"Hmph," Danzo sneered. "If Fox hadn't interfered, I'd already possess a pair of Mangekyō.
"I've suppressed the Uchiha at every turn. Watched them carefully. Pressed them down so they could never rise.
"And yet—one pursuit mission against Uchiha Madara. One decision to let the Uchiha leave the village.
"And suddenly the clan gains two Mangekyō… and even produces a traitor to serve Madara.
"The First Hokage's decision to absorb the Uchiha into Konoha was a disaster.
"He couldn't even eliminate Madara during the founding era.
"I no longer hold much respect for him."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "And how exactly do you intend to 'fix' this?"
Danzo's gaze turned cold.
"Exterminate the Uchiha."
Hiruzen froze.
"No."
His refusal came instantly.
"You will not plan a clan's extermination just because you covet the Sharingan.
"Uchiha Kagen has been cooperative.
"Aside from aligning with Tsunade over postwar jōnin recommendations, he has committed no serious transgression.
"If you remove him, his successor will be far more radical.
"Danzo, I've tolerated you acquiring three-tomoe Sharingan for Izanagi.
"But extermination? That crosses the line."
Danzo's jaw tightened.
"And what about Madara? What about Uchiha Tōka?"
"Madara is over seventy," Danzo continued. "He will die of old age before we do.
"We've avoided mobilizing massive forces against him because we expect time to solve that problem.
"But Tōka?
"He's eighteen.
"Do you think your son can rely on Fox forever?
"Have you forgotten Madara's Eternal Mangekyō? His contract with the Nine-Tails? The way it shattered Konoha's walls?
"Tōka will become the next Madara.
"Does your son possess Hashirama's strength to suppress tailed beasts and Susanoo?
"And don't forget—it was you and your son who arranged for the Uchiha to investigate Madara in the Land of Rain."
Hiruzen had no answer.
He had intended to weaken the Uchiha's growing proximity to Tsunade.
It had worked—four three-tomoe Uchiha were dead.
But in return—
Two Mangekyō had awakened.
The cost was catastrophic.
Hiruzen stared out the window. The village appeared calm.
But beneath that calm, currents churned.
The Second Shinobi War had ended.
So why did the air still feel unstable?
"We'll solve problems one by one," he said quietly.
"Let's wait for Fox's pursuit results."
Danzo scoffed. "I have no faith in Fox. He hides behind defensive jutsu. How could he possibly defeat a Mangekyō wielder?"
Hiruzen said nothing.
If Fox could not eliminate Tōka—
At least gather intelligence.
—
A full moon hung silver in the sky.
Yako had been chasing for two days.
Spiral Zetsu possessed the Mayfly Technique as well.
Same teacher. Same trick.
Breaking it was difficult.
White Ram's squad had long since been left behind.
Deep within the forests of the Land of Fire—
Guruguru's spiral mask cracked open.
Uchiha Tōka panted heavily.
Since escaping Konoha, he had run without pause.
He could not continue tonight.
His chakra was nearly depleted.
He glanced back toward Konoha.
Eighteen years of life—
Gone.
His brother who raised him—
Dead.
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them—
The Mangekyō rotated.
"Spiral Zetsu… am I now Madara-sama's subordinate, like Sarutobi Kanosuke?"
The mask reformed, leaving only eyeholes.
A muffled voice answered.
"Sarutobi Kanosuke? I don't know him."
Tōka frowned. "The village says he defected and serves Madara-sama. That he slaughters villagers mercilessly."
Guruguru's voice darkened.
"That thief commits crimes and blames Madara-sama.
"He does what Madara-sama desires… but he overreaches.
"If you encounter him—capture him. Bring him to Madara-sama.
"Using Madara-sama's name without permission… he deserves death."
So even serving Madara required qualification.
"Let's go," Tōka said.
"I will meet Madara-sama. I will destroy Konoha."
"Destroy Konoha?" Guruguru replied.
"What good is that?
"What must be destroyed is this world.
"Once you meet Madara-sama, he will show you what it should become."
Before the sentence ended—
A wooden spear shot forward.
"Impalement Technique!"
Tōka rolled desperately aside.
He scrambled up.
On a tree branch—
A masked ANBU.
Fox.
"You killed my brother!"
Yako thought dryly, You two really lack urgency. If you don't hurry and complete the Eternal transplant, how am I supposed to obtain those eyes?
Tōka tried to charge—
But Guruguru enveloped him like armor.
They sank underground via the Mayfly Technique.
Yako pressed his palm to the tree trunk.
He sensed the organic mass fleeing.
—
Fifteen kilometers away—
Tōka erupted from the ground.
"Get out of me! Leave my body!"
"I've awakened the Mangekyō! Why won't you let me avenge my brother?! I'll kill that ANBU!"
Guruguru's tone turned cutting.
"You believe awakening the Mangekyō makes you superior to Konoha's Copper Fox?"
"If it were that powerful—why did your brother die?"
Tōka faltered.
Yes.
Why had he died?
Clan Head Kagen had been right.
The village was too strong.
Even Mangekyō did not guarantee survival.
Guruguru continued.
"Madara-sama wields something beyond the Mangekyō.
"The Eternal Mangekyō.
"When you possess it—you will kill Copper Fox."
A White Zetsu emerged from a tree.
"Report to Madara-sama," Guruguru ordered.
"The transplant conditions are ready."
They fled again.
Half an hour later—
Guruguru hissed.
"This won't work.
"Copper Fox uses Wood Release.
"He can sense my Mayfly Technique.
"I'll create distance underground.
"Tōka—change direction using taijutsu!"
They ran until exhaustion consumed them.
"Tell me," Tōka gasped.
"What's the difference between Mangekyō and Eternal Mangekyō?"
Guruguru replied quietly,
"Do you remember your brother's eyes bleeding?"
Tōka swallowed. "Yes… why?"
"The Mangekyō's ocular power overwhelms the physical body.
"The greater the usage—the greater the damage.
"Vision deteriorates.
"Eventually—blindness."
Tōka's chest tightened.
"So he endured that pain…"
"The Eternal Mangekyō," Guruguru said,
"Fuses two Mangekyō from brothers.
"The eyes become stronger.
"No blindness.
"No restraint.
"Continuous use without consequence."
Tōka nodded slowly.
Madara knew secrets the clan never spoke of.
Another wooden spear shot through the trees.
They fled again.
Guruguru's tone shifted.
"Copper Fox is stronger than expected.
"We must prepare a contingency."
"What contingency?"
"Midway transplant."
"I suspect he won't let us reach Madara-sama."
White Zetsu relayed the request.
Relay upon relay—
The message reached the Land of Rain.
At the border of the Land of Fire—
A Zetsu delivered a scroll.
"Madara-sama says follow these steps."
Guruguru's mask shattered into writhing wooden tendrils.
They opened the scroll.
"No eyes," yet somehow reading.
"Oh!"
"Summon all nearby Zetsu.
"Delay Copper Fox for six hours.
"We transplant now."
"Six hours?!" a Zetsu protested weakly.
—
At the forest's edge—
Yako appeared in a flicker.
He blocked Tōka's path.
His eyes narrowed.
Within Guruguru's spiral mask—
Wooden tendrils moved over Tōka's eyes.
Already beginning?
Perfect.
Then I'll play along.
Let's see how far you can go.