"Fight."
The single word landed with force.
Amid the noisy school gates, it still rang clearly in Shuren's ears.
Not stalling.Not waiting.Not compromising.
Fight.
Fight against fate.Fight against powerful enemies.Fight against the predetermined destruction of their clan.
Shuren stared at his companion—who now seemed completely transformed—then glanced at Lin, who stood behind Mo with unwavering eyes.
At last, he understood Mo's true intention.
Mo was no longer hiding.
Because he had already decided to confront everything head-on.
"But…" Shuren still hesitated, his gaze sweeping across the faint, watchful eyes surrounding them. "Even if we fight… why reveal ourselves now?"
A meaningful smile curved on Uchiha Mo's lips.
"Because we need allies."
"A piece hidden in the shadows can only wait to be moved… but a player who steps into the light can control the board."
His gaze shifted toward the distant Hokage Rock.
"From today onward, we will make everyone understand—besides the radicals and the conservatives, the Uchiha have a third path."
"What path?" Shuren asked instinctively.
"The path to survival."
Mo withdrew his gaze and looked at Shuren and Lin.
"Not crawling in the dirt to stay alive… but living with dignity. For that, we need power. We need allies. And more importantly—"
"A variable no one expects."
As he spoke, he gently patted Lin's shoulder.
"And she… is our greatest variable."
At that moment, Uchiha Lin raised her head.
In those eyes—so similar to someone else's—flickered a wisdom far beyond her years.
She spoke softly:
"That masked man would never expect… that there is still another 'Lin' waiting for him in this world."
Yes.
Uchiha Lin knew the truth of her origins.
A being created from the genes of Rin Nohara and Uchiha Obito.
From the very beginning, Mo had never hidden anything from her. He told her everything—every truth—and even gave her a choice.
Though that choice… was never truly important.
From the moment Uchiha Lin came into existence, her fate had already become inseparably tied to Uchiha Obito.
Whether she chose to accept it or run from it—
The moment that man saw her face…
Their paths were destined to collide.
"I choose to face it."
Lin's voice was soft, yet filled with unshakable resolve.
"If this is my fate… then I will change it with my own hands."
Shuren stood frozen.
"So… you both know the true identity of that masked man?"
Mo nodded with a faint smile.
"Of course. Uchiha Obito. The one who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan beyond the three-tomoe… That's why I said your plan was destined to fail."
"Uchiha… Obito?"
Shuren repeated the name, disbelief written all over his face.
"The hero who died during the Kannabi Bridge battle?"
"How is that possible…?"
"Died?" Mo let out a mocking chuckle.
"That was nothing more than a carefully staged act."
"The current Obito… is a madman determined to create a world where Rin exists."
Hearing this, Shuren looked toward Lin, realization dawning.
"So Lin's appearance…"
Mo continued calmly:
"Identical to the Rin Nohara Obito loved… but with a completely different personality."
Shuren took a deep breath, finally connecting all the pieces.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Lin stood quietly in place.
Moonlight fell upon her face—so eerily similar to someone else's—giving her an almost cold, distant aura.
…
"Uchiha Lin… Rin Nohara… Uchiha Obito… Mangekyō… the Nine-Tails incident… Minato…"
Inside the Hokage's office, smoke lingered in the air.
Through the Telescope Technique—
Hiruzen Sarutobi had originally only intended to conduct a routine inspection around the academy.
But instead, he had witnessed the entire exchange between Uchiha Mo and Uchiha Lin.
The moment he saw Lin form the words—
"That masked man would never expect…"
He immediately formed hand seals, enhancing the technique.
As the conversation continued—
The Third Hokage's expression grew increasingly grave.
"Uchiha… Obito?"
When he recognized the name, the pipe in his hand nearly slipped.
Ash scattered across the desk—yet he didn't even notice.
He knew that name.
The boy who was always late.The passionate youth who would sacrifice himself for his comrades.The anomaly among the Uchiha…The hero who was supposed to have died at Kannabi Bridge.
But now…
That name—engraved on the Memorial Stone—
Was being connected to the masked man behind the Nine-Tails' attack.
Hiruzen's mind flashed back to that night.
The rampaging Nine-Tails.The fleeting Sharingan.The mysterious masked man.And the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife.
Absurd.
This was simply too absurd.
As far as he knew, Minato had held Obito in high regard. Kushina had treated him like her own son—even placing her hopes for the Hokage dream upon him.
If all of this was true…
Then the suspicion and suppression directed toward the Uchiha over the years—
Had it all been part of someone else's scheme?
Had the truth of the Nine-Tails' attack been deliberately buried…
Allowing the real enemy to continue operating in the shadows?
"Uchiha Obito… how could you do this?"
"Someone." Hiruzen called out, his voice low.
An ANBU instantly appeared, kneeling on one knee.
"Immediately retrieve all files related to the Kannabi Bridge mission—especially detailed reports on Uchiha Obito."
He paused briefly before adding:
"Also conduct a secret investigation on Uchiha Mo and Uchiha Lin. I want to know everything about them—from birth until now."
"Yes!"
The ANBU vanished at once.
Hiruzen sat back down, his fingers tapping the desk unconsciously.
Just as he sank into thought—
Uchiha Mo, within the crystal sphere, slightly tilted his head.
His gaze seemed to casually sweep in this direction.
The next moment—
The image shattered into rippling distortion.
Hiruzen's fingers froze.
"Uchiha Mo…"
He exhaled a long stream of smoke.
"You've hidden yourself… far too well."
This seemingly ordinary Uchiha chūnin—
Not only knew the shocking truth of Obito's survival—
But was also fully aware of the Hokage's surveillance methods.
That glance just now—
Was clearly a message.
I know you're watching.
And everything I said… was meant for you to hear.
…
The faint glow of the pipe flickered in the dim room, illuminating the Third Hokage's grave expression.
"It seems… we've all underestimated this Uchiha," Hiruzen muttered.
Recalling Mo's file in the Police Force:
Average talent.Unremarkable performance.Never drawing attention.
And yet—
A man like this had chosen this moment to reveal his hand.
Hiruzen's gaze drifted toward the Uchiha district.
After a long silence, he finally spoke:
"Pass the order."
Another ANBU appeared instantly.
"Notify all departments—suspend all surveillance and special actions targeting the Uchiha clan."
The ANBU was slightly surprised—but still obeyed immediately.
"Yes!"
After he left—
Hiruzen unrolled a blank scroll and slowly wrote:
"To Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku. Tomorrow at noon—come to the Hokage's office."
It was time…
To reassess Konoha's relationship with the Uchiha.
Since Uchiha Mo had chosen to deliver this message in such a manner—
He must already be prepared.
Until his methods were fully understood—
No rash actions could be taken.
Otherwise…
They might only benefit someone else.
This game—
Had only just begun.
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