"Hey, did you hear? He once claimed Lord Tobirama would choose him as Hokage?"
"Laughable, is someone like that even worthy? If an Uchiha could become Hokage, Madara wouldn't have had to defect back then."
"Come on, no matter what, he's currently the strongest in the village. Saying that is a bit too much..."
"Tch, he's just relying on those eyes and Lord Tobirama's research. With those kinds of resources, even a pig could become Kage-level!"
One night, Kagami sat despondently atop the Hokage Rock, his mind unable to find peace for a long time.
His beliefs, his unwavering ninja way, the 'Will of Fire' that had carried him this far—for the first time, they began to waver.
"Did I... really do something wrong?"
One morning, a piece of news suddenly spread through every street and alley of Konoha:
"Uchiha Kagami had long coveted the position of Hokage. He colluded with foreign powers, cooperated with Kumogakure to weaken Konoha's strength, deceived Lord Tobirama's trust, and ultimately, during the negotiation meeting, conspired with his brother, the rogue-nin Uchiha Kamihane, to kill Lord Tobirama—all just to make himself Hokage!"
Something absurd happened: this baseless rumor, which no one knew the origin of, was inexplicably propagated as the 'truth.'
Through streets and alleys, countless villagers marched in protest, demanding the execution of Uchiha Kagami to restore peace and justice to Konoha!
This incident drew the high-level attention of Konoha's leadership, who immediately convened a meeting. However, the focus wasn't on uncovering the truth, but rather on debating who would claim his body and Sharingan after his execution.
That night, Uchiha Yuko ran to Kagami's house in tears, her eyes red as she sobbed:
"Kagami... I never thought you were this kind of person. Do you even know that because of your actions, my brother has been impeached by the clan elders!"
"Yuko, even you won't believe me?" Kagami's eyes widened as his last shred of conviction crumbled.
Yuko's voice was shrill with anguish: "I must have been blind to ever fall for you, even... to carry your child... I hate you!"
In that moment, Kagami felt as if struck by lightning, a numbing cold spreading from his chest to his fingertips, leaving no trace of warmth.
Lost in confusion, the Will of Fire he had upheld his entire life shattered completely. Without resistance, he silently watched his comrades—those he had once risked his life to protect—as they led him to the execution ground.
He knelt before the guillotine, his gaze slowly sweeping over the villagers gathered below the execution ground. Their expressions varied—some cheered, some applauded, while others cursed with venomous hatred, as if he had murdered their mothers. Yet, he couldn't recall ever wronging any of them.
"I truly was wrong…"
His face was pale, lips pressed tightly together. At this point, any further defense was futile. They hadn't even bothered to bind him, certain he wouldn't resist.
He didn't beg for mercy, nor did he rage. Silently, he watched the crowd that wished for his death, burying all his grievances and unwillingness deep within, turning them into a bone-chilling cold.
"So... this is what betrayal feels like..."
The time had come. The elder of the Shimura clan in charge of the execution immediately waved his hand, and the executioner obeyed, preparing to raise the guillotine blade.
At that very moment, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck from the clear sky, 'crack'—leaving the executioner charred on the outside and tender on the inside.
The dazzling lightning, even in broad daylight, forced the Konoha villagers to rub their eyes.
As their vision cleared, they were startled to discover an additional figure standing beside Kagami, appearing as if from nowhere.
"It's about time. You should come with me now," Kamihane tilted his head slightly, his smile pure and untainted, "little brother."
Kagami remained unmoved, his eyes dull and lifeless, like withered grapes.
"How utterly repulsive!" Kamihane spread his arms, his light tone concealing a sneering demon, "Behold, this is the true shinobi world, the true nature of human hearts, this so-called Konoha Village!"
Within the borders of the Land of Fire, atop a certain cliff.
"You have good taste. This place with its clear waters and lush mountains makes for a perfect dueling ground," Kamihane said with his hands clasped behind his back, leisurely admiring the scenery. "I haven't been idle this past year either—I've developed some interesting things, and you're just the right person to test them on."
Kagami asked softly, "Brother, did you do all this?"
"I did nothing but instigate the war, without even participating in it from start to finish." Kamihane's lips curled into a smirk. "Isn't that laughable?"
Kagami looked up blankly at the clear blue sky. "I once believed that protecting my comrades meant protecting the village… But the outcome now tells me I was wrong…"
"Now you feel wronged?" Kamihane shook his head lightly. "Konoha was never a place of righteousness. You may be the first to bear such a tragic fate, but you certainly won't be the last."
He wrinkled his nose, suddenly impatient. "Enough, let the battle begin. That ridiculous five-year pact you proposed to protect Konoha holds no meaning anymore."
"Come on, I've made my resolve." Kagami took a deep breath and pointed at his own chest. "Kill me, if you can."
A phantom shadow flashed as Kamihane thrust a sword finger into Kagami's chest, piercing through with a cyan light that bore a bloody hole through his heart, leaving a gaping wound from front to back. The sword's energy didn't stop there, tearing through over a dozen large trees behind him as well.
Kagami coughed up blood and took a few steps back, reaching into his robe. Kamihane thought he was about to pull out a ninja tool, but it turned out to be just a scroll.
"I no longer know how to move forward. Perhaps my disappearance would be the better choice for Konoha and my brother."
He tossed the scroll to Kamihane, then slowly raised his hand, fingertips reaching toward his own eyes.
"I know you planted a talisman in my heart to protect my pupil power, and it did help me a lot in the war, but it's meaningless now..."
With that, he said, digging out his own eyes with his hands and trembling as he offered them to Kamihane.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have betrayed you back then. I know these words are utterly useless now, but this is the only thing I can offer you as compensation." Kagami let out a bitter, tragic smile, golden-red blood streaming from beneath tightly shut eyelids. "Brother, the path ahead... please walk it in my stead..."
"That scroll contains a Wood Release jutsu developed by Lord Hashirama. Perhaps it will be of some help to you..."
He took two steps back, spreading his arms as if to embrace someone, his black hair stirring without any wind. The air gradually filled with a rich, life-giving aura, and just one breath of it left one feeling refreshed and invigorated.
The surrounding plants and flowers grew wildly, instantly spreading a refreshing aura as vast flower fields sprang up, adorned with peach blossoms and willow greens, exuding a rich and fragrant scent. With the gentle breeze, petals of various colors danced in the air, creating a scene of falling blossoms in profusion.
Kamihane gazed at his younger brother with gentle eyes, "Do you have any last words?"
"In another year, my child will be born in Konoha. Whether they meet misfortune or not is up to you."
Kagami's body began to radiate a sacred white light, growing increasingly intense until it illuminated the entire world in dazzling brightness.
"Goodbye, brother."
Brilliant light erupted as a towering tree with luxuriant foliage burst from the earth. The ground continued to tremble from countless robust roots spreading through the soil, while turbulent air currents swept across the flower field, sending petals swirling into the sky.
Uchiha Kagami vanished.
In his place stood a colossal tree hundreds of meters tall, its trunk so wide it would take dozens of people to encircle it, alongside a vibrant and beautiful flower field.
Kamihane stood silently in the flower field for a long while, his black clan robes fluttering in the wind.
Finally, he carefully stored his brother's eyes, slipped his hands into his pockets, and walked away.
"From today onward, the grudges between you and me are settled."
[End of Volume One]
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