Ignoring the twisted words coming from Elder Sifang, Ruri walked directly in front of the stone tablet and stopped.
"As expected, you too are a member of the Uchiha Clan. In your pursuit of power, you disregard all means. We're all the same. Go ahead, read the contents on this stone tablet to your heart's content."
Elder Sifang said this with a smile.
"Shut up."
Ruri's voice was low and deep.
Elder Sifang smiled without responding, but his expression showed utter confidence in victory.
Ruri observed the stone tablet with her Sharingan, starting from the beginning, scanning over it, but when she had read about a quarter, she suddenly couldn't go further.
The later content required stronger Donjutsu to read on.
Ruri knitted her brows, focused Sage Art Chakra into her eyes, to further increase her Sharingan's power.
For some reason, Elder Sifang standing to the side suddenly felt his body become extremely heavy.
Especially his own Sharingan—this sensation was like facing Sharingan of a different level.
It was an indescribable oppressive force.
"As expected, you're just like Lord Madara. Even in Three Tomoe state, your Sharingan is already this powerful. See, I wasn't lying. With your Donjutsu, you can see far more on the stone tablet than I ever could, you must've learned many Forbidden Techniques and Mangekyo Sharingan secrets, right?"
Elder Sifang nearly danced in excitement, his face flushed with passion.
He was inwardly ecstatic that Ruri possessed such a powerful Sharingan.
"Since you've discovered everything, Ruri, go do the work yourself. Use your own hands to awaken your Mangekyo Sharingan—experience bathing in the blood of your most beloved person yourself. That way, your chances of opening your eyes will be even greater!"
Elder Sifang rambled excitedly, almost incoherent.
"I know it—you and Lord Madara are very much alike. For power, you stop at nothing. To achieve your goal, no matter how many die, or what is sacrificed, you don't care. For people like you, only power is truly eternal. For yourself, for the Uchiha, even more, to snatch the Hokage seat from the Senju line, this is the path you must walk!"
He gripped Ruri's shoulder, getting more and more agitated as he spoke.
Pa!
Ruri brushed off Elder Sifang's hand impassively, and said coldly, "I'm not going to just obey a bastard like you."
"Wh-what?"
Elder Sifang stared at Ruri in disbelief.
"You saw the stone tablet's deeper secrets, didn't you?"
He was confirming.
"So what if I did?"
"Impossible... You can't possibly lose interest in such power. You're just like Lord Madara—for this power, to obtain the legendary Pupil Technique, you should be utterly resolute. It's impossible for you to be unmoved by such power..."
Elder Sifang seemed somewhat unhinged, unable to believe that Ruri would resist this temptation for power.
As long as you possess that, becoming Hokage is a piece of cake.
"Power is tempting, but I'm not a slave to power. Gaining it this way would only make me feel sick."
"S-sick? But that's legendary might, Ruri—do you even know what you're saying? Don't you wish to become a peerless ninja like Lord Madara? The ultimate power to match the God of Ninja... How could you possibly refuse power like this?"
"You've lost your mind. Calm down. Don't let yourself get fooled by this stuff."
Ruri hoped Elder Sifang would calm down.
"Enough! I don't know what's gotten into you. But Ruri, you must awaken Mangekyo Sharingan. The Uchiha Clan needs your power now. The Third Ninja Realm War has already begun, we must seize this chance to take the Hokage seat! If we miss this, we might never get another opportunity! Can't you grasp something so simple?"
Elder Sifang shrieked, almost hysterical.
There was bloodshot in his eyes now.
Watching the old man in a frenzied state, Ruri could only sigh.
How pathetic.
Was he bewitched by Uchiha Madara's Mangekyo Sharingan's power from back then?
Or was it simply coveting the Hokage position?
Although it's for the sake of the Uchiha Clan, if I really open my eyes this way... to ignore even my beloved, to discard everything for power—if I pursue power so ruthlessly, can I truly be responsible for the entire clan?
All it would do is drive the whole Uchiha Clan even deeper into damnation.
"That's your affair—the Hokage's seat, I don't want it. If you want to fight for it, go ahead. Just don't drag me in."
For the first time, Ruri voiced her lack of ambition for the Hokage position.
She sighed. What a profound disappointment.
As she turned to leave, Elder Sifang's sinister voice sounded from behind her:
"If you won't do it, the assassinations will continue. Unless you kill every last radical Uchiha under my command."
Ruri stopped in her tracks, her eyes full of murderous intent. She turned, her icy gaze like blades stabbing at Elder Sifang.
Elder Sifang realized his provocation had succeeded, and sneered coldly:
"Not just that—your parents are targets in, too. If it fails once, then twice; if not twice, then a third time. Sooner or later, your eyes will be forced open. Those close to you—family, lovers, friends—I'll kill every last one."
"Shut up!"
Boom!
Body slammed into the ground, reverberating with a massive bang.