Uchiha Ran activated his Sharingan, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
In his eyes, Utatane Koharu's movements slowed to a crawl.
She completed her hand seals, intending to unleash Wind Release: Tornado—
—but in the very next instant, Ran's pupils twisted, transforming into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Within less than a second, Utatane Koharu was dragged into his genjutsu.
Without chakra support, the Wind Release she had gathered instantly dispersed into nothingness.
Ran smiled faintly.
The genjutsu he cast was woven from desire.
Not merely lust, but greed for power, wealth, authority—everything people buried deepest in their hearts. A genjutsu like this could trap ninety-nine percent of shinobi.
Utatane Koharu immediately realized she had fallen into an illusion. She pinched her thigh hard.
Pain was often enough to break ordinary genjutsu.
But this was not ordinary.
Even a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan couldn't shatter it.
After several failed attempts, she panicked. She circulated her chakra, formed the release seal—
Nothing happened.
She couldn't escape.
Then a familiar voice rang out.
"Hey, Koharu! What are you waiting for? Sensei said we're training together today!"
She froze.
Standing before her was a young Hiruzen Sarutobi, his smile bright and full of vitality.
Her pupils shrank. "Hiruzen…?"
Her voice sounded young.
The world exploded into white light.
The next moment, she was lying in a hospital bed. Hiruzen stood beside her, concern written all over his face.
"Are you alright, Koharu? You suddenly collapsed—you scared me."
She stared at her hands.
Young. Unwrinkled.
Her heart pounded.
Was this… real?
She began to believe this wasn't a genjutsu, but a second chance granted by heaven.
Outside the illusion, Ran watched silently, his expression unreadable.
Only he could see everything.
He saw the truth Utatane Koharu had hidden even from herself.
Her feelings for Hiruzen.
Her jealousy.
Her ambition.
Inside the genjutsu, she volunteered to cover the rear.
She returned to Konoha as a hero.
She became the First Female Hokage.
She shared an ambiguous, intimate bond with Hiruzen.
They married.
They ruled Konoha together.
As for Homura Mitokado—
He never appeared even once.
Ran shook his head.
Pitiful.
Homura had devoted his entire life to her, yet in her deepest desire, he didn't even exist. A lifelong fool, growing old without heirs, handing everything to his brother.
Soon, Utatane Koharu's consciousness snapped back.
She opened her eyes to see Ran standing before her, smiling faintly.
"You've got quite the imagination," Ran said lightly. "I always thought you and Hiruzen were just comrades. Turns out you've been in love with him all along."
Her expression twisted in fury.
"Nonsense!" she snapped. "This old woman doesn't know what you're talking about!"
Ran shrugged. "Fine. Then let's not talk."
He leaned closer, his voice turning cold.
"Vacate the Uchiha clan grounds, and I'll let you go. Refuse—and tomorrow's newspaper might publish a very interesting story."
Homura Mitokado roared in anger, chakra surging as a blade of water formed in his hand—
—but an aged hand grabbed his wrist.
He froze.
Utatane Koharu shook her head.
Though confused, he lowered his hand.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "Since when did the Uchiha have someone like you?"
"You don't need to know who I am," Ran replied calmly. "Only that I can destroy your reputation at the end of your life."
She fell silent.
Her gaze swept across the grand estate, the lavish furnishings, the prosperity she had enjoyed for six years.
Reluctance filled her eyes.
Finally, she inhaled deeply.
"The compound can be returned," she said. "But you must pay for the renovations."
"That's right," Homura added stiffly. "We invested a great deal. If you want it back, you pay."
Ran laughed—softly at first, then coldly.
"So you want the hard way."
He raised his hand.
"Surround them."
Uchiha shinobi appeared from all directions, instantly encircling the two elders.
Sharingan ignited one after another.
Killing intent flooded the courtyard.
Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui exchanged a glance.
In the blink of an eye, they moved.
Before either elder could react, they were slammed to the ground, forced to kneel.
Ran crouched before them, his Mangekyō Sharingan staring unblinkingly into their eyes.
"Now," he said quietly, "money—or your lives?"
Utatane Koharu clenched her teeth.
They couldn't win.
"…We'll return the compound," she said hoarsely. "No payment."
Homura turned his head away in silence.
Ran studied them for a long moment, then nodded.
"Good."
He stood and turned to the waiting Uchiha.
"Have them pack. My clan is moving in."
Smiles spread uncontrollably among the Uchiha shinobi.
Without losing a single person, their clan grounds were reclaimed.
Shisui opened a small notebook and quietly recorded the event.
Under the pressure of overwhelming strength, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado gathered their people and left the mansion they had occupied for six years.
As she departed, Utatane Koharu glanced back at Ran one last time—
a look filled with resentment, warning, and fear.
------
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