geniuses, he was no fool.

In an instant, he vaguely guessed something.

Uchiha You continued,

"If I don't come back, don't be too surprised."

Shisui's pupils contracted.

"You!"

Uchiha You cut him off.

"Don't be so tense."

"I'm not going to my death."

"On the contrary, this may be my only chance to escape Konoha's surveillance."

Shisui stared at him blankly.

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

Uchiha You lifted his head toward the darkening sunset at the horizon, his gaze profound.

"Do something Konoha does not dare let me do."

Shisui's heart skipped a beat.

"What?"

Uchiha You said in a low voice,

"Let those people hiding in the dark see the light first."

Shisui did not understand.

But he could feel that the oppressive chill around Uchiha You was gradually sharpening.

Like a blade slowly leaving its sheath.

"Shisui."

Uchiha You suddenly spoke.

"If one day, Konoha asks you to choose between the village and your clan."

"What would you choose?"

Shisui froze.

This question was almost exactly the same as the one asked at the Police Force today.

He opened his mouth, but still did not answer immediately.

Seeing this, Uchiha You chuckled softly.

"You see."

"You still can't answer it."

Shisui clenched his fists.

"Because this question should never have existed in the first place."

Uchiha You looked at him, his tone calm.

"But it already exists."

"And soon, it'll be your turn."

Shisui's heart jolted.

He wanted to ask more, but Uchiha You had already turned and left.

Leaving behind only one final sentence, drifting on the wind.

"Help me keep an eye on the clan grounds until tomorrow."

"Especially the children in the clan."

Shisui stood there in a daze.

For some reason, Uchiha You's words sounded like he was making final arrangements.

Yet somehow, there was not the slightest hint of a death wish in his tone.

Instead, he was like a fierce beast about to enter the hunting grounds.

Late at night.

By the time Uchiha You returned to the clan grounds, everything had already quieted down.

Most people were still discussing what had happened during the day.

Some were worried.

Some were excited.

Others felt that Uchiha You had been too impulsive today and would sooner or later bring trouble upon himself.

Uchiha You ignored those voices.

He walked straight into the courtyard and pushed open the door.

The table was already set with food.

A familiar figure sat beside it, sorting kunai for a child nearby.

Uchiha Mikoto.

When she saw him return, Mikoto looked up and said softly,

"You're back?"

Uchiha You nodded.

"Mm."

Mikoto glanced at him, her gaze falling on his slightly weary face, concern coloring her voice.

"I heard about what happened today."

"You were too impulsive."

That again.

Uchiha You suddenly felt like laughing.

It seemed that everyone in the Uchiha Clan but him was still used to facing everything with the words "just endure it."

He pulled out a chair, sat down, and picked up his chopsticks.

"If I hadn't been a little impulsive, the one sitting here now might not have been me."

Mikoto froze slightly.

Uchiha You said nothing more and merely lowered his head to eat.

After a while, Mikoto asked softly,

"You're leaving the village tomorrow?"

Uchiha You paused.

"How did you know?"

Mikoto lowered her voice.

"It's already spread throughout the clan."

"The Hokage Building has assigned you a mission in the Land of Water and sent three ANBU members to accompany you."

Uchiha You raised his eyes.

"News travels fast."

Mikoto looked at him, a trace of complexity flashing through her eyes.

"You."

"Tell me honestly. Is there something wrong with this mission?"

Uchiha You did not answer. He merely smiled.

"If I said there was, would you tell me not to go?"

Mikoto fell silent.

Looking at her, Uchiha You understood the answer.

She would not.

Because Mikoto was also an Uchiha.

She knew the Uchiha Clan did not have many choices left.

Even if there was a pit ahead, someone still had to walk over it first and test it.

Uchiha You set down his chopsticks. His voice was low, yet exceptionally clear.

"Don't worry."

"I'll come back."

"And when I do, a lot of people in Konoha probably won't be able to laugh anymore."

Mikoto looked at him, and her heart inexplicably trembled.

She did not know why, but Uchiha You today felt incredibly dangerous, yet incomparably dependable.

Like a storm about to arrive.

Oppressive.

Heavy.

Yet powerful enough to tear apart some old things.

Uchiha You rose to his feet and headed for the door.

Just before leaving, he paused and looked back into the room.

"Oh, right."

"If Itachi comes back, have him come find me."

Mikoto was stunned.

"What do you want with Itachi?"

The corners of Uchiha You's lips lifted slightly.

"There are some things I need to talk to him about beforehand."

With that, he pulled open the door and stepped into the night.

Inside, Mikoto stared blankly at his retreating back for a long time without coming back to herself.

For some reason, she had a premonition.

Starting tomorrow.

The Uchiha Clan would probably never be the same as it was today.

And all of Konoha would slowly veer away from its original course because of this young Uchiha's departure.

The night wind swept over the Naka River.

Standing outside the courtyard, Uchiha You looked up at the row of faces on Hokage Rock in the distance, his eyes cold and deep.

Danzo had already begun weaving his net.

The Third Hokage had already given his tacit approval.

Then come.

Tomorrow.

I will walk out of Konoha myself.

Then I'll show you what real trouble looks like.