Arisu stood quietly on high ground, gazing from afar at the Uchiha clan grounds.
Uchiha Tajima's actions these days had completely deviated from the established trajectory of reincarnation.
Reform, forming alliances, reducing conflicts, accumulating strength... Every step was accelerating the plan to "establish Konoha ahead of time."
If this continued unchecked, history would be drastically rewritten.
"It's time to make a move....."
———
Arisu's gaze fell on Black Zetsu.
Deep underground, Black Zetsu was lying bored on a stone slab when the system's cold mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Emergency mission issued.]
[Mission Name: Interference from the Underlying Current]
[Mission Content: Without exposing yourself, create subtle yet sustained chaos within the Uchiha clan. Stir up strong opposition to the reforms among some conservative elders, spread rumors that "the clan head has been bewitched by an external enemy," and secretly instigate several small-scale border conflicts, forcing Uchiha Tajima to divert his attention to dealing with them.]
[Note: Do not directly contact Uchiha Tajima. Do not use any means that might expose the existence of the system.]
[Mission Reward: Depends on the degree of completion.]
Black Zetsu's eyes lit up, and his black body immediately began to squirm.
"Finally, I've got something to do again... Just right. The Uchiha have been way too quiet lately."
Black Zetsu silently infiltrated the outskirts of the Uchiha clan grounds and began stirring up the undercurrents little by little according to the system's instructions.
Disputes between the elders became sharper, border patrols repeatedly encountered "accidental" attacks, and the unified voice that had gradually emerged within the clan began to develop cracks.
And Uchiha Tajima knew nothing about any of this.
———
The other thread fell on Uchiha Katsu, who had long since retired.
Here, Uchiha Katsu was practicing his sword alone.
The flash of his blade suddenly stopped.
A voice that only he could hear sounded beside his ear.
"Go to the Uchiha clan grounds. Warn that Tajima, who suddenly became 'clear-headed'... Don't go too far."
Uchiha Katsu was silent for a moment before sheathing his sword.
"Understood."
He changed into ordinary clothes and concealed his Sharingan.
A dense forest on the outskirts of the Uchiha clan grounds.
Uchiha Tajima was inspecting the border with several trusted aides.
With undercurrents surging within the clan these days and trouble repeatedly occurring at the border, he had no choice but to personally step forward to stabilize the situation.
At this moment, Tajima did not feel that someone was setting a trap for him.
Instead, he felt that it was the limitation of the times, just like how someone in ancient times who advocated an Enlightenment movement would certainly face resistance.
Just as he was preparing to return, a calm voice suddenly came from the forest.
"Uchiha Tajima."
Tajima abruptly raised his head and looked sharply toward the source of the voice.
He saw a man dressed like a traveler in dark clothes slowly walk out from the shadows of the trees.
His appearance was ordinary, but his aura was frighteningly deep.
Tajima frowned. "Who are you?"
Uchiha Katsu did not answer immediately. He simply looked at him quietly, his voice calm yet carrying a sense of pressure. "What you've been doing lately has gone too far."
"Reform is fine, but don't try to rewrite the direction of all history ahead of time."
Tajima's pupils contracted slightly.
'This man... knew?'
Uchiha Tajima immediately became alert, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Who exactly are you? How dare you say such things to the clan head?", Uchiha Tajima said coldly.
"Ah...."
Uchiha Katsu sighed and slowly raised his head.
In the next instant, his blood-red Sharingan fully opened.
The three tomoe slowly rotated, then transformed into the even more complex Mangekyo form.
"I'm here to warn you."
Tajima gave him no chance to finish.
As the Uchiha clan head of this era, his reaction was extremely fast.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A huge fireball instantly roared out, carrying scorching heat as it shot straight toward Uchiha Katsu.
Uchiha Katsu turned sideways, his figure flashing past like a ghost. The fireball brushed against the corner of his clothes before exploding with a boom, scorching a large area of trees.
Tajima drew his sword at once, taking advantage of the opening. His figure surged forward, the blade carrying a sharp whistle of wind as it went straight for the throat.
The ear-piercing clash of metal exploded through the dense forest.
The two instantly became entangled in combat.
Tajima's swordsmanship was fierce and practical, every strike aimed at a vital point.
The Sharingan's ability to predict movements allowed him to almost see through his opponent's actions. The blade passed the edge of Uchiha Katsu's clothes again and again, slicing off small pieces of fabric.
But Uchiha Katsu was faster.
His swordsmanship was simple yet deadly, every move carrying a precision that surpassed this era.
When the blades collided, sparks flew everywhere, and the impact numbed Tajima's hand.
"Your sword... there's something wrong with it!"
Tajima gritted his teeth and shouted. He suddenly stamped his foot, using the force to leap backward while forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Countless small fireballs shot from his mouth, scattering like a flock of birds and completely surrounding Uchiha Katsu.
Uchiha Katsu's eyes narrowed, his figure constantly flashing through the rain of fire.
He did not take it head-on. Instead, he moved through the gaps between the flames at extremely high speed, his blade repeatedly cutting down the incoming fireballs with precision.
But at the very moment he cut down the last fireball, Tajima had already closed in.
The blade stabbed in from the side at an awkward angle, aimed straight at his ribs!
Uchiha Katsu was forced to turn sideways and block. The blades of the two men once again pressed firmly against each other.
The collision of their strength caused fine cracks to spread across the ground beneath their feet.
Tajima took the opportunity to shout, his chakra surging as he tried to suppress his opponent with absolute strength.
But Uchiha Katsu merely smiled faintly.
The next second, he suddenly released his strength. His figure slid strangely half a step to the side, and his blade followed the force of Tajima's attack as it turned. He then swung a vicious horizontal slash with his reverse grip!
Tajima's pupils shrank. He hurriedly leaned backward, and the blade swept across his chest, cutting open a wound deep enough to expose bone.
Blood splattered.
"You...!"
Tajima's face turned livid.
"Genjutsu: Tree Binding Death!"
Uchiha Tajima activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.
An invisible mental force instantly rushed toward Uchiha Katsu.
Uchiha Katsu's movements paused slightly, his feet seeming to be bound by countless roots from within the illusion.
Tajima seized this moment, his figure surging forward as his blade stabbed straight toward the heart with killing intent!
Just as the tip of the blade was about to pierce in...
Uchiha Katsu's Mangekyo suddenly rotated.
"Break."
With a low whisper, the genjutsu instantly shattered.
Not only did he not retreat, he instead moved forward to meet him head-on, his blade crashing directly against Tajima's.
Clang!
The ear-piercing clash of metal exploded out, and Tajima was sent stumbling back several steps by the tremendous force. The web between his thumb and forefinger split open, and blood dripped down along the hilt.
Uchiha Katsu gave him no chance to catch his breath.
He quickly formed hand seals with both hands, his chakra surging violently.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Several thick fire dragons spewed from his mouth, weaving and circling through the air to form a fire net with no gaps. Carrying destructive heat, they completely surrounded Tajima.
Tajima was forced to dodge continuously, the ground beneath his feet scorched black.
He gritted his teeth and used "Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet" in an attempt to counter it, but could only barely tear open one corner of the fire net.
The instant he charged out of the fire net, Uchiha Katsu's figure had already appeared directly above him.