**Chapter 63: Becoming Sasuke's Stepping Stone**

The Uchiha clan doesn't need too many voices.

Raijin had already come to this conclusion a long time ago.

The Uchiha clan must be firmly grasped in his hands.

Elder Setsuna held too much influence within the Uchiha clan.

If they were to reach that point, orders from Raijin might not be relayed quickly.

So, it would be best for Elder Setsuna to retire.

This would prevent internal conflicts within the Uchiha clan just after Raijin had crossed over.

Now, only Elder Hōseki remained, but he wasn't overly ambitious.

Leaving him to assist Raijin was just perfect.

Raijin used Kamui to move swiftly.

Following Uchiha Izumi's chakra, he appeared before her.

"???"

But the scene left Raijin somewhat puzzled.

Shisui lay on the ground, while Danzo and Uchiha Izumi each held a Mangekyō Sharingan.

The two were facing off, with the surrounding ninjas already lying unconscious.

"Buzz!"

Raijin appeared beside Uchiha Izumi.

He glanced at the Mangekyō in Danzo's hand.

Just like in the original story, Danzo could never manage to get a pair of matching eyes in this life.

"It looks like you've had quite the haul."

Uchiha Raijin placed his hand on Izumi's shoulder.

"Lord Raijin, Itachi..."

Uchiha Izumi hesitated for a moment upon seeing Raijin and asked.

She wanted to personally end Itachi's life.

"Itachi is already dead."

Uchiha Raijin pulled out the container holding Itachi's eyes and waved it in front of Izumi.

Allowing her to see the Mangekyō Sharingan inside.

The pattern was identical to Uchiha Itachi's.

Uchiha Izumi sighed softly.

She had intended to personally end Uchiha Itachi's painful life.

But now that Raijin had taken care of it, it was just as well.

Uchiha Izumi's emotions were complex, an indescribable feeling.

A slight sense of loss, as if some driving force within her had vanished.

Raijin could sense some of Uchiha Izumi's thoughts.

He pulled the girl close, letting her lean against him.

She was originally the same age as Uchiha Itachi, yet she had borne burdens she shouldn't have had to.

When they moved to the Pirate World, he would need to help her release some of the darkness within her heart.

Otherwise, if it continued to oppress her mind, she might turn into an obsessive maniac.

"Uchiha Raijin!"

Danzo's gaze remained fixed on Uchiha Raijin.

Look at this.

Three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.

My God.

This happiness came so suddenly.

Danzo nearly fainted from excitement.

Each pair of Mangekyō has different abilities.

And Danzo had just figured out Raijin's ability.

It seemed to be related to space.

Uchiha Izumi's ability was offensive.

As for Uchiha Itachi, he didn't know.

But he already had one of Shisui's eyes.

**At This Moment!**

Danzo had never felt this inflated before.

With four pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, what were the Five Great Nations of the ninja world?

From now on!

There would be only one voice in the ninja world, and that would be Konoha.

Konoha's rise would begin today.

"Elder Danzo, you should go check on the Third Hokage. He's facing the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

"While you're leisurely scavenging here, that's not what a Konoha elder should be doing."

Raijin protected Uchiha Izumi, looking at Danzo with a smile.

When he arrived, he noticed that the Uchiha clan compound was surrounded by at least a hundred ninjas.

Most of them were Jonin; quite an impressive display.

They were really paying a lot of attention to the Uchiha clan.

It seemed Konoha had been preparing for this.

How convenient.

However, it looked like Konoha had targeted the wrong objective.

"Hmph, just the Nine-Tails! The Third Hokage will surely protect the village."

Danzo said confidently.

Even if he couldn't, it didn't matter.

Isn't that what he's here for?

With four pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, Konoha would stand above the four other major villages in the future.

"..." 

Raijin gave Danzo a strange look.

Was Danzo hoping the Third Hokage would die at the hands of the Nine-Tails?

If the Third Hokage died there, Danzo would become Hokage tomorrow.

Even though the Third Hokage had been so good to him.

Danzo didn't feel anything from Raijin's gaze.

He was often looked at strangely by others.

After so many years of taking the blame for Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had been through too much.

Such looks didn't stir any emotions in Danzo anymore.

However, there was one thing Danzo was concerned about.

"Where have all your Uchiha clan members gone?"

"You wouldn't have secretly sent them out of the village, would you?"

"Uchiha Raijin, you should know that without Konoha, the Uchiha have no place to survive!"

Danzo said coldly as he stared at Raijin.

He had already sent people to investigate the Uchiha compound.

But most of the clan members were already gone.

Vanished without a trace.

Even the clan heads who had come this time.

Neither alive nor dead.

And the Barrier Team reported nothing unusual.

Could there be another way out of the Uchiha compound?

"They're somewhere, Elder Danzo, but you don't need to waste your energy on that."

"Instead, think about how to rebuild Konoha!"

"The next time I come back..."

"I hope you'll give me a warm welcome."

Uchiha Raijin pulled Izumi closer as they both began to phase out, slowly disappearing from the scene.

Danzo stood there in a daze, already having a rough understanding of Raijin's ability.

It was likely that Raijin had used it to take the Uchiha clan away as well.

"Elder Danzo, the Hokage's office has been attacked, and the Scroll of Seals has been taken by Uchiha Raijin."

"The Third Hokage has ordered the capture of any remaining Uchiha members."

A ninja quickly reported to Danzo.

Danzo's face froze, and he quickly glanced at the Hokage's office before rushing over.

That building was incredibly important.

The Fourth Hokage had taken office in that very building.

If he were to become the Hokage, he too would need to stand there.

"Lord Fugaku, Lord Raijin left you a message."

Uchiha Fugaku, who was maintaining order in Konoha, was stopped by a man who seemed to be in a daze.

"Hmm?"

Uchiha Fugaku immediately became cautious, looking at the man.

Was he under a genjutsu?

But hearing Uchiha Raijin's message...

It wouldn't hurt to listen.

"Speak!" Fugaku glanced around to make sure no one else was listening before asking.

"Run! Konoha won't spare the Uchiha clan. The Uchiha will be completely wiped out."

"Not a single member will be left. There's no need to hide your Mangekyō anymore."

"Sasuke will come for your Mangekyō in the future to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō."

"You will witness the prosperity of the Uchiha through Sasuke's eyes."

After speaking, the man collapsed, losing his breath.

Uchiha Fugaku's mind rang with alarm bells, his face twitching uncontrollably.

What had happened to the Uchiha clan?

What had Uchiha Raijin done?

To make the Konoha leadership decide to kill them.

As for Raijin's suggestion to run...

Uchiha Fugaku hesitated, thinking about his second son.

Using his eyes to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō.

This ability had only been awakened by Madara Uchiha.

Could Sasuke really awaken it?

And what about Itachi?

Damn it!

Did Raijin plan to make him a stepping stone for his second son?

To abandon everything and leave Konoha?

No matter how he thought about it, the Uchiha wouldn't have an easy time after tonight.

"Gather everyone left!"

Uchiha Fugaku's face was bitter as he ordered his subordinates.

Raijin had escaped without taking him!

And now, just to make him a stepping stone for Sasuke, he sent a message.

That guy really had no humanity.

---

The next chapter will transition into the "One Piece" world, as indicated by the author.