26-30

Chapter 26: Impeachment

*Impeaching the current clan leader for incompetence?*

The members of the Uchiha clan were stunned. Has anything like this ever happened in the history of the Uchiha clan?

Even Uchiha Madara’s position as clan leader only ended when he left the Hidden Leaf Village. But with Madara’s strength, no one would have dared to impeach him anyway. After all, the Uchiha weren’t fools—though arrogance and stupidity can sometimes overlap, no one was arrogant enough to challenge Madara.

“Sougen, do you really understand what you’re saying by proposing to impeach the clan leader?”

An elder stepped forward.

This elder, with graying hair and beard, was named Uchiha Shinzaburo.

Among the six elders, he was truly neutral—neither blindly supporting the clan leader nor particularly close to Sougen. All of his actions and words came from the perspective of the clan’s best interest.

“Elder Shinzaburo, I am fully aware of what I’m saying. If the clan leader weren’t unfit for the position and had failed repeatedly in his responsibilities, I wouldn’t be bringing up this impeachment now,” Sougen said firmly.

“Perhaps many people see this as a simple power struggle, and in a sense, it is. But I can say with a clear conscience that everything I’m doing is for the sake of the clan!”

Sougen’s words rang out loudly.

“Unfit for the position? I admit my talents are not exceptional, but Sougen, when you say there have been multiple decision-making errors, I’d like to hear what exactly you think was done wrong,” Uchiha Fugaku, the current clan leader, finally stepped forward.

Being ousted through impeachment and voluntarily stepping down are two completely different things.

If Sougen succeeded in impeaching him here, Fugaku’s authority within the clan would plummet.

Seeing Fugaku speak up, Elder Shinzaburo stayed silent, as he was also curious about these supposed errors in judgment. Many of the other clan members were also listening closely.

Only Elder Genshi, Elder Ryuuji, Shisui, and Arashiyama, who had heard Sougen’s theories before, knew what was coming next.

“The Nine-Tails’ Rampage.”

Sougen threw out this phrase.

Fugaku frowned slightly. “What about the Nine-Tails’ Rampage?”

“There’s a huge problem with how it was handled, don’t you think?” Sougen asked loudly, furrowing his brow. “Why didn’t we support the Fourth Hokage? Why didn’t any of our clan’s Jonin lift a finger to protect the village that night? To be honest, haven’t you all been complaining recently about how the village discriminates against and oppresses us? Well, I’d say we deserve to be ostracized and suppressed!”

Sougen’s gaze moved from Fugaku to the other clan members, especially those staunchly in favor of a coup.

As expected, hearing Sougen’s words, many people’s expressions changed, and they looked at him with hostility.

“What are you staring at me for? Am I wrong? If we didn’t help when the village was in danger, why would they consider us one of their own? Isn’t being ostracized and oppressed the result of our own actions?”

Sougen glared back at the hostile looks from the clan members and continued bluntly.

“Who said we were too scared to act?” One hot-tempered clan member shouted angrily. “It was the clan leader who ordered us to stay within the compound!”

“At the time, the situation didn’t allow us to act rashly,” Fugaku interjected quickly before Sougen could respond. “The Nine-Tails was being controlled by the Sharingan. Although the one controlling it wasn’t someone from our clan, we were under suspicion. And besides, the Third Hokage had given orders that we weren’t to leave the compound. The village’s ANBU surrounded us…”

“Sougen, you were only ten years old at the time, but surely you remember the situation?”

“I do! I was there myself, so of course I know what happened. And that’s exactly why I’m questioning your decision, clan leader. Why did you follow the Third Hokage’s orders when the Fourth Hokage was in power? And if you knew we were under suspicion, shouldn’t that have been the best opportunity to clear our name?”

Sougen retorted sharply.

“At such a critical moment, you made the wrong decision, which led to our clan’s complete estrangement from the village. Not only the Third Hokage and his faction, but also the families who lost loved ones in the Nine-Tails’ attack started to distance themselves from us. This isolation, clan leader, is your doing.”

“If only I had had more influence back then… But even convincing my grandfather wasn’t enough.” Sougen sighed regretfully.

“Sougen, the decision to stay within the compound was made after discussions between Fugaku and us,” Elder Shinzaburo interjected, feeling the need to be fair.

“The problem, Elder Shinzaburo, is that you are not the clan leader. Fugaku is. Advising is the elders’ duty, but making the final decision and taking responsibility for the outcome is the role of the clan leader. Clan leader Fugaku, are you trying to blame the elders for misleading you?”

Sougen’s words were sharp, leaving Elder Shinzaburo momentarily speechless.

At the same time, Elder Shinzaburo realized he might have made a mistake. His earlier statement had practically admitted that the clan had made the wrong decision that night. Fugaku’s face darkened further, and Shinzaburo’s well-intentioned intervention had only made things worse.

Without Shinzaburo’s interruption, Fugaku could have continued debating the right or wrong of the decision. But now, his options were reduced to either admitting a mistake or blaming the elders for bad advice.

“Sougen, my point was that the decision that night was made collectively by the clan leader and us. No, wait, I didn’t mean…” Elder Shinzaburo tried to backtrack, but he struggled to find the right words.

In truth, he too had regrets. He had often wondered if things might have turned out differently if they had intervened that night—if the Fourth Hokage had survived, maybe the clan wouldn’t have fallen to its current state.

“Elder Shinzaburo, I understand you want to share the burden with the clan leader, but this is a matter of life and death for the clan. It’s not the time for helping each other out. I hope you understand.”

Sougen took advantage of his sharp tongue, leaving Elder Shinzaburo speechless with anger.

The other clan members whispered among themselves, exchanging opinions. Uchiha Arashiyama, along with Uchiha Akitaro, Uchiha Hokuto, and Uchiha Jun, quietly mingled with the crowd, subtly guiding opinions toward regretting their lack of action during the Nine-Tails’ Rampage.

To be honest, their guidance wasn’t even necessary.

The Uchiha clan’s pride made them disdain cowardice. Many of them weren’t relieved they didn’t die in the Nine-Tails’ attack; rather, they regretted not having the chance to show off their power in such a grand event.

Moreover, they weren’t fools. They could tell that Sougen’s logic wasn’t just clever argumentation—it made sense.

And slowly, minds began to change.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 27: Taking Sides (Vote! Invest!)*

"What else?"

Uchiha Fugaku stared at Sougen. "You mentioned multiple decision-making mistakes. Besides the Nine-Tails incident, what else?"

He didn't respond to whether the decisions made during the Nine-Tails attack were right or wrong, cleverly avoiding the question with a counter-question.

"Changing the subject, huh? Well, whatever..." Sougen shook his head slightly and continued, "The second mistake was during the relocation of the clan. Despite opposition from the clan members, you agreed to the village's relocation plan, effectively exiling us to the outskirts, physically isolating us from the village's social circle."

Hearing this, Fugaku shook his head.

"Sougen, regarding the clan's relocation, we had no choice. The village used the excuse of rebuilding the area destroyed by the Nine-Tails to replan the territories of all the major clans. I understand it was a way for the village to suppress us, but we had no choice. We either resisted and went to war with the village, or we complied and relocated. But given our clan's strength at the time... we had no chance of winning a fight against the village."

"So you chose to endure humiliation for the sake of a future comeback?" Sougen pressed on.

"That's right. The conflict between the village and our clan has deep roots, and we need a long-term strategy..."

"So, have you come up with any strategy?"

"Well..." Fugaku's face stiffened.

That was a stupid question. If they had come up with something, how could the Uchiha have ended up in this situation?

"It seems you haven’t figured anything out after all this time... Fine, let's change the subject. Clan leader, you must be aware that many in the clan are planning a coup to overthrow the Third Hokage and seize power for the Uchiha... What’s your stance on this?"

Sougen didn't dwell on the relocation issue.

After all, the relocation was just a consequence of the Nine-Tails attack. He brought it up simply to remind the clan members of how the clan leader had forced them to accept this unpleasant decision for the sake of the village's greater good.

"Let’s be blunt, Clan Leader. Do you support the coup or oppose it?"

The question was as direct as it could get.

All eyes turned to Uchiha Fugaku.

Even if not all the jonin were involved in the coup, most of them had at least heard about it. Some supported it, others opposed it, and many were undecided. But now, everyone focused on the clan leader.

A matter as serious as a coup would ultimately require the clan leader to take a stance.

"Sougen, are those the only mistakes in decision-making? Just those two?" Fugaku tried once again to dodge the dangerous topic by shifting the conversation back to Sougen.

"The question I just asked is the third mistake," Sougen replied.

Fugaku's face twitched, almost letting out a laugh from anger. Was this kid so sure that he'd make the wrong choice?

"Clan leader, please answer! Do you support the coup or oppose it?" Sougen pressed on, giving Fugaku no room to escape.

Fugaku stared at Sougen for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze to the clan members in the secret chamber. He noticed the hopeful gleam in many of their eyes. His mind raced, recalling the intelligence his secret team had gathered. Two-thirds of the clan favored a coup...

"I support it, of course!"

After a moment of silence, Fugaku made his decision and declared firmly.

The next second, Shisui, standing behind the elders, couldn’t hide his disappointment.

However—

"Heh! That’s bold of you this time," Elder Homaru praised.

Most of the jonin in the room also smiled in approval.

The clan’s inclination toward a coup was evident.

But—

"If I were the clan leader, I would firmly oppose the coup," Sougen said loudly enough for everyone to hear. He turned to face the crowd, completely ignoring their shocked expressions. "Alright, everyone, it's time to pick sides! Those who support removing Fugaku as clan leader and backing me to take over, come to my right. Those who oppose his removal, go to my left."

The clan members were still a bit stunned.

To be honest, most had assumed Sougen would support the coup. After all, he was young and had a fierce nickname, "The Flame Demon." They thought he’d be one of the most radical among them!

No one expected him to oppose the coup. Was this a joke?

As the clan was still processing, Shisui was the first to step out. He crossed over from the left to the right, publicly showing his support for Sougen. He loved the clan, but he also loved the village. For Shisui, a coup was unacceptable.

Fugaku’s decision had extinguished the last bit of hope in his heart.

"Grandpa, let’s go!"

Uchiha Chisao, unhappy about Shisui beating her to the punch, frowned and pulled Elder Ryuji towards Sougen’s side, standing next to Shisui.

Uchiha Genshi, Sougen’s grandfather, wasn’t in a hurry. With his hands behind his back, he slowly strolled over to Elder Ryuji’s side, standing next to his old friend.

Then—

Uchiha Ranzan, Uchiha Akitaro, Uchiha Futaba, Uchiha Jun, Uchiha Hokuto... Sougen's friends also stepped out from the crowd, increasing the number on Genshi and Ryuji's side to nine.

Elder Jun remained calm as he moved to stand beside Shisui, unlike the impulsive attitude he’d shown earlier under the torii gate.

As Uchiha Kagami’s cousin and Shisui’s mentor, his views were expected. He cared deeply about the clan, but a coup was something he couldn't support.

Still, despite those who stepped forward, the number of people supporting Sougen only reached ten—about a quarter of the forty jonin present.

"Sougen, what are you up to?" Elder Homaru asked, confused by Sougen's opposition to the coup.

"Homaru, a coup should be the last resort, a forbidden tactic for when we have no other options. Unless we are truly out of choices, I won’t resort to a move that would harm both the enemy and ourselves. Do you really think that just taking down the Third Hokage and Danzo will mean victory?"

Sougen looked around at the crowd. "Why do you think the Hyuga, Aburame, and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans would submit to Uchiha rule? If we start a coup, our enemies won't just be the Third Hokage and Danzo. Every clan in the village, and even the common ninja, will become our enemies. Why? Because by initiating a coup, we become the disruptors of the existing order. These clans and ninja benefit from the current system. Do you think they’d want us to succeed?"

"Don’t rush into a coup just because you're angry! A coup is nonsense! We’re divided, we’re not strong enough—what are we going to use to fight back? Walk right into their swords? Are you that eager to give the Third and Danzo a reason to wipe us out?"

The more Sougen spoke, the louder he became, until he finally exploded in anger.

His outburst left not only the clan members but also the elders speechless.

"Madara is dead. Without him, do you still think we’re the same Uchiha clan that once dominated the ninja world and only Senju could rival? Stop deluding yourselves! Even if we somehow defeat the Hyuga, Aburame, and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, what will we have left to deal with the Mist, Stone, Cloud, and Sand villages?"

"Enough talking. Make your choice. Oh, one more thing: anyone who doesn’t support me will have their arms and legs broken by me personally and be thrown to the right side. So... think carefully before you decide."

With that, Sougen calmed down and added one final, peaceful remark.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 28: The New Clan Leader (Please Vote! Support!)*

"Who are you trying to threaten, kid?" Elder Homaru glared with wide eyes.

He was furious. Swearing at him earlier was one thing, but a threat at the end? What was that about?

He believed that Uchiha should be bold and arrogant, but... this was a bit much. Threatening people to support you? Really?

Before Elder Homaru could even get a response from Sougen, Elder Uchiha An, the only female elder, stepped forward toward Uchiha Genshi and the others. Uchiha Lanshan, reacting quickly, took two steps back, giving Elder An space to move.

At this point, four of the six clan elders had already expressed their support for Sougen.

"Even Elder An... I didn't expect this," Sougen thought as he glanced at the stern old woman. This was unexpected support!

"A-An?!" Elder Homaru was dumbfounded.

"Opposing a coup, huh?" Elder Shinsaburo murmured softly, glancing at Uchiha Fugaku, whose face remained dark and somber as always. Shinsaburo sighed inwardly but still stepped forward to join Elder An, now making five out of six elders standing behind Sougen.

Now, only Elder Homaru was left standing there, eyes wide as saucers.

"Shinsaburo, even you... You guys argued so much before, but this time..." Elder Homaru grumbled, but his feet moved quickly, and in no time, he was standing alongside his old companions.

As elders, they could still listen to reason.

Sougen's harsh scolding earlier, though grating, had valid points. A coup should be approached with caution, not something spread around carelessly, creating unnecessary chaos and dashing any hope for success.

If Fugaku truly supported a coup, he should have controlled the clan’s speech and behavior from the start, not passively yielding to their will.

In contrast, Sougen, who dared to oppose the coup in front of so many supporters, showed the boldness befitting a clan leader, far more than Fugaku.

"A lion leading a flock of sheep can defeat a sheep leading a pack of lions," Elder Ryuuji sighed, recalling a saying Sougen had once mentioned in casual conversation. "We picked the wrong person. Fugaku is too easily influenced."

Elders Genshi, Shun, and Shinsaburo lowered their gazes, guilt gnawing at their hearts. They, too, bore some responsibility for the clan's current state.

At that moment—

"A sheep leading lions? That's an interesting analogy," Elder An chuckled.

"It seems we really were blind before," she continued, her voice calm but firm. "But it's no use dwelling on the past. What's important now is that we get it right this time! We can't change the past, but the future is still full of possibilities. The priority now is supporting Sougen. Leave your regrets for when we get home. Don't bring that nonsense here."

"A-An, you... Ahh!" Elder Genshi shook his head, feeling helpless. They were already grandparents, yet her words were still so sharp!

But the elders, despite her sharp tongue, straightened up and turned their silent gazes toward the clan's seasoned jonin.

Within moments, the jonin began moving. Those already standing on the right side shifted further back, making space for others to step forward. In less than a minute, all the jonin, except for a few behind Fugaku, chose to stand with Sougen.

Whether moved by Sougen's words, intimidated by his threats, or following the elders' lead, the outcome was exactly what Sougen had hoped for.

While Sougen remained wary of the potential for Fugaku to unleash his Mangekyou Sharingan, Fugaku’s restraint surprised him. It left Sougen wondering if Fugaku even had the Mangekyou or if he was simply that patient.

"Like Schrödinger's Mangekyou," Sougen mused, shaking his head. Whatever the case, Fugaku's decision not to cause trouble worked in his favor.

Impeaching Fugaku was only meant to weaken his influence, to prevent him from stirring up problems later. Killing the former clan leader was never the plan. That would be too extreme. The goal was simply to sideline him.

But as Sougen glanced at Fugaku, whose expression remained as stoic as ever, he couldn’t help but think that Fugaku seemed relieved rather than upset about being deposed.

"That can't be true, right? No one could be that passive..."

Just as Sougen was lost in thought—

"Sougen, here’s the clan leader’s seal."

Without anyone prompting him, Fugaku handed the seal over to Sougen.

Now it was clear.

As Fugaku stepped aside to make room for the elders, his steps light, Sougen, holding the still-warm seal, realized that Fugaku truly had no strong will of his own. Behind that fierce expression lay a man easily swayed by the opinions of others, someone whose stance wavered between the village and the clan.

When the clan showed their support for Sougen, Fugaku accepted it without resentment or bitterness.

And so, under the supervision of the six elders and witnessed by over forty jonin, Sougen officially became the new Uchiha clan leader.

Originally, the Uchiha didn’t have a clan seal. The Uchiha fan was the symbol of the clan leader.

However, after Madara Uchiha’s defection and the disappearance of the fan, the new clan leader and elders decided to create the seal as a replacement, though it was nowhere near as significant as the Uchiha fan. It was purely a symbolic token of leadership.

"Sougen, from this moment on... you are the new leader of the Uchiha clan," Elder Genshi said with a complex expression, placing a hand on his grandson’s shoulder. "The fate of the clan now rests on your shoulders. I don’t know if this is right or wrong, but... do your best."

"Don’t worry, Grandpa! The Uchiha’s glory will continue to shine under my leadership!" Sougen stood tall and resolute, like an ancient pine rooted in solid rock, vowing before the former clan leader, the elders, and his clan members.

The clan leader transition was smoothly completed. The Uchiha clan had always followed the simple and efficient customs passed down from the Warring States period. Clan leader successions were quick and straightforward, with no elaborate ceremonies. Just like their warrior traditions.

*(End of Chapter)*

*Chapter 29: What is the True Nature of the Sharingan? (Seeking votes! Seeking investment!)*

The new clan leader announced the end of the meeting.

The clan members, with mixed feelings, left in small groups. Soon, those who remained in the clan grounds would learn about the change in leadership through word of mouth.

Of course, to ensure that the news accurately reached every independent clan member, the elders would use various methods to spread the name and deeds of the new leader. They had done the same thing a decade ago when they supported Fugaku's rise to power, and now they would repeat the process with practiced ease.

However, compared to those matters, the most urgent task was to take control of the Police Force.

The Uchiha clan leader and the head of the Police Force were bound together by position. This was a benefit granted by the Second Hokage to the Uchiha, but also a form of constraint. Regardless, Sougen needed to take control of the Police Force as soon as possible, succeeding to the position of its leader. Only then could he unite the clan's full strength and stand up to the Third Hokage and his faction.

"Fugaku-senpai, please lead the way to the Police Force. Shisui, Arashiyama, Chisato… you all come along as well."

Sougen gestured, bringing his entire small group with him.

The Police Force was a massive organization with hundreds of members. He couldn't manage it alone, and without bringing his trusted subordinates, he risked becoming blind and deaf once he stepped into the office. Fortunately, Sougen was not alone; he had his own faction.

"Elders, please wait for a bit longer. Once I have things sorted out with the Police Force, I'll gather everyone to discuss the future of the clan."

"Go, go!" Elder Homaru waved dismissively. "I've seen through you, kid. You're one of those 'my way or the highway' types. Discuss? Ha! As long as you don't work us old bones to death, we'll be lucky!"

Some of the other elders shook their heads, some frowned, while others chuckled, but no one voiced any objections.

The Police Force had always been the clan leader’s domain. The elders' authority only extended within the clan’s internal affairs, a rule that the Uchiha clan had developed through practice. Therefore, they wouldn’t interfere with the Police Force.

"Fugaku-senpai, after you!"

Sougen made a gesture, inviting Fugaku to lead the way.

"Is it really necessary to rush this much? It's almost midnight," Shisui asked as he caught up.

"The sooner, the better," Sougen replied firmly.

Although he had succeeded as clan leader, making him the de facto head of the Police Force, not even the Hokage could change that. However, there's a saying: When you're about to finish building a mountain, the last stretch is the hardest. The closer he was to success, the more he couldn’t afford to be careless.

Sougen had already confirmed with Fugaku that the official documents had been sent to the Hokage's office while he was attending the meeting. Most likely, the Third Hokage and Danzo would use those papers as an excuse to stir up trouble. The sooner Sougen solidified his position, the more time he would have to deal with the challenges ahead.

They passed through the passageway, climbed the stairs, and emerged to find the moon high in the sky.

Naka Shrine was bathed in cool moonlight, and the clan members who had left earlier were already far along the path. The shrine was now shrouded in cold silence, with no lights visible. The rustling trees swayed in the chilly night breeze, enhancing the eerie atmosphere.

Wasting no time, the group set off immediately, heading straight for the Police Force building.

The distance between Naka Shrine and the Police Force headquarters wasn’t short, and since there was no one skilled in space-time techniques among them, they had to run through the forest the old-fashioned way.

"Sougen—no, clan leader—can I ask you something?" Shisui approached again.

"What is it?" Sougen blinked, unsure what Shisui wanted to say this time.

Was it about preventing a coup? Or perhaps about taking over the Police Force? Or something else? Sigh, since yesterday, troubles had been non-stop, throwing off his plans and forcing him to adapt on the fly. To be honest, his head was starting to ache from all the confusion.

"Did you… experience a change, just like I did?"

"What are you talking about?"

Sougen was completely baffled.

What kind of riddle was Shisui playing at?

Then, noticing Shisui blinking repeatedly, Sougen suddenly realized what he was getting at. Shisui was asking if he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, but couldn't say it openly in front of others.

Come to think of it, under Sougen’s subtle influence, Shisui had indeed become more cautious, refraining from disclosing his Mangekyo Sharingan to others. According to him, only three people knew about his Mangekyo: Sougen, Elder Jun, and no one else, not even the previous clan leader.

"No, not yet. It's not time," Sougen shook his head, denying it.

"Not time yet…?" Shisui frowned. The way Sougen phrased it was strange. What did he mean by "not time yet"? Suppressing his confusion, Shisui asked, "No? Then, how did you defeat Hachidai-san and the others? Your eye power seems…"

"I see now," Sougen said, understanding the curiosity.

He glanced around and noticed that while they were running, everyone had perked up their ears, curious about his answer. It wasn’t surprising, given how impressive Sougen’s performance had been in the secret chamber earlier.

After all, everyone had the same three-tomoe Sharingan, so why was Sougen stronger? And don’t give the "genius" excuse—Uchiha was full of geniuses. Even Shisui, without his Mangekyo, might not have been able to resist Sougen’s genjutsu in their three-tomoe states.

Shisui's genjutsu was known for its subtlety, but when it came to raw eye power, even Shisui felt outmatched before he unlocked his Mangekyo.

"Shisui, since you’ve asked me a question, let me ask you one in return. What do you think is the true nature of the Sharingan?" Sougen didn’t answer directly but posed a question instead. He glanced at the others running beside them. "Everyone, feel free to think about this and tell me your answers once you figure it out."

Hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought, even Fugaku and his close associates.

Coincidentally, Uchiha Hachidai was also in the group.

Despite Shisui bringing up his defeat, Hachidai held no resentment. He lost, and that was that—nothing to be upset about. In fact, after being defeated so decisively by Sougen, he felt a sense of deep respect.

Now, he too was pondering the question Sougen had raised.

(End of Chapter)

**Chapter 30: Yin Release and Samehada (!)**

**The essence of the Sharingan?** 

This question feels a bit odd. The Sharingan is the Sharingan, right? Talking about its essence is like stopping a passerby on the street and asking, "Do you know the essence of humanity?" Most likely, you'd just get a bunch of strange looks or be called crazy.

 Of course, this question coming from Sougen didn't make anyone think he was crazy. Instead, everyone present assumed there was deep meaning behind it. They each pondered, trying to unravel the mystery, hoping to discover why Sougen was so powerful.

 **"Is it spiritual energy?"**

 The name "genius" wasn’t given to Shisui for nothing.

 He was the first to grasp Sougen's point.

 **"Exactly, spiritual energy, though I prefer to call it Yin Release,"** Sougen said as they traveled. He didn’t mind sharing his research insights. As for what people could learn from it, that depended on their talent. **"Fire, wind, earth, lightning, water, plus yin and yang — these seven nature transformations encompass everything about a ninja's abilities."**

 **"Ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, secret techniques, kekkei genkai, and even advanced bloodline techniques all stem from these seven natures. For example, the Sharingan is a manifestation of Yin Release, the power of the mind. From a fundamental perspective, it’s similar to the Yamanaka Clan’s mental jutsu and the Nara Clan’s shadow jutsu, all of which are forms of Yin Release."**

 **"So, you're saying that training in spiritual energy, or Yin Release, would make the Sharingan stronger?"** Shisui asked skeptically.

 **"It’s not that simple, but you’re on the right track. I once read in a clan journal: 'The ultimate form of the Sharingan is the ultimate form of Yin Release.' Conversely, the stronger one’s Yin Release, the stronger the Sharingan becomes."**

 Sougen wasn't making this up. It came from a real source. The Uchiha Clan, with its millennia of history, had plenty of hidden gems in its archives, including notes about the Sharingan. This particular insight came from the diary of a clan leader from over 300 years ago, which Sougen found in the public library, accessible to all clan members.

 He suspected that this clan leader, like Uchiha Madara, might have been a reincarnation of Indra. 

**"Yin Release... but how do you actually train it? Is focusing on genjutsu enough?"**

 **"It can’t be that easy, right? We Uchiha can all use genjutsu once we awaken the Sharingan."**

 The Uchiha clansmen loyal to Fugaku debated.

 Shisui thought for a moment and shook his head. What Sougen said made sense, but it was too vague, like telling someone to make an explosive tag by simply imbuing chakra into paper, without explaining the intricate steps involved.

 **In short,**  
**he told them what to do, but not how to do it.**

 **"Don’t think I’m holding back on purpose. The reason I’ve reached this point isn’t due to some secret technique but thanks to Samehada,"** Sougen said. At the mention of its name, the blade on his back stirred slightly in response.

 **"Samehada?"**

 Not just Shisui, but everyone looked puzzled.

 Sougen stopped speaking at that point, seeing no need to explain further. If he discovered any useful techniques, he wouldn’t mind sharing them. But his mastery of Yin and Yang Release had largely been due to Samehada's help — not something he could teach others.

 **"Killing the Fuguki Suikazan on the battlefield was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!"** Sougen thought to himself.

 If not for Samehada,  
he might have gone down the path of collaborating with Orochimaru for cell transplant technology or sneaking into the Cloud Village to steal the Six Paths tools. Luckily, Samehada had helped him grasp the essence of Yin and Yang Release, allowing him to avoid such dark paths and find a righteous one to ultimate power!

 Indra, the ancient ancestor of the Uchiha Clan, was the perfect example.  

 He inherited the powerful Yin Release (spiritual energy) of his father, the Sage of Six Paths, and was born with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. When he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he didn’t face the risk of blindness. He achieved the Eternal Mangekyō directly — or rather, the true Mangekyō Sharingan.

 In Sougen's view, today’s Mangekyō Sharingan was only a half-finished product, a result of the clan’s waning Yin Release power. The "eye transplant" process was essentially a fusion of Yin energies. The merging of two sets of Yin energy could create a true Mangekyō.

 At its core, the power of the Sharingan came from the spiritual energy of Yin Release, which shaped form out of nothing. Susanoo, that divine power, was the perfect example of this.

 **"Don’t underestimate Samehada! It’s a one-of-a-kind living weapon,"** Sougen said, noticing the puzzled and skeptical looks from the others. He felt the need to defend his beloved blade. **"Don’t forget, even our clan's fan is just a dead object without consciousness. But Samehada is a masterpiece, combining the essence of both Yin and Yang Release."**

 **"Yin Release? Yang Release?"** Fugaku furrowed his brow.

 The former clan leader's expression was as controlled as ever, making it hard to gauge what he was thinking.

 **"Is it really that extraordinary?"** Even Shisui's curiosity was piqued by Sougen's grand descriptions. 

**"Giving life to a cold, lifeless weapon, allowing it to think and remember — isn’t that extraordinary? Just because it exists now doesn’t mean we should forget how remarkable it is to bring a weapon to life. Even the God of Shinobi never touched that domain."**

 Sougen’s words made Shisui fall into deep thought.

 Creating life?  
That’s not hard. Humans and animals constantly reproduce, filling the world with living beings. But bringing a lifeless weapon to life? Could humans even do that?

 **"What exactly is Samehada’s origin?"** Shisui muttered.

 Sougen didn’t answer. 

Samehada’s origin?  
It was simple!  

 In the thousand-year history of the ninja world, there was only one person capable of forging such a unique, unreplicable weapon — the Sage of Six Paths, whose influence lingered even in death. This wasn’t something Sougen was guessing; he had unearthed this truth from Samehada's millennia-long memories.

 Samehada could think like a human, so naturally, it could remember like one.

 Though its thinking ability was comparable to that of a non-ninja child, it had excellent memory, especially regarding the aura and voice it sensed when it was first created.

 That was from a man called **the Sage of Six Paths**, whose real name was **Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo**.

 This man used Yin Release to create Samehada’s form out of nothing and then used Yang Release to grant it life.

 Thus,  
Samehada was a masterpiece of Yin and Yang Release, combining the two at their highest levels. 

The "Knight's Don’t Die Empty-Handed" power Sougen possessed gave him complete control over Samehada, its strength, its will, its memories — everything fell under his command.

 It was this mastery  
that allowed Sougen to overpower his clan so effortlessly today.

---

(End of Chapter)