Samui's expression twisted in anger.
"What nonsense are you saying? Even if there is a child, I don't want it! How could I ever bear the child of such a despicable man?"
Mabui gently comforted her.
"Sis… don't let what happened be for nothing. If a child is conceived, it would still be your child. And if that child carries the Uchiha bloodline, then you'd be making a huge contribution to the village's strength."
"Besides, didn't the Uchiha originally come from the Land of Lightning before the Senju lured them away to Konohagakure?"
The more Mabui thought about it, the more viable it seemed. Her eyes lit up. Though her sister had endured great suffering, they couldn't let it end in vain. If the Uchiha bloodline could be brought into Kumogakure, it could become their village's new hidden strength—a clan to rival even the old Uchiha of the Leaf.
Samui rolled her eyes.
"Not happening. If you're so interested, you have the kid. Besides, I'm not even sure I'm pregnant."
The mere thought that she could be carrying that man's child filled her with even deeper disgust and fury.
Mabui sighed. Her sister's pride had been completely shattered. The once composed and proud "Ice Queen" of Kumogakure now seemed emotionally broken. She didn't want to push her sister too hard—Samui needed time. But in her heart, Mabui couldn't ignore the possibilities: a new Uchiha born and raised under their watch could become the cornerstone of a new powerful clan, one they controlled.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke returned to Konoha after finishing his business. It was time to continue his training—he needed to master the Fifth Gate of the Eight Gates Technique. With that, he would be invincible during this stage of the story.
The travel and "exercise" from the past few days had actually strengthened his body and chakra reserves. He felt this was the perfect moment to push through and unlock the fifth gate.
Just as he was about to begin, a fellow Uchiha appeared in the courtyard, bowing respectfully.
Ryosuke was no longer the outcast of the clan—in fact, he had become a rising star, admired like Uchiha Shisui. Unlike Shisui, however, he wasn't affiliated with ANBU, which made his loyalty more trustworthy in the eyes of his kin.
Ryosuke looked at the man and asked,
"What brings you here?"
The clansman responded promptly,
"The clan head requests your presence at the shrine."
Ryosuke raised an eyebrow. Fugaku himself? What could he want? Coincidentally, Ryosuke had been wanting to talk to him too. On his way back into the village, he noticed the villagers glaring at him and whispering behind his back. Their words accused the Uchiha of destabilizing the village.
Public sentiment was turning against the Uchiha again—and Fugaku had done nothing to counter it, even though Ryosuke had been away for three days. If I have to train, someone else should handle damage control, Ryosuke thought.
"Fine, I'll go."
He headed north toward the Uchiha Shrine, located midway up a forested hill. Inside, Uchiha Fugaku was already waiting.
Earlier, Fugaku had used his own Mangekyō Sharingan to glimpse the future—an ability granted by his eye powers. What he saw gave him hope: the Uchiha clan would one day topple the Third Hokage's regime, and the one leading them… was Ryosuke. A genius who would awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and restore the clan's glory—surpassing even the age of Madara.
Soon, he heard footsteps approaching. Turning with a rare smile, he greeted him.
"Ryosuke, I called you here today to share a secret—the method to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"The Three-Tomoe Sharingan isn't the final form of our dōjutsu. The Mangekyō is."
Ryosuke raised an eyebrow. He knew that wasn't the end either. The Rinnegan, especially the Six Paths form, is the true pinnacle. Still, he listened.
Fugaku continued,
"I've already awakened my Mangekyō Sharingan."
As he spoke, he gathered chakra into his eyes. First, the familiar three tomoe appeared. Then, his pupils changed shape into a shuriken pattern—the unmistakable design of the Mangekyō.
"This is my Mangekyō. It surpasses the standard Sharingan."
Ryosuke observed closely. There was no brilliance in the eyes—only a dullness.
His vision must already be deteriorating, Ryosuke thought.
"Why? You've lost chakra in your eyes?"
Fugaku sighed.
"I used these eyes to glimpse fragments of the future. In that future, you led our clan to reclaim its place at the top of the shinobi world."
"But the vision came at a cost—most of my eye power is gone."
He then nodded toward the shrine's stone tablet.
"With the Mangekyō, you can read more of the sacred tablet. It says we are the descendants of the Sage of Six Paths. That ruling Konoha is our rightful place. Our clan was destined to stand above all."
"And the tablet also reveals how to awaken the Mangekyō: by experiencing the intense trauma of losing someone you love."
Fugaku looked at Ryosuke meaningfully.
He knew this truth was painful, but he also knew that Ryosuke—like himself—had the potential to achieve it. Fugaku had no doubt Ryosuke had the strength. It was up to him whether to accept that path.
But Ryosuke frowned. Why tell me this? he wondered.
Did Fugaku really expect him to hurt someone he cared about just to gain power?
To awaken the Mangekyō, one must experience the death of someone close—and that emotional shock must be deep and genuine. Ryosuke thought of people like Izumi Uchiha, Kurenai Yuhi, and his grandfather Uchiha Shin. All possibilities, yes—but no. That wasn't his way.
"Power should protect the people we care about. Not come at the cost of hurting them."
He replied calmly,
"Understood."
Fugaku was surprised. No joy, no shock? Nothing? Still, perhaps Ryosuke was processing it internally. These were not decisions made lightly.
So he didn't push further. Instead, he made another unexpected move.
"I want you… to become the next clan leader."
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