Qiu Shan Uchiha still did not know that Shisui had already won over the Third Hokage. He had just arrived at a residence in the Uchiha Clan Compound, relatively close to the clan's Ancestral Temple.
This residence was much larger than those of ordinary Uchiha clansmen, rivaling even the clan head's home. It belonged to the Uchiha Clan's grand elder, Uchiha Ling.
Qiu Shan Uchiha went straight into the courtyard and called out clearly, "Has the grand elder retired for the night? Qiu Shan Uchiha requests an audience."
A short while later, Grand Elder Uchiha Ling's voice came from inside. "Qiu Shan, what urgent business brings you here so late? Come in and speak."
The grand elder thought rather highly of Qiu Shan Uchiha. As a genius whose reputation matched Shisui Uchiha's, he was close to Shisui, but his personality was different. He had ambition, which meant he could be won over.
Qiu Shan Uchiha opened the door and entered. A tall, white-haired old man sat behind a low table, looking vigorous despite his age. He watched Qiu Shan with a stern expression.
Qiu Shan Uchiha nodded in greeting. "My respects, Grand Elder."
The grand elder nodded and motioned for Qiu Shan Uchiha to sit. He poured him a cup of tea, then picked up his own cup and took a sip before finally speaking.
"What brings you to me so late?"
At the grand elder's question, Qiu Shan Uchiha calmly set down his teacup.
"Qiushan came here for the sake of the Uchiha Clan's future."
The grand elder caught the implication in Qiu Shan Uchiha's words, and his relaxed face immediately tightened.
"What, do you also think I am responsible for the Uchiha Clan's current predicament?"
"Yes. Please forgive me, Grand Elder, but I believe relations between our Uchiha Clan and the village are far too strained. If this continues, something will go wrong sooner or later."
"Heh, heh." The grand elder gave two humorless chuckles, his face expressionless. Rather than continue that topic, he brought up something else.
"Qiu Shan, do you know how Konoha came to be?"
"Grand Elder, I know a little. The village was originally founded jointly by the Senju Clan and our Uchiha Clan. Later, the Hyuga, Sarutobi, Shimura, and other clans joined us, gradually forming the Konoha we know today."
The grand elder gave Qiu Shan Uchiha a slightly surprised look and sighed.
"Very good. There aren't many young people these days who know their history as you do."
"I simply take an interest in the past, so I know a little more about it."
The grand elder paid no heed to Qiu Shan Uchiha's reply and continued.
"Back then, Konoha was founded by our ancestor Madara Uchiha, who led the Uchiha Clan, and Hashirama Senju, who led the Senju Clan. Originally, Hashirama Senju wanted Lord Madara to become the First Hokage. Later, Lord Madara gave it up for some unknown reason, and only then did Hashirama Senju become the First Hokage.
"Afterward, Lord Madara fell out with the First Hokage, and they fought a great battle at the Valley of the End. In the end, the First Hokage killed him there. Not long after returning, the First Hokage passed away as well.
"The First Hokage's younger brother, Tobirama Senju, took over and became the Second Hokage. The Second Hokage believed Lord Madara was responsible for the First Hokage's early death, so he targeted our Uchiha Clan at every turn.
"Remember, Konoha was founded by our Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan. Without us Uchiha, how could today's Konoha exist? Yet look at these successive Hokage. Every one of them belongs to the Senju faction. Our Uchiha Clan has had no share in it at all."
By this point, the grand elder was so worked up that he almost bristled with fury.
"So you resent it and believe our Uchiha Clan should be in charge of Konoha?"
The grand elder sighed. "I know that's impossible, but I cannot swallow this resentment. Look at things now. What does that Sarutobi Clan amount to? A mere minor clan, yet one of them actually claimed the Hokage position."
As he spoke, the grand elder raised his hand and slammed it angrily onto the table, splashing some tea out of the cups.
Watching the grand elder bristle with anger, Qiu Shan Uchiha gave a helpless smile. It seemed there was no reasoning with him. He would have to resort to his last option.
Once the grand elder's emotions had settled, Qiu Shan Uchiha spoke.
"Grand Elder, I didn't come here solely to persuade you. The main reason is that something has gone wrong with my Sharingan. As an elder of the Uchiha Clan, you know far more, so I would like you to take a look."
Hearing Qiu Shan Uchiha's words, the grand elder set down his teacup and looked at Qiushan.
Qiu Shan Uchiha activated his Sharingan and slowly channeled power into it. The three tomoe in his eyes spun faster and faster, gradually transforming into a Mangekyō Sharingan with the same four-pointed shuriken pattern as Shisui Uchiha's.
As the grand elder stared at Qiu Shan Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, his expression turned dazed, excited, and disbelieving all at once. His right hand clenched his teacup tightly as he murmured, "It has finally appeared. It has finally appeared. Our Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan has finally appeared..."
As he spoke, tears slowly welled in his eyes.
Qiu Shan Uchiha had intended to use Kotoamatsukami on the grand elder immediately. He had not expected the sight of his Mangekyō Sharingan to stir him so deeply. After some thought, he held off on using Kotoamatsukami for the moment. He wanted to hear what the grand elder had to say.
After a long while, Grand Elder Uchiha Ling finally recovered and gave a self-deprecating smile.
"I'm getting old. So old that I'm blubbering now. You must think me ridiculous, Qiu Shan."
Qiu Shan Uchiha voiced his question.
"Why are you so excited, Grand Elder? Is it merely because my Sharingan has mutated?"
Grand Elder Uchiha Ling shook his head.
"Your Sharingan hasn't mutated. It has evolved. It is a level above the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, called the Mangekyō Sharingan. Do you know what possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan means?"
Although Qiu Shan Uchiha knew the answer, he could not say so, because he had no way to explain where he had learned it. He could only play along and shake his head.
"Ah, I don't blame you. It has been a long time since a Mangekyō Sharingan last appeared in our Uchiha Clan. And because our ancestor Madara Uchiha was a renowned wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan, we do not publicize it even within the clan. It's perfectly normal for your younger generation never to have heard of it."
"So was the Mangekyō Sharingan the reason our ancestor Madara Uchiha was so powerful back then?"
The grand elder nodded. "Partly. But Madara Uchiha's strength was certainly not due solely to the Mangekyō Sharingan. It was also because he was Madara Uchiha."
"Still, the Mangekyō Sharingan is an extremely powerful kekkei genkai. Once someone awakens it, given time to grow, he will become a powerhouse at the Peak Kage Level."
"What about Madara Uchiha? Was he also at the Peak Kage Level?"
Before you continue