Chapter 3: Chapter 3

In a small courtyard, a young man asked Kaito in a deep, voice that resonated with both anger and desperation.

"Did Itachi really betray the clan and side with the Konoha higher-ups?!" asked Tekka Uchiha, his eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and fury.

The courtyard, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, was surrounded by the tall, imposing walls of the Uchiha compound, which seemed to close in as the weight of the situation settled over them.

Gathered around with all Uchiha elites, the tension in the air was palpable. The flickering torches cast long, wavering shadows across the stern faces of the gathered shinobi.

"Unfortunately, he has sided with the Leaf and is trying to kill all of our clansmen tonight,"

said Kaito Uchiha, his voice steady despite the grim news he delivered.

The people who Kaito had gathered around were trusted elites who he had grown up with; more importantly, they were not part of the Patriarch's faction.

In order to raise security and prevent any accidents, Kaito had told all the Uchiha clan elites the news of Itachi Uchiha's betrayal and had evacuated all youngsters, women, and elderly people to a safe place.

The night was calm but filled with an underlying tension, the usual sounds of the village replaced by an eerie silence.

"That ungrateful bastard, I didn't expect him to betray the clan like that," said Tekka Uchiha, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.

Tekka Uchiha, a Uchiha police Jonin who was six years older than Kaito and one of the talents of the Uchiha from this era, stood tall and resolute.

The majority of elites in the courtyard felt angered and betrayed, their expressions hardening as they absorbed the news. They glanced around at the familiar setting—the stone paths, the meticulously kept garden, the ancestral symbols etched into the walls—and felt a deep sense of loss.

Had it not been for Kaito today, the Uchiha clan might have been wiped off the map. The courtyard, usually a place of training and camaraderie, now felt like a gathering point before a great battle.

Everyone instantly believed Kaito Uchiha despite him accusing the Patriarch's elder son because, just like Shisui and Itachi, Kaito was also hailed as a Uchiha genius.

After cursing the lineage of the Patriarch, the Uchiha elites asked, "Kaito, what should we do next?" Their voices, filled with a mixture of hope and desperation, echoed through the courtyard.

"Yes, Kaito, you are the strongest among us now, so can you guide us?" The plea hung in the air, a testament to the trust and respect they had for him.

"Yes…" another voice joined in, followed by more. "Yes…"

The others immediately chimed in, their unity evident despite the looming threat. Kaito looked around at his brethren, the moonlight casting a silver glow on their determined faces, and said, "Now that Itachi has colluded with the Konoha officials, I believe they will try to wipe us out tonight! So in the next few hours, I need you to gather as many clansmen as we can trust, so as not to be defeated by Konoha!"

Uchiha Tekka nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, we'll do it now!" The determination in his voice was mirrored by the others. The Uchiha clan is also divided into close and distant relatives, so Kaito naturally had to save all of these people. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of the impending storm.

"Then...that traitor, Itachi...what should we do?" Uchiha Oshiziwa asked hesitantly; after all, Itachi had opened a powerful Uchiha kekkei genkai. The stars above seemed to dim, as if in anticipation of the conflict to come.

"Itachi, I'll take care of him myself!" Kaito's voice was resolute, the conviction in his words leaving no room for doubt. With that said, Kaito opened his eyes, and a swirling pattern instantly appeared in his eyes, the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan.

"This...this is..." Uchiha Oshiziwa suddenly swallowed his spit and said excitedly, "Mangekyo Sharingan!" His awe was mirrored by the others around him. The night air seemed to crackle with energy as they witnessed the powerful eyes.

Others were also extremely shocked to see this scene, their faces a mixture of surprise and hope. Kaito proudly said, "With these eyes, I will let Konoha suffer!" His declaration echoed through the courtyard, a promise of the battle to come.

The courtyard, once a place of peace, now felt like the heart of a gathering storm. The elites stood ready, their spirits bolstered by Kaito's words and the display of his new power. The fate of the Uchiha clan hung in the balance, but with leaders like Kaito, there was a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

***