436-440

Chapter 436: Mirror of the Future•Limited Tsukuyomi! (Part Two) 

Just because he stood at the doorway and took one more glance, he was struck dead with a single slap! 

There was no room for negotiation, no mercy whatsoever! 

Standing once again in front of his family estate, Fugaku Uchiha was stunned for a moment. Then, he felt his body trembling even more violently, his heart gripped by an invisible, dark hand, making it nearly impossible to breathe. 

"Fugaku, are you alright, Fugaku!?" 

"Hey—!" 

Reaching out to stop Uchiha Hokko, who was trying to support him, Fugaku took two deep, ragged breaths. 

"I'm fine, Hokko-senpai. Don't worry!" 

"You sure don't look fine." 

"What happened? Did you use your Mangekyō Sharingan again? Did you see something?" 

Though Hokko knew it might not be appropriate to ask, there was no time for hesitation. Based on the events in the Land of Lightning and Fugaku's earlier questions and distress, Hokko could roughly deduce that Fugaku's Mangekyō had the ability to perceive critical intelligence vital to a shinobi. 

It possessed immense strategic value. 

Now, faced with Fugaku's warning that their clan's annihilation would occur in just ten minutes, Hokko could only try to extract as much information from Fugaku as possible to assess the situation. 

However— 

After what just happened, simply glancing at Madara Uchiha's hiding place had led to his death. Fugaku, now hypersensitive and on edge, looked at Hokko with suspicion, like a frightened rabbit. 

If he shared everything he had experienced with Hokko, what would happen? 

Could he trust Uchiha Hokko? 

Fugaku stared at Hokko intensely, deep in thought. For a moment, he had a vision of Hokko suddenly tearing off his face, revealing the aged visage of Madara Uchiha underneath, grinning wickedly as he sliced Fugaku in half with a scythe. 

Wait— 

That was completely absurd! 

Fugaku immediately shook his head vigorously. 

At the very least, Hokko was trustworthy. 

This was evident from the way Hokko had unhesitatingly allowed him to use the Mangekyō Sharingan earlier, showing no fear of any consequences. His willingness to sacrifice himself was proof enough. 

Moreover, they were still a good distance from the Naka Shrine, reducing the risk of their conversation being overheard. 

It shouldn’t be like before, where a simple extra glance led to immediate death. 

Besides, Fugaku understood that after dying twice in such a short span, his mind was in disarray. He might have overlooked crucial details—perhaps even the key to saving the Uchiha clan. 

Each use of Mirror of the Future•Limited Tsukuyomi drained massive amounts of ocular power. When his eyes were depleted, he would have to rely on chakra. Once his chakra was exhausted, his life would be the only thing left to sustain it— 

Until he went blind. 

He had to gather as much intelligence as possible within his limited number of resurrections, 

to find a way to save the Uchiha clan! 

If he relied solely on himself, who knew if he would be able to uncover a solution before his Mangekyō turned completely dark? 

Looking at Hokko, who stood before him with a concerned yet restrained expression, his face stern as he demanded answers, 

Fugaku felt a small sense of relief. 

At least, he wasn’t alone. 

"Give me a moment to gather my thoughts. Sorry, my mind is a mess right now. I'll start from the beginning—my premonition and my ocular abilities." 

In this world born from his ocular technique, 

everything would reset, everything would be forgotten. 

Only he, the bearer of the knowledge of the future, would return with omniscient awareness. Thus, Fugaku no longer needed to conceal vital information about his abilities as he would in the real shinobi world. 

Soon, 

Fugaku concisely explained his two ocular techniques—Kura Inadama's premonitions and what he had just experienced during the first use of Mirror of the Future•Limited Tsukuyomi—to Uchiha Hokko. 

"So... that's how it is?" 

"You merely glanced at the rooftop where Madara was hiding, exposing the fact that you knew of his presence, and he immediately sensed it and killed you." 

"But when you didn’t reveal yourself, he didn't act until the clan meeting was halfway through." 

Hokko fell silent for half a minute before quickly analyzing the situation: 

"First, we can confirm that Madara is extremely confident in his ability to remain hidden. This ability is so advanced that even you and the Elder, who once wielded the Mangekyō Sharingan, cannot detect him through normal means." 

"This is a concealment technique surpassing even the insight of the Mangekyō!" 

"The sudden failure of this ability caused Madara to lose his composure and immediately attack you. This means that, to him, maintaining his concealment is of utmost importance—even more than the upcoming massacre of the Uchiha clan!" 

At this, Hokko's expression darkened as he spoke with certainty: 

"Fugaku, you touched his reverse scale!" 

"His... reverse scale?" Fugaku's expression tensed, and his heart grew even heavier. 

That meant— 

Even if he knew where Madara was hiding and when he would strike, 

he still had to act as if he knew nothing! 

Any deviation could bring instant death! 

"Then what should I do next?" Fugaku asked grimly. 

"If I do nothing, once the time comes, Madara will still attack us!" 

"And I can sense that his ocular power is far beyond mine. When I first locked eyes with him, I tried using Tsukuyomi to hypnotize him." 

"However..." 

"Tsukuyomi was instantly shattered by an overwhelming force, and I was instead affected. I couldn't do anything—and then he killed me!" 

"No!" Hokko shook his head, his expression serious. 

"Fugaku, think carefully—" 

"Was it really just time that triggered Madara to act?" 

"We must determine the true cause behind his attack to make our next move!" 

Fugaku furrowed his brows slightly. 

If the catalyst for the massacre wasn’t simply time, then what was it? 

His premonition through Kura Inadama had shown him only fragments of the future, but to understand what truly transpired, he would have to keep moving forward and experience it himself. 

With this realization, Fugaku steeled his resolve and prepared to take his next step. 

However, just then— 

"Wait, one more thing, Fugaku!" 

Hokko took a deep breath and reached out to stop him, speaking in a grave tone: 

"If there was one key difference between this clan meeting and the one you foresaw—" 

"It’s that you prevented me from attending." 

"Fugaku, this might seem insignificant, but something about the Elder's reaction bothers me." 

"In a meeting where my presence was supposedly irrelevant, why did he ask where I was?" 

"No matter what, you must keep that in mind." 

Hokko took a deep breath, then stepped aside, locking eyes with Fugaku. Clenching his fists tightly, he spoke through gritted teeth: 

"Please—" 

"I lack the power to fight, so all I can do is ask this of you." 

"Keep moving forward, Fugaku!" 

"Go to the very end of death and bring back more intelligence!" 

"You are not fighting alone!" 

(End of chapter) 

Chapter 437: Mirror of the Future · Tsukuyomi Limit! (Part 3) 

At this moment, he wasn’t sure what he was feeling.  

Never before had he faced such a grave crisis. 

Never before had he shouldered such an enormous responsibility.  

Now, he carried the fate of his entire clan on his shoulders, 

watching the future dance vividly before his eyes!  

He stepped toward the heart of the clan’s territory, 

toward the door that would reveal the truth behind death itself—  

At that moment, 

Uchiha Fugaku suddenly came to an understanding.  

Why had Shinji been so fearless in the face of death? 

Why was he willing to sacrifice himself to accomplish actions that seemed irrational?  

Because when a man truly matures, 

when he stops lamenting his fate and instead faces everything head-on,  

An indescribable surge of determination wells up in his chest, 

as if nothing is beyond his reach, 

as if he can accomplish things that once seemed impossible!  

Take action. Move forward. 

No hesitation, no wavering, no overthinking.  

The moment he stepped forward, 

his eyes had already spoken the answer!  

Creak—  

The doors swung open—  

“Master Hachidaime, I am not joking. I sincerely ask all of you—please, make your young clan leader stop using his divine power!”  

With tears nearly streaming down his face, Rasa thrust a white flag into the hands of the man before him. 

Meanwhile, Uchiha Hachidai stood there, wearing an expression of exaggerated disapproval, but struggling to suppress a smirk.  

“Fugaku, you’re late.”  

“Mm. Where is Hokko?”  

With his eyes closed, his nostrils flared slightly as Uchiha Setsuna furrowed his brow and turned his head. 

Even though his eyes remained shut, it felt as if he were scrutinizing Fugaku, who stood at the entrance.  

This time, Fugaku had inevitably been delayed due to an intense discussion with Uchiha Hokko.  

However—  

Was time really the key factor?  

“If everything is proceeding as expected, is time truly the reason that forced Uchiha Madara to act?”  

“We must figure this out. Only by understanding the real reason behind Madara’s intervention can we take the next step.”  

Recalling Hokko’s words, Fugaku also remembered his final piece of advice—to keep a close watch on the Grand Elder.  

His gaze shifted slightly as he carefully observed the expression on Setsuna’s face. Just like last time, he calmly replied:  

“The Third Hokage still requires Elder Hokko’s presence.”  

“Oh.”  

Setsuna’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had heard nothing more than an ordinary statement. 

He did not pursue the topic further and instead moved on to the next matter at hand.  

“In that case, let’s continue the clan meeting.”  

Fugaku remained composed, but inwardly, he felt some relief.  

The Grand Elder, Uchiha Setsuna, had gone completely blind due to overuse of the forbidden technique Izanagi during the Hell Valley battle. Moreover, his mind had also suffered some damage.  

At first, when Hokko mentioned this, Fugaku had his doubts.  

But now, it seemed—  

It was just a coincidence. 

Setsuna’s casual inquiry was not proof of any collusion with Madara in orchestrating the massacre of the Uchiha clan.  

“Fugaku, then let’s start with you. Explain the true situation you have uncovered.”  

With his eyes closed, Setsuna’s expression was calm and emotionless as he spoke.  

“Understood.”  

Fugaku nodded.  

Despite his fear of Uchiha Madara, who was secretly watching the clan meeting from the rooftop, he maintained his composure. 

However, his back was already drenched in cold sweat.  

“As for last night’s events in the Land of Wind, after extensive investigation, we found that the catalyst behind the Rōran incident stemmed from one of Orochimaru’s insane experiments.  

Members of our clan conducted inquiries with those who participated in the mission, including Namikaze Minato, Aburame Shibi, and Akimichi Chōza. 

Additionally, we sought confirmation from the ninja cats residing in the ruined border city and the displaced Rōran citizens. 

All testimonies were consistent.”  

“The disaster in Rōran was primarily caused by internal conflict. 

Former Chief Minister An Lushan staged a coup, contradicting the account given by Lord Kazekage.  

Shinji did not slaughter the people of Rōran. 

On the contrary, in this incident, he was actually a protector.”  

Fugaku solemnly presented his findings on the Rōran incident.  

Then, he turned to look at the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, standing in the center of the hall.  

“So, Lord Kazekage, do you still have any objections?”  

“Heh… Captain Fugaku, do you actually believe what you’re saying?”  

Rasa let out a dry laugh and spoke in a cryptic tone.  

“Who doesn’t know that Shinji is Orochimaru’s disciple?”  

Fugaku frowned and coldly refuted,  

“First and foremost, he is an Uchiha.”  

However, Rasa wasn’t interested in debating this point with Fugaku.  

Today, he had already prepared himself to throw away his dignity.  

Contrary to what most members of the Uchiha clan assumed, he was not here to demand reparations from them.  

Instead, Rasa smirked like a seasoned rogue and spoke in a pragmatic tone,  

“I am not here to place blame on anyone for this incident.  

The losses suffered—Sunagakure is willing to bear them!  

However... this time, it was purely out of fear of your young clan leader’s unmatched power that I had to come here.”  

“I hope all of you can recognize the full extent of your young leader’s abilities.”  

“Can you live knowing that at any moment, there’s a sword hanging in the sky that could instantly vaporize everything within an 8,000-meter radius?  

A power that could plunge the entire Land of Wind into a catastrophic earthquake measuring above magnitude six?”  

“Since your young clan leader has already demonstrated this power, 

I must now declare Sunagakure’s stance—”  

“Sunagakure has no intention of making an enemy out of the Uchiha clan!”  

“If you refuse to accept Sunagakure’s surrender today, then I’ll just kneel here and not leave!”  

Thud! Thud!  

Rasa’s knees hit the ground.  

He smoothly dropped to a kneeling position in the center of the hall, 

wearing an expression of proud submission, 

his eyes sweeping over all the gathered Uchihas—  

as if they were the ones surrendering instead.  

Fugaku’s brow twitched violently.  

He barely restrained himself from marching over and giving Rasa a good beating!  

The Uchiha clan was on the verge of annihilation, 

and yet this slippery bastard had wedged himself right in the middle, 

adding to his troubles!  

Did Rasa really want to surrender?  

He hadn’t put forth any conditions. 

He didn’t act like a vassal state. 

Just like the Fourth Raikage, he had merely declared that once Konoha and the Uchiha clan reached an agreement, he would gladly take over the Land of Wind.  

But Konoha would never allow the Uchiha to expand at this critical moment. 

And the Uchiha certainly couldn’t stabilize two major shinobi nations in such a short time.  

Rasa wasn’t surrendering—he was simply securing a safe seat in the audience, away from Shinji’s wrath.  

At the same time, he was setting Konoha and the Uchiha on a collision course, igniting the next great war.  

Fugaku clutched his forehead, completely at a loss.  

What was he supposed to do with this guy?  

*Chapter 438: Reflected Future · Limited Tsukuyomi! (Part Four)*

What was Rasa thinking?

Uchiha Fugaku put himself in Rasa’s shoes and could more or less guess his thoughts.

But that was precisely what made this situation so frustrating.

At this moment—

On the scene, the Uchiha clan members exchanged glances,

staring at Rasa, who was kneeling in the center of the hall. All the Uchiha present felt a conflicting mix of triumph and disgust—like they had won but had swallowed a fly at the same time.

Only a few, such as Uchiha Obito, who had a strong heart and hadn’t even activated his Sharingan, were there purely for the spectacle. Seeing the dignified Kazekage bowing in submission to the Uchiha clan,

they couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Their grins nearly stretched to their ears, and they wished they could jump up and clap their hands in celebration, laughing wildly at the sky.

Even Uchiha Setsuna, seated at the head of the hall, twitched his lips and furrowed his brows.

After clearing his throat,

he turned to Uchiha Hachiyo beside him and said,

"This matter... this matter will be discussed later. Hachiyo, Lord Kazekage has traveled overnight and must be exhausted. Please escort him to rest."

Upon hearing Uchiha Setsuna issue what was essentially a dismissal, Rasa became anxious and quickly said,

"Wait—Elder Setsuna, no matter what, please accept this letter of surrender first!"

However, Uchiha Setsuna simply shook his head and responded indifferently,

"There is no rush. We will decide after consulting with Konoha's higher-ups and our clan leader."

Soon, Rasa’s little episode came to an end. At Elder Setsuna’s signal, Uchiha Hachiyo called over another Uchiha clansman. One on the left and one on the right, they forcibly lifted the reluctant Rasa and escorted him out of the hall.

At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku’s spirits lifted—he knew the crucial part of the clan meeting was about to begin!

It was also at this moment that he noticed the clock on the wall of the main hall ticking past the number nine.

This was the exact time that, according to the predictive ability of the Dojutsu Kuramatama’s Premonition, a clan-wide crisis was supposed to erupt!

However, due to his own delay and Rasa’s interruption, this moment had already passed the predicted time,

which meant that Uchiha Hikaru’s assumption was correct—the factor influencing Madara Uchiha’s actions was not time.

So, what exactly was it that drove Madara Uchiha, the former clan leader, to return to the Uchiha clan and commit such an atrocious act?

As this question weighed on his mind, Fugaku suppressed his growing unease and forced himself to maintain his usual demeanor, though his heart felt heavier by the second.

And at that very moment,

from the head seat, with his eyes tightly shut and a solemn yet sinister expression, Elder Uchiha Setsuna slowly spoke,

"Well then, everyone, let us proceed to the next topic—"

For the first time, the people present saw a hint of a smile on the usually stern elder’s face,

as if he had thought of something that greatly pleased him.

He curled his lips into a smirk and, using a tone softer than anyone had ever heard from him before, announced,

"The matter of Shinji succeeding as the new leader of the Uchiha clan."

"I have pondered this for a long time, and I believe now is the right time to put it on the agenda."

"Therefore, I would like to hear your thoughts—"

Uchiha Setsuna’s gaze swept across the crowd, passing over the faces of various clan members—Uchiha Shinichi, Hachiyo, Seijiro, the eight Uchiha who had accompanied Fugaku to support the Land of Hot Water, the elite members of the Hell Valley garrison, the Konoha Police Force members, and even Uchiha Obito, along with those enrolled in the Ninja Academy.

With the war over, almost all of the Uchiha’s elite forces were gathered here.

Finally, Setsuna’s eyes landed on Uchiha Fugaku, his gaze questioning.

It was Setsuna himself who had made the decision to strip Fugaku of his successor status. And if anyone here had the most reason to object to this proposal, it would be the man who had suddenly lost his rightful inheritance—Uchiha Fugaku.

"I agree!"

However, before Fugaku could even voice his stance, the first to stand up was none other than Uchiha Shinichi, a long-time supporter of Fugaku’s leadership within the clan’s moderate faction.

"On the battlefield in the Land of Rain, I had the honor of fighting alongside that kid and witnessing his prowess firsthand. Because of that, I believe Shinji will be a better leader than Fugaku. I trust that those who fought in the Land of Rain share my view."

After speaking, Uchiha Shinichi turned to Fugaku with an apologetic yet resolute expression.

"Forgive me, Fugaku, but in this matter, I am absolutely serious."

Soon, one by one, more Uchiha clan members stood up and voiced their stance.

"I agree as well!"

"No objections!"

"Sorry, Captain Fugaku, but if it's that kid who doesn’t even know how to enjoy a red-light district—"

Not only the moderates and hawks, but even a senior member of the Konoha Police Force—who had previously mocked Shinji for his ignorance about visiting brothels—stood up, visibly embarrassed.

In less than two minutes,

only one person remained seated, confused and stunned—Uchiha Obito, who had only come to watch the drama unfold.

"Wait... I haven't even taken the Chunin Exam yet," he muttered dumbfoundedly.

"Shinji… how… how is he already becoming the clan leader???"

Recalling how, just four months ago, Shinji had been running all over the village doing D-rank missions,

Obito was in utter disbelief.

"Wait, wait! You guys must be mistaken! I know Shinji has always worked hard, but when it comes to strength, he’s only better than me at cooking, right!?"

Obito’s protests were quickly drowned out by the crowd. Before he could say more, someone grabbed his collar from behind and covered his mouth, lifting him off the ground.

Nearly everyone present had agreed and explained their reasons for supporting Shinji’s succession.

At the end,

they all turned in unison, their eyes fixed on Uchiha Fugaku.

It was as if they were waiting—no, pressuring him with an unstoppable force to acknowledge their decision.

Faced with this overwhelming scene,

even though there was a metaphorical guillotine hanging above his head, ready to fall at any moment,

Uchiha Fugaku couldn’t help but shake his head and smile.

If anyone here wanted Shinji to become the next leader and guide the clan forward,

it would be him!

Meeting their gazes, Uchiha Fugaku exhaled softly and smiled.

"I have no objections to Shinji becoming the clan leader—"

However—

At that moment—

Fugaku’s smile suddenly froze.

The scene before him, reflecting the tragedy foretold by the Kuramatama’s Premonition,

made him realize something terrifying.

If—

If Madara Uchiha had come to the Uchiha clan… specifically for Shinji—

Chapter 439: Mirror of the Future – Limited Tsukuyomi! (Part 5)  

Watching nearly everyone present support Shinji, Uchiha Fugaku felt a chill in his heart.  

It wasn’t because Shinji had seized the position of clan successor—truth be told, that didn’t matter much to Fugaku. Instead, it was the realization of just how terrifyingly persuasive Shinji truly was.  

In just four months outside the village, through sheer force of personality and his extreme, reckless nature, he had won over nearly every member of the Uchiha clan—including Fugaku himself.  

So, if the exiled Uchiha Madara were to be included in this equation…  

And when everyone acts under the banner of "what's best for Shinji," 

is that truly a good thing for him— 

or a disaster?  

With that thought, Uchiha Fugaku unconsciously tensed, quickly turning his head— 

and saw him.  

Seated in a high position, a faint, satisfied smile on his face, he finally opened his vacant, ghostly pale eyes. But despite the movement, there was not a shred of emotion in his gaze—only an overwhelming, icy indifference.  

Uchiha Setsuna.  

The Mangekyō Sharingan, also known as the "Eyes of Love," 

is the purest embodiment of that love. 

Yet, at the same time, it is a pair of cursed, ominous eyes.  

The price of unlocking these eyes is to endure unbearable pain, 

while harboring an unshakable, burning desire.  

Between heaven and hell, 

the most vibrant flower blooms in the depths of suffering.  

To grant Shinji these eyes, the Uchiha clan—including Uchiha Fugaku himself— 

had been part of a plan orchestrated by the Grand Elder, Uchiha Setsuna.  

They concealed the fact that Uchiha Setsuna had survived the Hell Valley ordeal due to Minato Namikaze’s rescue, and with his final use of the Mangekyō technique – Eternal Tranquility, he clung to life.  

Nearly the entire clan had worked together to manipulate intelligence across the major ninja villages, ensuring that those who knew the truth were too distracted to notice.  

From cooperating with Danzo Shimura to manipulate Minato into an assassination attempt, 

to carefully setting the stage for Shinji’s vengeance— 

no one had told him the truth.  

The only deviation in the plan was when Uchiha Fugaku, influenced by his Dōjutsu, independently traveled to Cloud Echo City to clean up after Uchiha Hikaru, whose reckless actions had put the plan at risk.  

Looking back now, however, 

Hikaru, entrusted with guarding Hell Valley and capable of persuading a powerful figure like Kakuzu on his own, was not the type to suddenly kidnap Yuyashiro En’s daughter.  

Even if he had taken her, would Hikaru really be so careless as to openly use her as leverage against En?  

If not for Fugaku’s interference—if he hadn’t stopped the event from unfolding and saved the sacrificial clan members— 

then the deaths of those Uchiha, En’s betrayal, and revenge against the Raikage 

would have all chained together seamlessly.  

And that would have driven Shinji to an even more extreme emotional state, 

causing the prophecy of Kuraidama's Fate to unfold.  

In other words, 

Shinji would have awakened his fully developed Mangekyō Sharingan.  

But because of Fugaku’s intervention, 

the process was disrupted.  

Shinji had not awakened his complete Mangekyō Sharingan.  

So now—  

To correct this deviation, 

to ensure that Shinji opens those forbidden eyes, 

just how far would Uchiha Setsuna be willing to go?  

And, if Uchiha Madara, wandering the world, also wished for Shinji to awaken… 

what would he do?  

At that moment, 

Fugaku’s gaze swept across the room.  

Every clan member was standing, proudly declaring themselves to be an “important person” to Shinji.  

Then, his eyes flicked upward—to the rooftop, 

where an elderly man, cold and indifferent, stood holding a Shinigami’s Scythe.  

The current situation…  

It was as if the people on the death list were stretching out their necks, 

willingly offering themselves for execution.  

Fugaku's heart leaped to his throat, his eyes widening—  

“*RUN!!!*”  

In that instant, his face contorted, and he roared at the gathered clansmen in alarm.  

And in the next moment—  

BOOM!!!  

A massive, blue ethereal hand shattered through the ceiling, 

casting a shadow over the shrine.  

Crows circled in the stormy sky beyond the broken rooftop.  

And standing atop it all, his ghostly white hair whipping wildly like a demon’s, 

the elder looked down—  

“Oh?”  

“An overlooked one.”  

Like a predator spotting something interesting, 

he moved.  

Fire roared around Fugaku, spiraling upwards.  

Twenty-six purple spinal bones erupted from the ground, forming ribs of a reddish-purple Susanoo.  

A 30-meter-tall skeletal colossus rapidly grew flesh, then armor— 

dark purple-red Tengu plate mail encasing its massive frame.  

With a bellowing roar, it swung its fist toward the descending blue giant hand!  

Inside the Susanoo, gasping for breath, blood-tears streaming from his eyes due to the sudden surge of power— 

Uchiha Fugaku lifted his head, 

his gaze fierce, locking onto the cold elder above.  

Through gritted teeth, he snarled—  

“I… huff… I absolutely will not let you succeed—  

Uchiha Madara!!!”  

The elder sneered, his red eyes—each holding three swirling tomoe—cold and piercing.  

“How childish. The moment you stepped through the door, I noticed you.”  

“Your face was twisted with fear, though you tried to mask it.”  

“I had hoped you’d surprise me… but now I see—”  

With an eerie grin, his Mangekyō Sharingan spun.  

“Impatient and reckless. You can’t protect anything.”  

BANG!  

The red-purple Susanoo and the blue giant hand clashed, momentarily locked in a stalemate!  

The shockwave blasted everything away—tables, scrolls, doors, and walls were flung outward in a violent storm.  

The gathered Uchiha, only now realizing the full horror of the situation, 

watched in stunned terror.  

Fugaku’s heart pounded as a surge of hope flickered.  

Tsukuyomi was useless against Madara, and Kuraidama's Fate was not a combat technique— 

his only weapon was Susanoo.  

If he could just hold his ground—  

But as if to shatter that fragile pride, 

the elder above remained still.  

He didn’t need to move.  

His cold, scarlet eyes merely spun—  

And in the next instant—  

A force beyond Fugaku’s imagination yanked back the blue giant hand.  

The sky above cleared—  

Only for a colossal armored foot to come crashing down!  

From five meters, to ten, to twenty, to fifty meters—  

It blotted out the sky.  

Darkness swallowed everything.  

The South Naka Shrine was crushed in an instant.  

The sheer force was like a collapsing mountain—inescapable.  

Fugaku’s eyes widened—his face turning from red, to white.  

A moment of excruciating pain—  

And then, his vision went black.  

His bones shattered. Blood sprayed.  

And in the very next instant, 

his body was torn apart by the raging storm, 

scattered to the wind.  

Darkness.  

Then, a distant voice—familiar yet strange.  

It was Uchiha Hikaru.  

“Fugaku… are you okay? Fugaku?!”  

“Hey—”  

Chapter 440: The Rift, The Forgotten One 

"Fugaku, are you okay, Fugaku!?" 

"Hey—" 

A familiar yet distant voice echoed in his ears. Uchiha Fugaku suddenly looked up. 

Before him stood the entrance to his own home. 

Once again, he found himself on the path leading straight to hell—the road to the Naka Shrine! 

But something was different this time— 

Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath. His face contorted in pain, yet he managed a grim, almost ferocious smile. 

The third-stage Susano'o he had desperately summoned was nothing more than a joke in front of Uchiha Madara. In an instant, it was completely crushed. 

However— 

Now, the future was no longer shrouded in mist. The fear of the unknown had dissipated. Uchiha Madara’s motives, the reason behind his actions, the strangeness of the Grand Elder Uchiha Setsuna, and the seemingly preordained nature of this clan meeting—all of it was now reflected in his Mangekyō Sharingan. 

The pieces of the puzzle had all been laid before him. 

What remained was to rely on the ability to keep trying—resetting and refining his approach until he achieved a miracle! 

But first, he had to confirm something— 

Fugaku abruptly lifted his head and locked eyes with Uchiha Hikaru. Grabbing the man by the shoulders, he stared into his eyes with his intricate, crimson-patterned Mangekyō Sharingan. 

"Hikaru-senpai, can I trust you?" 

"You—" Uchiha Hikaru was momentarily speechless. He stared at Fugaku, who now radiated a completely different aura, as if reborn. Surprise filled his eyes, but soon, he nodded resolutely and asked, 

"What do you want to know?" 

"After the Battle of Hell Valley, the Grand Elder—Uchiha Setsuna." Fugaku locked eyes with Hikaru and coldly demanded, 

"Has he gone insane?!" 

The moment those words left his lips, Uchiha Hikaru trembled violently. His pupils shrank sharply. 

"How do you—" 

Fugaku cut him off with a steady voice, "To save our clan, I must know what happened to him. Tell me everything you know!" 

The key factor that triggered the clan’s massacre lay in the unassuming Grand Elder Uchiha Setsuna. If that old man had never proposed making Uchiha Tsuguru the clan head, thus exposing the clan’s support for him to Uchiha Madara— 

Then the massacre could have been delayed, or even prevented entirely. 

For some reason, Uchiha Madara seemed hesitant. He was watching, as if torn between his humanity and an omnipotent perspective that saw their lives as insignificant, like ants beneath his feet. 

Thus, the real issue was Uchiha Setsuna. 

To persuade Uchiha Setsuna under Madara’s watchful gaze—and to make him understand the consequences without revealing intelligence about Madara himself— 

That was the real challenge. 

Uchiha Hikaru hesitated, his expression conflicted. But under Fugaku’s earnest gaze, he finally let out a sigh and began speaking. 

"The Mangekyō Sharingan technique of the Grand Elder—Tenchi Kōritsu." 

"A forbidden dojutsu manipulating time. It grants the user an almost immortal resilience against death. But beyond the inevitable blindness it brings, it has another, more terrifying side effect—" 

"Forgetting." 

"And the Grand Elder—" 

"He isn’t insane. He has simply forgotten." 

"He has forgotten Uchiha Tsuguru—the boy he once cherished as his own grandson!" 

Meanwhile, at Mount Myōboku. 

Endless dark clouds loomed over the land of the toads. A colossal storm of chakra churned in the skies, a celestial force powerful enough to set both heaven and earth ablaze in an instant. 

White light flickered. 

A terrifying radiance illuminated the faces of all the toads in Mount Myōboku. 

Under this overwhelming presence, Uchiha Tsuguru slowly ascended into the air. A crimson-and-white skeletal armor gradually formed around him, crackling with lightning and flickering flames. His eye makeup darkened to violet, and his pupils transformed into golden, vertical slits. 

Silently, he entered an eternal Sage Mode, stacking layers of power— 

Eternal Form. 

Majestic Susano'o. 

Lightning Chakra Mode. 

Fire Chakra Mode. 

Sage Transformation—Curse Mark Level Two. 

His aura grew increasingly fearsome, rising beyond the comprehension of the toads below. 

It felt as though, at any moment, he would spread his arms and deliver a divine proclamation to all of Mount Myōboku. 

Below, Fukasaku, Shima, the massive Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamahiro, and the other high-ranking toads all stared in shock, their faces ashen. 

Even the Great Toad Sage, who had moments ago roared at Tsuguru, now found himself uneasy. His face stiffened as he wondered— 

Had he just spoken too loudly? 

Floating midair, Tsuguru tilted his head slightly and looked down at the Great Toad Sage. His voice, cold and unwavering, rang through Mount Myōboku. 

"Just now—" 

"Did you say ‘we’?" 

"The power of all things? A final chance?" 

"Gama Maru." 

His pupils shrank sharply as he coldly asked, 

"This ‘we’ you speak of—does it include someone named—" 

"Uchiha Setsuna?" 

The Great Toad Sage’s expression shifted dramatically. A sinking feeling spread through him, but under Tsuguru’s piercing glare, his words stuck in his throat. He stammered incoherently, unable to form a proper response. 

Seeing this, Tsuguru's suspicions were confirmed. 

This so-called invitation from Mount Myōboku was no coincidence! 

And the intense sense of crisis he had sensed from his conversation with Minato regarding Konoha— 

It was real! 

Konoha, the Uchiha clan— 

They were facing a disaster beyond his knowledge! 

At this point, there were fewer than five beings in the world who could truly pose a threat to him. And any one of them appearing in Konoha would spell annihilation. 

Currently, only three individuals in the ninja world knew the true history of the Ōtsutsuki Kaguya era— 

One: Uchiha Tsuguru himself. 

Two: Orochimaru, through knowledge gained from the White Snake Sage. 

Three: Uchiha Setsuna, who had survived eons within the rift of reality and illusion, witnessing the twilight of Kaguya’s age with his own eyes. 

Piecing together the information from the Great Toad Sage’s slip-up, Tsuguru instantly realized— 

Uchiha Setsuna had found Mount Myōboku. He had learned some prophecy from this deceitful old toad, and in an attempt to force Tsuguru to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan, he was now leading the Uchiha clan down a path of destruction! 

This crisis had seemed to arise suddenly, 

But in truth, it was a continuation of the Battle of the Land of Lightning—the unfinished business of the Third Great Ninja War! 

Realizing this, Tsuguru slowly turned his gaze toward the Great Toad Sage, who had collapsed on the ground, his expression twisted in fear. 

Perhaps the old toad had simply acted on foolish impulse. 

But this creature, unrelated to him by blood or fate, had intended to sacrifice his clan to manipulate him, to fulfill its own greed—to shape the so-called ‘future of Sage Arts.’ 

"What exactly did you foresee? Or are you merely playing with fire under the guise of prophecy?" 

"I’ll return soon to uncover the truth myself." 

"But for now—" 

"You deserve a small punishment." 

Tsuguru’s eyes turned merciless as a terrifying amount of chakra gathered in his palm. 

Harnessing the true power of all things, five elemental forces twisted together, converging upon his Kusanagi sword—forming a hundred-meter-long, pitch-black blade. 

"Feel pain. Experience pain. Accept pain. Understand pain—" 

"Sage Art: Five Elements Reversal Blade!" 

(End of Chapter)