Elder Setsuna grew more excited as he spoke, his aged body seeming to straighten a bit.
"Renka! Did you hear that? This isn't a blind escape; this is a path to rise with a clear goal and a feasible route! Sho U doesn't just possess the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan; he has the mind and vision to match that power!"
"Following him, I can rest easy! The blood of the Uchiha will not cool, much less be extinguished; it will burn even more fiercely in a new land!"
"Yes! Elder Setsuna! Lord Shōba!"
Led by Renka, the ten Uchiha elites responded in unison, their voices no longer holding any hesitation, only a blazing fighting spirit and a strong anticipation for the future.
The way they looked at Sho U was filled with complete trust and the determination to follow him.
Uchiha Setsuna watched this scene with gratification, once again solemnly placing the scroll containing the secret passage into Sho U's hands.
"Take the map and act with caution. When you reach Kumogakure... see for me if the lightning there is truly more vibrant than Konoha's fire."
He paused, his voice lowering with a final entrustment.
"Live on and grow strong. The future of the Uchiha rests on your shoulders."
Sho U gripped the scroll and nodded heavily: "I will not fail this trust."
Moonlight spilled through the cracks in the stone window onto the resolute young faces.
The shadow of defection still loomed, and the road ahead would surely be filled with thorns.
But at this moment, within this dim stone room, a seed named "Rebirth" had already broken through the oppressive soil with the characteristic pride and resolve of the Uchiha, aiming for the distant sky where thunder never ceased.
"Sho U has truly grown up."
In Setsuna's memory, although Uchiha Shao Yu's talent was peerless—with no one in the entire Uchiha Clan able to compare to him, even the Clan Head's son, Uchiha Fugaku, was a notch below Uchiha Shao Yu.
But perhaps because of his immense talent, Uchiha Shao Yu had an impulsive personality and acted without considering the consequences. This was why Uchiha Shao Yu had been so easily goaded by Danzo's provocation, leading him to attempt the assassination of the One-Tails Jinchuriki, Bunpuku, in a fit of rage.
"He probably realized some things between life and death."
Uchiha Setsuna felt emotional as he looked at the steady, wise, and far-sighted Sho U before him. He felt that this narrow escape, though extremely dangerous, had unexpectedly polished this unrefined jade into its most brilliant luster.
He could never have imagined that the person standing before him now was already a brand-new existence—a fusion of an otherworldly soul and memories.
Sho U received the undisguised look of gratification and entrustment from Elder Setsuna, his mind clear. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.
"Elder Setsuna, the plan is set, but the matter of defection is complex and still requires meticulous preparation."
Setsuna nodded.
"Sho U, after you return, prepare as quickly as possible. Do not delay."
Elder Setsuna gave his final instructions, his eyes filled with unconcealed concern.
Sho U nodded, his gaze sweeping over Renka and the others, his tone steady with a hint of unalterable decisiveness.
"Everyone, return to your respective homes immediately. As I just said, make the most streamlined preparations. Bring only weapons, Ninja tools, essential supplies, and your personal Ninjutsu scrolls."
"In two hours, at two in the morning, assemble under the Abandoned Watchtower at the southeast corner of the Third Training Ground behind the Hokage Rock."
"Yes, Lord Shao Yu!"
The ten men responded in unison, but a hint of doubt flashed through their eyes because Sho U didn't seem to mention his own arrangements.
"Elder, I need to take one more person with me."
Sho U turned around to face Setsuna, his voice clear and firm.
"My younger brother, Shisui."
The air in the stone room froze slightly. The name Uchiha Shisui was not unfamiliar to the Uchiha elites present.
He was Sho U's brother from the same mother. Although only six or seven years old, he had already displayed extraordinary Ninja talent and a precocious temperament. More importantly, he extremely admired and relied on his older brother.
Elder Setsuna pondered for a moment.
"That child, Shisui... his talent is indeed amazing, and his character is pure. But he is too young, and the path of defection is exceptionally dangerous. Taking him..."
However, as a veteran of the Uchiha Clan, Setsuna was well aware of the clan's brother complex nature and did not refuse Sho U.
"It is precisely because the road ahead is dangerous that I cannot leave him alone in Konoha."
He didn't want to leave such a formidable weapon for Konoha; Kotoamatsukami was so broken that he didn't even know if he would fall victim to it himself.
Besides, what if he needed to awaken the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan in the future... although he didn't really face the risk of blindness.
"Shisui is a child of the Uchiha and my brother. The suspicion and suppression from the Konoha higher-ups toward the Uchiha will only deepen. If I leave alone and Shisui stays here, what will he face in the future?"
"To be monitored, guided, and exploited? Or, like other clansmen, to gradually suffocate in an increasingly oppressive environment? I cannot tolerate that possibility."
He looked toward Renka and the others.
"Taking Shisui will indeed add some burden, but he is very sensible and will never hold everyone back. Furthermore..."
Sho U paused briefly.
"His potential might be far beyond our imagination. The future of the Uchiha shouldn't just rest on our shoulders; the next generation is equally important."
Renka was the first to speak up, nodding his head.
"Shisui is a good kid and very smart. If we take him, we'll just take turns looking after him on the way. One more family member means one more source of strength."
From now on, Uchiha Shao Yu would be their leader. In an unfamiliar Village, only with a leader like Sho U could they ensure they wouldn't be devoured, so he supported Sho U's words one hundred percent.
The other Uchiha also chimed in. Under the shadow of defection, the bonds of blood and family seemed especially precious. Taking one more Uchiha seed meant preserving one more hope.
Elder Setsuna, seeing this, no longer opposed it, only letting out a sigh.
"You're right. I didn't think it through. For that child, Shisui... following you might be the best way out. Only, how will you convince him? He's so young; can he handle such a sudden and massive change?"
"Shisui trusts me."
Sho U's tone was full of confidence.
"He is more perceptive than most of his peers and can better understand the meaning behind 'leaving.' I will explain it to him, at least partially. Time is tight; I must return immediately."
Having the memories of the Original Owner, he was well aware of the bond between Shisui and himself.
He turned to Renka and ordered in a low voice.
"Renka, you are responsible for coordinating everyone's evacuation preparations to ensure nothing goes wrong. In two hours, at the watchtower, I expect to see everyone, including Shisui, not one person missing."
"Yes! Rest assured, Lord Shōba!" Uchiha Renka straightened his back, his eyes showing absolute obedience.
Sho U gave a final deep bow to Elder Setsuna: "Elder, please take care of yourself within Konoha. We... will meet again."
"Be careful on the way." Elder Setsuna waved his hand and turned away, no longer looking at Sho U, as if afraid his emotions would leak out too much.
Sho U hesitated no longer. His figure blurred, blending into the night like a ghost as he sped toward his home.
He was extremely fast, his Sharingan glowing faintly in the darkness, precisely avoiding the patrolling Anbu and Guard Unit like a fish swimming in the shadows.