Konoha, Hyūga compound.
"It seems from the very beginning, we all underestimated the Fourth Hokage…"
Hyūga Hiashi spoke while gazing at the clan crest on the wall. Back in the Warring States era, this emblem once stood proudly alongside the Senju and the Uchiha.
And now…
The Senju had fallen into decline. The Uchiha had been shunned by the village since the Second Hokage's time. Only the Hyūga had remained unshaken.
That was both a source of pride… and a heavy responsibility.
"To draw in the long-rejected Uchiha, especially that man known as Shunshin Shisui—his reputation over the past few years has only grown thanks to his missions."
"And then there's the son of Konoha's White Fang. Because of… certain incidents, only the Fourth dared to use him. A prodigy: graduated at five, chūnin at six, jōnin at twelve. Titles like that are already considered an honor even among jōnin of the same generation."
"And then there's that man named Ka, who, according to intelligence, is able to wield the First Hokage's Wood Release."
"After the events with Danzō two days ago, the Fourth will have complete control over his own ANBU. Meanwhile, the Third's ANBU will inevitably feel a rift with their Hokage."
"The Uchiha's opportunity… has come."
When Hiashi's words fell silent, his younger brother Hizashi sat across from him, staring down for a long while before finally lifting his gaze. His Byakugan eyes reflected hesitation.
"Brother, why are you telling me this? The Main House has its own elders to deliberate with. I am only of the Branch House. My opinions hold no weight."
Hiashi sighed deeply. "The Main House elders… none of them are brothers I can truly trust."
Hizashi chuckled softly. "Another year and some months…"
A year and some months, was it?
Though Hizashi did not finish his sentence, Hiashi understood all too well what he meant.
When his daughter Hinata turned three—just over a year from now—the Branch House curse mark would be branded.
And Hizashi's own son, Neji… Even at just three years old, word had already spread of his extraordinary talent with the Gentle Fist.
No wonder Hizashi resented not being born into the Main House.
From the moment of birth, his fate had been sealed: to protect the Main House at the cost of his freedom, his life and death shackled by the Caged Bird seal.
"Whether Main or Branch, neither of us can resist the destiny we were born into. Hizashi… do not forget the duty of the Branch House."
Hiashi fixed his gaze on his younger brother, then lowered his voice, speaking of intelligence he had received:
"The Uchiha clan now has two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan."
At those words, even Hizashi—who moments earlier had not wished to listen—snapped his head up in shock.
"Those… eyes?"
Hiashi gave a grave nod. "Unlike the standard three-tomoe Sharingan, each Mangekyō manifests a unique ability. From our ancestors' records, every Uchiha who awakened beyond the three tomoe possessed power unlike any other."
Hizashi furrowed his brows, recalling the old descriptions. "A giant born from blue chakra transformation, with impenetrable defense and overwhelming strength. One strike enough to shatter heaven and earth…"
"That's not all," Hiashi interrupted. Clearly, as clan head, he knew far more than his brother.
"The Mangekyō's powers go far beyond that. But what troubles me most… is Uchiha Kumo."
"Uchiha Kumo?" Hizashi asked, puzzled. "I've never heard that name before."
Hiashi paused, then answered slowly: "Before the events two days ago, neither had I. But the information we've gathered reveals that among this generation of Uchiha, there are two geniuses.
"One is Itachi, who applied for early graduation after just a year at the Academy. At seven, he became a genin, and by eight he had already awakened the double-tomoe Sharingan."
"The other… is Uchiha Kumo. And yet, according to reports, he had never awakened the Sharingan at all."
"But two days ago, with my own Byakugan, I saw it clearly: one of the two Mangekyō belonged to him."
The room fell into silence.
After a long pause, Hizashi finally asked, "The same age as Uchiha Itachi? Nine?"
Hiashi nodded. "According to the Academy's records, three months shy of nine. A shinobi even more gifted than Kakashi. With such eyes awakened, his strength can no longer be measured by jōnin standards."
"The Academy?" Hizashi blinked in disbelief. "He's… still in school?"
When Hiashi confirmed this, Hizashi felt a bitter sense of absurdity.
In wartime Konoha, prodigies were never rare. Kakashi had graduated at five, gone to war, become chūnin at six, jōnin at twelve. There had been others like him.
But to possess power on the level of the Mangekyō… and still remain in school? That had never happened before.
Unable to reconcile this cultural contradiction, Hizashi pushed the thought aside and asked instead:
"The other Mangekyō… it must be Shisui, then?"
Hiashi nodded. "Compared to Uchiha Kumo, Shisui has battlefield experience. And no one knows how long he has had the Mangekyō."
"The Uchiha's strength has reached a point where even Konoha itself must now weigh the risks and benefits. With such power revealed, the Fourth Hokage's decisions will inevitably have to consider the will of these two Uchiha."
Hizashi nodded slowly. His brother's reasoning was sound. The moment two Mangekyō Sharingan emerged, Konoha's stance toward the Uchiha would shift.
Even if the higher-ups still feared them—still feared they might one day, like Madara, turn their power against the village—fear at its peak often led to political compromise.
"…Hah."
Hiashi let out a weary sigh, then said, "There is something I need your opinion on."
Hizashi glanced up. Hiashi thought for a moment before continuing:
"Half a month ago, by chance, thanks to the Byakugan, our clan intercepted intelligence. The Shimura clan is planning to aid the Uchiha's hardliners by breaking someone out of the maximum-security prison for dangerous shinobi."
Hizashi stayed silent, letting his brother continue.
"Further investigation revealed that the Uchiha intend to free a man once imprisoned by the Second Hokage himself: Uchiha Setsuna."
"This man, neither of us have met. But from our clan's records, his standing within the Uchiha was extremely high. Some would even say that, aside from Madara himself, no one carried greater seniority among the hardliners."
A heavy silence hung between them.
At last, Hizashi spoke. "So the balance between the Uchiha's hardliners and moderates has already been broken? If that's the case, then Shisui and this Uchiha Kumo… they are with the moderates, aren't they?"
"Brother… are you asking what stance the Hyūga should take? Whether we should inform Uchiha Shisui or Uchiha Kumo? Or perhaps…"
The words trailed off into the night.