The masked man claimed to be Uchiha Madara.
Under Mangekyō Sharingan's gaze, doubts seemed to become pale and powerless. At least in this moment, before another Uchiha Madara possessing Mangekyō appeared, whatever this person before him claimed to be, he was.
Uchiha Enblade withdrew previous words. After silent moments, he spoke again. "What do you want to do?"
"Break this false peace. Create a world truly belonging to the Uchiha."
Konoha Village, inside the Hokage's office.
Tsunade watched Uchiha Enblade, whose body carried some travel dust yet expression proved exceptionally calm. Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi stood aside, likewise watching him.
After ANBU activated emergency contact methods he left, Uchiha Enblade appeared within stipulated time limits, responding to the summons.
Shisui's side also transmitted messages back. Fire Capital's side proved entirely normal. Uchiha squad members he led showed no unusual movements.
"How proceeds the mission investigating Sharingan?" Tsunade asked.
"Temporarily no new discoveries yet," Uchiha Enblade answered.
This was reasonable circumstances. After all, only going out such short time.
However, this amount of time proved insufficient investigating Sharingan intelligence yet sufficed completing other matters, like simply meeting someone.
"According to latest intelligence the village received, Sharingan theft may relate to certain special infiltration ninjutsu." Tsunade stated outdated intelligence. "Your subsequent investigations can start from this."
"Yes, I understand." Uchiha Enblade responded without raising any questions. At Tsunade's indication, he turned and departed the office.
After the door closed, all three people inside the office confirmed one point.
"He indeed has problems," Tsunade said in definite tones. She looked toward Kakashi and Itachi.
Kakashi nodded. Associating Sharingan theft with special infiltration ninjutsu, though known intelligence, when the village urgently recalled him while providing this "new" direction, under normal circumstances executing mission shinobi should at least inquire about more specific details or show some attention regarding intelligence sources.
Uchiha Enblade did not. His overly calm reaction itself became a suspicious point. Someone proactively volunteering seeking Sharingan should not prove so indifferent toward concrete leads.
Tsunade issued instructions. "Dispatch one additional ANBU squad equipped with Hyūga branch family members, conducting second-round tracking."
Subsequently, her gaze turned toward the consistently silent Uchiha Itachi. "Itachi, movements within Uchiha clan grounds require your investing more attention."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade." Itachi responded quietly.
Lightning Country, among mountain ranges outside Cloud Village.
Shuji's wood clone again came to locations where abnormal barriers were previously discovered. He first collected tree seeds dropped when dissolving wood clones last time.
Afterward, he carefully surveyed surroundings. On the ground, besides some traces left previously, no discoveries of other people appearing existed.
This meant after accidentally triggering barriers last time, no guards or investigators arrived.
This barrier very likely was neither deployed by Cloud Village nor owned by Lightning Country's other ninja clans. Otherwise, after barriers triggered, no one checking for so long proved impossible.
After confirming this point, Shuji concentrated full attention on the invisible barrier itself. Barrier techniques closely related to sealing techniques and curse seal techniques. He had researched sealing techniques for considerable time, also possessing some understanding of barrier techniques.
After careful sensing and analysis, he discovered this was not purely defensive or alert barriers but more like heuristic barriers used for "concealment."
The setter's purpose was masking something.
Under such circumstances, the greatest possibility was hiding entrances. If different occasions, Shuji possessed ninjutsu activating and destroying barriers.
However, this location was not too far from Cloud Village. Even if barriers were unrelated to Cloud Village, causing excessive disturbances easily invited unnecessary attention.
Therefore, only attempting more gentle, more covert infiltration methods.
"Itachi?"
Gentle calls brought Uchiha Itachi back from thoughts. He turned his head, seeing Uchiha Izumi standing beside him.
She tilted her head slightly, face carrying concern. "Itachi's mood... is not very good?"
"Yes." Itachi did not deny but also did not further explain.
Senpai's promoted plans were already using relatively gentle methods handling issues between Uchiha and the village.
However, radical factions' existence was reality. Even though already suppressed and diverted through various methods, this portion of people plus the ideologies they represented still existed stubbornly like invisible barriers lying between village and clan.
Fifth Hokage did not, due to Uchiha Enblade's abnormalities, display special views toward the entire Uchiha clan or adopt extreme actions.
However, as an Uchiha, Itachi could not avoid contemplating undercurrents behind this. Clan internal dissatisfaction and obsession, would they be ignited again due to certain opportunities?
"Is this mission matters?" Izumi stepped closer, voice lowered further.
"Yes." Itachi responded once before taking the opportunity to ask, "Recently within the clan, any special discussions?"
Being in ANBU, his energy focused more on observing squad members plus Hokage Tower guard duties. Regarding clan grounds' daily public opinion trends, he actually understood less than Izumi who frequently operated within clan areas.
Izumi thought seriously before counting on fingers. "Besides Police Force adding new squads..."
"Also everyone discussing when ninja academy will recruit teachers again."
"Also some people guessing whether the village will have other departments opening to us."
"Also..."
She strived recalling, hoping to provide useful information for Itachi.
Itachi listened quietly.
Most clansmen cared about these matters closely related to daily life. Previously, the clan was invisibly isolated, lacking other paths. Naturally, gazes could only limit to Police Force's one patch of sky.
Now, circumstances indeed differed.
Roads were being widened. Choices also seemed increasing.
However, would Uchiha Enblade plus those holding similar thoughts see this point? Would they sympathize with ordinary clansmen within the clan who only desired stable lives, grasping current opportunities?
The gentle methods senpai adopted avoiding direct conflicts, could they comprehend the intentions within?
If unable, after they acted willfully, would possibly triggered conflicts affect and destroy everything now?
Senpai, Lady Tsunade, Shisui... to properly handle long-standing Uchiha clan issues, would everyone's contributions and efforts become void because of this?
If senpai was still here, always practicing proactive strikes and problem control, facing this potential crisis within the clan, what choices would he make?