There's one thing Andrew couldn't deny—it's completely reasonable that the Tailed Beasts are treated as strategic weapons by the major powers. Not just the Nine Tails—any Tailed Beast, if properly harnessed, becomes a force of mass destruction. If he could, Andrew would have loved to wield one himself.
Once the Uchiha clan separates from Konoha, possessing four pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan and a Tailed Beast would make even the mighty Hidden Leaf tread carefully. It wouldn't just be Konoha that would reconsider their actions, but the other villages too. Mangekyō Sharingan may be powerful, but their influence and intimidation pale in comparison to the raw destructive symbolism of a Tailed Beast.
Tailed Beasts were universally feared and acknowledged across all five great nations. This wasn't simply about strength; it was also about perception. The common consensus in the shinobi world was clear: the Tailed Beasts were god-like entities of destruction, while Mangekyō Sharingan remained an elusive mystery to most villages.
"Shisui, has the security company received any requests from Mist Shinobi lately?" Andrew asked, breaking the silence as he calculated his next move.
Shisui glanced at him, puzzled. "The Daimyo of the Land of Water submitted a request once, but due to the current instability in Mist, we didn't accept it. Why do you ask—are you thinking of going to Mist?"
Andrew didn't answer right away. He had been thinking deeply about how Obito managed to control Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage. If he couldn't understand the technique, then acquiring a Tailed Beast remained an unrealistic fantasy. Most of the Beasts were sealed within Jinchūriki—free ones were practically impossible to encounter.
But Obito had managed it. He had controlled a Kage. That was a mystery Andrew couldn't ignore. If they both wielded Mangekyō Sharingan, what was stopping Andrew from doing the same?
Besides, Konoha had relaxed their aggressive posture toward Uchiha lately. That settled the immediate concern—now it was time to think long-term. Obito remained a threat, perhaps the most dangerous one of all.
That lunatic didn't just want revenge—he wanted annihilation. Most members of the Uchiha were psychologically intense in one way or another, but Obito was something else entirely. He was obsessed with a dead girl, angry at the world, and chose to unleash his vengeance not on the people responsible, but on his own teacher and clan. That wasn't rational—it was sickness.
"You want revenge? Fine. Go to Mist Shinobi. But what did Minato ever do to you?" Andrew muttered to himself.
What bothered him even more was that Obito spared Kakashi every time. No one else was shown mercy—not his clan, not his village—but Kakashi remained untouched. And even now, Obito showed no urgency in reclaiming his other eye.
"I'm planning to take a look at Mist," Andrew finally replied. "We've watched from the shadows long enough. You've seen what this village is really like by now, haven't you? Our dream of reforming Konoha was naïve. Uchiha must leave. But leaving isn't enough—we need leverage. That means understanding how the other four villages might react. It means finding a place where our clan can safely take root."
He paused to let the words settle. Shisui was silent, absorbing the weight of the plan.
"When a clan leaves its village, it's not as simple as packing up and walking out," Andrew continued. "The outside world needs to accept the departure as legitimate. Otherwise, even if we say we've cut ties with Konoha, others will still treat us like we're Konoha's assets."
"They'll come after our Sharingan with so-called 'just cause,' saying we're still part of the Hidden Leaf."
Even if they did it secretly, it was one thing. But if they had public justification, they could mobilize an entire village against them. The precedent was already there: the Uzumaki clan had once been wiped out under similar circumstances. While Konoha stood by passively, the other four great villages struck simultaneously. Today, only a few scattered remnants remain.
Mangekyō Sharingan was powerful—but even it couldn't stand against that kind of onslaught. One user might survive using Susanoo, but what about the rest of the clan? And worse, Mangekyō had side effects—each use brought the user closer to blindness. Without eternal evolution, they were gambling their future every time they activated those eyes.
Uchiha had four Mangekyō Sharingan users—but none of them possessed the Eternal Mangekyō. That lack of sustainability severely limited their options.
"I understand," Shisui said quietly. "While you're gone, I'll protect the family."
Andrew nodded. Shisui had matured quickly, especially after witnessing the village's hypocrisy. "Good. Tell Yan and the others to come meet me. I'll wait for them outside the village. No need to sneak around."
With Itachi currently stationed at the Daimyo's residence and Shisui guarding from within, Andrew felt confident. Fugaku, the clan head, still held Mangekyō Sharingan—though he rarely revealed it—and could step up if needed. Unless the Third Hokage truly wanted to ignite conflict, there would be no move against Uchiha in Andrew's absence.
And Danzo—that old vulture—remained the true concern. Andrew didn't believe for a second that he had let go of his ambitions. Even if Root had been disbanded publicly, he knew Danzo was working in the shadows. But at least now, with Root formally disbanded, Andrew could pressure the Hokage into taking a stand if something surfaced.
"Huh? Andrew left the village? When?" Hiruzen asked, brows furrowed, as he paced the Hokage's office. His mood had been lifted after securing an unfavorable treaty with the Cloud Shinobi, but this news dampened everything.
Right now, he was juggling the chaos between the civilian Hokage loyalists and the ninja faction, trying to keep the village stable. And Andrew leaving at such a time could spell trouble. Would he stir up conflict again?
"Just a short while ago. He was accompanied by Uchiha Kamsu and Uchi Raimon. The cover story is that they're on a mission, but there's no such mission registered."
Three Uchiha Jōnin, including a Mangekyō user, had just left the village—that was a significant force. Andrew alone could rival an entire surprise attack unit in times of war.
Hiruzen exhaled heavily. "Let them go. It's fine."
Uchiha's thug company was no secret anymore. For years now, they'd operated independently of Konoha's mission system, taking private commissions through the company. Konoha's command over Uchiha had been practically symbolic.
Honestly, with so many other fires to put out, Andrew's absence might actually help. Less noise from Uchiha meant more room to negotiate with the frustrated ninja clans and stabilize internal affairs.
"Andrew's gone?" In the dark, musty chambers of Root's underground base, Danzo's eyes shot open.
"Yes, sir. Shisui has assumed command of the Police Force in his absence. There has been no other significant change among the Uchiha."
Danzo clenched his fists in frustration. Shisui stayed behind, Itachi remained at the Daimyo's side, and now Andrew had slipped away. They were all too well-positioned. It was suffocating.
This damned Uchiha boy had wrapped chains around Danzo without him even realizing it. Every move was countered. Every scheme blocked. He couldn't lash out without triggering a political firestorm.
He had no choice but to swallow his anger—for now.
Uchiha was moving. The world just didn't realize it yet.
Their exile wasn't desperation—it was strategy. While the rest of the world saw them as disgraced, they were building their foundation, carefully positioning their pieces across the board.
And when the time came, they wouldn't be the hunted anymore. They'd be the storm.