"Leave us."
Uchiha Nanadaime waved his hand at the two juniors who had just stepped inside. Tekka and Yatsushiro kept their eyes locked on Shisui and Uchiha Shion, clearly unwilling to obey.
Nanadaime's voice hardened.
"They possess the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even if you remain here, what help could you possibly be? Go!"
Chastised, the two finally withdrew, though not without resistance. As Yatsushiro passed Shion, he muttered a warning:
"My father is not like Setsuna. If you dare make a move, the entire Uchiha clan will never tolerate you."
With that, both men left the room.
Shion only chuckled. He wasn't wrong. The clan wasn't split neatly into militant and moderate factions. Branches and loyalties were tangled like roots beneath a great tree. That was precisely why I had never acted rashly.
"As juniors of the Uchiha, you've slain Lord Setsuna. It seems the concept of family means nothing to you."
Smiling faintly, Shion seated himself casually.
"The man locked away by the Second Hokage was likely already dealt with by the Fourth's personal Anbu. As for the clan… it's precisely because Shisui and I want to see the Uchiha restored to greatness that we're here to stop you—before your arrogance drags us all into ruin."
If not for the Mangekyō eyes before him, Nanadaime might have attacked at such provocation. Instead, he swallowed his anger.
First strength, then negotiation. That was always the rule.
"Uchiha Shion's Mangekyō…" Nanadaime exhaled slowly. "Does the Fourth Hokage know of it?"
Shisui answered evenly, "He does."
"Fools!" Nanadaime barked. "Two Mangekyō Sharingan within the Uchiha… perhaps you think your loyalty to the Fourth will earn his favor. But you should understand—ever since the Valley of the End, the Hokage line, stripped of Senju Hashirama's Wood Release, has feared us more than anyone else!"
His eyes burned as he glared at Shion.
"Setsuna is gone. With you moderates wielding two Mangekyō, I have little room to maneuver. But mark my words—now that the Hokage knows of your eye, he will never permit the Uchiha to hold such power. I will not stand by and watch the clan fall into the abyss!"
His words were not without truth. After Hashirama's death, Tobirama had sanctioned human experiments with his brother's cells in a desperate bid to counter the Sharingan and the Nine-Tails. Many had died. The project was abandoned, but the Hokage line's fear of the Uchiha remained etched in history.
Shion understood the elder's concerns, but his own perspective was different—sharper, higher, almost omniscient. Nanadaime could never comprehend the extent of his vision.
"Konoha was never only the Hokage's lineage and the Uchiha," Shion replied coolly. "And you underestimate Minato Namikaze."
Nanadaime scoffed.
"The Ino–Shika–Chō, Hyūga, Inuzuka, Aburame… even the once-proud Kurama. Do you believe any of them would side with us? The Uchiha have stood alone for generations. No one else will ever fight for us. We are not tools to be cut apart with a dull blade!"
Shion shook his head.
"The Hyūga will soon stand with us. The Ino–Shika–Chō will gradually break away from the Sarutobi. It's only a matter of time. As for the Fourth—you underestimate him. If all we had was Susanoo, he would not fear us. But his mastery of the Nine-Tails' chakra mode… combined with the Flying Thunder God Technique, his speed could surpass even our eyes."
Nanadaime sneered, unconvinced. But Shion pressed on.
"Words are wasted. You'll never see things as we do. Yet one day, even you may be proud of what we've built."
"Shisui."
At Shion's call, Shisui raised his head. His Sharingan whirled, tomoe twisting into the pinwheel form of the Mangekyō.
A low hum filled the air.
"Kotoamatsukami," Shion whispered. "Even I fear this power. Whether you look into his eyes or not—it makes no difference."
Shisui's right eye bled, vision whitening as tears of blood streaked his cheek.
Exhaling raggedly, he slumped to the floor.
"That eye is nearly drained. Even Susanoo's duration is cut in half. My vision… the right is blurred, the left still usable. From now on, unless it's life or death, I won't open the Mangekyō again."
Shion frowned.
"So much cost? Your vision too?"
Shisui forced a smile.
"Yes. But even with only the three-tomoe, my speed and genjutsu surpass most jōnin. I'll manage."
As the two spoke, Nanadaime stirred, the seed of Kotoamatsukami already rooted deep within him.
"Tomorrow's clan assembly…" he murmured. "Let Shisui be named clan head."
Shion blinked. What?
"We still have a day before the gathering," he replied carefully. "Use that time to persuade those who waver. With Setsuna gone and support behind us, we'll manage the rest."
Nanadaime nodded.
"I understand. But Shion—you must grow stronger, quickly. You are the Uchiha's hope. Shisui and I will give you everything we can."
Shion turned to Shisui, stunned. What in the world did you plant in him?
And yet… another thought crept in.
Nanadaime had always believed in the clan's greatness. He distrusted the Hokage, yes—but somehow, because of Shion, he now trusted him. Trusted that under Shion's lead, the Uchiha would rise again.
Kotoamatsukami…
Later, in the mountains behind the compound, Shion asked quietly, "That was it, wasn't it? Kotoamatsukami?"
Shisui nodded.
"Yes. Terrifying, isn't it? Still think two uses, at the cost of near blindness, is a fair trade?"
Shion's mind reeled. Fair? This wasn't fair—it was absurd. Not just altering memories. This was rewriting will itself. And with my body… blindness will never claim me. A long cooldown means nothing. This ability is beyond broken.
"Shisui."
"Hm?"
"After the clan meeting tomorrow, you'll be head. Clan heads rarely leave for missions. If you have time… let's spar."
Shisui gave a weary smile.
"Alright. Honestly, I never wanted to be clan head. But right now, I'm the only choice. And don't think of passing it to me forever—Itachi isn't suited either."
"You really don't trust him?" Shisui asked.
Shion shook his head.
"He's different. You've grown through war. He graduated in a year and spends his days pondering lofty ideals. In truth… he hasn't read enough books. Too easy to be manipulated."
Shisui considered that, then asked softly,
"And you, Shion? How did you gain such vision? From an ordinary student straight to Mangekyō… it doesn't add up."
Shion only smiled.
"Maturity comes from foresight. As for the Sharingan… perhaps awakening isn't limited to trauma alone."
Shisui let the matter drop.
"Everyone has their secrets. As long as I know yours are for the clan and the village, that's enough."
For the clan? For the village?
In truth, Shion denied both. He simply wanted to live comfortably in Konoha's prosperity. Without phones, without games, without modern distractions, he had no desire for a wandering life of hardship. Bearing the Uchiha name forced his hand—he had to restore the clan to safeguard his own peace. And to protect his peace, Konoha itself had to be safe.
That night, Shisui sat alone atop a water tower, gazing over the clan compound.
Another way to awaken the eyes? Impossible. If it existed, why not try with my sister Izumi?
Yet deep down, he couldn't deny it—Shion was someone who would change the world. Already, in just two years, both the village and the clan were shifting.
Everyone had their secrets. What mattered was trust.
Meanwhile, in his quarters, Shion exhaled and lay down.
Kotoamatsukami… what a terrifying power. Two uses, and already his eye is ruined. And yet, with a ten-year cooldown, if I could inherit it… Before Naruto's graduation, I might control the entire next generation.
Elsewhere, inside the Hokage's office—
"Sensei, you're back?"
Jiraiya slipped in through the window, his face grave.
"That boy, Uzumaki Sora… he killed Danzō?"
Minato nodded.
"Yes. Last time at the orphanage he failed. Now he wields Wood Release—and I sensed an ominous chakra as well. I fear he may have gained Uchiha power."
"Sharingan?" Jiraiya frowned.
"I met him in Amegakure," Jiraiya admitted after a pause. "He can use Mokuton, though not at Hashirama's level."
Minato sighed.
"If it weren't recorded, I'd never believe the First Hokage's power was real. To pin the Nine-Tails with one hand and beat it senseless… it seems impossible."
Jiraiya said quietly,
"Don't worry. Tsunade once told me Mito-sama hinted Hashirama was… special. Pure Water and Earth chakra can't reach his level. Even his ability to suppress the Nine-Tails had unique origins."
Relieved, Minato nodded. Danzō's death was troubling, but at least it hadn't been by Konoha's own hand.
Then Jiraiya hesitated before adding:
"About my old students in Amegakure. I was told they're dead. One of them, Nagato… the boy I once thought was the Child of Prophecy, possessed the legendary Rinnegan. The Eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."
Minato's eyes widened.
"The Rinnegan?"
"And one more thing. Uzumaki Sora… he looks almost identical to another of my students. Yahiko. Nearly a perfect likeness."