Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed the shock in his heart.
"Clan Leader Ren."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a step forward.
"This secret Temple Formation technique is astonishingly powerful. But you and I both know that the Shinobi World is in turmoil, and Kumogakure and Iwagakure have never stopped eyeing Konoha hungrily."
He stared at Ren and made his demand.
"For Konoha's overall strength, and for the safety of every civilian and shinobi in the village, I hope you will entrust this secret technique to the village's centralized safekeeping and allow it to be taught throughout the Major Clans and ANBU."
"Only then can Konoha remain undefeated in the wars to come!"
At those words, the clan leaders exchanged looks.
The Third Hokage was using the greater good as a pretext to seize the Uchiha's original trump card!
Ren gave no answer to Hiruzen Sarutobi's demand.
Standing at the head of the hall, he sneered.
His black eyes turned scarlet, and three black blades joined end to end spun and intertwined within them!
Mangekyō Sharingan, activate!
As his Mangekyō awakened, Conqueror's Haki erupted from Ren's body.
Black-and-red chakra took physical form and raged through the banquet hall, making the surrounding air thick and heavy.
"Aaargh!"
Several ANBU elites closest to him rolled their eyes back, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed.
The enormous ninja dog beside Tsume Inuzuka tucked its tail in terror.
Beneath Shibi Aburame's loose coat, masses of kikaichū died and pattered to the floor.
Hyuga Hiashi, Shikaku Nara, and the other clan leaders felt an overwhelming pressure.
Their legs trembled, and they bowed involuntarily, their heads lowered.
At the very center of that pressure, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face flushed crimson.
Only by rousing his vast reserves of chakra could he barely keep his footing against the onslaught.
"Hand over the secret technique? Improve Konoha's overall strength?"
Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi struggling to hold on, Ren thundered his condemnation.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, don't you dare use the village's greater good to pressure me!"
"You're using your authority to demand the Uchiha Clan's original secret technique. How are you any different from a bandit robbing travelers on the road?"
"You keep claiming this is for Konoha, but what kind of idiotic political schemes fill that head of yours?"
Ren pressed him relentlessly, every word striking where it hurt.
"If the Temple Formation is taught throughout the village, it won't be long before spies from the other shinobi villages steal the workings of this formation that requires multiple people to coordinate."
"Then Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure will all possess this power!"
"What advantage will Konoha have left then?"
"You would be handing a strategic trump card capable of changing the course of a war to the entire Shinobi World!"
Ren pointed straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi's nose and challenged him before all the village's powerful clans.
"You don't even have the most basic understanding of secrecy or strategic foresight. Hiruzen Sarutobi, tell me—what makes you fit to be Hokage?!"
Cold sweat broke out on every clan leader standing with their head bowed.
Ren had actually pointed at the Third Hokage and called him unfit for office before the entire Konoha Leadership and every powerful clan!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face burned red under the tirade.
Every word Ren said was reasonable.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi coveted that power too deeply. The Hokage's faction's control over the village depended on it.
"Ren, don't twist the issue!"
Gritting his teeth, Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to preserve his dignity as Hokage and offered his terms.
"If you are willing to hand over the secret technique, I can authorize an exchange as Hokage: the First's Wood Release Ninjutsu Scroll recorded in the Scroll of Seals, along with the research materials on first Hokage cells!"
"Trading Wood Release for your secret technique should be more than enough to demonstrate the village's sincerity."
At the words "Wood Release," Shikaku Nara, Hyuga Hiashi, and the others froze.
That was the invincible power that had brought peace to an age of chaos.
It was the foundation upon which Konoha had been built, and a symbol of the Hokage's legitimacy.
The Konoha Leadership had always treated it as a top-level secret. For the Third Hokage to offer even that today showed just how desperately he wanted the Temple Formation.
"Wood Release?"
Ren burst out laughing.
"You think a pile of records left by a dead man will make me fall over myself with gratitude?"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, spare me your ridiculous tricks! I have absolutely no interest in your so-called Hokage position, or the Wood Release you worship like a god!"
Ren's laughter faded, and he looked directly at the Konoha Leadership.
"You want to talk to me about sincerity? About friendship?"
"Just a few days ago, the outskirts of our Uchiha Clan's territory were crawling with spies from your ANBU and Root."
"You even kept detailed records of every outing made by our elderly and our children."
"Every move we made was under your surveillance!"
Ren's voice grew louder.
"Now that you've seen we possess great power, you come running to talk about friendship and exchanges? Just how shameless can you be?"
"If I hand over the secret technique today, who can guarantee that once the Konoha Leadership masters it, you won't turn around and use it against the Uchiha?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was left speechless. His aged face alternated between pale and livid as he stood there in utter embarrassment, unable to find a single word in rebuttal.
Seeing things turn ugly, Mitokado Homura, still kneeling on the floor, forced himself to speak up and smooth things over.
"Clan Leader Ren, you've misunderstood!"
"ANBU's surveillance was meant to protect the village's outskirts, not target the Uchiha."
"We're all part of Konoha. Why would we use the secret technique against you?"
Utatane Koharu also forced herself to speak, trying to salvage the leadership's dignity.
"Exactly. Hiruzen is simply eager to recruit talent. Since you don't wish to make the exchange, we can drop the matter. There's no need to damage our friendly relations."
"Friendly relations?"
Ren shot back.
"Keep those filthy schemes to yourselves and savor them at your leisure."
With that, Ren could no longer be bothered with these rotten leaders. He raised his hands and clapped sharply.
Clap!
As the crisp sound rang out, the eight young Uchiha maintaining the Temple Formation on the distant training grounds severed their chakra connection.
Their Kage Level aura dissipated. Moving in perfect unison, the eight sheathed their short blades, flickered away, and vanished from everyone's sight.
Just as the Temple disciples withdrew...
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures leaped from the banquet hall's second floor and landed in the open space at its center.
Every gaze turned toward them.
They were Fugaku Uchiha and Uchiha Shisui!
Both stood tall and straight, clad in black cloaks.
Patterns were embroidered in golden thread along the cloaks' edges, while the word "Glory" was stitched in gold across their backs!
Looking at the two men in the center, Ren introduced them to the powerful clans and the Konoha Leadership.
"Everyone, what you just witnessed was our Uchiha's Temple."
"And standing before you now are members of the Uchiha Clan's newly established supreme governing and military body—the Hall of Glory!"
Ren's voice shook everyone present.
"To enter the Hall of Glory, it doesn't matter whether you're a clan leader or have illustrious military achievements."
"The sole condition for admission is awakening these Mangekyō Sharingan—the eyes that embody the Uchiha's ultimate power!"
Before his words had finished ringing out—
Fugaku Uchiha and Uchiha Shisui raised their heads in unison.
Hummm!!!
The three tomoe in each man's eyes spun, connecting into his own unique Mangekyō pattern.
Two torrents of violent chakra erupted from Fugaku and Shisui!
The banquet hall's entire floor collapsed beneath the force. Fierce winds howled, and waves of pressure roiled!
Before the eyes of everyone present...
Chakra took physical form around the two men.
Thick chakra ribs appeared from nothing, followed by spines, arms, and skulls. Skeletons formed anew, and flesh and chakra pathways spread across them.
In the blink of an eye...
A dark-red giant's upper body enclosed Fugaku Uchiha.
Beside him, another giant's upper body, wreathed in emerald-green chakra flames, enveloped Uchiha Shisui.
Susanoo!
The two enormous, half-bodied demonic figures towered in the courtyard, stunning everyone present.
Before you continue