Chapter 6: Eyes That See the Future
After closing the gates of the clan compound, Fugaku disbanded the crowd of indignant Uchiha. Only a few high-ranking members remained—Third Elder Takuya, Fourth Elder Yang Ping, Kaien, Itachi, and Shisui, who lay unconscious on a stretcher.
Unlike the enraged masses, the three elders appreciated Fugaku's actions today.
They believed Kaien, though still young and sometimes brash, had shown strategy and composure behind the scenes. Despite being a hawk, anyone who could become an elder wasn't a fool. Surrounded by elite Konoha forces, with Shisui gravely wounded, this simply wasn't the time for a coup.
At least, not until Shisui recovered.
Fugaku saw the approving look from Third Elder Takuya and felt a headache coming. I told you I had it under control. Why won't you believe me?
Still, he didn't dwell on the elders. Right now, he had something important to confirm.
"Kaien," Fugaku said, his gaze sharp. "Have you awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
The room fell silent. Shock registered on everyone's face.
Kaien nodded.
The three tomoe in his eyes spun and transformed—his pattern was unique, like an outward-pointing blade surrounding an inner blooming flower.
The surge of chakra in his eyes made Fugaku instinctively tense.
Impossible…
He was speechless. Kaien was undeniably talented—already an elite with three tomoe at just nineteen. Aside from his weaker genjutsu, he excelled in everything else. Once, due to a bet, Fugaku had tasked Kaien with a dangerous mission, promising the title of acting elder to he succeeded.
He hadn't expected this.
Kaien had awakened the Mangekyō.
"Hahaha… Excellent! Truly excellent!" Fugaku burst out, overjoyed. He was a Mangekyō user and knew how rare and difficult it was to awaken it. For years, he had hidden his power, waiting for the right time to use it as a trump card for the clan.
And now, someone from the younger generation had also awakened it.
Fugaku placed a hand on Kaien's shoulder.
"What I promised before still stands. From today on, you are the deputy patriarch. In a few years, once you've learned the workings of leadership, the position of patriarch will be yours."
His excitement was understandable. During the bloody Third Ninja War, all the major villages suffered severe losses. Konoha had to fight Kumo, Iwa, and Kiri simultaneously. Many of Uchiha's best were lost in that chaos.
The clan desperately needed a young, powerful leader to anchor their future.
Moreover, Kaien had proven himself calculating and bold. He had turned the Shisui incident into a blow against Danzo and emerged as a symbol of justice. This not only embarrassed Danzo but also caused the Hokage to lose trust in him.
Fugaku admired Kaien more and more.
What Fugaku didn't realize was…
Kaien had acted as he did because he knew they couldn't win a war now.
If Shisui's betrayal was exposed, the Uchiha would be seen as victims. The other clans wouldn't dare act rashly. And if a fight did break out… Fugaku, Shisui, Itachi, and Kaien—four Mangekyō users—could destroy most of Konoha's forces.
Kaien watched Fugaku's glowing expression and had to resist the urge to sigh.
So what if I have a Mangekyō? You don't even know your son, and Shisui has it too.
Still, to protect himself, he had to keep up appearances.
Clearing his throat, Kaien said, "Since the clan is in such turmoil, and the patriarch trusts me this much… I won't decline the responsibility."
"I have some ideas for Uchiha's future."
Everyone straightened, the smiles fading as they prepared to listen.
"First, let me tell you about my Mangekyō ability. It's called 'Heaven's Rift.' It allows me to see into the future."
The room froze.
Fugaku and the elders stared wide-eyed. See the future!?
Of course, Kaien was lying. Since his background and powers were self-invented anyway, why not exaggerate?
Truthfully, he hadn't awakened any Mangekyō technique yet.
"If we rebel tonight," Kaien continued calmly, "the Uchiha will be annihilated."
The elders' expressions changed. Fourth Elder Yangping opened his mouth, but Kaien raised a hand to silence him.
"You wish for peace, Fourth Elder. But in ten years… Konoha will be destroyed."
"What!?" Itachi, normally expressionless, widened his eyes.
"Deputy Patriarch… is what you say true?" asked Fourth Elder, his voice hoarse.
Kaien nodded. "If you don't believe me… I'll show you."
His Mangekyō spun rapidly, and chakra ripples enveloped the room. The illusion pulled the others into a vision—like scenes in a scroll.
They saw Fugaku controlling the Nine-Tails… and failing in a coup.
They saw the Uchiha clan wiped out.
They saw Konoha obliterated by a cataclysmic shockwave.
Of course, none of this was real. Kaien had simply used Fugaku's illusionary technique, powered by his knowledge of the real plot, to forge convincing scenes.
Conveniently, the illusion cost him nothing from the system.
He stopped the illusion.
Though the images had been brief, the others were shaken.
The elders turned to Fugaku, eyes full of silent questions.
He sighed, then nodded. Yes, he was a Mangekyō user, too.
They had skipped over Itachi and Shisui because their future actions were too dark to show the elders just yet. Itachi hadn't even turned against the clan yet.
As the elders recovered from the illusion, Kaien spoke again:
"Elders. Patriarch. I know you all want Uchiha to rise again. But the path we were on… it was wrong."
Silence.
From what they'd seen, the title of Hokage hardly seemed worth the cost.
Then Kaien turned to Shisui and Itachi.
"Shisui, you're too naive. Your ideas… are foolish."
Shisui opened his mouth, but Kaien didn't let him speak.
"Itachi, how old is Sasuke?"
Still confused, Itachi answered, "Five years old, Deputy Patriarch."
"Good. Then, both of you, look into my eyes."
Kaien activated his Mangekyō again, pulling both into another illusion.
This time, they saw it all: Shisui's death… Itachi killing the clan… even Izumi, Itachi's childhood friend, dying on the night of the massacre.
They saw Konoha turning its back on Sasuke. The family's wealth was stripped away. Sasuke was growing cold, vengeful—and dying at the Five Kage Summit.
Kaien only showed that much, making it seem Sasuke died there.
Itachi saw himself murder his parents, destroy the clan… and get repaid with Konoha's cold indifference. Sasuke died, the clan perished, and nothing remained.
Shisui and Itachi were speechless. Itachi's faith in Konoha had already been shaken after Shisui's betrayal.
Now, it shattered completely.
Even Shisui saw how cowardly and ridiculous he'd been. His illusions of peace crumbled.
Kaien looked at the technique labeled "Illusion" in his system. The name was now faded—it had been used up.
He spoke again, voice calm and firm:
"The Uchiha are our family first—then we are Konoha's citizens. Without the Uchiha, what does Konoha matter to us?"
"We sought the Hokage title because we needed validation. But the strong don't need recognition."
"If the entire clan is wiped out… what's left of the Uchiha name?"
His words hit like thunder.
They all understood.
In the ninja world, many powerful clans had risen and fallen. But once a clan was gone, their name vanished with them—no matter how glorious their past.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Translated By – Ancient Lores
TL Note:If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to show your support by leaving a review and letting us know what you think!
And if you'd like to see more chapters released faster, send us some Power Stones for extra chapters—your support really helps us keep the translations coming!
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more!— Ancient Lores Translation Team