"Uchiha Hisaku, Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Nobuyuki..."
The names of the Uchiha clansmen were read out one by one. Whether it was the Clan Head, Uchiha Hisaku, or his only son, Uchiha Fugaku, both were on the combat roster.
It had always been a tradition of the Uchiha for the Clan Head to lead from the front during times of war. If Uchiha Hisaku wanted to suppress the members of the clan who were dissatisfied with his leadership, he had to deliver a performance on the battlefield that could overshadow everyone else. If his son, Uchiha Fugaku, wanted to become a serious contender for the position of next Clan Head, he also had to prove himself with a sufficiently brilliant performance in this conflict.
Meanwhile, all three elders were to stay behind. In Uchiha Hisaku's absence, both clan affairs and the oversight of the Police Force required these deputies to manage operations for the village and clan to function normally.
Aside from the leadership, most of the clansmen staying behind were older; in fact, except for Uchiha Hisaku himself, not a single Uchiha over the age of forty was among those going to war. As the Clan Head and elders, they were well aware of the requirements for the awakening and evolution of the Sharingan.
Elderly people who had weathered life's storms generally possessed more stable personalities; as their age increased and their physical and psychological states settled, their emotions became easier to control. Naturally, it became increasingly difficult for their hearts to experience the intense fluctuations necessary to trigger ocular evolution.
Only by sending the young Uchiha to the battlefield would more powerful Sharingan emerge, strengthening the clan as a whole. In addition to the youth, there were also middle-aged Uchiha in their thirties or early forties who possessed significant strength. Their physical capabilities were at their peak, and they possessed decades of experience—enough to safeguard the younger generation during the war.
When the last name was read, the Third Elder closed the document, and Uchiha Hisaku spoke.
"The aforementioned members must complete the handover of their duties within the Police Force by tomorrow. All participating personnel are to report to the Third Elder after the clan meeting to register and receive your combat allowance to replenish your ninja tools and supplies."
A subsidy! Given the Uchiha clan's reputation for wealth and generosity, the amount of this allowance was bound to be substantial. And the reality was exactly as Gen had expected.
"Genin, single-tomoe, allowance of one hundred thousand ryo."
A thick stack of banknotes was stuffed into Uchiha Gen's hand by the Third Elder. One hundred thousand ryo was equivalent to the income from a high-tier B-rank mission. In other ninja clans, even the wealthy ones, such a sum wouldn't be handed directly to a Genin. But the Uchiha truly valued every clansman who had awakened the Sharingan.
"Follow me," the Great Elder said to Uchiha Gen after the meeting ended. "I have some things to give to you and Mikoto."
Uchiha Gen turned his head and exchanged a glance with Uchiha Mikoto, whose large eyes were sparkling with curiosity.
"Yes, Great Elder."
"Yes, Grandfather."
The two followed the Great Elder to a small building in the backyard of his estate.
"Grandfather usually doesn't let me in here," Mikoto whispered to Uchiha Gen.
"It seems the things he's giving us are far from ordinary," Gen replied softly.
"The items here were not suitable to be shown in public in the past, especially after that person's defection thirty years ago. It became a sensitive matter, particularly before the older generation of the Senju, like the Second Hokage, had stepped down."
Although the Great Elder was old, he had once been an elite Jonin; he could still easily hear the whispers of Uchiha Gen and Mikoto.
"However, some things are no longer sensitive with the passing of the older generation and the flow of time, especially since you, Gen, have become the Third Hokage's grand-disciple and are in a squad with his son."
The Great Elder pushed open the small door of the attic, and a fresh woody fragrance wafted from the room. It was clear that the space was regularly maintained.
"Sometimes, I come here to reminisce about the past. Sadly, things change and people pass on; many events and regrets are buried, and there's never a chance to do it all over again."
The Great Elder sighed with emotion. As soon as Uchiha Gen entered the room, he couldn't help but look around. It looked like a storage room because the items were so diverse, yet it was organized like a museum.
Hanging on the left was a set of red armor in the classic Sengoku style. Beside it was an even older set of grey armor, and further back were various other designs, all covered in battle scars and blade marks.
On the right were various weapons resting on racks, primarily ninja swords. Near the counter were boxes sealed with strips of cloth inscribed with sealing formulas.
"Thirty years ago, Madara proposed at the clan meeting to lead us away from Konoha. But at that time, after countless years of war, the clansmen had finally gained a few years of peace and were naturally unwilling to leave—even I felt the same way."
The Great Elder walked over to the red armor on the rack, his face full of nostalgia.
"As the most powerful and famous Clan Head in the last several hundred years, perhaps Madara's vision saw the future. Perhaps he believed it would be difficult for the Uchiha to gain a voice that matched our strength in a Konoha centered around the Senju lineage. That is why he made his choice. However, I still cannot understand why he would fight the First Hokage to such an extreme several years after leaving."
The Great Elder shook his head. That single act had caused a portion of the Senju core, led by Tobirama Senju, to deepen their wariness toward the Uchiha—a sentiment passed down to the current village leadership, who were all Tobirama's disciples.
Uchiha Gen also silently shook his head. No, Madara didn't leave Konoha because he was a visionary; he was simply being manipulated.
"Is this the armor Madara left behind?" Mikoto curiously touched the patterns on the surface of the armor, which were etched with countless sword marks.
"Yes, this set was used by Madara in his earlier days. Later, because it was severely damaged and required a long time to repair, he switched to a spare set.
By the time it was fixed, Madara had already defected. The set next to it is even older; it was used by the Clan Head before Madara, Tajima, during his lifetime.
The things I want to give you today are also related to Lord Tajima."
The Great Elder withdrew his gaze from the two sets of historically significant armor and walked into the middle of the racks, picking out two ninja swords from among them.