Lingering fear

In truth, Qiu Shan Uchiha knew perfectly well that everything else was secondary. What mattered most was increasing his own strength. Once he reached super Kage level or Six Paths level, he could casually crush anyone who opposed him. There would be no need to care what anyone thought.

Just then, the system, which had been useless when it mattered most, finally spoke up.

"Congratulations, host. The Dōjutsu 'Illusion—Momentary Space-Time' has been fully learned and assimilated.

Congratulations, host. The Dōjutsu 'Izanagi' has been fully learned and assimilated.

The side effects of your Mangekyō have been further reduced, and its usage duration has increased again. Your Mangekyō Sharingan has been enhanced. Please examine the specifics yourself."

"Ding. An enhancement to the host's Mangekyō Sharingan has been detected. The development of your own unique Mangekyō Sharingan Dōjutsu has accelerated. They are expected to finish developing in eight hours. Please wait patiently."

Qiu Shan Uchiha was quite pleased to hear this. Although he still had to wait, his very own Dōjutsu would soon be ready.

Next, Qiu Shan Uchiha immediately began examining the Dōjutsu he had just acquired: Illusion—Momentary Space-Time and Izanagi.

Qiu Shan Uchiha had especially high hopes for Izanagi. It was a forbidden technique of the Uchiha Clan, one capable of rewriting fate and reversing cause and effect. He had never expected the unassuming Uchiha Fugaku to spring such a powerful move on him.

After examining it, Qiu Shan Uchiha was quite satisfied. Although Izanagi's power had not increased, its cooldown had shortened. Uchiha Fugaku could use it once a month, but after the system's learning and assimilation, combined with the support of Qiushan's far stronger Mangekyō Sharingan, his Izanagi could be used once every three days. Its usefulness had improved enormously.

Meanwhile, the Dōjutsu Illusion—Momentary Space-Time no longer had a cooldown. As long as he had enough chakra, he could use it on a whole bunch of little kids.

Furthermore, because Qiu Shan Uchiha had copied and learned the Mangekyō Sharingan of both Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Fugaku, his own Mangekyō Sharingan had become far more powerful than an ordinary one after assimilating them.

He estimated that once his own Mangekyō Dōjutsu finished developing, he would reach the limit of how many Dōjutsu a Mangekyō Sharingan could possess. Other people's Mangekyō Sharingan could only have one Dōjutsu per eye, while each of Qiushan's eyes possessed three. At that point, Qiu Shan Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan would have reached its peak, and he could begin planning and searching for a way to attain the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Although Qiu Shan Uchiha's eyes had not yet reached the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, their powers of perception, copying, and genjutsu already far exceeded those of an ordinary Mangekyō Sharingan.

After reviewing the system's information about his Mangekyō, Qiu Shan Uchiha looked at Uchiha Fugaku and his wife, who were still waiting for him, and gave them his instructions.

"Clan leader, we only have these two options right now. Besides, even if we Uchiha want to leave Konoha, it won't be easy. We have to take it slowly. We can start by secretly moving some of our clansmen out and establishing a small village. We can have Shisui Uchiha take people there to guard it, ensuring our clansmen's safety.

Our top priority now is to calm the clan down. I've already spoken to the grand elder, and he agreed to endure things for the next few years while I grow stronger. By then, my strength will have reached peak Kage level, perhaps even super Kage level. Even if we haven't brought the Third Hokage and the others under our control, whether we stay or leave will be entirely up to us."

In the original story, Shisui Uchiha had trusted the Third Hokage far too much and told him about his Dōjutsu. The Third Hokage then told Danzo, allowing them to set a trap that utterly destroyed Shisui Uchiha before he could fully mature.

Uchiha Itachi, meanwhile, had been so thoroughly fooled by the Third Hokage's Will of Fire that he believed everything he did was for the village. He never stopped to consider that once his family, his clan, and everything he cherished were gone, could that village still be called his village? What would its continued existence have to do with him? In the end, only his poor little brother remained in the village as a hostage.

After discussing the Uchiha Clan's future development with Uchiha Fugaku, Qiu Shan Uchiha finally felt relieved. As long as no major disaster befell the clan, things should not reach the point of its extermination.

With the serious business finished, Qiu Shan Uchiha relaxed. Although his risky attempt to control the clan leader had been full of twists and turns and had nearly gotten him killed, the rewards were gratifying. Not only had he brought Uchiha Fugaku and his wife under his control, placing the Uchiha Clan in the palm of his hand, but he had also acquired two good Dōjutsu. He could call this mission a complete success.

Just as Qiu Shan Uchiha was about to leave, however, Uchiha Fugaku and his wife persuaded him to stay. It was already late at night, and even if he went home, he would be alone. As clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku might not have had much else, but his house was the largest in the Uchiha Clan Compound. Having Qiu Shan Uchiha stay the night was no trouble at all.

Qiu Shan Uchiha lay in a side bedroom. Although it was nearly the small hours, he did not feel sleepy at all. He had not noticed it earlier, but now, in the stillness of the night, a lingering fear began to creep over him.

I was far too reckless, coming here without preparing anything. This had been his closest brush with death. That helplessness, that terror, the feeling of his consciousness gradually blurring as he plunged into an abyss-Qiu Shan Uchiha felt he would never forget it for the rest of his life.

Qiu Shan Uchiha silently reminded himself that he had to be fully prepared in the future. His life came first, and life was priceless.

Just as Qiu Shan Uchiha rolled over and prepared to sleep, he suddenly heard someone approaching the door and immediately became alert. At this hour, the only other people in the house were Uchiha Fugaku, his wife, and Sasuke Uchiha. He had already subdued Fugaku and his wife, while Sasuke was still a tiny child who posed no threat to him.

Even so, Qiu Shan did not let his guard down. "Who is it?"

The visitor had not expected Qiu Shan Uchiha to notice her before she even knocked. She paused before answering.

"Qiu Shan, it's me. It's already the small hours, so I thought you must be hungry, my lord. I've brought you something to eat."

Hearing that it was Uchiha Mikoto, Qiu Shan Uchiha relaxed and opened the door.

Uchiha Mikoto stood prettily in the doorway, holding a tray laden with snacks. She wore a pink kimono, and her eyes were brimming with tenderness as she gazed unblinkingly at Qiu Shan Uchiha, as though looking into the depths of his heart.