"Relax, Mikoto. It's just a meeting—nothing will happen."
Saigoji Youmu was not worried. Although the people of the Uchiha clan were arrogant, they were not stupid. The rumors had been circulating for a few days, but today he was invited through the words of Uchiha Mikoto herself. This proved that the Uchiha had been investigating internally. With that in mind, Saigoji Youmu felt that the possibility of conflict between the two parties was very small.
"I hope."
His words eased Uchiha Mikoto's worries somewhat, though they were not completely eliminated.
…
In the Uchiha Clan Land
Uchiha Mikoto led Saigoji Youmu through the houses to the center of the village. It seemed that the patriarch had received the news long ago. When Saigoji Youmu and Uchiha Mikoto arrived at the patriarch's house, tea had already been prepared—as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"Mikoto, you step back first," said the patriarch of the Uchiha clan lightly.
"Yes," she replied.
After only the two remained, the patriarch spoke:
"Let me introduce myself—I am the head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Miyayama."
Then Saigoji Youmu began the conversation:
"Patriarch Miyayama, you invited me because of the rumors about the Sharingan circulating in Konoha?"
"Yes," Uchiha Miyayama nodded eagerly. "I don't know the full truth of the rumors..."
At the mention of rumors, his eyes flashed with fire and anticipation. "Hehe." Saigoji Youmu thought it was a little funny—Miyayama was acting a bit too eagerly.
"I do know all the secrets of the Sharingan."
"All the secrets—from its awakening to the final stage of its evolution."
"Patriarch Miyayama, what will you offer in exchange for this information?" Saigoji Youmu asked.
Saigoji Youmu pressed, understanding Miyayama's intentions—though this did not mean that Miyayama was necessarily a good person.
"Well..." Uchiha Miyayama opened his mouth but said nothing further.
"If Lord Saigoji is willing to tell me the secrets of the Sharingan," he finally continued, "then the Uchiha clan will be your best allies."
After a moment of hesitation, Miyayama could only offer this, trying to impress Youmu.
"It seems that Uchiha Miyayama can't come up with anything that would impress me."
"I don't need such a feeble guarantee."
"Farewell."
...
Before Saigoji Youmu could leave, Uchiha Miyayama quickly called out, "Anything else?"
"Lord Saigoji, what do you want?"
"You Uchiha clan hold nothing that interests me," Youmu replied bluntly.
"Mikoto is my apprentice; I don't want her to be troubled."
"I hope that Patriarch Miyayama will think more carefully before taking any action."
Boom! The sound of the door closing echoed.
"Hateful."
Uchiha Miyayama gritted his teeth, his expression turning extremely ugly. As the patriarch of the Uchiha clan, he had always maintained an aloof demeanor, and he had never been treated in this manner before. Yet, when facing Saigoji Youmu, he could only endure it.
As Youmu had suspected, it had taken Miyayama two days to investigate and clear up the relevant information on Youmu. When Uchiha Miyayama saw the data, his initial reaction was disbelief, followed by deep shock.
Youmu's strength was no secret to the patriarch. What shocked him was that such a powerful man had been living in Mu Ye for so long. Uchiha Miyayama, also a member of Konoha's upper class, was well acquainted with the ruthless styles of Shimura Danzō and others. It stood to reason, given their methods, that dangerous individuals like Saigoji Youmu should have been eliminated long ago. Yet, Shimura Danzō had remained uncharacteristically silent.
Uchiha Miyayama was no fool; he knew very well there were only two possibilities in such a situation. One was that Shimura Danzō dared not act; the other, that he wanted to act but simply couldn't. Either way, it meant that Saigoji Youmu was someone the Uchiha clan could not afford to cross.
Even so, Uchiha Miyayama found that he still underestimated Saigoji Youmu. In Youmu's heart, he valued Uchiha Mikoto alone more than the entire Uchiha clan.
"By the way, Mikoto…"
Thinking of Mikoto, Uchiha Miyayama's eyes suddenly lit up. "Maybe let Mikoto mention it."