Fugaku has gone mad; he's going to create a new Uchiha clan in Kirigakure.

Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, East Coast Market.

Fangshisi (坊市司).

This three-story stone and wood building is the newly established core administrative body of the East Coast Market, responsible for handling all matters, large and small, within the market.

The afternoon sun slanted across the stone-paved road, and people came and went in front of the market gate. Vendors pushed carts loaded with goods in and out, and several Uchiha clansmen patiently explained the registration process to new merchants.

Just then, a figure who had not been seen for a long time appeared in front of the market gate.

Hozuki Full Moon.

He still carried his iconic large sword, "Hiramekarei," with the blade wrapped in coarse cloth, revealing only the black hilt. He was accompanied by two ninjas, presumably his henchmen.

"It's Lord Full Moon..."

"Why is he here?"

"Oh, what a pity..."

The ninjas in front of the market gate whispered among themselves, their voices low, but even in the relatively quiet environment, a few words could still be faintly heard.

Hozuki Mangetsu seemed not to hear the discussions. He walked straight to the gate of the Market Office. The Uchiha clansmen guarding the gate were slightly taken aback when they saw him, but then made way for him and bowed respectfully.

In the lobby on the first floor, several merchants and ninjas who were conducting business subconsciously stopped what they were doing and followed his back with their eyes.

Some people's eyes showed sympathy, while others showed pure regret, and some even seemed to be gloating.

Of course, whatever it was, no one dared to speak up. After all, Hozuki Mangetsu was just sick, not dead...

Hozuki Mangetsu walked up the wooden staircase to the third floor. At the top of the stairs was a heavy oak door with a bronze plaque that read "Office of the Market Director".

"Knock knock knock".

There was a rustling sound coming from inside the door, like someone hurriedly packing things, and the sound of a chair being dragged.

A moment later, the door was opened, and it was Uchiha Fugaku who opened it.

He was dressed in simple dark casual clothes, his hair was a little messy. When he saw the full moon outside the door, he was obviously stunned for a moment, and then he gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Manyue, what brings you here?"

"I have something to discuss with you."

Hozuki Mangetsu replied.

"What's wrong?"

Fugaku Uchiha asked, but his body remained blocking the doorway, showing no intention of moving aside.

"Can I come in and talk?"

"this..."

Just then, a slight cough came from inside the room. Fugaku Uchiha turned around and looked at it before turning to the side.

"Then come in."

Hozuki Mangetsu entered the room with two attendants.

The office was spacious, with a huge mahogany desk by the window. In the reception area on the other side, Mei Terumi was sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hand. She was still wearing the Water Country kimono that she often wore, but the collar of her top was a little messy.

"Um...Manyue, how's your illness going?"

Seeing Hozuki Mangetsu looking at her, Terumi Mei forced a smile.

"This is not good, Chief of the Underworld."

Hozuki Mangetsu answered directly, his voice eerily calm.

"I came here to discuss this matter with Fugaku. It's good that you're here, Chief, so I don't have to make two trips."

"I really can't help you with your illness."

Fugaku Uchiha walked behind the desk and sat down, placing his hands on the table with a serious expression.

"I did obtain some special substance from Danzo. Now that we're on the same side, I won't lie to you. It's the cell of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. It has a strong vitality and, theoretically, might be able to cure your blood disease."

"However, the First Hokage's cells are also extremely prone to going out of control. The reason why Shimura Danzo was able to use them was because he transplanted several Sharingan eyes and used the power of the Sharingan to forcibly suppress the rampage of the First Hokage's cells. Moreover, there are many experimental processes that cannot be omitted, requiring precise proportions, special sealing techniques, and long-term adaptive culture..."

"Even if I were to cruelly take a few Sharingan from my clan and transplant them into you, it probably wouldn't be of any use. The success rate is too low, and the risk is too high."

"Of course, the silt formed by my [Blade of the Underworld] can suppress the rampage of the first generation of cells, and may even suppress your condition, but doing so is meaningless. You will become a clay doll covered in silt and lose your self-awareness. Over time, you will become completely silted up."

"I know."

Hozuki Mangetsu was not surprised by Fugaku Uchiha's answer.

"I am well aware that my illness is basically incurable. I am here today only to make a deal. I hope that you will protect my Hozuki clan after I die."

"That..."

Fugaku Uchiha hesitated for a moment.

"Why don't you go to Mei Terumi? You two should know each other better, shouldn't you? She's the leader of the Bloodline Clan and protects the Hozuki clan, it's only natural."

"There is mutual trust between me and the leader of the Underworld, but we are not the same gender."

"Wrong gender?"

Fugaku Uchiha raised an eyebrow.

"Besides, given your relationship, it's actually... pretty much the same."

As he spoke, he took out a photograph from his pocket and handed it to Uchiha Fugaku.

It was an old black and white photograph, its edges yellowed. The photograph showed a three- or four-year-old boy with the distinctive sharp teeth of the Hozuki clan, grinning as he was held in the arms of a young woman.

"Is this photo of you?"

Fugaku Uchiha picked up the photo and examined it carefully.

"it's me."

"Is it really you?"

"Yes, I was very young back then."

"That's what Hozuki Mangetsu said."

"But I'm not showing you me, I'm showing you the woman holding me. This is my mother, isn't she beautiful?"

Fugaku Uchiha stared at the photo for a while, then nodded.

"very beautiful."

The woman in the photo has long, deep blue hair and rare turquoise eyes, like the clearest seawater. Her features are exquisite yet possess a wild beauty. Most striking are her teeth, which, like Hozuki Mangetsu's, are sharp shark teeth.

This resolved a question that Fugaku Uchiha had been pondering: why the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, was a normal human, while the brothers Mangetsu Hozuki and Suigetsu Hozuki both had sharp fangs—it turned out they inherited them from their mother.

"My mother comes from the Sea Clan of the Land of the Sea. She has mermaid blood and is naturally skilled at controlling water. That's why my father married her. He hoped to use the bloodline of the Sea Clan to enhance the bloodline limit of our Hozuki clan. Unfortunately, it was enhanced a bit too much."

At this point, Hozuki Mangetsu sighed.

"I'm about the same age as your eldest son, and my mother is about the same age as Aunt Mikoto."

"Moreover, mermaids have long lifespans. Even though they have given birth to two children, they look no different from seventeen or eighteen years old."

"So, what are you trying to say?"

"You married my mother, so there shouldn't be any major problems, right?"

"??? Cough cough cough..."

Mei Terumi suddenly looked up and almost choked on her coffee.

"Hozuki Full Moon! What are you doing?"

Hozuki Mangetsu raised his hands in a reassuring gesture.

"Chief of the Underworld, don't look at me like that. Letting my mother marry Lord Fugaku with my younger brother is the last protection for my Hozuki clan. Only in this way can my younger brother take advantage of this time to truly develop and grow, and inherit the Hozuki clan in the future. At the same time, it will also find a good home for my mother."

He looked at Fugaku Uchiha and continued.

"Of course, I won't let you pay for nothing. All the Hozuki clan's property will belong to my mother as her dowry. As for the Hozuki clan's summoning scroll, after I die, I will leave it to my younger brother Suigetsu. I believe that with the Uchiha clan's character, they would never swallow it up, right?"

Fugaku Uchiha opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"No, I mean... does your mom know?"

"I wrote to her and told her."

Hozuki Mangetsu answered very decisively.

"I explained the pros and cons to her. As a ninja from Kirigakure, she will definitely agree. Right now, she should be on her way here, with my brother and all those house deeds, land deeds, and stuff."

"you..."

Fugaku Uchiha's expression became extremely complicated. Finally, he coughed twice, trying to cover something up.

"You've really put me in a difficult position. You've given me the opportunity to take advantage of my vulnerability."

But the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned upwards in a distinct arc, and he patted Hozuki Mangetsu on the shoulder.

"However, since everyone's already here, I can't... let your mother make a wasted trip. Okay, don't worry, I've got the Hozuki clan's back. The only problem is, what should we call each other from now on?"

"We each have our own perspective."

Hozuki Mangetsu replied.

---Divider line

The Land of Water, the Hidden Mist Village.

In a secret chamber deep underground, the dim candlelight cast flickering shadows on the stone walls. Uchiha Obito leaned against the cold stone wall, his single eye beneath his mask fixed on the White Zetsu on the ground. This White Zetsu had just returned from the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, using the Mayfly Technique to transmit information back.

"Hahaha..."

After hearing White Zetsu's description, Obito Uchiha couldn't help but laugh, so much so that he couldn't straighten up.

"That devil... hahaha... Hozuki Mangetsu, that's really ruthless!"

"But could this be another of that guy's schemes or something?"

Obito Uchiha's voice still carried a hint of laughter, but his eyes had sharpened. The "he" he was referring to was naturally Fugaku Uchiha.

"My clone had been lurking around Hozuki Mangetsu before that battle even began."

Black Zetsu's voice was hoarse yet calm.

"After I leaked the information about Hozuki Mangetsu's bloodline disease, Uchiha Fugaku did not contact him. Furthermore, my clone, White Zetsu, did not burrow underground and would not be detected by his [Yomi Sootan Blade]. Based solely on appearance, even with the Mangekyou Sharingan, it would be impossible for him to discover that one of Hozuki Mangetsu's followers was my clone."

"Ha, what an interesting fellow."

Obito Uchiha took a deep breath, but still laughed out loud, because he suddenly remembered the swear words that many children would use when they got angry while fighting in Konoha when they were young. At this moment, it felt perfectly natural to apply them to Fugaku Uchiha and Mangetsu Hozuki.

"My plan was just to keep him hanging on by the promise of White Zetsu's continued life, so he would create enough chaos for us. But this guy was even willing to send his own mother away just to make Fugaku Uchiha completely believe him."

"That's normal, after all, everyone wants to live."

Black Zetsu said calmly. He had lived for over a thousand years and had seen too much of the dark side of humanity. In Black Zetsu's view, Hozuki Mangetsu's actions were nothing more than the most ordinary portrayal of human nature.

"so."

Obito Uchiha stood up and dusted himself off.

When will our plan begin?

"The supplies have been mostly gathered. Soon, you can begin to draft the assassination list."

"it is good"

---Divider line

On the official road leading to Konoha from the Land of Fire.

Several ornately decorated carriages were speeding along, each guarded by a sufficient number of ninjas. There was even a ninja legion at the front and rear of each carriage, ensuring that the people inside would not be threatened in any way.

Inside the carriage, the daimyo of the Land of Fire lifted the curtain and asked with a somewhat pale expression.

"Asuma, how much longer until we reach Konoha?"

Outside the carriage, Asma approached.

"It'll be soon, Daimyo. Don't worry, the Exploding Insect is a secret technique specifically designed for ninjas. Its eggs need to absorb chakra to hatch. Since you don't have chakra in your body, the eggs won't hatch and there won't be any problems. As soon as we get to Konoha, the medical team will be able to remove the eggs quickly."

"I know, but the thought of having that thing inside me... ugh, it's awful!"

The lord angrily pounded on the carriage window frame.

"What are their names again? ... What are they called?"

"Xuanyuan Clan".

Asma reminded him.

"Yes! Xuanyuan Zhong!"

Da Ming gritted his teeth in anger.

"Those despicable bastards! Fighting in the capital of the Land of Fire, showing no regard for the dignity of a daimyo! And they even dragged my whole family into this! Honestly, ever since your father lost to the Uchiha clan, anyone dares to run rampant in the capital of the Land of Fire! This never happened before!"

Asuma looked embarrassed.

"I apologize, Daimyo, this is our responsibility, it is Konoha's fault for failing to protect us."

"I'm not blaming you!"

Da Ming waved his hand.

"I just want to say that we need to teach these people a lesson! It's just one lost war, the Land of Fire isn't extinct! Do they really think I'm easy to bully?"

"Yes, yes, we will definitely teach them a lesson. Once you have recovered, Konoha will immediately organize an elite force to wipe out anyone who dares to act recklessly in the capital of the Land of Fire."

"Clear them out fiercely! Vigorously!!"

The daimyo angrily lowered the carriage curtain. Asuma straightened up and looked at the faint outline of Konoha Village in the distance. He couldn't help but sigh. His father, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was truly on the road of "tricking" the daimyo, with no turning back.

Xuanyuan Zhong was someone he secretly hired, and they deliberately fought near the capital of the Fire Kingdom, Daming Prefecture.

Of course, this was done through several intermediaries to ensure that Konoha wouldn't be directly implicated. The recent chaos in the Land of Fire's capital was also the result of him deliberately turning a blind eye and even secretly fueling the flames.

All of this was instructed to be done by his father in a letter.

Why did he, the son of the Hokage and a Jonin of Konoha, stay away from Konoha and serve as the Daimyo's bodyguard for ten years? His core purpose was to monitor and control the Daimyo. For example, this time, his mission was to ensure that the Daimyo was frightened and injured just right, but not in real danger of death.

"I just don't know what Father is up to."

He could only guess part of it. Without Konoha's protection, these so-called nobles were nothing more than meat on a chopping board. As for the deeper implications, he could only ask his father.

"Sigh, I guess I'm just not cut out for this kind of thing..."