The autumn night of Konoha year 56 carried a distinct chill.
The Naka River Shrine lay hidden deep within a dense maple forest, its vermillion torii gate resembling a blood-soaked wound under the pale moonlight. Inside the shrine's main hall, the air was as stagnant as a block of lead. Candlelight flickered in the confined space, casting the massive Uchiha fan crest on the wall into shifting shadows—the red and white pattern looked as if it might drip blood at any moment.
Even the heavy incense could not mask the pervasive anxiety and rage simmering among the crowd. The core Jōnin of the Uchiha clan were nearly all present, sitting in rigid rows before Fugaku.
"Patriarch Fugaku!" Uchiha Tekka suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his voice exploding like thunder in the silent hall. "When has Konoha ever shown the Uchiha a shred of fairness?! The Police Force? Hmph! It's nothing more than a cage meant to pen us in a corner of the village! Look at where our compound is located! Look at the hypocritical faces of the high-ranking officials! They fear our power; they watch us like thieves!"
"Exactly!" Uchiha Inabi immediately followed, his voice dripping with venom. "After the Nine-Tails' rebellion, they pinned the suspicion on our heads without a second thought! Over these years, mission assignments, resource allocation—which of these hasn't been a deliberate suppression? Sarutobi's so-called 'peace' and 'inclusivity' is just a slow-boiled frog method to wear down the Uchiha's edge until we disappear entirely!"
"We are not lambs to the slaughter!" another voice roared with fanatical zeal. "Lord Fugaku! You are our Patriarch, a powerhouse possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan! Look at the hearts of your clansmen! Konoha is already rotten; it needs a new force to cleanse it! If you just give the word, the Uchiha clan will follow you to overthrow Hiruzen Sarutobi! We will support you as the Fifth Hokage! Let the Uchiha's fame ring through the shinobi world once again!"
"Support Lord Fugaku for Fifth Hokage!"
"Rebel, Patriarch!"
"We can't endure this any longer!"
The fanatical waves of sound surged like long-pent-up volcanic magma. Crimson eyes stared fixedly at Uchiha Fugaku, who sat at the head of the hall. Expectation, pressure, and fervor intertwined, nearly igniting the air.
Uchiha Fugaku sat as still as a stone statue. His face was stern, his features cold, his posture upright beneath his flak jacket. The candlelight cast deep shadows over his face, hiding the Mangekyō Sharingan as they calmly swept over the distorted, angry faces below.
He felt the pain and humiliation of his clansmen. He understood the suspicion of the village elders better than anyone. However, as the Patriarch, he saw much further.
He saw war. He saw that if the Uchiha raised the banner of rebellion, Konoha would plunge into an unprecedentedly bloody civil war. Putting aside the Sarutobi clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio... the Hyūga, Aburame, Inuzuka, Kurama, and Shimura clans would never stand idly by. There was the Anbu and Root—not to mention Jiraiya, whose fame was at its peak, and Tsunade, whose stance remained unknown while traveling abroad.
No matter how strong the Uchiha's foundation, they could never withstand the combined might of Konoha. This path of a coup was an abyss leading to the clan's extinction! Furthermore... the rise of the Land of Stars to the west and the presence of "Uchiha Hikari" served as a sword hanging over their heads, making their situation even more delicate.
Had they already forgotten the Kaguya clan's rebellion and subsequent extinction at the hands of Kirigakure just a few years ago?
"Enough!"
Fugaku's voice wasn't loud, but it swept through the hall like a freezing current. The authority of the Patriarch combined with the invisible pressure of the Mangekyō silenced the uproar instantly.
Fugaku stood up slowly, his gaze heavy with resolve. "Rebellion? Fifth Hokage?" He curled his lip into a cold, nearly mocking arc. "What do you think Konoha is? A toy for the Uchiha to take at will? Or do you think passion and these eyes alone can overcome the entire village's foundation?"
His voice rose sharply. "That is war! It is a foolish act that would wipe the Uchiha off the map! The glory of the Uchiha is not bought by instigating a civil war and turning the streets red with the blood of our kin! I, Uchiha Fugaku, will never lead my people down a dead-end path! Do not forget Uchiha Madara!"
His words struck their hearts like ice water. The fanatical atmosphere cooled, replaced by a stunned silence. Fugaku's gaze finally fell on two silent figures at the back: Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi. Both kept their heads lowered, but he could feel their heavy concern.
"Meeting adjourned!" Fugaku said no more, turning and vanishing into the shadows of the inner chambers.
The Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the large window, his back slightly hunched. The pipe in his hand had long since gone out. Behind him, Uchiha Itachi knelt on one knee, having just finished reporting the explosive clan meeting at the Naka Shrine.
"My father... refused," Itachi's voice was low. "But the emotions of the Jōnin are nearing a breaking point. My father is under immense pressure."
Hiruzen turned around, his wrinkled face illuminated by the moon. He looked at Itachi with a mix of appreciation for his loyalty and deep fatigue over the Uchiha situation. "I understand, Itachi. You've done well. Go back for now."
As Itachi vanished into the shadows, the corner of the office seemed to move. Danzō Shimura stepped out, leaning on his cane, his right arm and eye wrapped in bandages.
"Nearing a breaking point?" Danzō's voice was dry and mocking. "Hiruzen, are you still deceiving yourself? The Uchiha rebellion is no longer 'nearing'; the arrow is on the string! Fugaku's refusal is merely a fig leaf for his inability to suppress the rage! Your so-called 'time' and 'dialogue' are just seeds of destruction!"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed deeply. "Danzō, the Uchiha's power is not to be trifled with. If conflict breaks out, it will be a war that consumes the village."
"What are you worried about? The clan's power, or... those legendary Mangekyō eyes? Especially Uchiha Hikari, who is confirmed to serve 'Shura'?" Danzō stepped forward, his one eye fixed on Hiruzen. "One Hikari is already troublesome enough. What if Fugaku, or others... even Itachi, awaken the Mangekyō? How will Konoha resist?!"
Hiruzen remained silent, looking out at the lights of the village. Danzō had struck his deepest fear. Konoha no longer had a shinobi like Hashirama Senju to counter such power.
"We can wait no longer, Hiruzen. We must strike while they are divided! Cut down their sharpest talons!"
"Enough, Danzō! I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen's knuckles whitened as he gripped his pipe.
"You will regret this, Hiruzen!" Danzō snarled, slamming the door as he left.
The Root Base
In the command center of the Root base, Danzō's malice was no longer hidden.
"Issue the order," he rasped. "Assemble all members."
"Yes, my lord!" Aburame Tatsuma relayed the command immediately.
From the shadows, Root shinobi wearing animal masks emerged like ghosts, kneeling before Danzō with absolute obedience. Danzō nodded, looking over his elite force.
"Shisui of the Flicker..." Danzō whispered, a greedy desire for power flashing in his eye. "I cannot let such power become the backbone of the Uchiha rebellion!"
Ever since learning of Shisui's Mangekyō and the terrifying power of Kotoamatsukami, Danzō had coveted those eyes. Now, he was done waiting.