For the unfortunate sacrifice of Uchiha Tetsu, Uchiha Kagami, as the head of the clan, held a grand funeral to honor all he had given as a member of the ANBU.
This was the first Uchiha clan member to die during peacetime, and Uchiha Tetsu had spent his entire life adhering to the rules of the Uchiha ANBU.
Whether it was to unite the clan or to further establish the ANBU's sense of responsibility, Uchiha Kagami felt it necessary to make a big fuss.
After careful preservation by medical ninjas, Uchiha Tetsu's body was barely restored to a recognizable outline, and after being dressed, he didn't look so terrifying.
Looking at Uchiha Tetsu's body in the coffin, Uchiha Kagami shook his head slightly, silently wishing him happiness in the Pure Land world in the future.
The ANBU members who were close to Uchiha Tetsu in their daily lives solemnly offered sacrifices before his memorial tablet.
Uchiha Setsuna, considered a close friend by everyone, naturally attended.
His face was solemn, but he was laughing inwardly; others might be sad about Uchiha Tetsu's death, but he wouldn't be.
After a glance at Uchiha Ken, who was silently weeping, Uchiha Setsuna returned to his seat.
At the final step of the funeral, Uchiha Tetsu's coffin would be sent to the Memorial Stone for burial—Uchiha Kagami believed that Uchiha Tetsu had sacrificed himself for the village and should be buried as a village hero at the Memorial Stone.
Originally, for the purpose of protecting the Sharingan, the body should have been preserved by the clan, but Uchiha Tetsu had not awakened the Sharingan, and even if he had, it would be impossible to preserve it in his current state.
Sending him to the Memorial Stone for burial did not encounter much resistance.
Uchiha Ken watched his father's coffin about to be carried out the door, recalling his father's appearance in the past, and tears once again streamed down his face.
Just then, he felt someone approach and heard Uchiha Setsuna's voice: "Ken, please accept my condolences.
Your father will happily journey to the Pure Land."
Under the influence of some individuals, there was a growing trend in the current Hidden Leaf Village to study the classics of Ninshu.
Even children Ken's age knew the basic worldview of Ninshu.
He asked, "Can Father find happiness in the Pure Land?"
"Of course.
Tetsu was a good person; there's no reason he wouldn't find happiness."
Uchiha Setsuna gently stroked Ken's head and said softly.
"If that's true, that would be wonderful."
Uchiha Ken sniffled.
"Ken, what will you do from now on?"
Uchiha Setsuna asked.
"From now on?"
Uchiha Ken was slightly startled.
His mother had died young from illness, and his father was his only remaining family.
Although he was part of a clan and related by blood to other Uchiha members, the emotional bond wasn't as deep.
The clan would look after him as an orphan, but they couldn't provide the warmth of a family.
"I don't have children.
Sometimes I envy Tetsu for having a child like you.
If you don't mind, could I be your adoptive father?"
Uchiha Setsuna's voice trembled slightly, as if he feared the other party wouldn't agree.
Uchiha Ken's heart jolted.
He hadn't expected Uchiha Setsuna to make such a request.
Honestly, he had a good impression of Uchiha Setsuna, feeling he was like another father to him.
Now that his biological father had passed away, and the other party was willing to treat him as his son, he couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Yes, I'm willing."
Uchiha Ken choked out, unable to speak clearly.
"Don't cry, Ken."
Uchiha Setsuna once again stroked Ken's head, comforting him, while inwardly he let out a joyous cry—"Excellent!"
As long as Uchiha Setsuna adopted Ken as his son, he could distance him from those Uchiha clan members who were close to the Hidden Leaf Village.
He could personally guide him, tell him what the Uchiha clan's true path should be, and also teach him the secret techniques he had learned from Zetsu.
Uchiha Setsuna also learned from Zetsu that Zetsu had a way to awaken Ken's Mangekyo Sharingan.
It was known that the method for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was a mystery, always regarded as a legendary state in ancient texts.
In pursuit of this power, and because the awakening of the Sharingan was related to emotions, some Uchiha clan members in the past committed countless tragedies of kin-slaying, hoping to achieve the Mangekyo Sharingan through torment.
But none of them gained this legendary power.
It wasn't until Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna awakened their Mangekyo Sharingan that the Uchiha clan realized this legendary state truly existed and witnessed how powerful the Mangekyo Sharingan was.
Uchiha Setsuna naturally envied this immense power, and for this, he even asked Zetsu if he could obtain the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Although he appeared as only a dark, shadowy figure, Uchiha Setsuna could feel Zetsu looking at him with a somewhat critical gaze, then saying, "Unfortunately, your aptitude is not sufficient to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Such a state can only be achieved by those who are chosen."
Uchiha Setsuna didn't know this was Zetsu's excuse.
From Zetsu's perspective, he wanted Uchiha Setsuna to possess the Mangekyo Sharingan.
The more powerful the chess pieces he held, the more things he could accomplish, wasn't that right?
It was just a pity that the Mangekyo Sharingan was a powerful ability that could only be awakened by Uchiha clan members who truly understood great love, after witnessing immense sorrow.
Due to his experiences over the years, the emptiness in Uchiha Setsuna's heart could no longer support such great love.
He was no longer capable of truly loving someone.
Now, his entire goal was to revive the Uchiha clan.
If the Uchiha clan were to be annihilated, perhaps there might still be a chance to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Zetsu, of course, didn't believe he had the ability to secretly annihilate the Uchiha clan.
Even if it were possible, it would be measured in years, and the outcome was uncertain.
Compared to the troublesome task of having Uchiha Setsuna awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, it would be better to have the reincarnation of Indra awaken it.
"Before he awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan, you must protect him well, care for him, and allow him to grow up healthy, just like his true father, making him dependent on you."
Zetsu said slowly, "When the time is right, I will tell you how to make him awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Zetsu seemed to recall something, "I will pay more attention to talented children who are closely related to him by blood."
"Why?"
Uchiha Setsuna was somewhat confused.
"Although the Mangekyo Sharingan is powerful, it comes with the side effect of blindness, which is a necessary price for such a powerful Kekkei Genkai.
Only a Mangekyo Sharingan that never goes blind is truly a power that can stand at the pinnacle."
Zetsu said, "In my time—ah, Madara was like that.
By transplanting Izuna's Mangekyo Sharingan's optic nerves and combining them with his own optic nerves, a mutation occurred, breaking the curse of blindness and regaining light."
"So there was such a past.
Indeed, clan records state that after Lord Izuna was severely wounded by Tobirama Senju, Lord Madara's eyes seemed to have problems due to excessive grief, but I never imagined it was blindness.
And after Lord Izuna succumbed to his injuries and died, Lord Madara was not seen by anyone for many days.
When he reappeared, he possessed power far exceeding his past strength."
Uchiha Setsuna suddenly understood.
"The closer the bloodline, the higher the success rate of optic nerve fusion.
Therefore, you must find that person and have him awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan together with Madara's reincarnation.
This way, Madara's power can be restored to the world."
Zetsu said.
"Understood, I will do my best to find him."
Uchiha Setsuna nodded repeatedly.
Waking from his memories, Uchiha Setsuna patted Ken's shoulder and went to watch Uchiha Tetsu's coffin being buried.
After the funeral, he took Ken to Uchiha Kagami and informed him of his intention to adopt Ken.
Uchiha Kagami was very pleased to hear this, saying, "Setsuna, seeing you like this now, I am truly relieved.
You must educate Ken well in the future and let him become a pillar of the village."
—"The village, huh?
It should be the clan's."
Uchiha Setsuna silently thought to himself.
Just as Uchiha Setsuna was about to leave with Ken, he saw a familiar person approaching: Fumori Masaki.
Uchiha Setsuna always felt Fumori Masaki's gaze intentionally or unintentionally falling on him, and he didn't know if it was his imagination, but he therefore disliked Fumori Masaki intensely.
Not to mention that Fumori Masaki was also a favorite in front of Tobirama Senju, and it was rumored that he might be the next Hokage.
Uchiha Setsuna walked forward with Ken, expressionless.
Fumori Masaki glanced back at him briefly, then shifted his gaze to the child Uchiha Setsuna was holding, and then approached Uchiha Kagami.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, then looked at Uchiha Tetsu's tombstone and said, "He was truly a respectable ANBU member, Kagami.
Such people are beginning to appear in the ANBU.
Although his end is somewhat regrettable, it must be said that this is a good thing."
"Mm."
Uchiha Kagami nodded and asked, "Is there any lead in the case?"
"Yes."
Fumori Masaki revealed the information currently known.
The ANBU members on duty at the village gate identified the person's true identity through a sketch.
He was a servant of a wealthy merchant from the Land of Hot Water.
The ANBU immediately focused their attention on this merchant and went to question him.
If there was no evidence, out of concern for the ninja village's reputation and influence, the ANBU would not have acted too aggressively.
But now that evidence had surfaced, the ANBU could question him thoroughly, even if it meant interrogation.
The ANBU was not the ANBU; they did not need to maintain a good public image.
They were cold-blooded ninjas who operated underground from the start.
Because the wealthy merchant came from the Land of Hot Water, the possibility of the mastermind being a Jashin cultist increased once again.
After questioning, the wealthy merchant seemed to know nothing, but among the people he brought, one had suspicious movements and was immediately apprehended by Shimura Danzo, who led the team, and secretly sent to a base for investigation by the Yamanaka clan.
It turned out that this person really was a Jashin cultist and also harbored the goal of causing trouble within the village.
However, he seemed to know nothing about the human bomb incident.
Shimura Danzo believed it might have been that person's private action or a private order from a high-ranking member of the Jashin organization, as the captured individual was just a small fry.
And after a full investigation by the Yamanaka clan, all the Jashin cultists' secrets were uncovered, and naturally, they also knew where the remaining Jashin cultists were hiding.
After reporting this to Tobirama, Tobirama immediately ordered all Jashin cultists to be eliminated.
"Good!"
Uchiha Kagami clapped his hands firmly, saying, "Our ANBU must participate in this.
They killed an excellent ANBU member; we can't just stand by and watch."
"Of course, no problem.
I came here for this purpose as well.
The ANBU will act together with the ANBU to jointly apprehend the Jashin cultists."
Fumori Masaki said.
"I'll go later."
Uchiha Kagami replied.
Fumori Masaki nodded, saying he had other matters to attend to and had to leave first.
Before leaving, he asked, "The child Uchiha Setsuna is holding is...?"
"Ah, he is Uchiha Tetsu's son.
His father died, and his mother passed away early, leaving him without support.
Setsuna adopted him as his son."
Uchiha Kagami said.
"Adopted son, huh."
Fumori Masaki muttered, frowning slightly.
Since the existence of the Jashin cultists had been proven, he felt he might have truly wronged Uchiha Setsuna.
This matter was not orchestrated by Uchiha Setsuna behind the scenes, but he always felt uneasy about the change in Uchiha Setsuna's character.
Some people truly reform, but that should be based on the influence of certain events.
Would a treacherous person like Uchiha Setsuna abandon his self-destructive ambition just because of the harmonious relationship between the clan and the village?
Moreover, Uchiha Setsuna's act of adopting Uchiha Tetsu's child made Fumori Masaki, who was always concerned about Indra's reincarnation, somewhat wary.
If that child was Indra's reincarnation, Uchiha Setsuna could not possibly be unrelated to this matter.
But how did Uchiha Setsuna determine this?
Had he already made contact with Black Zetsu?
Due to a lack of information, Fumori Masaki's doubts were growing.
Uchiha Setsuna was still a suspect, but it was mostly speculation without supporting evidence, so he couldn't act against Uchiha Setsuna.
Furthermore, he was also hesitant about how to deal with Indra's reincarnation.
He wanted to eliminate Black Zetsu, but Black Zetsu was elusive.
Unless the plan reached a critical moment, Black Zetsu would generally not appear.
To make Black Zetsu reveal himself, he would have to wait until Indra's reincarnation awakened the Rinnegan.
And to reach this step, it was destined to cause turmoil.
Knowing the underlying reasons, was it truly right to tacitly allow everything to happen just to draw out Black Zetsu?
Fumori Masaki knew that as a leader, sometimes one had to be hard-hearted and be prepared to make sacrifices.
If one was unwilling to sacrifice anything, then nothing could be accomplished, especially reforms, which required such a mindset.
However, his conscience as a human being made him hesitate about whether to proceed in this manner.
Sometimes Fumori Masaki felt that he was actually somewhat hypocritical.
Perhaps that's just how people are; completely pure individuals don't exist.
In certain aspects, they all exhibit hypocrisy.
Despite possessing the sage's realm, he was indeed not a transcendent sage, but a human after all.