Uchiha Nami stepped forward and carefully received the scrolls and the glass container holding the Sharingan.
With the negotiation concluded, there was no longer any reason to remain inside the Hokage Office. Uchiha Su turned without hesitation and walked out, his cloak swaying behind him. Soon, he left Konoha's administrative center and headed toward the village gates.
Outside Konoha, the scene was already bustling.
Hyuga Ran had moved with remarkable efficiency. By the time Uchiha Su arrived, the selected members of the Hyuga Clan were already assembled in neat formation, standing silently under the open sky.
At the main gate, a crowd had gathered.
On one side stood the Uchiha—those with the famed crimson eyes.
On the other stood the Hyuga—those with pale, pupil-less eyes, often mockingly referred to as "cataract eyes" by outsiders.
Now, however, the atmosphere was far from mocking.
Many of the Hyuga members who were about to leave were bidding farewell to their families. Tears flowed freely. Some clung tightly to loved ones, while others stood stiffly, as if afraid that any movement would break their resolve.
"Great General," Uchiha Nami reported after finishing a headcount, "the numbers are correct. Including Hyuga Hizashi, there are one hundred and one people. The group is balanced—roughly equal numbers of men and women, and most are in their prime."
She paused briefly before adding,
"Hyuga Ran did not try to deceive us with inferior candidates."
"Good."
Uchiha Su nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled group.
Hyuga Ran stepped forward respectfully.
"Great General, I have arranged for Hyuga Hizashi to lead this branch in the Land of Water as the head of the Main House. As for the other one hundred members accompanying him, their Caged Bird Seals have all been removed."
Uchiha Su raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"You work quickly," he said. "I expected to wait much longer."
Hyuga Ran forced a polite smile.
"Your time is far too valuable. How could I dare to keep you waiting? If anyone should wait, it should be me waiting for you."
Under normal circumstances, selecting members for such a transfer would have taken considerable time.
The Hyuga Clan's internal politics were complex. Many elders had relatives within the Branch House, and naturally, they would want to take advantage of this opportunity to send those relatives away—freeing them from the Caged Bird Seal.
Balancing those interests alone could take days.
But this time, Hyuga Ran had acted decisively.
He personally took the clan register, selected one hundred Branch House members without consulting others, removed their seals, and rushed directly to the village gate.
Such efficiency was astonishing.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi had witnessed it, he might have been both impressed and frustrated. And if Danzo had seen it, he might have felt a deep sense of bitterness.
After all—had Hyuga Ran ever shown such initiative when working for Konoha?
"Hyuga Hizashi…"
Uchiha Su's gaze settled on the young boy standing at the front.
Hizashi's appearance was delicate, almost gentle. His forehead was bare—no longer hidden beneath a protector. For the first time in his life, there was no mark branding him as inferior.
"Great General," Hizashi said, stepping forward and bowing deeply, "from this day onward, the Hyuga Clan of the Hidden Mist will follow your command."
Behind him, the others bowed in unison.
Their movements were synchronized, their expressions resolute.
None of them wore forehead protectors anymore.
There was no longer anything to hide.
"From this day forward," Uchiha Su said, his voice amplified by chakra so that all could hear, "there will be no distinction between Main House and Branch House within the Hyuga of the Hidden Mist."
His words echoed clearly.
"No one will ever bear the Caged Bird Seal again."
A ripple passed through the crowd.
"My only requirement," he continued, "is loyalty—to me."
Silence followed.
Then, slowly, determination began to replace hesitation in their eyes.
"As for the safety of the Byakugan," Uchiha Su added, "you need not worry. If anyone dares to take your eyes, I will personally lead an army to seek justice."
Hyuga Ran's face turned pale.
He glanced at the Hyuga members remaining in Konoha.
In the eyes of the Branch House members—those who had lived under oppression for generations—something new had appeared.
Hope.
And hope was dangerous.
When there was no hope, people endured.
But once hope was ignited… it could not be extinguished.
Without further delay, Uchiha Su gave the signal to move.
The army began marching southeast.
Behind them, the people of Konoha watched in silence.
After some distance, Uchiha Nami spoke.
"Young Lord, do we currently have the strength to destroy Konoha?"
"Of course," Uchiha Su replied calmly. "At this moment, Konoha is extremely weakened. Destroying it would not be difficult."
The older generation of powerful shinobi had passed away, while the younger generation had not yet matured enough to take their place.
The village was in a fragile transition.
"There is still Uzumaki Mito," Uchiha Setsuna said cautiously. "She is the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. A formidable opponent."
Uchiha Su shook his head.
"She is too old. Her physical strength has declined significantly. As for the Nine-Tails…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"With the Mangekyō Sharingan, controlling a Tailed Beast is not difficult—for me or for Hikari."
He continued,
"Moreover, our Standing Army is far superior in coordination and discipline compared to Konoha's hastily assembled forces."
This army was his creation.
Each member was trained, organized, and compensated through a structured system.
They focused solely on cultivation and combat, free from distractions.
"Then why not destroy Konoha?" Uchiha Nami asked. "We could relocate our base there and become the strongest power in the Ninja World."
"Because conquering and ruling are not the same," Uchiha Su replied.
"The Land of Fire is vast and densely populated. Its resources far exceed those of the Land of Water. Even if we conquered it, maintaining control would require constant suppression of rebellions."
He paused.
"The cost would outweigh the gain."
Uchiha Setsuna nodded slowly.
"So instead, we target the Land of Tea?"
"Exactly," Uchiha Su said. "I brought three thousand troops. It would be wasteful not to use them."
Uchiha Nami hesitated before speaking again.
"Young Lord… we need justification. If we attack without reason, it could damage our trade relations—especially with the Land of Fire."
She continued,
"The Land of Tea has close ties with them. If trade is cut off, our economy will suffer."
Uchiha Su smiled.
"Have you heard this phrase?"
"What phrase?"
"Open the gates… free trade."
He spread his arms.
"In this world, strength determines everything. If we are strong enough, no one will dare oppose us."
He looked toward the horizon.
"If the Fire Daimyo dares cut off trade, I will march into his capital and overturn everything."
Uchiha Nami fell silent.
His logic was extreme.
But it was not wrong.
The Land of Tea
When they entered the Land of Tea, the contrast was immediate.
Bandits roamed the mountains in large numbers.
Villages appeared impoverished and broken.
"Why doesn't the Daimyo suppress this?" Uchiha Setsuna asked.
"Because oppression breeds rebellion," Uchiha Su replied. "As long as the ruling class remains unchanged, this cycle will continue."
He surveyed the land.
"This country is already on the brink of collapse."
Then he began issuing orders.
"Uchiha Setsuna—take one thousand troops and advance south. Eliminate every noble you encounter."
"Yes!"
"Uchiha En—lead another thousand. Destroy their Ninja Village."
"Yes, Great General!"
"As for the rest," Uchiha Su said, "we head to the capital."
The capital city stood along the coast.
When they arrived, the gates were tightly shut. Samurai lined the walls, watching nervously.
Uchiha Su tilted his head slightly.
"Do they think walls can stop ninja?"
Uchiha Nami stepped forward.
"I can break it with Susanoo."
"No need," Uchiha Su replied.
"I want to test something."
He formed hand seals.
"Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"
His palm struck the ground.
Dark markings spread outward instantly.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
The sky darkened.
A massive shadow descended at terrifying speed.
Flames ignited across its surface as it tore through the atmosphere.
Everyone looked up in shock.
What they saw… defied comprehension.
And from above, a voice echoed—
"Hero's Entrance!"
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