I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

The news of Guy's promotion to Jonin arrived on a rainy day.

Sakugo was handing in his mission report at the Hokage Building when Minato casually remarked, "Guy passed the Jonin Exams with excellent taijutsu, but barely passed ninjutsu and genjutsu."

Shuoge nodded without saying anything.

As he stepped out of the building, Kai was waiting for him at the entrance. His green bodysuit was soaked through, water dripping from his watermelon-shaped hair, and he grinned, "Sakugo! I've become a Jonin too!"

Shuoge looked at him. "Hmm."

Kai didn't seem to mind his coldness, and went on and on about youth and passion, finally saying, "Let's go, let's celebrate with ramen! It's on me!"

Kurenai was already there at Ichiraku Ramen. She was wearing a Jonin vest, her hair was a bit longer than it had been a few years ago, and she was twirling a kunai in her hand.

Upon seeing Shuoge, she raised her chin as a greeting.

Lin sat next to her, still wearing her white coat from the medical department, with iodine stains on the cuffs.

Kakashi arrived last, his headband pulled low, concealing the Sharingan in his left eye. He sat down without exchanging pleasantries.

The noodles were served. Kai ate with loud slurping, Hong ate her kunai, Rin sipped her soup, and Kakashi and Sakugo remained silent.

Halfway through the meal, Guy suddenly asked, "Kakashi, when did you become a Jonin?"

Kakashi replied, "Last year."

Kai choked for a moment. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You didn't ask."

Kai opened his mouth, then closed it again, lowering his head to eat his noodles. —Damn it, he actually lost to Kakashi! As punishment, he has to walk upside down around the village ten times after finishing his ramen!

Lin took a piece of candy out of her pocket and placed it next to Shuoge.

Shuoge glanced at it but didn't take it.

Lin wasn't in a hurry and continued drinking her soup.

After finishing his noodles, Kai called out, "Boss, another bowl!" Kurenai put away her kunai, and Kakashi stood up to leave. Sakugo picked up the candy and stuffed it into his pocket.

……

……

……

The clan meeting was held on a cloudy day.

The hall of the Uchiha compound was full of people. The air was stuffy, and some people were talking in hushed tones while others remained silent.

Fugaku sat in the main seat, with Kage's mission report spread out in front of him.

He read a few items aloud, all of which were recent assassinations and intelligence gatherings.

Each time a "successful" exit was achieved, the murmurs in the hall grew louder.

Fire Core was the first to stand up. He was in his sixties, his face etched with deep wrinkles, but his eyes were bright. He didn't look at Fugaku, but stared directly at Sakugo, who sat at the end of the table.

"The Kage did so much, but what did the Uchiha clan gain?"

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against sheet metal.

"Has the Konoha leadership's attitude towards the Uchiha changed? No. Does Minato trust us? Maybe. But what about Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado? Those two old bastards wish the Uchiha were dead."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"The guard is gone, the Kage have become tools in the Hokage's hands." Fire Core's voice rose even higher. "We, the Uchiha, have gone from being guardians of Konoha to henchmen of the Hokage. Is this what you wanted?"

Some people lowered their heads, some looked at Fugaku, and some looked at Sakugo. Sakugo sat at the end of the table, his sword leaning against the side of the chair, his face expressionless.

Fugaku spoke, his tone not harsh, but every word carried weight: "The guard force is a shackle, the Shadow is the way out. Fire Core, you're too old to see clearly."

Fire Core's lips twitched. "I'm old? When I fought the Second Shinobi World War, you were still wearing open-crotch pants."

He turned to Sakugo. "Sakugo, you are Kagami's nephew, the blade of the Uchiha clan. Tell me, are you willing to be the Hokage's blade?"

All eyes were on Shuoge.

He looked up at the fire core. "You're wrong. I'm not a sword, and the Uchiha clan isn't a sword either."

Huo He was stunned. No one spoke in the hall.

Fugaku stood up. "Meeting adjourned."

The clansmen gradually emerged from the hall. Shuoge remained seated, while Feng approached and whispered, "Huohei has met with some people recently."

"Who?"

"It's not clear yet. But I found out that he received the letter from the outside through an abandoned underground wire."

Shuoge tapped his fingers on the hilt of the knife. "This needs to be confirmed."

-

Five days later, Feng copied the contents of a secret letter and placed it in front of Shuoge.

The letter was written by Koharu Utatane. The wording was cryptic but the meaning was clear: some people in the Konoha leadership supported the Uchiha's "correction of mistakes," and if the Fire Core could control the situation, they would recognize the new regime.

The letter was unsigned, but through handwriting analysis and the origin of the paper, Feng confirmed that it was written by Koharu Utatane.

"This letter was delivered through an old, clandestine contact within Root. That contact should have been severed after Danzo's death, but someone has reactivated it." Kaze's voice was low.

"Firecore has received the letter and is accelerating preparations."

Sakugo folded the copy neatly and stuffed it into his pocket. "Does Fugaku know?"

"I know. He told me to tell you not to alert them."

"He wants to wait for Firecore to make its move?"

"He wants the fire core to expose itself so he can wipe them all out in one fell swoop." Feng paused.

"But Fire Core isn't alone. He has Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado behind him. These two old guys have been operating in the upper echelons for decades, and they have people in the Anbu."

Shuoge was silent for a moment. "How many of Shadow's men can you mobilize?"

"All of them. Twelve people, all Jonin of the Uchiha clan."

"That's enough."

Feng glanced at him. "What do you want to do?"

"Wait." Shuoge stood up and slung his knife behind his back. "Wait for them to make their move."

He stepped out of the room, the moonlight shining on the stone path, a pale light.

He didn't have much affection for the Uchiha clan; it was only his family who cared. He remembered what Kagami had said: "The future of the Uchiha is in your hands."

If it weren't for Jing's last wish, he wouldn't have done so much.

Unfortunately, some people just don't want to live a peaceful life.

……

……

……

On the night of the full moon, at the Uchiha headquarters.

Huo He stood at the entrance of the clan leader's hall, with more than twenty radical clan members behind him, all of them with three-tomoe Sharingan eyes.

He held a secret letter in his hand, the paper still smelling of ink—it was a handwritten letter from Koharu Utatane, promising that the Konoha leadership would recognize the new Uchiha regime after the coup succeeded.

The letter was delivered this evening, via a disused underground route through the roots.

"Fire Core, are you sure you want to do this?" Yan stood at the bottom of the steps, his sword already drawn. "Chief Fugaku will not agree."

"Fugaku making the clan head was a mistake; he was too cowardly."

The sound of the fire core carried on the night wind.

"He guarded that tattered sign of the security force for years, and what did he gain? He gained Danzo's sword, and the suspicion of the higher-ups. Now that the security force is gone, we've become the Hokage's sword. If we don't act now, the Uchiha clan is truly finished."

Just as Yan was about to say something, the wind stopped him.

Feng's eyes were fixed on the secret letter in Huo He's hand.

Who wrote that letter?

Fire Core didn't answer. He tucked the secret letter into his robes and raised his short sword. "Come with me. First, take control of the Hokage Building, then capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Minato won't dare move."

The group surged towards the Hokage Building. Kaze turned and whispered to Genji, "Go find Sakugo."

---

The Hokage Building, third floor.

Koharu Utatane stood by the window, gazing at Konoha Village under the moonlight. Homura Mitokado sat in the chair behind her, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold.

"Fire Core has made its move." Mitokado Homura put down his teacup. "Are you sure he can succeed?"

"It doesn't matter whether it works out or not." Koharu turned around, her aged face expressionless.

"If he succeeds, the Uchiha will split up on its own, and we'll take in the moderates. If he fails, Fugaku will have to cut ties with the radicals, and the Uchiha's power will be further weakened. Either way, the Uchiha will no longer be a threat."

Mitokado Homura was silent for a moment. "What about Minato?"

"Watergate? He's busy taking care of the kids, he doesn't have time for that."

Koharu Utatane's lips twitched slightly. "Once this is over, we'll tell him it's an internal Uchiha conflict and has nothing to do with Konoha. He won't investigate further."

Shouts of battle erupted from downstairs. The Fire Core members had already stormed into the Hokage Building. Koharu Utatane walked back to the table, sat down, and picked up her teacup.

"Tell the Anbu not to interfere. Let them fight it out themselves."

Mitokado Homura stood up and walked to the window. He saw it—in the moonlight, a black figure sped towards the Uchiha compound, moving as fast as an arrow.

The figure leaped onto the steps, a flash of blade, and two radical clansmen fell to the ground.

The blade continued its relentless attack, and the third person clutched his throat and knelt down.

"That's... Uchiha Sakugo." Mitokado Homura's voice changed slightly.

Koharu's teacup stopped at her lips. She put down the cup and walked to the window.

Under the moonlight, the young man stood at the entrance of the Hokage Building, the tip of his knife pointing downwards, blood dripping. His eyes were red, and three black crescent moons slowly rotated in his pupils.

—The Mangekyou Sharingan!

"Stop him!" Huo He's voice boomed downstairs.

More than a dozen people rushed towards Shuoge at the same time.

The glint of a sword, a kunai, a shuriken, and the Sharingan.

Shuoge did not retreat.

His knife slashed from left to right, and three people fell.

The blade shifted direction, and the two men clutched their throats and retreated.

With his Mangekyou Sharingan fixed on the shadow of the fire core, he slashed down with his sword.

A line of blood appeared on Huo He's chest. He looked down at his wound, then at Shuo Ge, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and he collapsed.

The people around stopped.

"Ambition that doesn't match one's strength will ultimately lead to death at someone else's hands." Shuoge's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it. "I thought you... should understand this principle."

No one moved.

Koharu's hands were trembling. She looked at the young man outside the window, at the pile of corpses at his feet, and at his eyes with three black crescent moons.

She suddenly realized that this person was not just the blade of Konoha, but a blade with consciousness.

"He's coming up." Mitokado Yan took a step back.

The door was kicked open.

Sakugo stood at the door, his knife still dripping blood. His eyes swept over Koharu Utatane, then over Homura Mitokado, pausing for a moment on the secret letter spread out on the table.

"You wrote it."

It's not a question, it's a statement.

Koharu's lips moved. "Sakugo, listen to me—"

A flash of light. A red line appeared on Koharu's throat. She clutched her throat, her eyes wide, her mouth agape, as if trying to say something.

Blood gushed from between her fingers, and she collapsed, knocking over a chair and shattering a teacup on the floor.

Shock, fear, and utter disbelief were her last expressions before she died.

Mitomon Yan stumbled backward, crashing into the wall. He reached for his kunai, his hand trembling. Sakugo stepped in front of him, the tip of his blade pressed against his throat.

"You instigated a coup, colluded with traitors within your clan, and attempted to kidnap the Hokage's son. You deserve to die."

"You—you can't—Minato won't—"

The knife pierced through.

Mitomon Yan slid down the wall and sat on the ground with her eyes still open and blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.

Shuoge sheathed his sword. He picked up the secret letter on the table, glanced at it, folded it, and stuffed it into his pocket.

He turned around and walked out of the room.

In the corridor, several secret agents stood at a distance, watching. No one stepped forward, no one drew their swords.

Shuoge walked past them and down the stairs.

Moonlight shone on the steps, and blood dripped from the scabbard, one drop, then two.

---

Downstairs, the wind had taken control. The radicals squatted on the ground, hands covering their heads. Yan was bandaging his wounds. Seeing Shuoge emerge, the wind went to greet him.

"above……"

"It's over." Shuoge's voice was cold. "Two old bastards, instigating a coup. Dead."

The wind was silent for a moment. "Over at the Water Gate..."

"I will speak to them."

---

On a rooftop opposite the Hokage Building, Minato stood, holding the Flying Thunder God Kunai in his hand.

He witnessed the whole process—Shuoge killing someone, going upstairs, and then coming down.

He didn't move.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado's thinking is corrupt. If the two of them could be used as mascots, then they would still be the high and mighty elders of Konoha, enjoying the respect of everyone.

Unfortunately, they couldn't relinquish the power they held.

Minato was the Hokage, but he wasn't a soft-hearted person. His sunshine and gentleness were reserved only for the right people. Sakugo killed them, saving him the trouble.

But he can't say that publicly.

Shuoge walked up to him, and the two looked at each other for a moment.

"Those two old bastards instigated the nuclear coup. The letter is here." Shuoge handed over the secret letter.

Minato took the letter, read it once, folded it, and stuffed it into his pocket. "I understand."

"Aren't you going to double-check?"

"No need." Minato turned and walked towards the Hokage Building. "The coup is over. You handle the cleanup."

Shuoge stood there, watching Shuimen's figure disappear behind the door.

It was only at this moment that Shuoge realized that the seemingly sunny and warm-hearted man in front of him was not as "approachable" as he appeared on the surface.

That makes sense, after all, he's the kind of ruthless guy who could say "If you see the Yellow Flash, you can abandon the mission" during World War III. Minato's usual behavior makes people subconsciously overlook the blood on his hands.

The wind came over and stood beside him.

"Won't they pursue the Watergate issue?"

"None of us understood the Fourth Hokage."

The wind did not ask any more questions.

Shuoge turned around and walked towards the Uchiha base.

The knife was behind him, his hands hanging at his sides. Moonlight shone on him, casting a long shadow. Behind him, the lights in the Hokage Building went out one by one.

---

Three days later, Sakugo received twelve Sharingan eyes: five with three tomoe, four with two tomoe, and three with one tomoe. He put them in a sealing scroll, sealed it, and placed it in the deepest part of a drawer.

not enough.

He needs more, he needs to be stronger, he needs to find Orochimaru. Only Orochimaru can help him research the power of the Sharingan and the secrets of the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

He sat in the darkness, looking at the moon outside the window.

The Mangekyou Sharingan activated silently, three black crescent moons slowly rotating in his pupils. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, and they returned to black.

It's not time yet. He has to wait.