Confused Uchiha
Upon hearing that Chi Yu had chosen to leave Uchiha Jinye behind but not him, Uchiha Laren became visibly anxious.
"Chi Yu!" Laren pleaded. "I was just too impulsive—I spoke without thinking. Please, give me another chance. I'll follow orders, I swear!"
Chi Yu glanced at Laren with faint amusement, a subtle smile on his lips. "Laren, I've already given you more than enough chances. Over and over again. Honestly, I'm already being generous by sparing the other four."
Then his voice dropped, icy and mocking.
"But I'm a petty man. I'm terrified of the Uchiha clan's retaliation. So tell me—how could I possibly let someone like you stay?"
He turned away, his tone final. "Someone has to bear the consequences. Unfortunately for you… that unlucky person is you."
The others rolled their eyes at Chi Yu's words. Claiming he feared the Uchiha was laughable. If they hadn't seen the beaten and humiliated state of the five Uchiha shinobi, they might have actually believed it.
Laren tried again, desperation thick in his voice. But Chi Yu ignored him and walked off without another glance.
Uchiha Kyosuke, Keiichi, and Ryuhei followed behind Chi Yu, heads bowed, silent.
Even Jinye, despite a fractured leg and broken arm, forced himself to hobble after them—terrified that Chi Yu might change his mind and send him back as well.
Watching Chi Yu disappear into the distance, Laren turned and threw himself before Orochimaru.
"Lord Orochimaru, I—please—"
Orochimaru didn't even look at him. His voice was detached, cold. "Gather your things. You'll return to Konoha."
He left without another word.
Laren, on the verge of despair, looked toward Uchiha Kazuo—his last hope.
But Kazuo simply stood there in silence. If he had any power to change the situation, he'd have spoken by now.
Finally, Kazuo sighed. "Laren, get that leg treated. Then go back to Konoha. Tell the clan what happened—they won't be too harsh. You didn't betray them."
Laren stood there, stunned, as if he couldn't even feel the pain in his broken leg anymore.
He wasn't afraid of punishment. What he feared… were the stares.
Broken by Chi Yu. Sent back by Chi Yu.
How could he face the clan again?
In a daze, he didn't even register the medical-nin who treated him.
---
Meanwhile, Chi Yu led the remaining four Uchiha into a dense forest clearing.
His expression turned cold as he turned to face them. "I know you hate me. Don't bother hiding it. Truth is—I feel the same about you."
He paused, letting the tension hang in the air.
"But I'm the captain. You're the subordinates. So you'll obey my orders. Otherwise, your punishment will be much worse than a broken leg."
His voice sharpened. "If you disobey during a mission, I will kill you. No hesitation."
The threat was not empty.
"You all know how I feel about the Uchiha," Chi Yu added. "Don't think you'll get special treatment."
Then, after a moment: "You still have a choice. If you want out, leave now. Head back to Konoha. I won't stop you."
None of the four moved.
Chi Yu nodded slightly. "Very well. You've chosen to stay. No turning back."
"State your names."
One by one, the Uchiha gave their names.
Chi Yu folded his arms behind his back. "Good. You all know who I am, so we won't waste time on introductions."
"I'll say this only once—our missions will be dangerous. Very dangerous. The survival rate will be low. But the rewards will be high. I won't withhold war merits, but don't expect me to coddle you."
"Now disband. Get treated if you're injured, rest if you need it. I won't micromanage. When we have a mission, I'll call you."
With that, Chi Yu vanished.
The four Uchiha let out a collective sigh.
Chi Yu's leadership was suffocating—and terrifying.
He didn't negotiate. He didn't reason. He beat first, spoke later.
Even Keiichi, the youngest at 19, felt utterly suppressed by Chi Yu—a boy barely 13.
The war hadn't even truly begun, and they were already under his control.
Clearly, he didn't like them. They'd have to prepare for hell.
The four glanced at each other in frustration before helping Jinye find a medical-nin.
---
While receiving treatment, they ran into Uchiha Laren, who sat motionless, his gaze empty.
"Laren?" Kyosuke called softly.
No response.
"Laren."
Laren finally blinked, eyes slowly focusing. He gave a twisted smile—more painful than a sob.
"I'm going back to Konoha... soon."
The others hesitated. They wanted to comfort him, but the words wouldn't come.
If Laren hadn't threatened Chi Yu earlier, he wouldn't be in this position.
But hindsight meant nothing now.
Laren looked up at them. "Chi Yu's going to make your lives hell. Are you really going to just follow him?"
Ryuhei answered helplessly. "And what do you suggest? You saw what he did. He's unreasonable. And Orochimaru is backing him."
Laren clenched his fists. "Then why stay? This place clearly doesn't want the Uchiha. Let's just leave. All of us."
The others were stunned.
Laren didn't want to go back alone. Returning with four others meant shared shame. Misery loves company.
But the four weren't fools.
They'd already pledged to Chi Yu. Walking away now would be desertion—not clan discipline, but direct charges from the village.
They gave vague excuses and left.
Laren's plan was a death sentence in disguise.
Realizing he'd been abandoned by his own kin, Laren's fury exploded.
His Sharingan spun—one tomoe becoming two in each eye.
His rage, humiliation, and betrayal had forced the evolution.
The double-tomoe Sharingan had awakened.
Too little, too late.
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