"Young Clan Leader, do those Formation Arts and pills you mentioned really exist?" When Hane voiced his idea, the Uchiha youths present all stared at him in shock as he remained perfectly calm.
Everyone involuntarily swallowed.
"Of course. Why would I lie about something like this?"
A trace of wild joy appeared in Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes. He could not help imagining the future the Young Clan Leader had described—an Uchiha Clan where everyone possessed the Mangekyō.
"Such an Uchiha... just how powerful would such an Uchiha be?" At that thought, Uchiha Retsuyō suddenly looked at Hane with some unease.
"Young Clan Leader, are the materials needed for those pills and Formation Arts expensive?"
A faint smile touched Hane's lips. "Brother Retsuyō, there's no need to doubt me. Since I said the entire clan can reach the Mangekyō, then the materials naturally won't be a problem. But if we want to achieve our goal, we'll need to work together as one!"
"Yes! I will brave fire and water for the Young Clan Leader!" Uchiha Retsuyō immediately lowered his head. His body could be seen trembling faintly.
The other clansmen were no better off. Every one of them looked at Hane with madness in their eyes.
"Alright! I understand everyone's feelings, but to keep this secret, there are some things I have no choice but to do!" Hane's sharp gaze swept across the clansmen present.
"Please give your orders, Young Clan Leader!" The Uchiha all lowered their heads and replied in unison.
"If word gets out, nothing can be accomplished. Open your minds and do not resist!" As he spoke, Hane used Divine Sense to condense several mysterious runes in the air.
"This matter requires absolute secrecy. It is not that I don't trust you, but it concerns the grand plan for the rise and survival of our clan.
"Once it is leaked, our clan will surely face the disaster of extermination. This rune is both a restriction to prevent you from leaking the secret and a protection for you. If anyone tries to forcibly use a secret technique to probe your mental memories, it will become a mental bomb. You will die, and so will the enemy!
"Do you have the resolve to give everything for the Uchiha Clan's great revival?"
Hane asked in a cold tone.
"We are willing to die for the Young Clan Leader!" A trace of determination flashed through everyone's eyes.
"Good! As expected of the fine sons of the Uchiha Clan. Rest assured, this rune only prevents you from leaking secrets. It has no power to control your lives." With a wave of his hand, Hane sent all twelve runes into the minds of the Uchiha youths present.
Every Uchiha felt a sharp pain in their minds. Then, once they understood the rune's purpose, their gazes toward Hane became even more loyal and fanatical.
This was far more than a rune that merely kept secrets. It was actually a powerful mental attack Ninjutsu. Any Uchiha possessing this rune could use it to swiftly launch three mental blasts at an enemy, and the rune would grow stronger along with their mental power.
Once everyone's mental strength improved in the future, the spiritual power radiating from this rune alone could leave enemies with weaker mental strength utterly unable to resist.
At the same time, a golden vertical mark similar to Hane's Eye of Truth appeared between their brows. It was simply much paler and shorter than Hane's.
Hane was delighted as well. The twelve of them were now providing him with nearly a thousand Gratitude Points each. This was practically a win-win outcome.
"Alright, Brother Retsuyō, this is a list of materials. Buy what I need as soon as possible, and we'll gather here again in three days." As he spoke, Hane handed Uchiha Retsuyō the list showing the quantities of Cinnabar and Yellow Talismans he needed.
Uchiha Retsuyō solemnly accepted the list and examined it. Without even blinking, he put it into his waist pouch.
"Is there anything else you need, Young Clan Leader?" Uchiha Retsuyō looked at Hane with faint concern.
Although Hane needed a great deal of materials, Cinnabar and Yellow Talismans themselves did not cost much money. For him, the grandson of an elder, it was merely pocket change.
Yet he knew that the Formation Art requiring over ten thousand Yellow Talismans and several hundred pounds of Cinnabar was clearly a massive undertaking. All of it had to be completed by the six-year-old boy before him. The hardship involved went without saying.
"Nothing for now. Later, if everyone has time, you can arrange for your relatives and friends to gather or grow the medicinal herbs I need according to my requirements. The clan's finances are tight right now, and many ordinary clansmen have no decent source of income. Once my father takes over several shops in central Konoha, I'll refine some ordinary pills for sale and pay everyone a set price from the money earned. I believe everyone's lives will gradually improve."
"Young Clan Leader!" Everyone gazed at the boy before them with tears in their eyes. It was not that they were being sentimental.
The Uchiha ninja gathered here were not all wealthy people. Though they were all ninja, who did not have relatives and friends who were not ninja?
Even the clan's ninja were struggling to make ends meet now, much less ordinary Uchiha. They could only be said to be surviving, not living well.
If they had truly been living well, the Uchiha would not have harbored such intense resentment. Konoha had simply gone too far.
They had never excluded only Uchiha ninja, but the entire Uchiha Clan.
"Alright, stop acting like delicate girls. Complete what I've assigned you to do. I believe every member of the Uchiha Clan has a wonderful future ahead, and one day, all of Konoha will be ours!"
"Yes, Young Clan Leader!" The youths' voices trembled with excitement. They no longer felt lost about the future.
"Everyone, disperse! Remember to train hard when you return!" Hane waved with a calm expression, though inwardly he was already trembling with excitement.
"Damn it! Damn it! I struck it rich again today!" Hane realized that he was growing fonder and fonder of his clansmen. They truly gave too much all at once. His Gratitude Points were nearly overflowing now!
Compared to sending his clones around Konoha to help elderly men and women cross the street, help villagers find cats and dogs, and work for free—earning ten or a hundred Gratitude Points at a time—he had merely spoken a few words to his clansmen, and his Gratitude Points had already nearly reached fifty thousand. How long would he have had to work to earn that much otherwise?
Watching his clansmen look back every few steps, Hane silently sighed. Yes! We all have a wonderful future.
"Young Clan Leader, let me escort you back!" Just as Hane was immersed in the joyful feeling of his gains, he saw Uchiha Retsuyō looking at him with utmost sincerity.
Hane could not help shuddering. "Brother Retsuyō, there's no need, right? I can return by myself."
"Young Clan Leader, how can that do? Although you are very strong, there may still be some blind fools in Konoha who would cause you trouble. After all, there are perverts in the village who specifically target children. I've recently been working in the Military Police Force, and quite a few villagers have come to report that their children have gone missing!"
Uchiha Retsuyō said with a solemn expression.
Seeing how resolute Uchiha Retsuyō was, Hane could not argue. "Alright then, I'll trouble you, Brother Retsuyō!"
"Haha! It is my honor to escort the Young Clan Leader home." Uchiha Retsuyō smiled honestly. He was now incomparably glad that he had chosen to pledge loyalty to this boy. Everything felt like a dream.
Now, he firmly believed that only Hane could save the Uchiha Clan.
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