Both Uchiha Gogo and Uchiha Tōka had awakened the Mangekyō?
And Tōka had gouged out his own brother's eyes?
Uchiha Kagen felt as though his heart were being twisted apart.
What kind of clan head was he?
Such tremendous events had unfolded within the clan—yet he had known nothing.
And now Mitokado Homura stood here questioning him—why he had not reported the awakening of a Mangekyō.
Report it?
Report it to the village?
So they could send even more people to monitor the Uchiha?
Kagen forced himself to speak evenly.
"Mitokado-sama, I apologize. I knew nothing of the two brothers awakening the Mangekyō. They concealed it from me."
Mitokado replied coldly, "Clan Head Kagen, the village has decided to declare Uchiha Tōka an S-rank missing-nin.
"For murdering his own brother and stealing his Sharingan—this is absolutely intolerable.
"The village will handle this matter.
"And the Uchiha clan must also show its stance."
Uchiha Tōki glanced at his clan head and sighed inwardly.
"I… understand," Kagen said slowly.
"The Uchiha clan will issue a public declaration within the clan. Uchiha Tōka is a traitor. He murdered his brother."
Uchiha Kagerō could not hold back.
"Clan Head! They were brothers! Tōka was raised by Gogo! How could he possibly kill him—"
"Silence!"
Kagen's voice cracked like a whip.
"Uchiha Kagerō, do not speak recklessly. Uchiha Tōka has defected. Is that not enough?"
Whatever the truth—
Tōka had fled.
He would fight Konoha.
He would kill Konoha shinobi.
And the Uchiha would bear the consequences.
Even the Sarutobi clan had restrained themselves after Sarutobi Kanosuke's defection.
The priority now was to sever ties quickly.
No—
Kagen's thoughts darkened.
It would not be enough.
The village would use Tōka to pressure the Uchiha regardless.
Three S-rank missing-nin.
Two were Uchiha.
Why?
Why always Uchiha?
Why not other clans for once?
Kagen repeated firmly,
"Mitokado-sama, I will unify the clan's position.
"Uchiha Tōka's act of killing his brother and stealing his eyes is unforgivable. The Uchiha do not tolerate this."
Mitokado nodded.
Kagen understood the balance of power.
Unlike the hot-blooded fools within the clan who believed the Sharingan granted impunity.
In history, how many Uchiha had truly become great?
Geniuses were rare.
Most clan shinobi were ordinary.
Without the clan's shelter, they were nothing.
After the village forces withdrew, only the Uchiha remained.
"Clan Head—" Kagerō tried again.
Tōki cut him off sharply.
"Enough."
He lifted the white cloth covering the bodies.
Underneath—
Charred remains, heavily damaged by Fire Release.
Deliberately obscured.
There was little left to analyze.
Tōki covered them again.
Kagen said quietly,
"Bury them.
"Uchiha Tōka is a traitor.
"But Gogo and Jun… may be interred behind the Memorial Stone."
He turned to Fugaku.
"Fugaku. Come with me."
—
They did not return to the clan head's residence.
Instead, they entered Naka Shrine.
The Uchiha district was vast—a legacy left by the founding generation.
The Naka River flowed through the village, cutting behind the clan grounds.
In the dim shrine, Kagen sat in the central seat, gazing at Fugaku.
"Fugaku, I must teach you something important."
"What is it… Father?" Fugaku's voice was strained.
Today had shattered him.
When he first heard Gogo had awakened the Mangekyō, he had felt envy.
So Gogo was the clan's true genius.
And now—
He was dead.
Officially, it was fratricide.
But the ANBU had arrived too quickly.
The scene was altered.
The bodies damaged.
Too many hidden hands.
Yet the village was powerful.
If they declared Tōka a traitor—
What could the Uchiha do?
"Fugaku," Kagen said softly.
"Lift your head. You are the heir. The clan's future does not bow."
Fugaku looked up.
And froze.
In his father's eyes—
A Mangekyō Sharingan slowly rotated.
A four-bladed shuriken pattern.
Kagen closed his eyes.
When he opened them again—
They were three-tomoe once more.
"At Uchiha Kagami's corpse, your grandfather told me—
"If you awaken the Mangekyō, you must conceal it. Tell no one. Not until the clan's survival hangs by a thread.
"I have possessed the Mangekyō for ten years.
"No one knows."
Fugaku's breath quickened.
"After seeing Gogo's hollow eyes today, I pass that warning to you.
"If you awaken the Mangekyō…
"Absolutely. Absolutely do not reveal it."
Kagen's voice hardened.
"I will use these eyes only when the clan faces extinction.
"The Uchiha once stood equal to Senju.
"We have also been suppressed.
"Temporary humiliation means nothing.
"Continuity.
"Survival.
"That is what matters most."
Fugaku bowed his head deeply.
"I understand… Father."
Kagami had been the brightest of his era.
So brilliant that the Second Hokage personally entered the Uchiha district and took him as a disciple.
Even he—
Had died with his eyes gouged out.
Mangekyō.
The clan's greatest power.
And yet—
It was always stolen.
By brothers.
By enemies lurking in darkness.
So-called strength—
Was fragile before collective malice.
Even Uchiha Madara had fallen repeatedly to Hashirama.
Why did the Uchiha always lose?
It felt carved into their blood.
Fugaku recalled Gogo's arrogance after awakening.
He had sought to change everything overnight.
To provoke the village.
To expand outward.
Within a month—
His eyes were gone.
If Mitokado's claim was true—
Tōka had killed his brother and awakened as well.
And fled.
Perhaps Tōka understood.
The clan could not protect him.
Konoha was too strong.
Mitokado's presence alone was suffocating.
Yellow Dog.
Fox.
Golden Eagle.
White Ram.
ANBU radiated pressure.
Fugaku closed his eyes.
If I awaken it—
No one must know.
—
Hokage Tower.
Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen stood by the window, smoking slowly.
Danzo sat on the sofa.
"The ANBU have grown unruly," Danzo said coldly.
"Fox defied my command in battle.
"If all subordinates behaved so, how would the village function?
"Order must be absolute.
"Obedience must be absolute.
"Even unto death."
Hiruzen exhaled thick smoke.
"Danzo.
"Fox's objective differed from yours. His tactics reflected that.
"He does not possess resurrection.
"When he faced a Mangekyō wielder, he chose immediate elimination.
"He did not know your intention to seize the eye.
"Could you have explained it in that moment?
"And if you had?
"What would Suigiku have suspected? What would he have inferred about Kagami's death?"
Danzo fell silent.
Hiruzen continued.
"ANBU are under immense pressure.
"Fox is rare.
"Who else can complete those missions?
"I will not punish him.
"And you will not act against him.
"Just as with this pursuit.
"Who in the village can chase a Mangekyō wielder?
"Orochimaru? He already defies me.
"Hatake Sakumo? If he kills Tōka, the Uchiha will rally behind him in resentment.
"Tsunade? She refuses even to see me.
"You? Me? Homura?
"Only Fox will go.
"He follows orders.
"And his merit accrues to ANBU—not himself."
Danzo said nothing.
ANBU were weak.
But Fox was not.
His will of fire was unquestionable.
He walked into danger repeatedly.
And survived through layered defensive arts.
Hiruzen's voice lowered.
"Tell me.
"When Madara took Izuna's Mangekyō, his strength soared.
"Now Tōka has taken Gogo's.
"Can you defeat him?
"Without intelligence from Fox, we could die at first contact.
"Even my teacher—without intel advantage—fell to the Six Paths tools of the Gold and Silver Brothers."
Danzo's jaw tightened.
Tōka would be far more dangerous now.
"Should I thank Fox?" Danzo muttered.
"For killing Gogo with Impalement?"
Hiruzen shook his head.
"No gratitude necessary.
"Madara. Tōka. Kanosuke.
"Three S-rank threats.
"Fox is the only one who can reliably survive initial contact.
"His defensive style—Wood Release and Absolute Defense—offers margin for error.
"You've already expended a three-tomoe for Izanagi.
"You don't have many left.
"So, Danzo.
"Let it go."