The Elder Sifang coughed up blood, his face, etched deep with wrinkles, deathly pale.
With Ruri's hand clamped tightly around his throat, pinning him to the ground, there was still a smile on his face as he met Ruri's Sharingan gaze.
"Are you angry? That's right, killing me would put an end to all this. Go ahead. If my life can awaken you, all the better—then you won't have to endure the agony of watching your loved ones die before your eyes. So kill me, if that's what will satisfy you."
Cold sweat ran down Ruri's face. Honestly, facing this Sifang Elder, she felt a chill run to her bones.
"What's the matter, can't do it? You realize, don't you—right now, most of the Uchiha Clan are under my command. Whatever I order, they'll execute without hesitation. So you either slaughter them all, or you kill me, or you sever—by your own hand… Otherwise, the assassinations against your dearest will never end."
"Don't push me!"
Ruri's grip around his throat only grew stronger.
Sifang Elder laughed, coughing as he did.
"Ha… That's it. You can't even bring yourself to kill an old relic like me. You're too attached to emotion, too unwilling to let go, Ruri. Added to your talent, if only you could be ruthless enough—then you'd be the perfect vessel for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Sifang Elder saw through every last one of Ruri's thoughts, making cold sweat break out down her back.
He was deliberately provoking her.
From the start, she'd been trapped within his scheme.
If she killed him, that was precisely what he wished for.
To fall into darkness, to become the second Uchiha Madara—all for power's sake.
"You really are insane."
"Because it's the only way to save our clan… The Uchiha now need a brand new pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, to seize the position of Hokage from the village. Compared to Fugaku, you have more potential to awaken them."
As for Ruri's appraisal, Sifang Elder only smiled indifferently.
Ruri fell silent, forcing herself to calm down, refusing to be swayed by his words.
She released Sifang Elder's throat and stood up.
Sifang Elder didn't show any satisfaction; instead, his face twisted with anger.
Ruri took a long breath of the cold, underground air, walking to the stairs and heading up.
"So that's your decision? If you don't kill me now, from this moment forward, your family will be forever haunted by assassination attempts—until you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan! You're not the type to leave threats lurking, are you? Come, kill me! Then you can protect them! Why won't you kill me?"
Ignoring the furious, maddened roars of the beast behind her, Ruri's heart felt frozen as she climbed the stairs.
She left the basement and opened the inner conference room doors.
Out on the shrine plaza, countless Jonin Uchiha were gathering.
As Ruri emerged from the inner conference room, most eyes glared at her—cold and furious.
Silently, they reproached her prior disrespect toward Sifang Elder.
Wordless, they brushed past her, ice in their presence as they surged into the conference room.
Ruri drifted forward, a little dazed.
Going against the direction of her clan.
"Captain."
A few Uchiha Ninjas hadn't entered. Instead, they came over, worried, confusion in their eyes—not knowing what conflict had erupted between Ruri and Sifang Elder.
"Don't ask. It's not good for you. I'm exhausted—I'll rest now. You all should go get some rest, too."
Ruri spoke softly, descending the Nankai Shrine's stone steps one at a time.
Watching Ruri's figure grow more distant, her direct subordinates exchanged glances.
"What do we do?"
"Captain looks devastated. The blow must've been huge. I've never seen her look like that."
"It was Sifang Elder, after all. He's unmatched within the clan."
The Uchiha Ninjas all agreed, secretly fearful of that radical leader, Sifang Elder.
To command even the most radical ninja into submission… Sifang Elder's terror was beyond their understanding.
◎
Upon returning, Hakushi found Ruri sitting wordlessly in the hallway, staring blankly into the night outside. He couldn't help but worry.
He didn't know what had happened after Ruri met with Sifang Elder, but he'd never seen her shaken like this before.
Whether it was being trapped by Root and encircled by Hidden Sand Ninja, or her anger and helplessness at the Hokage's bias and neglect, or even the death of Sakumo—never had she shown such a hollow, devastated expression.
"Get some rest."
When her daze ended, Ruri turned her head and said suddenly.
Hakushi seemed to pause, then nodded quietly.
As they lay together that night, Hakushi held Ruri gently; she closed her eyes in his arms, so very tired.
What exactly happened after she met Sifang Elder?
Hakushi had no way of knowing.
But the plan to leave Konoha was tomorrow. Tonight, no matter what, he had to be honest with Ruri.
But, seeing her so worn and low, would it be bad timing to tell her now about leaving Konoha tomorrow?
If he'd known this would happen, he should have stopped her earlier. Then he wouldn't feel so conflicted.
Still, it couldn't be put off any longer, no matter what.