The Uchiha Clan was known for many things—power, pride, precision.
But beneath the brilliance of the Sharingan, there were always shadows.
And now, those shadows stirred.
Because Sora had opened a scroll not meant for his eyes.
Because secrets buried beneath the Uchiha compound had begun to whisper.
Because the clan's greatest fear wasn't external.
It was within.
---
Watching Eyes
Sora sat quietly beneath the paper-lanterned tree outside the main estate. The Forbidden Scroll still burned in his thoughts, its truths echoing louder with each passing hour.
But the scroll wasn't the only thing pressing in on him.
There were eyes.
Not Ayame's.
Not Ren's.
Other Uchiha.
Watching from rooftops, from windows, from shadowed halls.
He could feel their chakra signatures—tight, restrained, trained.
They were measuring him.
Judging him.
Fearing him.
---
Ayame's Return
When Ayame finally emerged from the vault, her expression was like stone.
She said nothing at first—only stood there, gaze unreadable, blood still crusted faintly beneath her nails.
Sora stood slowly. "You knew they were watching."
"Yes," she replied. "They've always watched. Even me."
He frowned. "Because I'm not one of them?"
Ayame's Sharingan flickered once.
"No. Because you're more."
---
Clan Council
That evening, Ayame led Sora deeper into the estate—past halls even she had never entered until recent years. Behind a blood-locked door sat a round chamber of obsidian and old chakra.
Here waited five figures.
The Silent Uchiha Council.
None of them spoke immediately. Their faces were veiled with masks carved from obsidian and bone—each etched with a version of the Sharingan lost to time.
Ayame bowed, barely.
Sora did not.
The tallest among them finally broke the silence.
"You read the scroll."
Sora's voice was calm. "Yes."
Another voice followed: "Did it speak to you?"
Sora narrowed his eyes. "It didn't whisper. It screamed."
Murmurs.
One of the masked Uchiha leaned forward.
"Do you understand what you are?"
Sora didn't hesitate.
"No. But I know it's stronger than you."
---
Test of Flame
They didn't like that.
The room shook.
One of the elders rose, hand glowing with spinning fire chakra that twisted like a serpent.
"You insult the clan with your arrogance."
Sora smiled faintly. "No. I insult you with the truth."
The elder flung the chakra serpent toward him.
Sora didn't flinch.
He opened his palm—
And devoured it.
The fire vanished in a blink, consumed into the void of his hunger. Sora's veins flickered crimson for a moment.
"I told you," he said. "I'm more."
The elders went silent again.
Then the central figure finally spoke:
"The Devourer's blood runs hot. But it must not run wild."
---
A Deal of Shadows
They did not expel him.
They did not welcome him.
Instead, they offered a deal.
"You will continue your training—under our terms. You will not touch the Spiral Shrine until we grant it. And you will answer to us when the blood moon rises."
"And if I refuse?" Sora asked.
The council's voice came as one:
"Then you will burn. And so will Ayame."
Sora's fists clenched. His hunger stirred.
But Ayame gently stepped between him and the council.
"We'll comply," she said. "For now."
---
Outside – A Confession
Later, beneath the paper-lantern tree again, Sora sat with Ayame in silence.
"I hate them," he muttered.
Ayame looked at him. "So do I."
"But you serve them."
"I protect you. That's not the same."
He looked at her, really looked.
There was weariness in her eyes.
More than that.
Fear.
She wasn't afraid of the council.
She was afraid of losing him.
"Ayame…" he said softly. "If I become what they fear—what you saw in that vision…"
She turned to him sharply.
"You won't."
"How do you know?"
She looked down at her hand—his hand still clutching hers.
"Because the monster in that vision never held anyone's hand."
---
Elsewhere – Root's Next Move
In the Root compound, Danzo stood before the clone again.
This version was better.
Stronger.
More… human.
It wore Sora's face perfectly.
It even had a fake hunger—coded into its chakra matrix.
"Soon," Danzo said, placing a scroll into its hand, "you'll replace him."
The clone tilted its head. "And what of the Uchiha girl?"
Danzo's expression darkened.
"Let her break. Let her burn. All yandere crack eventually."