While Jiraiya and Tsunade reacted in their own ways to the urgent letter from Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, calling for aid in Konoha's time of upheaval, far away, Orochimaru—once their comrade-in-arms and fellow Sannin—also caught wind of the turmoil through his own network of intelligence operatives spread throughout the shinobi world.
"Fufufu… Danzo is actually dead? Just like that? So cleanly? Without even a proper fight?" Orochimaru murmured with amusement, his unusually long tongue flicking out like a snake's as he chuckled darkly. His surprise was genuine, but it came laced with a twisted glee. The thought of Danzo—Konoha's most paranoid schemer and wielder of the darkest secrets—falling so swiftly was an entertaining spectacle to him.
Others might not know the full truth, but Orochimaru did. It was he who had personally transplanted the arm of stolen Sharingan eyes onto Danzo's body—a grotesque product of years of forbidden experimentation. He knew Danzo had mastered the Izanagi, the forbidden Uchiha genjutsu that rewrites reality itself at the cost of vision. With such power at his disposal, Danzo was virtually unkillable in a direct confrontation. Orochimaru himself would've tread carefully if he ever needed to deal with him.
But the intelligence reports left little doubt. Danzo had clearly activated his trump cards, unleashed his full strength, and still—within moments—was annihilated. The implications of that were too shocking, too enticing for Orochimaru to ignore.
And then he saw the name.
"Uchiha Yue… hmm?" Orochimaru whispered, golden eyes narrowing with intrigue. "Defeated Uchiha Itachi… Mangekyō Sharingan awakened at just ten years old… how extraordinary."
Gazing at the included photo of Uchiha Yue, Orochimaru licked his lips slowly, a fevered gleam burning in his eyes. He hadn't felt this level of interest in a specimen since he first laid eyes on the young Sasuke. But even Sasuke hadn't opened the Mangekyō this early—or beaten Itachi in his prime.
Of course, Orochimaru wasn't the only one paying attention. With the shocking battle that shook Konoha's political core, every major village—whether it was Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, or Kirigakure—began receiving similar intelligence reports through their respective spy networks.
The Uchiha clan's movements, their rebellion and revival, and this mysterious figure Uchiha Yue—all of it was now spread across confidential war tables in hidden strategy rooms. Even if the common jonin or chunin didn't recognize the name, every Kage and elite strategist was now familiar with Uchiha Yue.
...
Time passed quietly.
Although Uchiha Yue did not possess a formal intelligence network beyond the clan, his insight into the shifting undercurrents beyond Konoha was sharp. He could intuitively sense the growing storm from the shadows cast by other nations.
Still, he remained calm.
After all, his current strength had already shattered the limits of conventional shinobi power. Perhaps he couldn't wipe out the entire world singlehandedly, but razing a hidden village or two? That wasn't a far-fetched notion.
With such power, any scheme, no matter how meticulously planned, could be broken apart like clay in his hands. How could he be unsettled by petty fluctuations?
"Lord Patriarch, here is the list of Uchiha clan members under twenty-five years old, all possessing Three Tomoe Sharingan. They've been vetted for loyalty and have clean personal records as per your recent directive."
In a sun-drenched courtyard, Uchiha Yue reclined lazily on a wooden lounge chair, soaking in the warmth. A clansman, standing respectfully at his side, delivered the report with practiced composure.
"Hmm… not bad. Read me a few names," Yue replied indifferently, his mind still half-immersed in the illusory world he had crafted through his Mangekyō.
Unfazed by the patriarch's casual tone, the Uchiha clansman—Uchiha Flint—opened the document and began reading aloud, adding notes about each candidate's skill set, personality, and past mission records.
Yue listened quietly for a while before waving his hand. "I won't need so many right now. Just select three that fit best and bring them over."
"As you command, Lord Patriarch," Flint replied with a slight bow before turning to carry out the order.
Watching his figure disappear around the stone gate, Yue murmured thoughtfully, "Hmm… Flint has Three Tomoe too. Is he over twenty-five? Otherwise, why didn't his name show up?"
Uchiha Flint had fought alongside him in the battle against the Third Hokage. A capable Elite Jōnin with a strong Sharingan, Flint had shown sharp initiative afterward, quickly aligning himself with Yue's vision. For that, he'd been appointed Yue's assistant.
And in the days since Yue took up the mantle of clan patriarch, Flint had proven himself invaluable—handling administration, relaying orders, and helping smooth the turbulent transition of leadership. Yue hardly needed to speak more than a few words to see things done.
One might even say that Yue's rare moments of leisure—and his continued focus on perfecting his powers—were made possible thanks to Flint's efficient work behind the scenes.
"…Well, if he's over twenty-five, then so be it," Yue concluded with a shrug. "That age limit is just something I arbitrarily decided on anyway."
Since becoming patriarch, Yue had wasted no time establishing reforms. One of his first decrees was a complete audit of the Uchiha clan's active roster. He sought individuals under twenty-five with at least a fully developed Sharingan—Three Tomoe—as that signified both youth and high potential.
After all, the peak performance window for a shinobi was usually under thirty. If someone hadn't awakened their Sharingan fully by then, their growth potential was likely capped. Yue had no interest in squandering resources on mediocrity.
Still, Flint was a special case. Though no Mangekyō bloomed in his eyes, his Three Tomoe had matured before the age limit, and with some guidance or stimulus, Yue suspected he might yet ascend.
And beyond strength, loyalty mattered. Flint had chosen the right side early, executed orders cleanly, and shielded Yue from the bureaucratic mire. Granting him more power wouldn't just be a reward—it would reinforce the internal structure of the clan's revival.
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