Suddenly, all the murmuring around them came to an abrupt stop.
Across from Uchiha Yuan, the crowd suddenly parted. A group of Uchiha had arrived at the front gates of the Ninja Academy.
The Uchiha clan had always been proud and aloof. Ever since the decline of the Senju clan, the Uchiha's arrogance had grown even stronger, and they regarded nearly every other ninja clan with thinly veiled contempt.
Faced with the domineering air of the Uchiha, no one dared offend them. Dissatisfaction, if any, could only be swallowed in silence.
Even though recent rumors had cast a shadow over the Uchiha clan, when a large group of them appeared together, their sheer presence silenced the entire crowd. No one dared to draw their attention.
Among them, Uchiha Yuan spotted Uchiha Eiji. The boy stood with more than a dozen other young Uchiha from the clan's main family—among them were his two companions, Uchiha Hayato and Uchiha Kotarō.
Then, Eiji noticed Yuan as well. Standing beside Eiji was a youth about sixteen or seventeen years old.
The young man wore the standard vest of the Police Force, his very presence as sharp and suffocating as a drawn blade. His gaze, piercing and cold, followed Eiji's line of sight toward Uchiha Yuan.
"Eiji," the youth said calmly, "so that's the boy from your mother's side who defeated you twice."
"Yes, brother," Eiji bowed his head. "That's him—Uchiha Yuan."
This young man was Uchiha Eiji's elder brother, Uchiha Taiichi.
That day, after Eiji's crushing defeat at Yuan's hands, he had been stunned and humiliated. But the awakening of his Sharingan had quickly reignited his pride, and he had rushed home to show his family.
Naturally, the wager he had made with Yuan became known to both his father and his brother.
Uchiha Taiichi swept his gaze over Yuan without emotion, then reached out and lightly smacked Eiji on the head.
Eiji flinched.
"Eiji," Taiichi said evenly, "the Sharingan is the pride of our Uchiha bloodline. Since you've awakened it, you are now a true Uchiha.
"That boy—you will defeat him next time. Your loss doesn't just tarnish your pride, it tarnishes the honor of our main family."
"I understand, brother. Next time, I will defeat him."
Taiichi's lips curved in satisfaction. "Awakening the Sharingan at your age is rare, even among our clan. It proves your bloodline runs strong. In time, you'll become a powerful ninja—one worthy of upholding our clan's glory."
Those words sent a surge of excitement through Eiji's veins. His blood boiled.
"Yes, brother! I won't disappoint you. Once I've fully mastered the Sharingan, I'll definitely defeat Uchiha Yuan!"
"Uchiha Yuan is nothing," Taiichi said coolly. "Without the Sharingan, he isn't even worth your attention.
"Those so-called taijutsu prodigies—before our eyes, they're nothing. The Sharingan can easily copy all their techniques.
"The one you should see as your true rival is Uchiha Shisui. He's the most brilliant genius the village has produced in recent years. Many senior members of the Police Force speak highly of him, saying he'll become one of our clan's future pillars.
"Remember this—once you awaken the Sharingan, you carry the face of the Uchiha clan. The other clans must learn the strength of our bloodline. The Sharingan is the mightiest inheritance in the shinobi world."
Uchiha Yuan's ears twitched slightly. He'd heard every word exchanged between the brothers.
Clearly, in Taiichi's eyes, he wasn't even considered a worthy opponent.
Although the Uchiha clan had distinctions between main and branch families, they were nothing like the Hyūga clan's strict hierarchy between the Main and Branch Houses. Among the Uchiha, strength alone commanded respect.
So even though Eiji had been defeated twice by Yuan, Taiichi didn't take it as an insult. To him, the wager between the boys was nothing more than childish play.
At that moment, another figure approached the Academy gate. A youth, alone, with the clan's fan crest emblazoned across his back.
"That's him—that's the Uchiha prodigy, Uchiha Shisui."
"My neighbor teaches here at the Academy. Over drinks, he told me that Uchiha Shisui might already have the strength of a Chūnin."
"The Uchiha might be arrogant bastards, but you can't deny—they're Konoha's strongest clan."
Unlike most Uchiha, whose cold, haughty expressions made them difficult to approach, Shisui's face was warm and gentle, his smile like sunlight. His gaze toward others was always kind and courteous.
Uchiha Shisui…
Hearing the whispers around him, Yuan's eyes followed Shisui's figure as he entered the Academy. His expression was complicated.
To Yuan, Shisui was a man with a truly bright heart—one who loved his clan and loved Konoha as well.
But he was also a tragic and foolish man.
His greatest mistake was placing too much trust in Konoha's upper echelon.
He had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, yet he naively believed that if his clan learned of it, it would only fuel their ambition.
What he failed to realize was that, with the Mangekyō, his influence within the clan would have grown immensely—his words could have swayed countless minds.
Human hearts cannot endure such tests.
Shisui had revealed both his awakening and his Mangekyō ability—Kotoamatsukami, the ultimate genjutsu—to Konoha's leaders, as a sign of loyalty.
Every Mangekyō ability was a closely guarded secret. Yet, to prove his devotion, he disclosed it all.
After that, the village elders never summoned him again.
Perhaps, even until his death, he never realized that from the moment they learned of Kotoamatsukami, they had begun to fear him—and to wish him gone.
To them, he had become a threat.
Today was the first day classes resumed at the Ninja Academy. Before lessons began, all students were to gather on the training grounds to listen to the Hokage's address.
Hands in his pockets, Uchiha Yuan stood among them, his face full of boredom.
On the podium stood the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, delivering his speech—one that mentioned the Will of Fire at least every third sentence.
"Wherever leaves dance, there is fire.
The shadow of the fire will illuminate the village, causing new leaves to sprout.
When one wishes to protect those dear to them, the true power of a shinobi will emerge…
Remember this—wherever the leaves of Konoha fly, the fire will continue to burn."
A hearty bowl of Sarutobi-brand chicken soup, poured straight into everyone's ears.
Many of the students were visibly moved—especially the younger ones, who looked at the Hokage with shining eyes full of reverence.
"Grandpa Third is so kind."
"I'm going to be just like Grandpa Third!"
"I've decided—I'll become Hokage one day!"
"What? You too? That's my dream! Don't steal it!"
As Yuan walked toward his classroom, such childish voices drifted by.
He sneered inwardly. Foolish children. To become Hokage, first you must be the Hokage's disciple—or at least the disciple of one of his disciples. That's the true prerequisite.
As he lost himself in thought, a wave of surprised murmurs rose nearby. Yuan lifted his gaze—
—and saw, in the courtyard beside the teaching building, the Third Hokage himself smiling warmly, speaking kindly to a young man.
That young man was Uchiha Shisui.
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