Inside the dojo, Chiri knelt calmly, both swords resting before her knees.
In front, the old man, on the verge of death, opened his clear eyes and murmured softly.
"Black spiky hair, Rinnegan like a whirlpool, a man who loves to dance…"
"Chiri, if I die, do you have the confidence to suppress the clan members?"
Chiri shook her head.
"Not enough strength," Chiri said. "Unless…"
"Unless that Mushi-Hime gets involved," the old man said.
"Chiri, it's already embarrassing enough. Bringing outsiders into this will only make it more so," the old man said. "The Uchiha Clan's problems will be solved by the Uchiha Clan."
Chiri lowered her head and didn't reply.
"A time of trouble, and it just had to be now," the old man sighed. "Chiri, do you know who that person you met was?"
"Uchiha Madara," Chiri said.
"How did you deduce that?"
"Wood Release, Izanagi, and a feeling, just like a clan member," Chiri said.
"That's right, it's him." After a violent cough, the old man said, "He's here to take revenge on us, to take revenge on Konoha. The Shinobi World War is about to begin."
"Chiri, the clan needs your strength. If there's anyone in the clan who can stand against that man, it's only you."
"I can't do it," Chiri said. "The gap is too great. If Miki hadn't been there, I would have died."
"You can do it!" the old man said. "With our Uchiha Clan's true power, the Mangekyo."
Saying that, the old man opened his eyes, and a pair of eyes with unique patterns quietly rotated in their sockets.
Chiri didn't look much; she felt they were eyes full of hatred, ominous and dangerous.
"Do you know how to awaken these eyes?" the old man asked.
Chiri shook her head.
"My parents died when I was three," the old man said. "Those Corpse Bone Pulse madmen from the Kaguya clan rushed into the clan, and I watched them die before my eyes. At that time, I awakened my Sharingan."
"At six, I went to the battlefield, fighting alongside the adults in a sea of corpses and blood. After one battle, I was lucky enough to awaken the Sanba Pattern out of immense fear of death."
"When I was twelve, my beloved older sister died in the cold winter. I was shielded by her as she died, and I barely survived the pursuit of the Senju troops. I awakened the San Ba (Three Tomoe)."
"When I was thirty, my children went to the battlefield, and one after another, they died. Upon receiving the news, my heart turned to ash, and with immense hatred for the Senju, I awakened the Mangekyo."
"After that, Madara gradually became a rising star, rivaling Senju Hashirama."
"He awakened the Mangekyo, his power surpassed mine, and he gradually began to lead the clan…"
"But the power of the Mangekyo has limits. The more it's used, the more one sinks into darkness, gradually losing light."
The old man said, "Using it too much will cause blindness."
Chiri nodded in understanding.
"Gradually, Madara also reached his limit, and at that time, Izuna just happened to die, killed by the Second Hokage."
"Madara transplanted Izuna's eyes and gained the Mangekyo that would never go blind."
"That kind of power is inhuman, almost god-like in its strength!" the old man said. "Besides Hashirama, no one in the Ninja World could contend with Madara!"
"Chiri, the Mangekyo is such a power, a cursed power. You know what you should do now, don't you?" the old man said.
"I have no blood relatives, nor will I harm my loved ones." Without a moment of hesitation, Chiri said, "Hashirama didn't have the Mangekyo, yet he could contend with Madara. I think I can do it too."
"An expected answer," the old man said. "Chiri, you are very kind, but in this Ninja World, kindness isn't a particularly good quality. But it's also this quality that makes me like you."
"Grandpa…" Chiri said, "I've disappointed you."
"No, not at all. I started planning a long time ago for this day to come," the old man said. "The Mangekyo alone isn't enough to protect the Uchiha Clan, but you brought me unexpected information."
"The Sage, in pursuit of stability, divided Yin and Yang into two poles."
"The two are mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining, ultimately transforming into all creation."
"This is content that only the Eternal Mangekyo can see on the clan's stone tablet."
"Madara once said something like that."
"I didn't understand its meaning then, but now I do."
The old man slowly said.
"The Sage is the Six Paths Sage. Yin and Yang were originally one, referring to Yin Release and Yang Release, which became two poles for two clans: Yang Release Senju, Yin Release Uchiha, mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining…"
"And the eyes Madara now possesses, above the Mangekyo, are all creation, the Sage's eye, the Rinnegan."
"Chiri, you are very lucky!"
Before Chiri could think deeper, the old man pressed a hidden compartment beside him.
With the sound of machinery, several ceiling panels in the dojo slid open. Moments later, more than a dozen figures descended one after another.
After landing, the Shinobi sat down silently, cross-legged.
Soon after, a middle-aged man walked in with a boy of about six.
The boy curiously observed his surroundings, looked at Chiri a few times, then affectionately called out to the old man, "Grandpa."
"Fugaku, sit down and don't speak."
"Yes." After Fugaku obediently sat down, he immediately noticed something was wrong.
"Let's begin," the old man said.
An Uchiha Shinobi silently stepped forward, drew the Ninjato he wore, and handed it to the old man.
The old man took it and looked at Chiri.
"Don't feel burdened. This isn't your fault, Chiri. It's my inability that forces me to use this method."
As the old man spoke, his trembling hand reached towards his eye sockets.
It wasn't fear, just tremors caused by the exhaustion of his body's functions.
His fingers pressed hard, prying out a pair of eyes.
"This is the last resort. If you can't awaken your own, Chiri, you will inherit these eyes of mine."
Hearing this, Chiri lowered her head, clenching her fists tightly.
"I don't want this," she couldn't bring herself to say.
Meanwhile, Fugaku's mouth hung open, his mind completely blank.
The Uchiha Shinobi silently took the eyes, placed them in a pre-prepared container, and set it before Chiri.
"If possible, I would have wanted you to do this, but it might be too cruel for you."
As the old man spoke, he sat up straight, cross-legged, and with a shrug of his shoulders, took off his upper garment, revealing his scarred, gaunt body.
"Grandpa!?" Seeing the old man's actions, Fugaku couldn't help but stand up, shouting hoarsely.
"Shut up! Sit down!" the old man roared.
Fugaku froze, at a loss, tears welling in his eyes. His father beside him silently pulled Fugaku, making him fall back into a sitting position.
"Chiri, I'm entrusting Fugaku to your care from now on. Be strict with him; don't be too gentle. This child has a soft nature and is indecisive, which will cause a lot of trouble later."
As he spoke, the old man had already placed the blade against his abdomen.
An Uchiha Shinobi silently walked behind the old man and raised his sword.
"I should have died in the Warring States Period, but I've lingered on like a ghost for so many years…" the old man said softly. "I've been very lucky."
"Chiri, don't feel sad about this."
"I'm the one who should apologize, for taking advantage of your kindness."
"But please, forgive me, this is the last time."
"No! Grandpa! Don't leave me!" Looking at the old man, Fugaku cried loudly, but his father beside him held him tightly.
The old man paid no heed, smiling, "Chiri, lead my clan to survive, at your own pace."
With that, the old man fiercely raised his sword and thrust it down.
But the next second, a flash of bright sword light swept across, accompanied by the sound of metal breaking, and a broken sword spun and embedded itself in the ceiling.
Chiri had drawn her sword, kneeling on one knee, maintaining the posture of having swung it.
The old man looked at Chiri before him, smiling with relief and contentment.
Chiri quietly sheathed her sword, still kneeling, her head bowed.
"Don't do this."
Her voice was tearful.
"Grandpa."
"Hahahahahahaha." The old man laughed, "I was wondering before if my weight might not be as heavy as Mushi-Hime's. Now it seems, it's not light at all."
Immediately, the old man's expression turned serious, and he said, "What are you all staring at? Stop her."
"Ha!"
As he spoke, the Uchiha Shinobi in the room all stood up, their San Ba (Three Tomoe) eyes open.
At the same time, Chiri slowly stood up.
A pair of tear-filled San Ba (Three Tomoe) eyes scanned everyone.
She said coldly.
"Don't stop me!"
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