The Naka Shrine in Konoha Village is a 5A-level scenic spot and a renowned re-education center for talent development.
This dilapidated area gave Sogetsu a strange feeling where any Uchiha who comes to study might gain some unique insights. The specifics of their epiphanies depend on their individual talent and fortune.
It's no surprise that many of them turn out to be eccentrics, fillial sons, or beasts. What really surprised Sogetsu was how they could nurture talents like Itachi and Shisui from this broken place—it was pretty impressive.
After a quick group photo, Sogetsu followed the hidden passageway in the shrine, descending into an underground chamber where he met Uchiha Fugaku.
The secret room was vast, illuminated by numerous candles. Fugaku stood with his back to Sogetsu, hands behind him, facing the wall.
"I've been waiting for you, Sogetsu," Fugaku said without turning around. His voice carried an air of mystery.
Typical Uchiha—always dramatic. Sogetsu couldn't help but twitch his mouth at Fugaku's theatrics. "Lord Fugaku, I'm here," he replied.
Fugaku still didn't turn around, but he let out a heavy sigh, as if a weight of unspeakable distress lay on his shoulders.
"Why are you sighing, Lord Fugaku?" Sogetsu asked politely.
"I'm lamenting the current state of the Uchiha clan," Fugaku replied, finally turning to face him, sadness evident in his eyes.
"The threat of extermination looms over us. After what happened yesterday, you must have felt it too—the danger the Uchiha clan faces."
Sogetsu clenched his fists, his face flushed with anger and frustration. "You're right, Lord Fugaku. I thought the Uchiha clan wasn't welcome, but I never expected someone like Danzo to openly target me!"
At this point, he looked like a young man who'd suffered injustice, his eyes welling with tears. "I just wanted to be a psychiatrist to help those who suffered on the battlefield, like Lady Tsunade inspired me to do. But I didn't expect Danzo to covet my ninjutsu!"
"Why is this happening, Lord Fugaku?" Sogetsu shouted, his voice breaking. "I have never betrayed Konoha, but now I'm treated like an outsider!"
Fugaku, seeing the young man's anger and tears, sighed. Even someone who had seen it all like Fugaku had to admit: "What an innocent soul."
But Fugaku had expected this reaction from Sogetsu. The Uchiha clan was known for their emotional intensity and frequent mental struggles. To have been betrayed by the village's Will of Fire—it was no wonder Sogetsu felt so aggrieved.
"Hey, it's not your fault, Sogetsu," Fugaku said with a sigh.
Fugaku stepped forward, patted the young man's shoulder, and tried to comfort him. "What you did was right, but you need to understand—our Uchiha clan has never really been accepted by Konoha. Do you know why?"
Sogetsu's eyes widened in curiosity. "Why is that?" he asked.
Fugaku nodded, as if he expected the question. "You've heard of Uchiha Madara, right?"
Without waiting for Sogetsu to respond, he continued, "The Uchiha and Senju clans joined forces to end the Warring States Period and establish the Konoha Village, but despite being a founder, Uchiha Madara eventually betrayed Konoha and was defeated by the First Hokage at the Valley of the End."
Though Sogetsu knew this story, he played along, feigning confusion. "But that was clearly Uchiha Madara's fault, wasn't it?"
Fugaku's eyes grew serious. "True, but the distrust toward our Uchiha clan runs deeper than just Madara's betrayal."
He stepped aside, revealing a stone wall adorned with the Uchiha clan's emblem. "The reason for our exclusion is tied to our bloodline, our Sharingan. People fear its true power."
Between two Uchiha crests, a stone tablet stood on a raised platform, etched with ancient, barely discernible characters.
"The true power of the Sharingan?" Sogetsu repeated, pretending to be intrigued.
Fugaku's Sharingan flickered with intensity, the three tomoe spinning slowly. "Do you know why Uchiha Madara was able to stand against the First Hokage's Wood Release?" he asked, his voice low and deliberate.
"With just the three-tomoe Sharingan, you might think it's not enough to rival the Wood Release, right?"
Sogetsu hesitated before answering, playing his role. "Yes, Lord Fugaku, it seems unlikely that the three-tomoe Sharingan could be a match for the First Hokage's power."
Fugaku's eyes lit up with pride, his voice gaining an edge of excitement. "Beyond the three-tomoe Sharingan, there's a greater power—the Mangekyo Sharingan! With this, Uchiha Madara co-founded the Leaf Village alongside the First Hokage."
Sogetsu feigned shock, his eyes wide. "Mangekyo Sharingan? That's incredible!"
Fugaku's excitement grew as he explained, "If even one person from our clan can awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, we could change everything. We could restore the Uchiha clan's greatness!"
Sogetsu suppressed a chuckle, knowing all too well the tragic fate of the Uchiha clan. The irony was almost too much to bear.
Fugaku, not noticing Sogetsu's inner amusement, continued with enthusiasm. "You're the most promising person in the clan," he said, patting Sogetsu on the shoulder.
"I believe that if anyone can awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, it's you. The future of the Uchiha clan is in your hands."
Sogetsu nodded, playing his part, though inside he felt the crushing weight of destiny and a hint of dark humor at the thought of Uchiha Itachi's eventual massacre. It was as if Fugaku was oblivious to the grim path that lay ahead.
"Okay, okay, I've had enough," Sogetsu thought, feeling a bit exasperated. Why did everyone around him love giving him lofty promises?
One moment, he's holding the future of Konoha in his hands; the next, the destiny of the Uchiha clan rests on his shoulders. Over and over, it was the same pitch. He was starting to wonder if they had a script they all followed.
"I'll do my best, Lord Fugaku!" Sogetsu put on a face full of feigned gratitude, even fighting back fake tears. In his head, he wanted to add, "If you don't mind adopting me, I wouldn't object!"
Fugaku pointed to an ancient stone tablet. "The method of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, along with the secret history of our Uchiha clan, is inscribed on this tablet," he explained.
"However, the text has a type of seal. With a three-tomoe Sharingan, you can read some of it, but for the rest, you need the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"I'll give it a try, Lord Fugaku."
Sogetsu activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and stared at the stone tablet. The once fuzzy and distorted text started to come into focus, becoming legible.
But he wasn't particularly interested in the stone tablet's secrets; he knew the plot from the original story. This was all just for show, to keep Fugaku's trust.
But then, something caught his attention. A subtle shift in the atmosphere.
He felt like he was being watched.
As a Beyonder of the Visionary pathway, he had an innate sensitivity to observation, whether visible or hidden.
Sogetsu discreetly activated his Spirit Vision and scanned the area.
He noticed something strange on the wall behind the tablet—a shadow, like ink bleeding through paper, with an aura that was distinctly etheric and gray.
The shadow moved within the wall, like a blob of dark, viscous liquid. The sense of being watched was definitely coming from there.
"Black Zetsu?" Sogetsu thought, his expression remaining calm while a hint of coldness played at the corners of his lips.
Just because you can avoid getting caught, does it mean you should spy on other people's privacy?
Alright, let's teach you a lesson today!
Black Zetsu, hiding within the wall, stared at Uchiha Sogetsu with a look of pity. "I didn't expect him to be able to simulate the Infinite Tsukuyomi with only a three-tomoe Sharingan. It would be a waste not to use that kind of talent. Maybe I should recommend him to Uchiha Madara to accelerate the plan to resurrect my mother."
While Black Zetsu was contemplating a series of plans, he suddenly noticed Uchiha Sogetsu's expression change in front of the wall.
Immediately, Uchiha Sogetsu began forming hand seals rapidly.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Black Zetsu: ???
Fugaku: What the...?!
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