"There is no movement…"
Uchiha Fugaku was surprised.
He had been back in Konoha for several days, yet the expected revenge from the Third Hokage had not occurred.
He had prepared for retaliation, expecting the Third Hokage to target Uchiha clan members on missions outside the village.
He had anticipated an ambush on his way back.
Precautions had been taken.
Yet, nothing happened.
The Third Hokage acted as if he didn't know that Asuma Sarutobi had been killed by his hands.
"More patient than I thought."
Uchiha Fugaku sneered.
Had the Third Hokage attempted to ambush him, he would have gladly retaliated.
With his newly acquired Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he was confident that he could defeat the Third Hokage, even if Anbu elites joined the attack.
But unfortunately, the ambush never came.
"No matter what conspiracies he plans, they will be meaningless in the face of absolute strength."
He wasn't concerned.
With the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he had an unshakable trump card.
Whatever schemes the Third Hokage devised, they would be futile.
"What I need to deal with urgently is not the Third Hokage, but Uchiha Itachi."
Thinking of Uchiha Itachi, his brows furrowed slightly.
In terms of strength, even if Uchiha Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could still suppress him.
But handling the situation required careful planning.
If possible, he did not want the rest of the Uchiha clan to discover Itachi's betrayal.
Despite being his son, Itachi had turned against his clan, siding with the Third Hokage.
If the other Uchiha learned this, his reputation as clan leader would suffer.
That was something he couldn't allow.
Additionally, he had to consider the feelings of Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Sasuke.
Especially Sasuke.
As a future Six Paths-level powerhouse, Sasuke could not be allowed to harbor resentment or emotional weakness due to this matter.
They arrived at a forest clearing near the Uchiha district.
There, Uchiha Sasuke was practicing his newly learned Fire Release: Red Phoenix Claw.
The flames danced like falling petals, elegant yet deadly.
Fugaku observed for a while, gave some corrections, then walked deeper into the forest.
Swoosh—
With a Body Flicker, he appeared atop a tree dozens of meters away.
Swoosh—
Another Body Flicker, and he landed on a different tree.
Recently, he had noticed something unexpected.
The benefits of melting Uchiha Shisui's body were not limited to his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
His physical abilities had also improved significantly.
Uchiha Shisui was known as "Shisui of the Body Flicker", famed for his unparalleled speed.
Only the Second Hokage and Fourth Hokage had greater mastery of the Body Flicker Technique.
His extraordinary speed stemmed from natural talent.
After melting Shisui's body, Fugaku had absorbed this talent as well.
After discovering this, he immediately began practicing.
Every day, his speed improved rapidly.
He was certain that soon, his Body Flicker Technique would surpass even Uchiha Shisui's.
After all, his talent for speed now combined not only Shisui's abilities but also his own natural talent and enhancements from previous corpses.
Surpassing Shisui was inevitable.
At a hidden base, White Zetsu stood waiting.
A pitch-black vortex swirled in the air.
From it emerged a masked figure, cloaked in a black robe adorned with red clouds.
It was Uchiha Obito.
"You're back just in time. I was about to deliver important news to you in the Land of Water."
Zetsu greeted him.
"What news?" Obito asked.
"Previously, you ordered us to investigate whether Uchiha Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"We have confirmed it. Uchiha Fugaku has indeed awakened it."
The black half of Zetsu's face spoke.
"As expected…"
Beneath the spiral mask, Obito's expression shifted.
His suspicions had been correct.
Uchiha Fugaku had been hiding his true power.
It was now confirmed that Fugaku was likely the first among them to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Uchiha clan leader, once thought weak, had been deceiving everyone.
Obito narrowed his eyes.
"Three Uchiha have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at the same time…"
"No. Not three. Only two."
Zetsu corrected.
"What do you mean?" Obito asked, confused.
"The reason we discovered Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan was because Uchiha Shisui attacked him."
"And in that battle, Uchiha Fugaku revealed his true power."
The white half of Zetsu's face explained.
"You're saying… one of them died in that battle?"
"Who?" Obito asked, surprised.
"In the fight, Uchiha Fugaku emerged victorious."
"Uchiha Shisui was killed."
Zetsu's voice was flat.
"The winner was… Uchiha Fugaku?"
Under the mask, Obito's expression darkened.
He had fought Shisui before.
He knew exactly how strong he was.
For Fugaku to defeat and kill him meant Fugaku was even stronger.
That was troubling news.
If Fugaku became an enemy, it would be a serious problem.
"Did you discover what his Mangekyō Sharingan abilities are?"
"During the battle, Uchiha Fugaku used both Ice Release and the Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Vein)."
"I suspect that his eye techniques are related to these abilities."
The black half of Zetsu explained.
"Ice Release and Shikotsumyaku?"
Obito stroked his bandaged chin, deep in thought.
Among Uchiha Madara's notes, there were records of Kekkei Genkai transplants.
But the success rate was extremely low.
Yet, Fugaku had both Ice Release and Shikotsumyaku.
This meant he had not obtained them through transplants.
More likely, his Mangekyō Sharingan's ability allowed him to acquire Kekkei Genkai.
"Fugaku's eye technique… allows him to steal Kekkei Genkai?"
"That seems very likely."
Zetsu agreed.
"If that's true… then it was him!"
A cold light flashed in Obito's exposed eye.
If Fugaku could obtain Kekkei Genkai, then it explained something.
The mystery of the masked figure who had Wood Release and impersonated him.
It was Fugaku.
He was the one who had framed him.
"Uchiha Fugaku was the one pretending to be me."
"He already has Ice Release and Shikotsumyaku. If he also has Wood Release, that confirms it."
Zetsu nodded.
"Looks like… it's time to visit Konoha."
Obito sneered.
Fugaku had plotted against him once.
This would not be forgiven.
(End of this chapter)