News travels fast. Being the closest major nation bordering the Land of Fields, the Land of Fire was the first to receive the reports.
Three days later, within the Hokage's Office in Konoha, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado, convened an urgent meeting.
"Hiruzen, is this information reliable?" Homura Mitokado's voice was the first to break the tense silence. "Is Uchiha Madara truly still alive?"
Danzo and Koharu also fixed their gazes intently on the Third Hokage, awaiting his answer. They were all shinobi who had lived through that tumultuous era. For the upper echelons of Konoha's leadership, the name Uchiha Madara was akin to a waking nightmare. Decades ago, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had passed away not long after his legendary battle with Madara. If Madara genuinely still walked the earth, who in the entire shinobi world could possibly stand against him?
Hiruzen took several deep puffs from the pipe clenched in his mouth. "Whether Madara himself is alive remains uncertain," he stated gravely. "However, the report that Ansei Hall in the Land of Fields is backed by an Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan is confirmed as fact."
He elaborated, "According to the intelligence relayed by the ANBU, Takigakure's Seven-Tails Jinchuriki was defeated by a Susanoo—a technique only accessible to those who possess the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Another pair of Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Upon hearing the Third Hokage's words, Danzo and the two elders wore identically grim expressions. Besides Uchiha Shisui, the Uchiha clan actually had another member who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
This was decidedly not good news for Konoha's ruling faction. Could it be that the Uchiha clan itself was the power behind this Ansei Hall established in the Land of Fields?
After a brief, heavy silence, Koharu Utatane offered a hypothesis. "Could this Uchiha be Uchiha Teru? The one previously rumored to have been killed by Akimichi Tatsuya?"
At the mention of this, Hiruzen's mind stirred, and his gaze involuntarily shifted towards Danzo. Of the four present, Hiruzen and Danzo possessed the most detailed knowledge regarding that fierce battle in the northern reaches of the Land of Fire. Based on the known movements and timelines, it was certainly a possibility. However, whether that individual truly was Uchiha Teru, and whether Akimichi Tatsuya had actually succeeded in killing him, remained unknown variables. Without accurate information, they couldn't make a definitive judgment.
Thinking along these lines, Hiruzen asked aloud, "Have we found any trace of Akimichi Tatsuya?"
Danzo replied succinctly, "Not yet. He vanished after that battle."
Beside them, Koharu Utatane spoke with clear dissatisfaction. "Hiruzen, this Akimichi Tatsuya acts with far too much impunity! Leaving the village, undertaking missions, yet completely failing to report his movements or whereabouts to the village authorities..."
Homura Mitokado frowned deeply in agreement. Clearly, in the eyes of these elder council members, Akimichi Tatsuya was a troublesome thorn in their side.
Hearing their complaints, Hiruzen once again turned his gaze towards Danzo, his expression unreadable yet profound. The Third Hokage understood well that Danzo and Root had played a significant role in provoking Tatsuya's recent series of reactions.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally spoke, his voice measured. "I will have the ANBU leak this information. Then, closely monitor the Uchiha clan's movements. Root is not to make any move without my direct command."
Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters, Fugaku Uchiha's Office.
Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Hiroaki, and Uchiha Yasumasa rushed over the moment they received the news.
"Captain, we must act immediately!" Uchiha Hiroaki urged, his voice filled with excitement. "Whether the Madara rumor is true or false doesn't matter—the fact that someone out there possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan is absolutely real! We cannot allow a Mangekyo Sharingan belonging to our clan to remain lost outside!"
If the Uchiha clan could secure two pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan, the hope for the success of their grand ambitions would increase significantly.
"Captain, Hiroaki is right!" Uchiha Yasumasa chimed in eagerly. "We must act swiftly, before the village leadership gets involved!"
Neither of them truly believed the claim about Uchiha Madara being alive, but they firmly believed in the existence of the Mangekyo user. Furthermore, they had already formed a more specific theory: the user was Uchiha Teru. He hadn't been killed by Akimichi Tatsuya as the rumors suggested! This was proof that the power possessed by the Uchiha clan was not something the mere Akimichi clan could contend with. If Uchiha Teru returned to the village having successfully awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, the Uchiha clan's strength would soar. This was the fundamental reason for their urgent appeal to their clan head, Fugaku.
"Captain," Uchiha Yashiro interjected, frowning thoughtfully amidst the others' fervor. "This news arrived very suddenly. It's highly possible the village deliberately leaked it. If we appear too eager, won't we be playing right into their hands?"
"Captain, what's a little risk for the sake of the clan's rise?" Uchiha Hiroaki retorted, dismissive of Yashiro's caution. He squared his shoulders. "I am willing to personally make the trip to the Land of Fields!"
Fugaku remained silent for a moment, deep in thought. "Hiroaki is correct," he stated finally. "The Uchiha clan's Mangekyo Sharingan certainly cannot be allowed to remain outside our grasp. However, Yashiro's warning holds merit as well. We cannot completely ignore the potential reactions of the village's upper echelons." He looked directly at Yashiro. "Yashiro, you will personally select one individual to travel secretly to the Land of Fields. Bring him back as soon as possible."
"Yes, Captain," Uchiha Yashiro responded respectfully.
Beside them, although Uchiha Hiroaki and Uchiha Yasumasa still felt somewhat indignant, they didn't dare defy Fugaku's command.
After the two more impulsive elders had departed, Fugaku addressed Yashiro again. "Yashiro, go and see Misuke personally. Tell her that Teru might not be dead. She needs to refrain from making any more irrational moves."
"Rest assured, Captain," Uchiha Yashiro replied with a slight smile. "Since that last incident, she hasn't caused any further trouble for that Akimichi girl. Misuke has always understood propriety." From his tone, it was clear Yashiro held Uchiha Misuke in high regard.
Leaving Fugaku's office, Uchiha Yashiro returned directly to the clan compound.
At the family training grounds, Yashiro spotted Uchiha Misuke training with intense dedication. Within the clan, Misuke was one of the few female shinobi whose skills reached the level of an elite Jonin. Before Shisui's meteoric rise, Misuke had even been capable of competing with the likes of Uchiha Hiroaki and Uchiha Yasumasa among the younger generation. However, once Shisui emerged, everyone else seemed to dim in comparison.
"Elder Yashiro," Uchiha Misuke said, approaching and bowing respectfully.
Uchiha Yashiro spoke directly. "Misuke, the clan has a mission for you."
Hearing this, Uchiha Misuke's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "What kind of mission might that be?" she asked softly, a hint of wariness in her voice suggesting her disapproval of some internal clan affairs.
Seeing her reaction, Uchiha Yashiro offered a reassuring smile. "Relax. This mission has nothing to do with the village. It is purely an internal matter for the Uchiha clan—a family affair."
The following morning, Uchiha Misuke quietly departed from Konoha, blending in discreetly with a small entourage of clan attendants heading out of the village gates.
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