Near noon, within the Uchiha clan compound.
After returning to the clan grounds, the old clan head did not go back to his residence. Instead, he headed straight toward the Naka Shrine. At the same time, several figures carried out his orders, rushing toward different corners of the clan territory.
Meanwhile, at Anlan's home.
Inside the underground training room, a faint blue glow of chakra flickered in the air.
Uchiha Anlan sat cross-legged, his hands forming seals. Chakra flowed through his fingertips as he traced a summoning formula onto the floor—one that did not belong to this world.
The pattern of the technique flickered on and off, extremely unstable. Clearly, it was still in the experimental stage.
Gradually, his consciousness emptied as he attempted to sense the "spirits" described in the Summoning Technique—entities said to exist between heaven and earth.
Deities.
Spirits of nature.
Even the souls of the dead.
Such beings were what a true summoner was meant to connect with.
But pursuing a state of "emptiness" and "stillness" like this was extremely similar to training in Sage Arts.
That worried Anlan.
If he unknowingly absorbed natural energy and lost control, he could be eroded by it and turn into stone.
This inner conflict prevented his mind from fully sinking into meditation.
As a result, his progress with the Summoning Technique remained slow, repeatedly failing at the final step just before success.
"Can Summoning Techniques and Sage Arts be cultivated together?"
"Or perhaps, like the two toads on Jiraiya's shoulders… I should find a nature spirit or a ghost to assist my training."
"Toads are easy enough to find, but difficult to communicate with."
"As for spirits and ghosts… I haven't even seen a trace of them."
"And even if ghosts exist, trust alone would be a massive obstacle. Their usefulness would probably be extremely limited."
In the Naruto world, the number of people who had mastered Sage Arts could be counted on one hand.
Reaching Kage-level power was similarly rare.
"So… could I summon the will of nature itself?"
"Like Hao Asakura capturing one of the Five Great Spirits—the Spirit of Fire?"
"Or summon the Dragon Vein of Rōran and bind it into myself?"
Anlan opened his eyes.
After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and suppressed the unrealistic fantasy.
"Step by step."
"Thinking about things like that now is just overreaching."
Unable to fully enter a cultivation state, Anlan simply stood up and walked to the desk inside the room.
He pulled the Summoning Technique manual closer and began writing notes and personal insights beside it.
Time passed.
Until the small wind chime hanging near the door suddenly rang softly.
The crisp sound echoed like a warning.
Anlan's writing hand paused slightly.
He slowly set the brush down and gently blew on the ink to dry it.
Then he rose and walked toward the door.
Behind him, the lights in the room went out.
Just before the final sliver of light disappeared into darkness—
A line of bold, flowing characters written in another world's script briefly flashed across the open page.
Uchiha Clan — Mangekyō Members — Summoning Register
Madara.
Izuna.
Jiri…
"Lord Anlan."
Uchiha Yashiro stood outside the door and spoke concisely.
"The old clan head has returned. He has ordered an immediate clan meeting at the Naka Shrine."
Anlan nodded calmly.
The Konoha leadership were meticulous self-interesters.
Under the immense pressure of the ninja world, there was no reason for them not to choose an option that cost them nothing.
Even if that option involved the Uchiha—whom they watched day and night with suspicion.
Anlan straightened his collar and stepped forward.
"Let's go."
"Time to witness the turning point in the Uchiha clan's destiny."
"We will personally open the new era that belongs to the Uchiha."
Yashiro raised his right hand at a forty-five-degree angle, his expression solemn and excited.
"Yes, Lord Anlan!"
Elsewhere, inside the Intelligence Coordination Room.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window lattice, laying a layer of golden light across the room.
Uchiha Mikoto sat at her desk.
The sunlight delicately traced her silhouette as she leaned over her work.
Her slender shoulders curved naturally downward. Beneath the dark clan attire, the smooth line of her back narrowed elegantly into her waist, forming a graceful figure.
Several scrolls lay open before her—fresh intelligence reports regarding border conflicts.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure were advancing step by step.
Her delicate brows knit together slightly as her jade-like fingertips traced a line mentioning suspicious movements from a possible Kirigakure vanguard.
At that moment, a knock sounded softly at the door.
"Come in."
A young ninja belonging to the Dove faction entered and bowed slightly.
"Lady Mikoto, urgent order from the clan head."
"All three-tomoe jonin are to gather immediately at the Naka Shrine."
Mikoto's writing hand paused.
She raised her head, a hint of gravity flashing through her eyes.
"So… it has finally begun."
She murmured softly.
Then she quickly rolled up the scrolls and stood gracefully, smoothing her clothing with composed elegance.
"Go notify Hazuki."
"Tell her to gather our people and head there together."
She paused briefly, lowering her voice.
"I'll stop by and find Anlan on the way."
In another corner of the clan compound—Fugaku's residence.
The sharp sound of slicing wind echoed through the air.
In the courtyard, Uchiha Fugaku stood bare-chested.
Sweat flowed along the grooves of his powerful back muscles, running down to his waist where it left dark stains.
The sword in his hands flashed in arcs of silver light as it cut through the air again and again.
Every strike was precise and ruthless.
He repeatedly drilled basic slashes and defensive movements, striving to push his reactions to their absolute limits.
Within his sword movements, traces of the Wind-Controlling Sword Style could be seen.
Uchiha Yakumi stood quietly beneath the corridor, watching Fugaku.
For nearly twenty years, this man had trained tirelessly for the sake of the clan.
Yakumi sighed inwardly.
The Uchiha clan had never lacked geniuses.
Fugaku was one.
Anlan was another.
Even the later prodigy Shisui would be the same.
What the clan lacked was a leader capable of unifying the clan and guiding them toward a brighter future.
When Fugaku finished his final sword movement, Yakumi stepped forward.
"Lord Fugaku. Emergency clan meeting at the shrine."
Fugaku straightened.
The sword spun lightly in his hand before sliding smoothly back into its sheath.
His chest rose and fell slightly, but his breathing quickly stabilized.
Taking the towel handed to him by a servant, he wiped the sweat from his face and nodded calmly.
"Understood."
"It must be about the deployment."
His eyes were sharp, carrying the resolve of a warrior about to enter battle.
"Bring me my clan attire."
A servant respectfully presented the neatly folded clothing.
The dark blue fabric bore the Uchiha fan crest, shining clearly in the sunlight like the unfallen glory of the clan.
As he stepped outside, Fugaku glanced toward the sky and spoke quietly to Yakumi.
"Let's meet up with Anlan."
Yakumi was momentarily stunned.
Then joy burst into his eyes.
"As you command, Lord Fugaku!"
Moments later—
Three leading figures appeared from different directions.
Behind them, members of the clan gathered.
From all across the Uchiha compound, along the interwoven stone pathways, the crowd flowed together like a river.
With one shared will, they headed toward the forest-surrounded Naka Shrine.
On a distant balcony, Uchiha Setsuna stood beside Uchiha Hikari.
Watching the united procession below, the two elders exchanged a glance and raised their cups.
"You have a good granddaughter."
"And you have a good grandson."
"Hahaha!"
"Drink! Drink!"
The two old men drained their cups of wine.
Their hearty laughter echoed beneath the bright daylight sky.
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