Instant Kill!

Konoha Village, in the home of the Uchiha Clan's Grand Elder

"Sasaki, why did you call us here at a time like this? Do you know that this is when we must be ready to act at any moment? At such a critical time, you actually disappeared for most of the day? And now, in the middle of the night, you summon us old men here. On top of that, instead of meeting at our usual location, you changed it to this place. Speak. What is this about? If we find out it is something unimportant, you know what to do. Even if you are my son, it will be no different."

The speaker was one of the Uchiha Clan's elders, Uchiha Yueye. He was also the father of Meruem's puppet, Uchiha Sasaki, and likewise a Three Tomoe Uchiha Elite Ninja.

Unlike the other elders, he was exceptionally powerful. Because of his own great strength and because he had raised such a powerful son, his prestige within the clan was extremely high, nearly comparable to that of the Grand Elder and the clan head. Sasaki's disappearance for most of the day at the most critical stage of their rebellion against Konoha had left him furious.

However, rather than fury, it was more accurate to call it a form of protection for Sasaki. Everyone present was an elite or elder of the Uchiha Clan. Yet one person was missing—the Uchiha clan head's son, Uchiha Itachi.

"Elder Yueye, please do not rush to punish Sasaki. Since he gathered us at such a critical moment, he must have made some major discovery." The speaker was Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head whose ambition did not match his capacity.

If he had not fathered two fine sons—Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke—his name might ultimately have been mentioned only in passing.

He possessed the Three Tomoe Sharingan, but his combat ability was not particularly strong. Still, he held great prestige within the Uchiha Clan.

"Clan Head Fugaku, esteemed elders, and elite brothers, although what I am about to say may be difficult for you to believe, every word is true. Please, you must believe me." Uchiha Sasaki respectfully said after sweeping his gaze across everyone present.

Including the clan head and elders, who had little combat ability, there were only a little over thirty people present. Could just over thirty Uchiha elite ninja really stand against all of Konoha? And they actually dared to openly rebel? It was clear just how arrogant the Uchiha Clan was.

They were almost comparable to the Kaguya Clan, which would openly rebel against the Land of Water not long afterward. Of course, the current Kaguya Clan was nowhere near as powerful as the Uchiha Clan, but the strength of the chaotic Land of Water could not be compared to Konoha either.

They dared to rebel without even a Kage-level powerhouse. It had to be said that these people must have been kicked in the head by a donkey. Or perhaps they had lived in peacetime for too long and had forgotten the First Hokage's ability to suppress the entire ninja world by himself in Konoha's earliest days.

Kage-level strength was not something a few clan elite ninja and Jonin could contend with. Anyone capable of fighting a Kage-level powerhouse needed at least the strength of an Elite Jonin.

Yet aside from the Kage-level experts unknown to the others, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, the Uchiha Clan had only a handful of Elite Jonin. The rest were merely Jonin. Of course, another Kage-level expert now had to be added to that list: Uchiha Sasaki.

If the Uchiha Clan's strength were placed in a small village, such as the Grass Ninja Village, Waterfall Ninja Village, Star Ninja Village, or Snow Ninja Village, they really could wipe out an entire village and succeed in rebellion. But if they wanted to compare themselves to Konoha, the strongest among the Five Great Ninja Villages, they might as well wash up and go to sleep.

Even Konoha's Anbu was not something a mere Uchiha Clan could contend with. The current Uchiha were no longer the Uchiha of old.

"What is it? Hurry up and say it." The aged voice belonged to the Uchiha Clan's Grand Elder, the longest-living person in the current Uchiha Clan.

"The village has discovered news of our rebellion. Or rather, a traitor has emerged within the clan and reported the matter to Konoha. They have already devised a way to deal with us and will move against us within the next few days. And besides the village, others are preparing to act against our Uchiha Clan as well. Our previous meeting place is probably no longer safe." Sasaki spoke gravely.

"What?" "How is that possible? How did the news get out?" "The village intends to move against us? Do they have the ability?" "And who else is there? How could they know our meeting place?"

As Sasaki spoke, every Uchiha Clan member present erupted into an uproar. Even the elders seated high above began whispering among themselves.

"Silence, silence. Sasaki, do you understand what you are saying? Do you have evidence for these claims?" It was still the Grand Elder's voice.

"No evidence."

"So there is no evidence." "So it is only his guess. Perhaps Lord Sasaki is simply too nervous." "He dares to spout nonsense without evidence?"

"Sasaki, you are the hope of our Uchiha Clan. I believe you would not make such a joke lightly. But there is no evidence for what you have said. What?! Your eyes! What is going on?! How did you do it?" The Uchiha Clan elders stared at Sasaki's eyes in disbelief, stunned speechless for a moment. The other Uchiha elites seemed to have forgotten their earlier argument and all fell silent.

Because Uchiha Sasaki had opened his Mangekyo Sharingan, its shuriken-like tomoe spinning madly before everyone's eyes.

"Esteemed elders, brothers, could I ask everyone to set up a barrier around this place first? The Uchiha Clan is no longer safe. What I am about to say is extremely important and concerns the future of our Uchiha Clan."

The Grand Elder gave the Uchiha ninja around him a meaningful glance. They understood, nodded, and headed outside. Before long, a barrier had been erected around the Grand Elder's home.

Although the Uchiha Clan was not known for Barrier Technique, they still knew a thing or two about barriers, seals, and the like.

"Sasaki, you can speak now, yes? Your eyes... Could they be... could they be..." Uchiha Yueye's voice was impatient.

He was already an elder. If his son, Uchiha Sasaki, truly possessed those legendary eyes, then his position would rise greatly. Even the position of Uchiha Grand Elder would not be beyond consideration in the future. Moreover, they were currently preparing for war. If Sasaki truly possessed those legendary eyes, their chances of success would surely increase.

"That is right, Father. These eyes of mine are the eyes said to be the next evolution beyond the Uchiha Clan's Three Tomoe Sharingan—the Mangekyo Sharingan."

"They really are those legendary eyes!" "I knew our ancestors would not abandon us!" "As expected of Lord Sasaki. He is the hope of our clan!"

Unlike the noisy younger clansmen, the Uchiha Clan elders all understood what those eyes represented. How had these eyes evolved? Were they as powerful as Uchiha Madara from the Uchiha Clan legends? Did this mean the time for the Uchiha Clan's rise had come? Their breathing grew hurried.

They also selectively forgot what Sasaki had said earlier. Not only them—even the Uchiha Clan's Grand Elder, the oldest person in the clan who had seen countless deaths and weathered many storms, was momentarily dumbstruck.

"Everyone, I believe I must make several matters clear. I am not the only person in the Uchiha Clan to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, and I only awakened mine yesterday. As for how it is awakened, I do not truly understand. I only know one thing: when awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, one must harbor intense emotions in one's heart." Sasaki dropped another bombshell.

"What? You are not the only one?" "Who else? Step forward!" "Why hide it even at a time like this?"

"Intense emotions in one's heart?" Those with sharper minds began to ponder those words carefully. But the main point was still that more than one person had awakened the Mangekyo.

"Who else?" the Grand Elder asked.

"Uchiha Itachi. And Uchiha Shisui. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that Uchiha Itachi has sided with Konoha. He is also one of those who will act against our Uchiha Clan." The words emerged from Sasaki's mouth with absolute certainty.

This time, there was no noise or argument. There was only absolute silence.

"What? You said Itachi? That is impossible!" It was Fugaku, Uchiha Fugaku! He was the Uchiha Clan head, and Itachi was his son.

A traitor? That word was far too unfamiliar to the Uchiha Clan. Since Konoha had been founded, not even half a traitor had ever emerged from the Uchiha Clan.

"How do you know?" The Grand Elder ignored everyone else and stared intently at Sasaki. Today's events were too shocking, making them feel as though they were dreaming.

"One of the Mangekyo Sharingan's abilities allows me to see part of what happened in the past." Meruem controlled Sasaki and lied without blushing or missing a beat. In any case, what he said was true. Even if Itachi were brought here to confront him face-to-face, it would be the same.

"What you say is impossible! Itachi cannot betray us." It was Fugaku again. Fugaku was already enraged. Itachi was his son! At the same time, an Uchiha elite ninja loyal to him, having received Fugaku's signal, launched an attack on Sasaki. He was a Three Tomoe elite expert whose strength ranked at least among the top five in the clan.

"How dare you!" "Stop!" Several elders shouted angrily, but the man ignored them completely.

"Perfect. I was just worried that no one would help me establish my authority." Meruem, controlling Sasaki, gave Fugaku a silent thumbs-up.

Sasaki watched the incoming ninja without moving. Only the Mangekyo in his eyes spun madly.

Icy blue-white flames appeared on the elite clansman's body without warning.

In only a few breaths, the Uchiha elite ninja vanished before everyone's eyes as though melting snow and ice, leaving behind only a puddle of unidentified liquid on the ground.

Shock. Different from the shock of learning about the Mangekyo earlier. This was shock at Sasaki's strength. An instant kill—an absolute instant kill. With a single strike, he had instantly killed an elite ninja who had once been stronger than him.

The power of the Mangekyo Sharingan was actually this terrifying!