Muzan was taken to the camp, his pressure points pressed to block chakra flow and temporarily paralyze his body—or so Amanai and Toshiro thought.
Unfortunately for them, Muzan's body had evolved. Pressing his pressure points meant nothing to him. But Muzan played along to learn more about his situation.
As Muzan approached the camp, he could sense several eyes on him. Even a single twitch of his muscles was inspected carefully from a distance.
Amanai and Toshiro stopped in front of a tent larger than the others. Two guards stood before the entrance.
"We have a suspicious person with us. It seems he possesses the Sharingan," Amanai informed them.
"So what's the problem? If he possesses a Sharingan, it means he's one of our own, doesn't it?" one of the guards asked.
Amanai shook his head. "His origins are unknown, and he seems to have no knowledge of the Uchiha clan. I would like to inform Lord Urashi about this. It's a matter of great concern."
The guards nodded before one entered the tent. It didn't take long before he came out and gestured everyone inside.
Amanai and Toshiro dragged Muzan in.
Inside the tent, several small candles were lit. A man in his forties stood at the center, his hair grey in certain places. He appeared to be the one called 'Lord Urashi.'
He cleared his throat slightly. "What's the matter?"
Amanai stepped forward and bowed his head slightly. "Lord Urashi, we found this man wandering near our camp perimeter. When we confronted him, he displayed the Sharingan. However, when we questioned him about his identity and clan affiliation, he claimed to have no knowledge of the Uchiha clan whatsoever. He says he doesn't know what an Uchiha is."
Amanai paused, his expression serious.
"We pressed his pressure points and restrained him as a precaution. He carries no weapons, no supplies, and was found completely naked. His behavior is suspicious, but what concerns me most is his Sharingan. Toshiro witnessed something strange—the tomoe appeared after we captured him, as if they manifested on the spot."
Toshiro nodded in agreement. "It's true, Lord Urashi. When I first saw his eyes, they were just red with no tomoe pattern. But moments later, two tomoe had formed in each eye. I've never seen anything like it."
He glanced at Muzan with uncertainty.
"He has no identification, no gear, nothing that would tell us where he came from. But he managed to break through Amanai-san's genjutsu almost instantly and dodged a kunai throw with ease. He's clearly trained or possesses unusual abilities. We thought it best to bring him directly to you rather than make any decisions ourselves."
Urashi's eyes narrowed as he studied Muzan's face. "Are you certain about what you saw? The Sharingan awakens under extreme stress, yes, but the tomoe don't simply materialize before your eyes."
Toshiro hesitated, his confidence wavering. "I... I thought I saw it happen, but everything occurred so quickly. When I first looked at him, I believed his eyes were just red, but..."
"But what?" Urashi pressed.
"But I cannot be completely certain, my lord," Toshiro admitted, lowering his head. "The moonlight was dim, and the situation was tense. Perhaps the tomoe were already there, and I simply didn't notice them immediately."
Urashi turned to Amanai. "And you? What did you see?"
Amanai frowned, his jaw tight. "I cannot guarantee what Toshiro claims, Lord Urashi. When I first moved to restrain him, Toshiro had already called out, asking if he was an Uchiha. His eyes were crimson from the moment we spotted him. Whether the tomoe were present from the start or appeared later, I cannot say with certainty. It all happened within seconds."
Urashi stepped closer to Muzan, his gaze sharp and calculating. "You claim you don't know what an Uchiha is. You claim ignorance of your own heritage. Let me see the truth of your words."
His eyes shifted, the tomoe in his Sharingan spinning slowly. Three tomoe in each eye rotated as Urashi's chakra flared subtly while he cast his genjutsu.
Muzan felt something—a presence trying to push into his mind, like fingers attempting to pry open a locked door. But the door wouldn't budge. Whatever Urashi was attempting simply slid off him like water off stone.
Urashi's eyes widened slightly. He increased the intensity, pouring more chakra into the technique. Still nothing.
After several long moments, Urashi stepped back. His expression was carefully neutral, but a flicker of confusion passed through his eyes.
"Interesting," he said quietly.
Amanai noticed the shift. "My lord?"
Urashi didn't answer immediately. He circled Muzan once, examining him from all angles. Finally, he spoke. "His mind is... resistant. My genjutsu doesn't work on him."
Toshiro's eyes widened. "That's impossible. Your genjutsu is among the strongest in the clan—"
"I'm aware," Urashi cut him off. "Yet the fact remains."
He stopped in front of Muzan again, arms crossed. "This complicates matters. Either he has received specialized training to resist genjutsu—training that would require resources and knowledge of Uchiha techniques—or..." He paused. "Or there is something unusual about his condition."
Urashi was silent for a moment, thinking. The Uchiha clan was currently locked in a brutal war with the Senju. Every capable fighter mattered. Killing a potential two-tomoe Sharingan user would be wasteful, especially if he could be brought into the fold.
"How old are you?" Urashi asked Muzan directly.
Muzan considered lying but decided against it. "Twenty."
Several people in the tent exchanged glances. Twenty years old with only two tomoe was nothing impressive. Children as young as twelve or thirteen in the clan had already awakened three tomoe. Some prodigies had accomplished it even younger.
But Urashi's thinking was practical, not prideful. They weren't at the front lines right now. They had time. And a two-tomoe Sharingan user, even a late bloomer, was better than none at all.
"Here is what we will do," Urashi announced. "This man will remain with us. He will be watched at all times. We will teach him about the Uchiha clan, our ways, our techniques. If he truly is a lost member of our bloodline—perhaps separated from the clan long ago—then it is our duty to bring him back into the fold."
He fixed Muzan with a hard stare. "But make no mistake. If you prove to be a spy or a threat to this clan, you will be eliminated without hesitation. Do you understand?"
Muzan nodded slowly. "I understand."
"Good." Urashi turned to Amanai and Toshiro. "You two will be responsible for him. Teach him the basics. Start with clan history, our current situation, and basic chakra control. Keep him under constant supervision. He is not to leave the camp without permission, and he is not to be alone. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lord Urashi," both men said in unison.
Urashi waved his hand dismissively. "Take him to get some clothes and assign him a tent. We'll determine his usefulness in the coming days."
As Amanai grabbed Muzan's arm to lead him out, Urashi added one more thing. "And find out his name. We should at least know what to call him."
Amanai nodded. Once they were outside the tent, he looked at Muzan. "What is your name?"
"Muzan," he replied simply.
"Muzan," Amanai repeated, testing the name. "All right. Come with us. We'll get you sorted."
As they walked through the camp, Muzan took in his surroundings. Dozens of tents were scattered across the area. Men and women in similar attire moved about—some sharpening weapons, others practicing hand signs, a few sitting around small fires eating. All of them had the same red and white fan symbol on their clothing.
Many eyes turned to watch as he passed. Muzan could sense their curiosity and suspicion.
Toshiro led them to a supply tent and grabbed a set of dark clothes—a simple black shirt and pants, along with standard-issue sandals. He tossed them to Muzan.
"Put these on."
Muzan dressed quickly, feeling somewhat more comfortable now that he wasn't naked. The clothes were plain but functional.
Once he was dressed, Amanai led him to a small tent at the edge of the camp. "This will be your tent. Don't get comfortable. Someone will be stationed outside at all times. If you try to run, you'll be caught and killed. Understood?"
"Understood," Muzan said.
Toshiro crossed his arms. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, your education begins. You have a lot to learn about what it means to be an Uchiha."
With that, both men left. Muzan could sense one of them taking up position just outside the tent entrance.
He sat down on the thin bedroll provided and closed his eyes. His mind raced with everything that had happened.