While Uchiha Fugaku was on his way to the Hokage Tower to report to the Third Hokage, news of his Mangekyō Sharingan awakening and his victory over the Wood Release bloodline shinobi spread through the village like wildfire.
Many clans received the news almost instantly.
"Clan Head Fugaku possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan as well?"
Hyūga Hiashi, head of the Hyūga clan, could not hide the envy in his voice.
Both the Hyūga and Uchiha were renowned dōjutsu clans, yet while the Hyūga had been in gradual decline, the Uchiha continued to produce powerful figures.
First came the revelation that Shisui Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Now Fugaku had been revealed as another Mangekyō wielder.
Each Mangekyō user held Kage-level power. With two of them, the Uchiha effectively boasted two Kage-level shinobi.
Even Hiashi, the Hyūga's strongest, was only a quasi-Kage. The contrast was glaring—and stung.
"And Fugaku's power… it's beyond that of an ordinary Kage!"
Shock tinged his voice.
Shisui and eleven elite jōnin together had failed against the Wood Release shinobi, yet Fugaku had repelled him single-handedly. His strength bordered on the legendary, rivaling Madara Uchiha of old.
"This can't be a recent awakening… He must have unlocked it years ago," Hiashi mused.
Power like that required years of mastery. Fugaku must have been hiding his Mangekyō for a long time, revealing it only because the Wood Release user invaded Konoha.
"The Uchiha and the Third Hokage's faction…"
A thoughtful gleam flickered in his eyes. He was well aware of the escalating friction between the Uchiha and the Third Hokage's loyalists.
Though he harbored no affection for the Hokage's faction, responsible for his younger brother's death, neither did he trust the Uchiha.
The Uchiha was a clan. The Third Hokage commanded the village itself, with the authority to mobilize its full might. Hiashi had always believed that, in the end, Sarutobi would prevail.
Now, however, he wasn't so sure.
"I'll watch a little longer before deciding."
If the Uchiha toppled the Hokage's faction, exacting vengeance on his brother's killers, he would gladly welcome it. But even with their newfound might, victory was not guaranteed. He would wait and see.
Two silver-haired men sat cross-legged across a table: Hatake Nobuhiro, clan head, and his younger kinsman, the one-eyed Hatake Kakashi.
"I can hardly believe it—Clan Head Fugaku has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and with such strength that even the Wood Release shinobi couldn't stand against him!" Nobuhiro marveled. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝓷𝓮𝓽
For over a year, Fugaku had been uniting the once-fragmented Uchiha and improving the village's perception of his clan.
Nobuhiro had been impressed by his leadership, though he'd once considered Fugaku a mediocre clan head.
But the man's true strength was even more formidable.
Not only did he wield the Mangekyō, but he had also bested the very foe who had defeated Shisui and eleven elite jōnin.
"A clan with two Kage-level shinobi… no wonder they dare confront the Third Hokage's faction openly. They've earned that confidence."
Once, he had thought Fugaku's defiance unwise. Now, with power , there was no need for restraint.
His brother, Hatake Sakumo, had been driven to suicide by a smear campaign orchestrated by Sarutobi's faction. The grudge remained.
"If I had the Uchiha's might, I'd have challenged the Third myself," Nobuhiro admitted, pleased that the Uchiha were doing what he could not—and that it was proving to be a sound strategy.
"Such overwhelming power…"
Kakashi's expression was pensive. He had long known that Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō.
He also knew of Shisui's betrayal and death at Fugaku's hands.
Even so, he hadn't imagined that Fugaku's strength was enough to force back the Wood Release shinobi—a man Kakashi knew intimately from his time as ANBU Commander.
That opponent had wielded the Mangekyō Sharingan, near-impossible space–time ninjutsu, and the First Hokage's Wood Release. Kakashi could easily imagine how deadly that combination was.
Yet even he had been defeated by Fugaku.
"The Hokage's faction is in for a headache," Nobuhiro said with a dark laugh. Then, with a glance at Kakashi, added, "Good thing you resigned from the ANBU. Otherwise, as its commander, you'd likely have to cross blades with Fugaku yourself."
"Yes… a relief indeed."
Kakashi felt the same.
When he learned that the Third Hokage planned to ambush Fugaku, he resigned without hesitation.
Had he remained, he'd now be staring down an opponent even deadlier than the Wood Release shinobi—one he'd have to face as an enemy despite all his hidden strength.
Similar conversations unfolded across Konoha's many clans.
Attitudes toward the Uchiha shifted sharply.
Allies sought to deepen ties.
Neutrals now sought to cultivate them.
And even those unwilling to befriend the Uchiha were careful not to make them enemies.
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