Chapter 61: The True Will of Fire
In the home of Elder Uchiha Setsuna.
The Forbidden Technique: Giyaro no Jutsu.
At this moment, a unique diamond-shaped curse mark appeared on Uchiha Yosuke's palm. He pressed it onto Elder Setsuna's gradually cooling eyes.
Immediately, a cold yet smooth energy flowed through his arm into his body, reaching his eyes.
As he felt this cold yet pleasant sensation at his temples, he couldn't help but smile.
"As I thought, my theory was correct. Although not directly related, the rejection effect within the Uchiha's own bloodline is minimal. Additionally, there's the Uchiha clan's special ocular power."
Feeling the cool, soothing sensation in his eyes, Uchiha Yosuke narrowed his eyes in a daze, savoring it.
The strength of ocular power varies even among those with the same three-tomoe Sharingan, with differences often rooted in inherent potential.
"Theoretically, enhancing my ocular power might not trigger an immediate evolution, but it could make my three-tomoe the strongest, with potential to unlock the Mangekyo Sharingan, possibly even reducing the difficulty of activation."
The sensation came and went quickly. As Uchiha Yosuke lowered his hand, the diamond mark on his palm disappeared, but his sclerae were now laced with blood vessels, and he felt a slight, painful pressure in his eyes. He clutched them briefly.
"As I thought, even though this rejection is minimal, it's still there. But this power should fully integrate in three to five months."
Uchiha Yosuke glanced down at the now-lifeless Elder Setsuna, feeling a twinge of sentimentality.
"Elder Setsuna, if you knew, you'd probably smile in the afterlife. After all, we both did it for the Uchiha."
The Sharingan's power was gone from Elder Setsuna's body, and Uchiha Yosuke wasn't concerned about anyone noticing, as the body would soon be cremated.
The door slid open, and outside, Uchiha Mikoto, the clan head, and Fugaku looked at him with heavy expressions.
"The farewell is over. Elder Setsuna might have made mistakes in his life, but his contributions to the clan were undeniable. Let him become a part of the everlasting flames."
Uchiha Yosuke sighed with a sense of deep understanding.
"When the leaves of the tree dance, the flames remain unceasing. When the Uchiha and Senju founded the village, the Uchiha named it 'Konoha,' representing the Senju. Similarly, the Senju named its leader 'Hokage,' representing us, the Uchiha. Elder Setsuna's flame will eternally illuminate Konoha."
The murmured words of Uchiha Yosuke struck a chord with the elite Uchiha present, leaving them stunned. Few among them knew this history, as they usually focused only on the darker parts of the Uchiha legacy.
Yet this time, hearing Uchiha Yosuke recount this history, especially the idea that Konoha was founded by both the Uchiha and Senju, stirred something deep within them.
Standing to the side, Fugaku felt a strange chill at Yosuke's words. He looked up, astonished by the young man who now carried the burdens of the clan.
The Uchiha warriors, sensitive to spirit and pride, were deeply moved by Uchiha Yosuke's reflective words. In their isolation, they hadn't realized that the village was still theirs.
"Yosuke."
Beside him, Mikoto wiped her tears, while the clan head sighed quietly. Yosuke's perceptive gaze took in everyone's expressions, his understanding sharpening.
Not only Fugaku, but the entire Uchiha clan considered the village their home. When driven to desperation in the original story, they sought to stage a coup rather than outright rebellion, proving their deep ties to Konoha.
Thus, Uchiha Yosuke sought to instill a profound belief in his kin—the true Will of Fire.
"Yosuke," Fugaku's voice faltered as he caught sight of the elder's body, his face shifting with shock. Mikoto was similarly stunned.
"Yosuke, did the elder bequeath his Sharingan to you?"
The clan head noticed the elder's eyes still intact and sighed. Uchiha Yosuke simply smiled, his expression filled with characteristic Uchiha pride and defiance.
"My eyes walk the path of invincibility—why would I need someone else's?"
The powerful voice rang out, and several elite Uchiha, familiar with the clan's forbidden techniques, looked up in awe at Uchiha Yosuke.
Fugaku, especially, felt a surge of amazement. The boy who had once sought him out for training guidance had grown beyond him.
Yosuke embodied the Uchiha's unique pride, touching the hearts of the elite warriors gathered around him.
"This is the true Uchiha!"
With their own eyes already on the path to invincibility, why would they borrow another's?
"Yosuke!"
Mikoto's pride was mixed with a tinge of worry. Though she believed in him, even prodigies required time to grow. Yosuke's words made his resolve unmistakably clear to everyone, inspiring admiration and respect.
Elder Setsuna's body was respectfully taken to the Uchiha Nakano Shrine, where, in front of the elite warriors, he was set ablaze, erasing his last trace from this world.
"When the leaves of the tree dance, the flames remain unceasing…"
In the firelight, one of the Uchiha murmured, sparking a wave of quiet recitation throughout the clan. They all silently repeated the true Will of Fire.
The light from the flames played across Uchiha Yosuke's face as he looked at the pyre and spoke softly:
"Elder, you may rest in peace. So long as the Uchiha remain, neither the clan nor the village will falter."
In that moment, as his kin reflected on the Will of Fire, Uchiha Yosuke seized the opportunity, deepening their sense of purpose.
Subtly, he instilled a clearer and more powerful spirit within the Uchiha—a true Will of Fire, one with genuine meaning, rather than just an empty motto.
Gradually, the Uchiha clan began to internalize this bond with the village, realizing that Konoha and Uchiha, Senju and Hokage, were all interconnected.
Konoha symbolized the unity of Uchiha and Senju.
The Senju kindled the flames; the Uchiha kept them burning.