Only when Qiu Shan Uchiha stood at the pinnacle of the world through his own strength, beyond anyone's ability to touch him, could he act without restraint and flaunt his power.
Not by relying on a few Tailed Beasts that could turn against him at any moment to reach the Six Paths level. Tailed Beasts could only serve as pets and tools. Making them the foundation of his own strength was absolutely out of the question.
He must not forget that the Sage of Six Paths' chakra was still drifting around the Shinobi World. Even now, the Sage still had the ability to grant Naruto and Sasuke Six Paths-level combat power.
After all, he had extracted and divided those nine Tailed Beasts from the Ten-Tails. Given the Sage of Six Paths' habit of planning for every eventuality, who could say whether he had tampered with them?
Even leaving aside Hashirama Senju's sage body, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan had already forged its own path, rather than merely relying on the power the Sage of Six Paths had passed down to Indra.
Qiu Shan Uchiha's days had been fairly fulfilling lately. During the day, he sent a few Shadow Clones to follow the Elder and Uchiha Fugaku, helping out and learning from them, while he hid away in his space to train hard in Lightning Release Armor. When he grew tired, he slipped out and wandered around Konoha in search of good food.
With the Uchiha Clan about to move away, even the police force they had always kept firmly in their grasp was gradually being handed over. As a result, neither the Hokage Faction nor any of Konoha's clans, large or small, tried to cause trouble for them. Who knew whether the Uchiha Clan was leaving Konoha willingly or under pressure? Provoking them now would only invite trouble.
As for Shimura Danzō, he had not shown up to stir up trouble since Qiu Shan Uchiha had swatted him to death with a single swing of Susanoo's sword. He would probably behave himself for a while.
So although Qiu Shan Uchiha spent plenty of time roaming Konoha's streets and alleys in search of good food, he never once encountered anyone foolish enough to pick a fight.
At night, Qiu Shan Uchiha stopped training. A proper balance of work and rest made training more efficient. Instead, he took out the books he had obtained from the Elder and read them in his spare time, passing the hours and broadening his knowledge.
When the night grew quiet, Qiu Shan Uchiha would summon Uchiha Mikoto into his space to discuss the meaning of life with her and, along the way, make his own contribution to the Uchiha Clan's prosperity.
Their sessions always went on for quite a while. Nothing else had really changed, but Qiu Shan Uchiha noticed that after these past few days of tender attention, Mikoto had become even more radiant than before. She looked a little more beautiful, and even her gaze seemed to brim with moisture.
After several days of preparation, the Elder and the Clan Leader finally had the first contingent's personnel and supplies ready.
One bright, sunny morning, more than a hundred Uchiha ninja quietly assembled in the Uchiha Clan's Naka Shrine. Every one of them was fully armed, standing tall and proud, with resolute eyes.
They were all elite ninja carefully selected by the Elder and Uchiha Fugaku. Whirlpool Island had been abandoned for many years, and it was surely overrun with wild beasts and fraught with danger by now.
Naturally, the first group of clan members sent there had to rank among the best in both combat strength and battle experience.
To ensure the mission's success, the Elder had selected only elites this time. Even many Jōnin holding important positions in the police force had been called in. They would be handing over the police force anyway, so a little disorder now hardly mattered. The Uchiha Clan's future was more important.
Those selected were looking forward to the operation, because both the Elder and the Clan Leader had told them that they would be paving the way for the Uchiha Clan's relocation.
News that the Uchiha Clan would leave Konoha and move elsewhere had long since spread throughout the clan, and everyone had cheered at the prospect. They were not fools. Life in Konoha had been stifling all these years. The villagers had never treated them as their own, and even resented them for carrying out their duties in the police force.
As members of the Uchiha Clan, the foremost kekkei genkai clan in the Shinobi World, they had their own pride. Yet now, every nobody thought they could come to the Uchiha and throw their weight around.
Since you don't welcome us, we have no desire to associate with you either. Our Uchiha Clan stood on its own for over a thousand years. Why should we have to depend on people like you, who huddle together for warmth only to fight among yourselves?
At last, they were breaking free of Konoha, which had become a burden to the Uchiha. Every member of the clan also held a fierce determination in their heart. Without you, our Uchiha Clan will live even better.
Qiu Shan Uchiha looked at the clan members standing in neat ranks before him, their bearing cold and sharp, yet utterly silent. These were the Uchiha Clan's elites. A force of this size could do as it pleased out in the world. Wiping out a small ninja village would be child's play.
Looking at Uchiha Fugaku at the head of the formation, Qiu Shan Uchiha asked once more, "Clan Leader, are you sure you want to lead this group personally? You could easily wait and go with the second or third contingent."
Uchiha Fugaku was also fully armed. Hearing Qiu Shan Uchiha try to dissuade him, he shook his head. "This concerns our Uchiha Clan's future. I won't feel at ease unless I go and see it myself. Qiushan, as our clan's strongest fighter and the Uchiha Deputy Clan Leader, you must shoulder your responsibilities. Once I leave, I'm entrusting the safety of the clan members here to you. Don't act rashly, and consult the Elder more often."
Qiu Shan Uchiha was rather speechless at Uchiha Fugaku's words. He had only sent his Shadow Clones to sit in and learn from the Elder and the Clan Leader for a few days, yet they had already saddled him with the position of Deputy Clan Leader. Still, he understood their reasoning. He was now the Uchiha Clan's strongest fighter, after all. Giving him too low a position or title would look wrong to outsiders and leave the clan members feeling insecure.
Seeing that he could not dissuade Uchiha Fugaku, Qiu Shan Uchiha agreed. Once Uchiha Fugaku had finished making all the arrangements, Qiushan looked at the people standing in orderly ranks before him and instructed them loudly, "Relax your whole body. Don't resist."
As he spoke, Qiu Shan Uchiha activated his Mangekyō Sharingan. The chakra throughout his body surged furiously toward his eyes, and his Mangekyō Sharingan spun at high speed.
Dōjutsu-Takamagahara, activate!
As Qiu Shan Uchiha swept his Mangekyō Sharingan gaze across the gathering, the clan members he looked at vanished one after another, silently and without a trace. Within moments, he had transferred all hundred-plus people, including Uchiha Fugaku, onto the island inside Takamagahara Space.
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