The Uchiha Clan Compound.
After Uchiha Akihira brought the clan head back, he was immediately pushed aside by the medical staff. Akihira himself was largely unharmed, so he could only stand there, watching the clan members bustle around.
Injured clansmen, a dying clan head. Everyone had fought to protect the clan.
Happiness had not come easily. The clan of the past, the clan of the present... they had just started to see a glimmer of hope, only to suffer such a devastating blow.
Akihira's eyes turned red, and tears streamed down his face.
Those two despicable intruders!
Akihira gritted his teeth.
The clan! From now on, I will be the one to protect it!
Just then, a cry of grief pierced the air.
"Clan Head!"
Akihira snapped his head around to see Fugaku's life signs plummeting. His spiritual fluctuations were weakening, sliding deeper into the abyss of death with each passing second.
"Clan Head!"
You can't die! The clan has just started to recover, you can't leave us like this!
Akihira cried out in anguish, the Sharingan in his eyes spinning wildly out of control. The three tomoe whirled faster and faster until their ends connected, morphing into three circular floral patterns.
A flash of insight!
A searing pain shot through Akihira's eyes as a powerful ocular energy erupted from them. The Uchiha clansmen surrounding Fugaku felt a massive wave of this power pour into their leader's body.
Fugaku's chaotic spiritual energy stabilized in an instant.
The crowd turned back in shock.
"Akihira, you...!"
An uproar went through the crowd. Akihira had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!
Akihira's Mangekyo was now spinning furiously, continuously releasing its ocular power. Fugaku's spiritual state gradually began to improve.
Spirit Aegis!
Akihira's Mangekyo could protect the soul, stabilize the spirit, and ward off spiritual attacks.
Fugaku's condition finally stabilized completely.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Akihira let out a groan and suddenly collapsed.
"Akihira!"
The others quickly caught him. After a brief check, they were relieved to find that Akihira had only collapsed from exhaustion; his life was not in danger.
They exchanged glances. Everyone present was a core member of the Uchiha.
Yoju spoke up. "The matter of Akihira awakening the Mangekyo must not be leaked."
Everyone agreed. The Mangekyo Sharingan was the Uchiha's greatest secret. The birth of each new Mangekyo was a significant boost to the clan's strength.
Fourth Elder Yohei made his way through the crowd. He had just confirmed Sasuke's whereabouts when he heard that Fugaku was on the brink of death and rushed over. Thank the heavens. At over sixty years old, the continuous use of the Body Flicker Technique had completely drained his chakra.
By the time the frantic Yohei arrived, Fugaku's vital signs had already stabilized. After hearing the others' accounts, he learned just how close Fugaku had come to death.
Initially, Yohei hadn't been in favor of Fugaku's plan. But Fugaku had insisted that he hadn't done much for the clan over the years and, if given the chance, he had to try and capture Obito. Despite thorough preparations, the result was a near-fatal encounter. If not for Akihira unexpectedly awakening his Mangekyo, Fugaku would likely be dead.
As the heavy weight lifted from his heart, Yohei felt a genuine joy for Akihira, and the entire clan's morale was lifted. A long-absent smile finally appeared on the elder's face.
Although Fugaku was stable for now, the Uchiha clan could not be without a leader. The crowd's eyes naturally fell upon the most prestigious and respected figure among them: Elder Yohei.
Elder Yohei pondered for a moment before speaking. "Although the Clan Head's condition is stable, we can't predict if the enemy will strike again. First, use the Summoning Jutsu to notify Itachi Uchiha, then prepare a Reverse Summoning to bring him back."
"Furthermore, regarding Akihira awakening the Mangekyo, everyone must keep this strictly confidential. Our summoning animals are from the Ninja Cat clan; use the Reverse Summoning formation to recall Yogetsu."
"As for Kawasaki, I will deliver the message myself."
"The clan's elite forces have all been wounded, and we are currently in a weakened state. All members on missions outside the village are to suspend their duties and remain here to guard the clan. We will discuss further action once Itachi returns or the Clan Head awakens."
The clansmen acknowledged his orders and quickly got to work. Their first priority was to inform Itachi Uchiha via Summoning Jutsu so he could prepare. They also needed to determine who could return immediately and whether they could bring back any medical supplies from Orochimaru's side. Fugaku had foreseen the worst-case scenario and left behind a detailed contingency plan.
As Akihira's older brother, Yogetsu deserved to know about something as significant as Akihira awakening his Mangekyo. Moreover, Yogetsu was one of the clan's top elite; with the clan's defenses so thin, it was the perfect time for him to return and protect his family.
In their last communication with Kawasaki, he had mentioned handling an important matter before returning. Therefore, this task was entrusted to the Fourth Elder himself.
Not long after Zetsu escaped, Kakashi arrived with a large contingent of Anbu reinforcements. Five years had passed, and Kakashi had grown into a top-tier elite jonin. Not only was he exceptionally skilled, but his loyalty to the Third Hokage was absolute, making him a trusted aide.
When the report about the Uchiha clan came in, the Third Hokage immediately dispatched Kakashi to assist. He then mobilized other Anbu members to investigate the details of the incident.
Upon seeing the red chakra shroud covering Naruto's body, Kakashi and the others were stunned, momentarily thinking Naruto had lost control.
The moment Naruto saw the familiar face, he yelled, "Kakashi-nii-san, quick, help! Sasuke's hurt!"
Kakashi immediately pushed up his headband, revealing his Sharingan to get a better look. Fortunately, aside from the red chakra, Naruto was conscious and his voice was strong. It seemed he was fine and hadn't gone berserk.
Relieved, he then looked at Sasuke in Naruto's arms, whose condition was far less optimistic. Sasuke was not only in a deep coma but also had a penetrating wound on his shoulder, and his hands were covered in blood.
As Naruto handed Sasuke over to an Anbu member, the chakra shroud around him dissipated. The sudden shift in weight caused Naruto to stumble and fall heavily into Kakashi's arms.
Kakashi's heart skipped a beat—he couldn't let anything happen to Naruto. He quickly checked him over.
Naruto's breathing was even...
This kid... he had fallen asleep?
Kakashi was at a loss for words.
Surveying the chaotic scene around them, Kakashi directed his Anbu to split up. One team was to investigate the market street, while another was to confirm the status of the four fallen Anbu. Kakashi himself would take Sasuke and Naruto to the hospital for a full check-up.
...
The Anbu escorted Naruto and Sasuke to the hospital, where a team of medical-nin was already on standby and immediately began emergency treatment.
The Third Hokage also rushed over, having received updates along the way. His primary concern was Naruto. Hearing that the Tailed Beast's chakra had leaked out sent a chill down his spine, as he had personally witnessed the Nine-Tails' rampage. He first checked Naruto's seal, only relaxing slightly after confirming it was intact.
As for Sasuke, while he had several injuries, none were life-threatening, even though the puncture wound on his shoulder looked gruesome. Konoha had the complete medical system left behind by Tsunade, which was more than capable of handling such complex situations.
Only after Sasuke was also stabilized and receiving treatment did Kakashi learn of the preliminary investigation results.
...
In Konoha, inside an office at the hospital.
Kakashi was reporting the Anbu's findings to the Third Hokage.
"This afternoon, the alarm was suddenly raised in the Uchiha district. All of the Uchiha elite rushed back to their compound."
"The Uchiha shop owner on the market street announced that there was an intruder in the clan grounds and that the shop was closing temporarily. He then organized the orderly evacuation of the villagers."
"Although traffic was blocked in front of the Uchiha market street, the villagers were safely evacuated under the guidance of Uchiha members. There were no casualties."
"Naruto and Sasuke were attacked on their way back to the village. The Anbu squad assigned to protect Naruto was wiped out."
"At the scene, we only found several white, humanoid corpses. These bodies quickly transformed into a wood-like substance, suggesting a connection to Wood Style!"
The moment the Third Hokage heard the words "Wood Style," his brow furrowed. "Immediately order Tenzo to the scene to confirm if it is indeed Wood Style."
In Konoha today, no one understood Wood Style better than Tenzo.
"I have already dispatched Tenzo," Kakashi replied.
The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction. Kakashi was truly coming into his own. He had already transferred Kakashi out of the Anbu to begin grooming him for a greater role.
"When we arrived, we only saw Naruto carrying an unconscious Sasuke. Naruto himself was unharmed but was covered in the Nine-Tails' chakra cloak, though he remained conscious."
"Notify me immediately when Naruto and Sasuke wake up. Also, recall the Sealing Corps to check Naruto's seal one more time."
"We must determine the exact reason for the Nine-Tails' chakra leak."
"Yes, sir!"
...
The Village Hidden in the Sound.
Itachi Uchiha, having just completed a series of check-ups, sat up from the operating table. As Orochimaru was engrossed in analyzing the data, Shisui burst into the room.
"Itachi, something has happened to the clan."
Both Itachi and Shisui used ninja crows as their summoning animals, and they often rotated their summons to avoid being cut off from information. Itachi's heart tightened. Shisui wouldn't have come personally unless it was something major.
"Obito infiltrated the clan to gather intelligence and fell into a trap set by the Clan Head. However, the Clan Head underestimated Obito's strength, resulting in many of our members being seriously injured. The Clan Head engaged Obito in a battle of ocular power, and both were severely wounded."
Shisui didn't hide anything from Orochimaru. Years of working together had built a deep sense of trust between them. Orochimaru stood by silently, looking quite surprised. Fugaku had always been indecisive; for him to engage in a dojutsu battle with Obito was truly unexpected.
"How is my father?" Itachi asked anxiously. A battle of ocular power was incredibly dangerous, almost equivalent to a spiritual brawl where the slightest misstep could mean death.
Shisui quickly reassured him. "Don't worry. Akihira awakened his Mangekyo, and his power has stabilized the Clan Head's condition."
Itachi was taken aback. While the clan had no shortage of elite, Akihira wasn't someone who stood out in the top tier. His talents lay not in combat but in sealing arts, and his strength had soared after he awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. He never would have thought Akihira would awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan...
"Sasuke was injured too, but it's not serious. He's in the Konoha Hospital now."
"To prevent another attack, the clan is planning to use a Reverse Summoning to bring you back, along with more manpower to secure the situation."
"If necessary, I'll return as well."
Itachi turned to Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru, I need to go home."
In truth, both Itachi and Shisui were subjects of Orochimaru's experiments, but over the years, a bond had formed between them. Orochimaru was pleased with Itachi's respectful attitude, and his tongue flickered lightly over his lips. Of course, he was far more interested in Uchiha Akihira's new Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Itachi, when you go back, remember to collect some of Akihira's cell samples for me. I'll study them when I return."
"Your body can now mostly handle the strain of the Mangekyo Sharingan, but remember not to overuse your ocular power."
As he spoke, Orochimaru picked up a vial of medicine from a nearby table and handed it to Itachi. "Just in case. If you overuse your Mangekyo, take this. It's the latest suppression drug."
"Shisui will stay here for now. We'll recall him if he's needed."
Itachi took the medicine. "Thank you, Lord Orochimaru. I will remember."
With that, Itachi headed out into the Sound Village to see which clansmen were available to take back with him.
...
On a high platform in the Uchiha Compound.
Iori saw that the appointed time had arrived and placed a crow on the summoning formation. Summoning animals that couldn't speak or form hand seals could still be reverse summoned. All that was needed was to draw the summoning formation and use the animal itself as the medium. Of course, very few people could draw such a formation. It was only because Kawasaki was a master of sealing arts that this formation existed.
"Reverse Summoning Jutsu!"
"Caw, caw..." the crow squawked twice.
The summoning formation on the ground began to glow.
Poof!
Itachi, dressed in combat gear, appeared.
"Young Lord, welcome back," Iori greeted him.
Itachi glanced around. The clan had changed quite a bit. "What's the current situation?" he asked. "How is my father? Where is Sasuke? Has Senior Kawasaki been notified?"
"Young Lord, please follow me," Iori said, leading the way while explaining. "The Clan Head and Hypothetical Enemy Number Three fought to a mutual standstill. He was on the verge of death, but fortunately, Akihira saved him with his Mangekyo Sharingan."
Kawasaki had not revealed Obito's identity to the regular clan members, referring to him only as Hypothetical Enemy Number Three.
"Sasuke and Naruto were also attacked on the market street, but the enemy's main target was Naruto. Sasuke only suffered minor injuries and is now at the Konoha Hospital."
"Konoha's Anbu have tried to investigate several times, but we've stopped them."
"Currently, Akihira is unconscious, and many others are injured. The barrier team is inoperable, and there are Anbu lurking nearby, but we don't have the strength to drive them away."
"Elder Yohei is responsible for notifying Vice-Clan Head Kawasaki. We should have a response soon."
Iori moved quickly, soon leading Itachi to a secret room. It was equipped with a full set of life-monitoring instruments, with several Uchiha medical-nin standing by. However, the Uchiha's medical skills were limited; they could only monitor Fugaku's condition. It was primarily thanks to Akihira's Mangekyo that Fugaku's life had been saved.
Itachi stepped forward to check. The blood had been cleaned from Fugaku's face, and apart from his pale complexion, he looked normal. His vital signs were also very stable.
Just then, on the clan's summoning platform, a ninja cat stepped onto the circle and patted the ground with its small paw.
Poof!
A figure appeared on the platform.
"Where's Akihira!" the person yelled anxiously the moment he materialized.
It was Akihira's older brother, Uchiha Yogetsu, who had been brought back by the Reverse Summoning.
A clan member guided him to Akihira's resting room, not expecting to find Itachi there as well. Yogetsu had been away on a mission, so Itachi hadn't seen him in the Sound Village and had returned first. However, since there was a ninja cat from Yogetsu's summoning contract here, they were able to summon him directly.
"Yo, Young Lord, you're here too!" Yogetsu's voice boomed. He then remembered his brother was resting and quickly covered his mouth.
At that moment, Akihira frowned and slowly opened his eyes.
...
On the border of the Land of Rice Paddies.
Kawasaki took a sip of tea to wet his throat. "Madara believed he knew the truth. For the sake of his resurrection plan, he chose someone with a unique constitution to serve as a vessel to nurture the Rinnegan. And that someone was you, Nagato."
Kawasaki could clearly feel Nagato tense up, though no change was visible behind Pain's impassive mask.
Ignoring him, Kawasaki continued. "He implanted the Rinnegan in you when you were a child, just before his own death."
"Then, at the opportune moment, he arranged for the tragic deaths of your parents to trigger the awakening of your Rinnegan."
"By the time you reached adulthood, Madara was already dead, and Obito became the executor of his will."
"So, Obito came to you, masquerading as Madara Uchiha, to deceive you."
"Because of Yahiko's presence, you refused Obito's offer."
"Therefore, Obito and Zetsu orchestrated Yahiko's murder, plunging your heart into the abyss."
Pain abruptly cut Kawasaki off.
"Impossible!"
Pain's face was contorted with rage.
He wouldn't believe it. He refused to believe that his entire life had been manipulated, that his life and his ideals were all controlled by someone else. Even the eyes with which he judged the world did not belong to him.
How could he possibly accept that?
He had always believed in his Rinnegan. He considered its awakening a gift from the heavens. Before Yahiko died, he had told him, "You are the world's savior." Nagato had made Yahiko's dream his own, pursuing it with unwavering devotion.
And now, someone was telling him it was all a lie. The ideals he had fought for over so many years were a fiction.
How could Nagato accept it? How could he ever accept it?
Madara Uchiha's identity was fake, and Obito's true goal was the Eye of the Moon Plan?
"How do you know all this? How can you prove that what you're saying is true!?" Pain's face twisted, a mask of disbelief laced with a trace of imperceptible panic.
Kawasaki pondered for a moment. Right now, Nagato saw the Rinnegan as his only hope. Even if he used genjutsu to show him the truth, he would probably dismiss it as a fabrication.