The streets of Amegakure were quiet that morning. Mist hung low, and every step I took seemed to echo. My thoughts weren't on the village, though. They were on her, the girl in chains from my dream.
Her face, her voice… the way she looked at me. I still didn't know why she felt so real.
Without meaning to, I blinked—and my vision changed. The strange pull of the Rinnegan faded, and I saw the familiar red glow of my Sharingan in a shop window.
It felt… lighter. Like I could finally breathe.
"Lord Akage."
I turned to see Pakura walking quickly toward me. Her eyes told me she carried news.
"What is it?"
"Our scouts returned this morning. They found something… unusual. A small border village in the west was attacked last night. Witnesses said the attackers had red eyes—Sharingan."
My steps slowed. "How many?"
"Three, all wearing black. They fought against a group of mercenaries, but one of them… one of them used a strange power."
I looked at her closely. "What kind of power?"
Pakura hesitated. "They described it as fire—blue fire. But it didn't burn like normal flames. When it touched the ground, it turned the stone and dirt into glass. The survivors swore the flames followed their target… like they were alive."
My Sharingan sharpened. That wasn't normal Uchiha fire style.
"Could it be Mangekyo?" I asked quietly.
She nodded slightly. "That's what I thought. But these Uchiha aren't from Konoha. No one knows where they came from."
I thought for a moment. If it was true, then someone out there had a Mangekyo ability I'd never seen before. And they weren't hiding.
"Did they kill anyone from our side?"
"One mercenary from the Land of Rivers. But they left the others alive. It's almost as if they wanted to be seen."
That… bothered me.
"Tell the scouts to keep their distance. Do not engage. I'll deal with them."
Pakura bowed. "Yes, Lord Akage."
She left, and I stayed there for a moment, the mist curling around me.
Three Uchiha… one with blue flames that turned the earth into glass.
I activated my Hiraishin seal and appeared at the edge of a small village. The villagers relaxed visibly when they saw me — it was clear they trusted me and felt safer knowing I was here because of those three strangers.
I found two survivors and questioned them. Their hands trembled as they explained that the attackers had fled north. They seemed relieved that I was tracking them.
Without a word, I put on a simple black mask and set off, following their tracks silently. After about an hour, moving through the trees, I spotted three figures ahead — two men and a woman.
I quickened my pace, chakra flowing through my legs as I closed the distance. Soon, I was within ten meters.
They turned sharply, eyes sharp and weapons ready.
"Why are you following us?" one demanded, gripping a kunai tightly.
I remained silent, watching calmly through the mask.
Kunai flew at me — swift, precise. I dodged effortlessly, barely moving as explosions erupted behind me.
"Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!" The woman called out, summoning a massive water dragon charging straight at me.
I responded immediately. "Katon: Goka Mekkyaku!" A fierce wall of fire engulfed the dragon, steam rising in thick waves.
One of the men lunged. "Doton: Domu!" His body hardened to stone, and spikes burst from the ground around me.
I countered quickly. "Raiton: Gian!" Lightning crackled, shattering the spikes and throwing him back.
Suddenly, the first man's eyes shifted — his Sharingan morphed into a star-shaped Mangekyo pattern.
Blue flames erupted from his eyes, crackling with deadly heat.
"Amaterasu no Aoi Hono,"
Chrono Lock.
Time froze. The flames, which should burn endlessly, hung suspended like crystal in the air.
I stepped forward, analyzing the chakra flow carefully.
When time resumed, I was already behind him, a kunai pressed against his throat.
"Enough," I said quietly,
They froze, staring at me.
I removed my mask, revealing the spinning red and black Mangekyo Sharingan.
The woman's face paled.
"God of Death… Izuna Uchiha,"
They instinctively took a step back, hands raised in surrender.
"Before we go any further, tell me your names."
The man with the blue flames swallowed hard. "I am Kaito."
The second man's eyes flickered nervously. "I'm Renji."
The woman nodded, voice soft but steady. "Saya."
"Very well, you have my attention."
"Please…" Kaito began.
"I do not deal with pleas," I said coldly.
With a wave of my hands, I sealed their chakra.
"Hiraishin."
In an instant, we were inside my office in Amegakure.
Pakura entered, eyes wide with surprise.
"Already?"
"Outside. No one else enters," I replied firmly.
Turning back to the captives, I demanded, "Speak. Where do you come from?"
Their story came quickly.
"Our ancestors left the main Uchiha clan generations ago," Saya explained. "We lived apart, away from the wars."
I leaned in, voice low and sharp.
"The village you attacked is under my protection. Such acts won't go unpunished."
Suddenly, Kaito shouted in desperation.
"They're coming back! They'll kill us like they killed our parents!"
I raised an eyebrow, interested.
"Who?"
He described a tall man, cold eyes, a black cloak with red markings — a symbol I recognized instantly.
Kara.
I said nothing.
Instead, I gave them a cold smile that left no doubt they were in my hands now.
"Very interesting."