Someone outside the door reported in.
Uchiha Yandai put away the account books and said, "Let him in."
Not long after, a travel-worn Yufeng walked inside.
The Grand Elder looked at Yufeng with a heavy expression—especially at the heads in his hand.
"What happened!?"
Yufeng tossed the three heads aside and sat down cross-legged.
"Danzo's people ambushed our squad halfway through the mission. Xiao Yi and Yang Sheng are dead."
"If I hadn't made a breakthrough, I wouldn't have made it back either."
The Grand Elder's face turned ashen. "Danzo!? How dare he!?"
"Why wouldn't he dare?" Yufeng replied calmly. "The news of our planned coup has already leaked. Konoha is about to move against the Uchiha clan."
Yandai's whole body jolted. "Yufeng, what do you mean by that!?"
Yufeng sat down, picked up a cup, and poured himself some water.
He'd had almost no supplies on the way back—he was starving and parched.
Only after downing two cups did the burning in his throat finally ease.
"Grand Elder… would you like to take a look at my eyes first?"
Yufeng let out a slow breath and reminded him.
Yandai's heart skipped a beat. Yufeng had already been an elite Three-Tomoe user within the clan. If he said he had broken through, then could it be…?
Yufeng slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.
In his blood-red Sharingan, the three tomoe had transformed—splitting into three hollow, sharp-angled shapes, like inverted V's.
An overwhelming pressure surged forward. The sheer ocular power made Yandai's breathing noticeably heavier.
Yandai shot to his feet, his face first frozen in shock, then exploding into wild joy.
"Ha… hahahaha! Good! Excellent!"
"Our Uchiha finally have a successor! A successor at last! This coup—this time it will succeed!"
Yufeng's expression remained calm, without a hint of excitement. After the Grand Elder's ecstasy subsided, he regained his composure.
"How do you know the clan is preparing a coup!?"
"And you said the information has already leaked?"
"Yufeng, with the Mangekyō Sharingan, what could possibly be beyond your ability to handle?"
Yufeng shook his head and sighed. "Grand Elder, don't worry about how I know about the coup."
"There's a crucial piece of information you don't know—Uchiha Itachi also possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Before Yandai could rejoice, Yufeng continued:
"…But he's already been brainwashed by Konoha. He's become Konoha's blade. The intelligence about our impending coup was reported to Konoha by him."
Yandai's expression was filled with shock and disbelief.
Shock, because Itachi—only thirteen years old—had already awakened the Mangekyō.
Disbelief, because Itachi was actually on Konoha's side.
"Why!?"
Although the Uchiha were all proud and unruly, most of them had an extremely strong sense of belonging to the clan.
He simply couldn't understand why Itachi would side with Konoha instead of his own people.
"It's a long story," Yufeng said quietly. "The Uchiha clan is already hanging by a thread. If Konoha strikes first, we're finished."
"We have to strike first."
Though Yandai still had many doubts, the words 'Mangekyō Sharingan' themselves represented power and authority.
Yufeng deeply loved the clan—he wouldn't speak without cause.
"Then I'll take you to see Fugaku right now."
Yandai grabbed Yufeng's hand, ready to go find Fugaku. After all, Fugaku was still the clan head.
But when he pulled, Yufeng didn't move an inch.
Yufeng pressed down on the Grand Elder's hand and said in a low voice:
"Grand Elder, if Fugaku were truly reliable, our coup plans wouldn't have leaked in the first place."
Yandai stared at Yufeng in astonishment. Seeing the seriousness on his face, he sat back down with a grave expression.
"Back then, Fugaku bet too heavily on Minato. When Minato died unexpectedly, Fugaku lost everything."
"He agreed to the coup only because the clansmen had already pushed him onto the fire—he had no way to step down."
"Our Uchiha share a common flaw: the stronger the person, the more stubborn and self-righteous they become."
"Fugaku is like that. Itachi is like that. Shisui was the same."
"And their one common point is this—they all awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Yandai's face was filled with shock. "Fugaku and Shisui too!?"
Yufeng waved his hand tiredly, looking far more mature than his age suggested.
Yet the Grand Elder found nothing strange about it. Instead, he calmed down and continued listening.
"Shisui naïvely believed the clan and Konoha could coexist. He chose a cowardly suicide, dumping all the pressure onto Itachi, who was only eleven at the time."
"Itachi, constantly praised and manipulated by the Third Hokage, refuses to admit his own failure. Now the only way he can protect his younger brother Sasuke is by becoming the village's blade."
"Fugaku never truly communicated with Itachi, yet naïvely believed Itachi would stand with the clan. So he confidently sent him to act as a double agent."
"They never communicate with anyone. They believe only they are right—if they can't think of a solution, then no other clansman can either."
"This kind of self-righteous arrogance is the fundamental reason the Uchiha clan has been pushed to the edge of a cliff."
Yandai listened calmly to Yufeng's analysis. When he looked at Yufeng again, his eyes were filled with deep admiration.
The Uchiha had many with great strength—but very few with sharp minds.
Those with true political awareness were almost nonexistent.
Yufeng saying all this was meant to demonstrate his competence and value to the Grand Elder.
In other words, Yufeng wasn't just a Mangekyō-level powerhouse—he was also a qualified leader.
After all, Yufeng was only seventeen years old. No matter how strong he was, without support, his voice would carry little weight.
Yufeng poured himself another cup of water.
"It's very likely… tonight…"
"Konoha will make its move against us."
Yandai's eyes were bloodshot, blood surging through his veins.
"I'll nominate you as an elder immediately. That will make it easier for you to command everyone."
In Yandai's view, it was time to fight to the death—and Mangekyō-wielding Yufeng was their strongest trump card.
Yufeng shook his head slightly. "A head-on clash is inferior to strategy…"
"Itachi has merely been brainwashed. He's not beyond saving."
"For a genius like him, making him truly return to the clan is naturally the best option."
"If Itachi comes back to us, then this crisis facing the clan can be resolved completely."
A sharp light flashed through the Grand Elder's eyes.
"Yufeng… what's your plan?"
ter 2: Mangekyō Sharingan! Yufeng's Plan!
Someone outside the door reported in.
Uchiha Yandai put away the account books and said, "Let him in."
Not long after, a travel-worn Yufeng walked inside.
The Grand Elder looked at Yufeng with a heavy expression—especially at the heads in his hand.
"What happened!?"
Yufeng tossed the three heads aside and sat down cross-legged.
"Danzo's people ambushed our squad halfway through the mission. Xiao Yi and Yang Sheng are dead."
"If I hadn't made a breakthrough, I wouldn't have made it back either."
The Grand Elder's face turned ashen. "Danzo!? How dare he!?"
"Why wouldn't he dare?" Yufeng replied calmly. "The news of our planned coup has already leaked. Konoha is about to move against the Uchiha clan."
Yandai's whole body jolted. "Yufeng, what do you mean by that!?"
Yufeng sat down, picked up a cup, and poured himself some water.
He'd had almost no supplies on the way back—he was starving and parched.
Only after downing two cups did the burning in his throat finally ease.
"Grand Elder… would you like to take a look at my eyes first?"
Yufeng let out a slow breath and reminded him.
Yandai's heart skipped a beat. Yufeng had already been an elite Three-Tomoe user within the clan. If he said he had broken through, then could it be…?
Yufeng slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.
In his blood-red Sharingan, the three tomoe had transformed—splitting into three hollow, sharp-angled shapes, like inverted V's.
An overwhelming pressure surged forward. The sheer ocular power made Yandai's breathing noticeably heavier.
Yandai shot to his feet, his face first frozen in shock, then exploding into wild joy.
"Ha… hahahaha! Good! Excellent!"
"Our Uchiha finally have a successor! A successor at last! This coup—this time it will succeed!"
Yufeng's expression remained calm, without a hint of excitement. After the Grand Elder's ecstasy subsided, he regained his composure.
"How do you know the clan is preparing a coup!?"
"And you said the information has already leaked?"
"Yufeng, with the Mangekyō Sharingan, what could possibly be beyond your ability to handle?"
Yufeng shook his head and sighed. "Grand Elder, don't worry about how I know about the coup."
"There's a crucial piece of information you don't know—Uchiha Itachi also possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Before Yandai could rejoice, Yufeng continued:
"…But he's already been brainwashed by Konoha. He's become Konoha's blade. The intelligence about our impending coup was reported to Konoha by him."
Yandai's expression was filled with shock and disbelief.
Shock, because Itachi—only thirteen years old—had already awakened the Mangekyō.
Disbelief, because Itachi was actually on Konoha's side.
"Why!?"
Although the Uchiha were all proud and unruly, most of them had an extremely strong sense of belonging to the clan.
He simply couldn't understand why Itachi would side with Konoha instead of his own people.
"It's a long story," Yufeng said quietly. "The Uchiha clan is already hanging by a thread. If Konoha strikes first, we're finished."
"We have to strike first."
Though Yandai still had many doubts, the words 'Mangekyō Sharingan' themselves represented power and authority.
Yufeng deeply loved the clan—he wouldn't speak without cause.
"Then I'll take you to see Fugaku right now."
Yandai grabbed Yufeng's hand, ready to go find Fugaku. After all, Fugaku was still the clan head.
But when he pulled, Yufeng didn't move an inch.
Yufeng pressed down on the Grand Elder's hand and said in a low voice:
"Grand Elder, if Fugaku were truly reliable, our coup plans wouldn't have leaked in the first place."
Yandai stared at Yufeng in astonishment. Seeing the seriousness on his face, he sat back down with a grave expression.
"Back then, Fugaku bet too heavily on Minato. When Minato died unexpectedly, Fugaku lost everything."
"He agreed to the coup only because the clansmen had already pushed him onto the fire—he had no way to step down."
"Our Uchiha share a common flaw: the stronger the person, the more stubborn and self-righteous they become."
"Fugaku is like that. Itachi is like that. Shisui was the same."
"And their one common point is this—they all awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Yandai's face was filled with shock. "Fugaku and Shisui too!?"
Yufeng waved his hand tiredly, looking far more mature than his age suggested.
Yet the Grand Elder found nothing strange about it. Instead, he calmed down and continued listening.
"Shisui naïvely believed the clan and Konoha could coexist. He chose a cowardly suicide, dumping all the pressure onto Itachi, who was only eleven at the time."
"Itachi, constantly praised and manipulated by the Third Hokage, refuses to admit his own failure. Now the only way he can protect his younger brother Sasuke is by becoming the village's blade."
"Fugaku never truly communicated with Itachi, yet naïvely believed Itachi would stand with the clan. So he confidently sent him to act as a double agent."
"They never communicate with anyone. They believe only they are right—if they can't think of a solution, then no other clansman can either."
"This kind of self-righteous arrogance is the fundamental reason the Uchiha clan has been pushed to the edge of a cliff."
Yandai listened calmly to Yufeng's analysis. When he looked at Yufeng again, his eyes were filled with deep admiration.
The Uchiha had many with great strength—but very few with sharp minds.
Those with true political awareness were almost nonexistent.
Yufeng saying all this was meant to demonstrate his competence and value to the Grand Elder.
In other words, Yufeng wasn't just a Mangekyō-level powerhouse—he was also a qualified leader.
After all, Yufeng was only seventeen years old. No matter how strong he was, without support, his voice would carry little weight.
Yufeng poured himself another cup of water.
"It's very likely… tonight…"
"Konoha will make its move against us."
Yandai's eyes were bloodshot, blood surging through his veins.
"I'll nominate you as an elder immediately. That will make it easier for you to command everyone."
In Yandai's view, it was time to fight to the death—and Mangekyō-wielding Yufeng was their strongest trump card.
Yufeng shook his head slightly. "A head-on clash is inferior to strategy…"
"Itachi has merely been brainwashed. He's not beyond saving."
"For a genius like him, making him truly return to the clan is naturally the best option."
"If Itachi comes back to us, then this crisis facing the clan can be resolved completely."
A sharp light flashed through the Grand Elder's eyes.
"Yufeng… what's your plan?"