Uchiha Tōshirō?
The Ice Release ninja from the Uchiha clan?
Though no one present had dealt directly with this unique member of the Uchiha clan, they were all quite familiar with his reputation.
Good deeds stay hidden, bad deeds travel far.
Upon hearing his name, even Danzo seemed a bit unsettled. Assigning such an important position to someone from the Uchiha clan?
"Hiruzen, what exactly are you thinking?"
"Tōshirō is a genius. His age is just right, and he's familiar with the other three, so there won't be any issues with team synergy."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it."
"Precisely because he's from the Uchiha clan, putting him in this position carries meaning."
"What do you mean?"
Danzo narrowed his sharp eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled faintly and explained, "Placing Tōshirō in this squad could ease tensions between the Uchiha clan and the village."
Danzo pondered this and seemed to understand. If Aokiji joined a squad made entirely of Hokage protégés, it would be a gesture of goodwill from the village leadership toward the Uchiha.
It showed the village still valued the Uchiha clan.
"But he's still an Uchiha." Danzo's expression remained heavy with concern.
"I know that, but he doesn't have the Sharingan…"
Danzo cautiously added, "We still can't be careless. Who knows if he'll one day awaken it due to some stimulus."
Tōshirō had already awakened an Ice Release kekkei genkai. The chance of awakening a Sharingan as well was low, but not impossible.
It was a valid concern, and Hiruzen nodded in agreement. If that happened, it would be an incredibly rare dual bloodline limit. He remarked with some admiration, "If that happens, he really will be remarkable…"
Danzo's face remained stern. "This isn't the time for admiration. We must handle this carefully."
Hiruzen was silent for a moment. "Don't worry. Bringing him into the team is partly to address that concern."
The three quietly waited for his explanation.
Hiruzen analyzed the situation for them. His reasoning was that based on Tōshirō's behavior over the years, even if he awakened the Sharingan, he likely wouldn't reveal it. Instead of leaving this uncertainty unchecked, it was better to have the other three monitor him closely and prevent any risks.
He also had another motive.
If Tōshirō formed deep bonds with the team, then in the future, if relations between the village and the Uchiha clan broke down beyond repair, Aokiji's stance would be crucial.
In his eyes, Tōshirō had the potential to rival Orochimaru, and his future achievements were immeasurable. Such a powerful asset should either serve the village or, at the very least, not become an enemy.
After Hiruzen's analysis, the three reluctantly agreed to the plan.
...
A few days later, in the Uchiha clan's district…
At a training ground, Tōshirō and Fugaku stood at opposite ends of a rectangular table, each holding a red paddle resembling the Uchiha crest. They were playing ping-pong.
This sport didn't exist in this era, but Aokiji shamelessly claimed he invented it.
Initially, the clan members dismissed the game, considering it disrespectful to use the Uchiha crest in such a manner.
But after trying it, they found it surprisingly enjoyable.
More importantly, they discovered it helped train the Sharingan. Eventually, their prejudice faded, and the game spread, becoming a beloved activity for all ages.
The narrative changed from desecrating the clan's crest to honoring it, and Tōshirō was praised as a clever child.
At this moment, Tōshirō was using the game to hone the future protagonist's father's Sharingan.
The ball flew over the net at lightning speed. Fugaku swung his paddle, barely managing to hit it back.
Tōshirō's shots were brutal, with sharp angles.
Even with his Sharingan active, Fugaku struggled, his movements becoming increasingly desperate.
Tōshirō seized the opportunity, pressing the attack relentlessly. "Your footwork is sloppy, your backhand is weak—every move is a mess. You think you can beat me? Keep dreaming."
He smashed the ball hard. It flew out of reach, ending the match decisively.
Fugaku collapsed to his knees, frustrated and exhausted.
He had lost to Tōshirō the "demon king" yet again.
"A bet's a bet. Call me 'Big Brother Tōshirō .'"
Fugaku clenched his fists in humiliation and gritted his teeth. "Big Brother Tōshirō ."
Tōshirō patted Fugaku's head. "Good boy."
Fugaku got up from the ground and shouted informally, "Tōshirō , train with me!"
"What did you just say?"
"…Big Brother Tōshirō ."
"Now that's more like it. But I have something to do. Next time."
"What is it?"
Train your wife... Tōshirō explained, "I'm helping watch the neighbor's kid."
"Boring."
Despite his words, Fugaku still trailed along behind him.
...
"Thank you so much, Tōshirō ," the woman said gratefully to Aokiji, who volunteered to help with her child.
She was Tōshirō's neighbor. After her husband's death, she became a widow raising her daughter alone. With black hair and eyes—typical of the Uchiha clan—her talent was limited, and she hadn't awakened the Sharingan. She was merely a Chūnin, surviving on her husband's pension.
Tōshirō took pity on her and sometimes watched over her daughter so she could work. Of course, the reason Tōshirō spared his precious time and even occasionally supported the mother and daughter financially wasn't purely out of pity. There were plenty of people in the village who needed help.
"It's nothing. We're neighbors; we should help each other."
"Mikoto, say thank you to your Big Brother Tōshirō ," the widow instructed her little black-haired daughter.
"Thank you, Big Brother Tōshirō ," Mikoto said sweetly.
Tōshirō ruffled Mikoto's hair. "Where do you want to go? I'll take you."
Mikoto's eyes sparkled. "The park."
"Alright." Aokiji took Mikoto's small hand and headed to the park.
....
At the park, Mikoto immediately started playing with mud.
She was a few years younger than Fugaku, and at that age, playing in the mud was normal. Tōshirō watched her, his gaze soft.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to him. He turned and saw Tsunade approaching.
"So this is where you are," she said.
"What do you need?"
Recently, Tsunade had been looking for him a lot—enough to feel like more than in the past combined.
"Sarutobi-sensei has something for you."
Hearing it was official business, Tōshirō was puzzled. "What does he want with me?"
"No idea. You'll know when you get there," Tsunade joked. "Maybe he wants to treat you to tea."
"If it's tea that costs less than a million ryō per pound, I'm not drinking it."
"You drink gold, huh?"
Tōshirō shrugged. No sense of humor.
He turned to his little companion. "Fugaku, help watch Mikoto for me. I need to take care of something."
Fugaku protested, "Why should I help you?"
Tōshirō teased, "Come on, she's only a few years younger than you. Who knows? She might be your wife one day."
The implications left Fugaku stunned.
Tōshirō knelt by Mikoto, who was still playing with mud, and gently said, "Mikoto, I have to go for a bit. Stay with this big brother, okay?"
He pointed to the bewildered Fugaku.
"O-Okay. Come back soon."
"Good girl."
Tōshirō patted her head. Even at this age, it was clear Mikoto had the makings of a graceful, loyal woman. He wondered what kind of luck Fugaku, this wannabe grown-up, had to win her over.
Then again, maybe it wasn't luck. They'd end up having that son, after all.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Tōshirō stood up and left a warning. "Mikoto's in your hands. If a single hair on her head is harmed, I'll pummel you."
With that, he walked off with Tsunade, leaving Fugaku gripping his hair. He regretted following out of curiosity—now stuck with a chore.
Mikoto clasped her hands on her knees and bowed politely. "Hello, my name is Uchiha Mikoto."
Looking into her big, sparkling eyes, Fugaku remembered Aokiji's teasing and blushed slightly.
Mikoto tilted her head in confusion.
(End of Chapter)
────────────────────────────────────
"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [One Piece: General Blue]."
"Power stones if you like them"
"If you want an early access join my patreon:- patreon.com/BaDwYGaMeR"