Chapter 17

Outside the Uchiha Clan

We stood before the imposing gates of the Uchiha compound when an attendant approached, "Please come inside." We followed him through the meticulously maintained gardens, finally arriving at the largest residence within the clan.

"The Clan Leader awaits you within," the attendant announced, bowing respectfully before retreating.

Inside, Madara Uchiha sat alone, an air of authority emanating from him.

"Sit," he commanded, his tone arrogant.

I knew what he wanted to discuss, so I remained silent, taking a seat opposite him.

"Ryu, I hear you've been selling healing talismans to the Senju, and not to the Uchiha," Madara stated, his gaze piercing.

I knew he was displeased. Our last encounter, five years ago, had been strained.

"Why are you angry, Madara? If I began mass-producing healing talismans like I do detonating talismans, it would only escalate conflicts. People would become reckless, believing they could easily recover from any injury," I explained. "And selling them to the Senju was an accident. They somehow learned about them."

Madara scrutinized me for a moment, then spoke. "I need your help. I want you to examine Izuna." He paused, his lips tightening, "And transplant his eyes onto me."

"Understood," I agreed.

We proceeded to Izuna's chamber. He was resting, but upon hearing our approach, he opened his eyes and smiled weakly. "Hai, Ryu, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Izuna, but you don't look it."

He chuckled, "You haven't changed a bit. I assume my brother has informed you about my eyes?"

"I know. Don't worry, rest. Everything will be over soon."

Izuna drifted back to sleep. I commenced the delicate procedure, transplanting Izuna's eyes onto Madara. Two hours later, both sets of eyes were bandaged. Madara had received Izuna's eyes, while Izuna's sockets remained empty.

"It's over," I declared, addressing Madara.

"But I believe we can find alternative replacements for Izuna's eyes. We could use the eyes of deceased Uchiha members or even those of ordinary people without any bloodline."

Madara considered this. "Very well. We'll proceed with that when we find suitable replacements."

My own eyes, after extracting them from Madara's sockets, were severely damaged. I understood now why the Mangekyo Sharingan was associated with blindness. Izuna must have known the risks.

We procured the eyes of a man from a village recently destroyed by bandits. Two days later, both Madara and Izuna had their bandages removed. Madara had awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, while Izuna's transplanted eyes had begun to function. Madara initially suggested using the eyes of a deceased Uchiha, but Izuna refused, stating that Uchiha members fought for the clan and deserved respect. Madara, to his credit, accepted Izuna's wishes.

Izuna regained his vision, though his strength had diminished from shadow-level to jonin-level. He accepted this with grace.

I remained in the Uchiha clan for a week.

Madara commissioned me to produce a batch of healing talismans, rewarding me handsomely with a scroll containing a million taels. I left the clan with a sense of accomplishment.

Back in the Village

I secured the scroll containing the million taels and returned home.

A week later, news arrived that the Uchiha and Senju were once again embroiled in a devastating war. Their clan leaders were virtually unstoppable, their clashes obliterating vast swaths of land. I felt helpless, my own strength insufficient to intervene in such a conflict.

Days turned into weeks, then months. I awaited news of the formation of Konoha, but it never came.

Then, unexpectedly, word spread that the Uchiha and Senju had formed an alliance and established a new village.

The Warring States Era, I realized, was finally drawing to a close.

To be continued...