Chapter 56 – The Uchiha's Resolve
Uchiha District, Yōhei Residence.
The sharp clang of clashing kunai echoed through the courtyard.
Two figures darted back and forth, their movements blurring—one closing in, the other sidestepping and countering in perfect rhythm.
It was Uchiha Yōhei, locked in a heated spar with his father, Uchiha Shōsuke, a veteran jonin.
Yōhei's Sharingan gleamed scarlet in the dim light, a single tomoe spinning restlessly with every surge of chakra.
He lunged forward, kunai flashing like a streak of silver aimed straight at his father's chest.
Their blades met again with a sharp clang.
This time, Shōsuke didn't hold back. With the effortless strength of a jonin, he deflected Yōhei's strike and sent the boy flying backward.
Before Yōhei could twist midair to recover, a shadow loomed—his father's hand seized his collar and slammed him flat onto the ground.
The impact rattled the wooden boards.
Yōhei lay there for a moment, chest heaving, trying to catch his breath. Then, with his father's hand pulling him up, he staggered to his feet once more.
"Now you understand the gap between yourself and a jonin?"
Shōsuke's tone was light, almost amused—the same teasing grin that Yōhei often wore himself. Clearly, the son had inherited more than just the Sharingan from his father.
"You think you're ready to take on jonin? Forget that— even a special jonin would kill you before you blinked."
The words were calm, but they burned worse than any blow.
Yōhei scowled, cheeks puffed with frustration.
Ever since returning from his last mission, he had been bragging nonstop to his family—about ambushes by elite enemies, about duels against special jonin, and how he'd "heroically turned the tide" to complete the mission flawlessly.
Had Captain Yamaguchi not warned him to keep the operation secret, he probably would've even spilled the part about rescuing an intelligence officer.
And so, as any proud Uchiha father would, Shōsuke decided to "remind" his son of his limits—with a sparring match that left no illusions.
---
After the match, father and son knelt across from each other on the tatami, sipping tea as the tension faded.
"So this boy—Matsushita Taichi—you weren't exaggerating his skill, were you?" Shōsuke asked, setting his teacup down.
"Of course not!" Yōhei said, sitting up straight. "Maybe I embellished my own part a bit, but Taichi? I swear, every word's true!"
He looked so earnest he might as well have opened his chest to show his heart.
Shōsuke chuckled softly.
"Sounds like quite the prodigy. If he keeps this up, he might become a name the whole shinobi world remembers someday."
He gave his son a meaningful look.
"You'd do well to stay close to him. Connections like that are worth more than you realize."
Yōhei frowned.
"We're already friends! Don't make it sound like I'm just using him."
The elder Uchiha's eyes lingered on his son for a moment before he nodded faintly.
"Good. Keep it that way."
---
A knock came at the door—thunk, thunk.
Before his father could respond, Yōhei was already on his feet and dashing to open it.
Shōsuke sighed, shaking his head.
"I swear, where does this kid get that energy from?"
At the door stood another Uchiha clansman, his expression formal.
"Uchiha Yōhei?" the man asked, giving him a quick once-over as if confirming something. "I'm Uchiha Ren. The clan head has summoned you for questioning. Please come with me."
"Me?" Yōhei blinked and pointed at himself in confusion.
Rin nodded solemnly.
Hearing the commotion, Shōsuke stepped out, quickly recognizing the messenger.
"If it's the clan head's summons," he said to his son, "then go. And mind your manners, Yōhei."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it, old man!" Yōhei grinned and waved before following Rin down the street.
---
The Uchiha clan head's residence stood at the heart of the district—calm, immaculate, and suffused with quiet authority.
Inside, Uchiha Fugaku sat in the tatami room, arranging a vase of flowers with deliberate precision.
When Yōhei entered, he quickly bowed.
"Clan Head, sir!"
Fugaku looked up, his expression unreadable.
"So, Yōhei," he said in his deep, composed voice. "I hear you've awakened your Sharingan."
He smiled—or at least, his lips curved slightly.
Though in Yōhei's eyes, that look seemed far from gentle.
After all, the man nicknamed 'Fugaku the Wicked Eye' had earned his reputation on the battlefields of the Second Great Ninja War.
"Yes, sir," Yōhei answered, puffing out his chest. "During my last mission, it just… awakened on its own in the heat of battle."
Then, unable to contain himself, he launched into a full retelling of the event—dramatic gestures and all. He even included the part where Taichi had to point out that his Sharingan had activated before he noticed it himself.
By the time he finished, Fugaku could only stare at him in silence.
He hadn't even asked for details yet, and the boy had already spilled every detail possible—both the relevant and the best-forgotten ones.
"So this is the next generation of the Uchiha…" Fugaku thought, half amused, half exasperated.
Uchiha Fugaku collected his thoughts, his expression settling into calm authority.
"After awakening your Sharingan," he began, "you'll discover that it has many unique applications—some that can't be learned through ordinary training. There are also certain secret techniques designed specifically to work in harmony with the Sharingan."
He reached to the side, retrieving a small lacquered token engraved with the Uchiha fan emblem, and handed it to Yōhei.
"Your family may not possess all of these scrolls. If you come across any questions or wish to study deeper, this pass will grant you temporary access to the clan's library."
Yōhei's eyes lit up instantly.
"You're only allowed to keep this for seven days," Fugaku added in a firm tone. "If you want to borrow it again, that will depend on your contributions to the clan."
"Understood!" Yōhei said, bowing quickly as he accepted the token with both hands.
He turned it over in his palm, unable to hide his excitement. With this pass, he could finally study many of the clan's exclusive jutsu—perhaps even the legendary techniques reserved for the elite.
Seven days suddenly felt far too short.
---
Fugaku watched him fondly for a moment before asking casually,
"And how are things between you and your teammates?"
Yōhei looked up with a grin.
"We get along great! We've been through life-and-death together—you could say we'd risk our lives for each other without hesitation!"
The enthusiasm in his voice was infectious. He launched into animated stories about his squad—how strong they were, how they watched each other's backs, even how Taichi had helped him finally master the water-walking technique during their last mission.
Fugaku listened quietly, fingers interlaced. But when he heard the part about Matsushita Taichi—the boy who had trained under Tsunade and Jiraiya—his eyes flickered with interest.
It aligned perfectly with the intelligence he had received earlier.
So this young man truly was connected to two of the Sannin…
After a few more minutes of small talk, Fugaku ended the meeting and signaled for Uchiha Ren to escort Yōhei home.
---
When they were gone, the clan head's calm mask slipped just slightly, replaced by the faint shadow of worry.
The rift between the clan and the village grows deeper by the day.
Once, Uchiha Kagami had been a bridge between both sides—a man trusted by Hokage and Uchiha alike. But with Kagami long gone, there was no one left who could ease that tension.
Fugaku needed someone new… someone the Hokage's line could trust.
And perhaps—just perhaps—that connection could begin with this Matsushita Taichi.
If Yōhei's friendship with him was genuine, it might one day prove invaluable.
---
Meanwhile, Yōhei walked home under the night sky, still confused.
"Why did the clan head seem so interested in Taichi?" he muttered to himself. "Wasn't he supposed to be asking about me?"
When he reached home, he recounted the entire meeting to his father—every detail, including Fugaku's expression, his questions, and even the exact wording of the library pass.
By the time he finished, Shōsuke was staring at him with the same look one gives to a hopeless idiot.
"What's that look for?" Yōhei snapped, feeling his cheeks heat up.
His father simply sighed, resting his teacup down.
"Nothing. Just… remember what I told you—keep good relations with your teammates. You'll understand later."
Yōhei blinked in frustration, still having no idea what his father meant.
---
At the Furukawa Household.
After completing the mission and taking a short rest, Furukawa Saori had also entered a period of reflection.
She had done her best during the mission—carried out every order, supported her team—but compared to Taichi and Yōhei, her performance still felt… lacking.
She voiced her concerns to her father, who listened quietly before giving her a simple but meaningful piece of advice:
"A ninja's value lies in making the most of their strengths."
Those words echoed in her mind long after he left.
Sitting alone in her room, Saori mulled over her father's words, racking her brain for what her own "strength" truly was.
Her gaze fell upon the tall bookshelf near the wall—filled top to bottom with scrolls on sealing techniques.
That's it…
Taichi and Yōhei excelled in combat and medical ninjutsu, but neither of them specialized in fūinjutsu. And that was exactly what she was best at.
With newfound resolve, Saori spent the next few days buried in study, meticulously reviewing sealing formulas and practicing precise hand seals late into the night.
Whenever her father was home, she would eagerly seek his guidance on advanced techniques.
From the doorway, her parents often watched quietly, smiling with pride.
Their daughter had finally found her path—and, more importantly, her place within her team.
This is what it means to be part of a true shinobi squad, her father thought. Where every member finds their purpose, and together they grow stronger.
---