The Nine-Tails incident—
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It was never just an accident.
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It was a move.
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A move—
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Meant to drive the Uchiha clan—
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To extinction.
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"Mo…"
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Uchiha Fugaku's voice trembled slightly.
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"Do you even understand what you're saying?"
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"Uchiha Obito?"
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His entire understanding of reality—
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Was beginning to collapse.
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"Yes."
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Mo's answer was calm.
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Cold.
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Certain.
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"The dead man who returned."
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"The one who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan through despair…"
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"…Uchiha Obito."
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He met Fugaku's gaze directly.
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"Clan head…"
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"You should understand this better than anyone."
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"When emotions reach their extreme—"
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"They change a person."
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"And the Mangekyō Sharingan…"
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"…can overturn common sense itself."
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Why did so many people fear the Uchiha?
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Was it arrogance?
Isolation?
Rumors of instability?
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No.
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That was only the surface.
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The truth—
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Was far deeper.
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The ninja world—
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Was built on suffering.
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War.
Loss.
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Endless missions.
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Every day—
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People lost family.
Friends.
Comrades.
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Some broke.
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Some numbed themselves.
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Some spent years—
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Silently enduring.
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But the Uchiha—
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Were different.
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When pain reached its limit—
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When something precious was taken—
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What others could only endure—
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The Uchiha could transform.
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Into power.
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Power—
To destroy.
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To burn reality itself.
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And the Mangekyō Sharingan—
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Was the pinnacle of that transformation.
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A power capable of overturning battlefields.
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Even controlling tailed beasts.
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To others—
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Who suffered the same loss—
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Yet gained nothing—
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The Uchiha represented:
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Unfairness.
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Fear.
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And something even deeper—
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Jealousy.
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Why do we suffer—
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While you become stronger?
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That unspoken resentment—
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Clashed with the Uchiha's pride.
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And what followed—
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Was inevitable.
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Distance.
Suspicion.
Rejection.
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This was not mere dislike.
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It was instinctive hostility.
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Toward those who possessed—
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What others never could.
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...
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That realization struck Fugaku—
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Like a blade of ice.
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For years—
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He had believed the clan's situation—
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Was caused by arrogance.
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Or politics.
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He had never—
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Considered human nature itself.
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Why them?
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Why could others only grieve—
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While the Uchiha could avenge?
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What seemed like a blessing—
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Was also a curse.
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A curse—
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That set them against the entire world.
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His thoughts trembled—
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Until Mo spoke again.
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"Now…"
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"Clan head…"
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"Do you still find Obito's motives difficult to understand?"
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Fugaku looked up suddenly.
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"A man who gained power strong enough to overturn the world…"
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"In despair…"
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"A man who watched the most precious thing in his life…"
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"…shatter before his eyes…"
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"What he hates—"
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"…is no longer a person."
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"…or a clan."
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Mo's voice lowered.
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Colder.
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"He hates this world."
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"This reality that took everything from him."
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"And to him—"
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"The Uchiha…"
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"Konoha…"
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"Everyone living under the sun…"
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"…are just fragments of that flawed world."
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"Things that should not exist."
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"Things that must be erased."
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Silence.
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Absolute.
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A chill ran through Fugaku's spine.
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If this was true—
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Then the Uchiha weren't just facing suspicion.
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They were facing—
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A madman.
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A man with power beyond reason.
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A man who needed no justification to destroy.
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And that—
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Was far more terrifying.
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Because—
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You couldn't see him.
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You couldn't predict him.
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And his reasons—
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Might make no sense at all.
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"…Proof."
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Fugaku's voice was hoarse.
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"I need proof."
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"This is…"
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He couldn't even finish the sentence.
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Mo nodded.
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"You'll have it."
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"When Uchiha Rin steps into the light—"
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"When that name is spoken again—"
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"The snake in the shadows…"
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"…will reveal itself."
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Fugaku inhaled deeply.
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Forcing calm.
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Then—
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Another realization struck him.
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"…Rin…"
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"…does the Third Hokage know?"
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Mo smiled faintly.
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"In Konoha…"
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"After the Nine-Tails incident…"
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"With the Uchiha under constant surveillance…"
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"…do you really believe anything can be hidden…"
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"…from the Professor who ruled for decades?"
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Fugaku's heart sank.
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It wasn't an answer.
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But it was enough.
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"…If he knows…"
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"Then when Rin applies for early graduation…"
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"He will never allow her into the Police Force."
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Of course not.
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The Police Force—
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Was the Uchiha's last foothold of power.
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Letting someone like Rin—
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A variable—
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A risk—
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Enter it?
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Impossible.
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The Third Hokage would—
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Place her under direct control.
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"And that…"
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Mo smiled.
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"…is exactly what we want."
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Fugaku frowned.
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"…Explain."
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"Rin doesn't need the Police Force."
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"She only needs to graduate early."
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"Enter the ninja system."
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"Take missions."
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"Show value."
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"That's enough."
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Fugaku's eyes narrowed.
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"…Then her squad?"
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"The Third will assign her a jōnin instructor."
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"Someone he trusts."
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"Someone strong enough to watch her."
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"…Who?"
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Mo didn't answer immediately.
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But his gaze—
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Said everything.
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Fugaku's mind raced—
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And then—
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A name surfaced.
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Hatake Kakashi.
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The genius with the Sharingan.
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Obito's former teammate.
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The one Rin once admired.
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And—
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The man—
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Who had driven his hand…
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Straight through—
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Nohara Rin's heart.