Chapter 44
**Chapter 44: So I Was the Fool All Along!**
**Uchiha Clan Grounds**
"Do you have any objections to the notification regarding Uchiha Yosuke's promotion to Jounin, Mikoto?"
In the wooden room, the elderly Uchiha Setsuna suppressed a cough, forcing himself to ask in a low tone.
Sitting in front of him, Uchiha Mikoto calmly looked over the promotion notification and nodded in acceptance.
"With the Curse Mark bloodline, Uchiha Yosuke possesses the strength to contend with Jounin, has the talent to create his own A-rank ninjutsu without seals, and wields the double tomoe Sharingan. I have no objections to Yosuke's promotion to Jounin."
Upon hearing his granddaughter's response, Elder Uchiha Setsuna stifled a frustrated cough, sneering coldly.
"Fool! You're less insightful than this brat. How can I trust you to lead this branch in the future?"
With a hint of anger, Elder Setsuna continued, "Thirteen years old and he's already developed a seal-less A-rank jutsu. He's the youngest genius Jounin in Konoha's history. Do you understand what this will mean?"
"Let me tell you! As soon as this promotion order goes out, all information about this brat will end up in the offices of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, then trickle down to various ninja villages, likely with high bounties on his head!"
As he spoke, Elder Setsuna slammed his thigh in frustration, his face filled with anger.
"Once he becomes Jounin, the missions he takes will become even more dangerous, and his fame as a genius will mean every ninja will know about him. His weaknesses, his jutsu attributes—they'll be analyzed by every ninja village."
"You really think being a renowned Jounin is a good thing? The Third Hokage clearly wants to endanger our Uchiha genius!"
At that moment, Elder Setsuna's face was filled with rage. As the first Uchiha to rebel after Madara, no one understood hidden agendas better than he did.
Every famous ninja was powerful and terrifying. Even if their weaknesses were known, those weaknesses were still insurmountable to weaker foes.
But Uchiha Yosuke was only thirteen, able to contend with Jounin due to his bloodline, not to defeat them outright.
A genius yet to fully grow, facing a Jounin opponent familiar with his abilities would be extremely dangerous.
Especially with Uchiha Yosuke's Curse Mark bloodline—its effects were temporary, making him vulnerable in prolonged battles.
His chakra attributes—fire, lightning, earth—and his common jutsu might already be circulating in other villages, ready to be analyzed and passed down.
However, hearing about the dangers Yoru would face didn't alarm Uchiha Mikoto. Instead, she held a firm expression, raising her head to say resolutely:
"Elder! Yosuke is the clan's genius. I believe he will grow through the trials of battle!"
The proud Uchiha clan never feared danger!
Looking at Mikoto's hardened attitude, Elder Setsuna's face flushed red. He trembled, pointing a shaking finger at her.
"Mikoto! You… you!"
"Elder!"
It was clear that Mikoto and her grandfather, Elder Setsuna, didn't share a close relationship; they even seemed a bit distant.
"Mikoto, when you chose this brat back then, I remember it was because he was easy to control and a genius, wasn't it?"
Hearing this, Mikoto's eyes narrowed, her expression darkening before she scoffed.
"Yes, I initially chose Yosuke because he was easy to control!"
"And now?"
Faced with Elder Setsuna's question, Mikoto fell silent. At first, she had only wanted to resist the family, knowing her grandfather's health likely wouldn't hold out long enough for her to rise fully.
But she had rejected her grandfather's arranged marriage to the clan head's branch. Thus, she chose a genius who was easy to control.
Back then, Uchiha Yosuke's reputation at the Ninja Academy had drawn her in, and they had grown up together, making him her ideal choice.
But over the years, in the time they spent together, his unwavering trust and gentle smile gradually opened her heart, and she fell for him, almost without realizing it.
Seeing his granddaughter's expression, Elder Setsuna sighed in frustration but also resignation.
"Mikoto, this brat's growth has proven your eye for talent wasn't wrong. When I was your age, I, too, had faith in the Uchiha's pride. But now, I know pride alone isn't enough. The Uchiha must have matching strength!"
With a sigh, Elder Setsuna continued. "The pride of the Uchiha clan has always been both our strength and our downfall. In youth, it's when we are most unyielding, making it hard for us to see reason."
"Don't let empty pride lead you to ruin! Do you really want this brat to die in battle for some empty Uchiha pride?"
Having experienced rebellion and other significant events, Elder Setsuna had matured. He no longer held onto the blind pride of a typical Uchiha.
But young Uchiha like Mikoto couldn't understand his viewpoint, which was the true source of his anger.
"If Yosuke dies in battle, I will avenge him! Then, as a widow, I will follow him!"
'Good heavens!'
Elder Setsuna almost spat blood, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at his stubborn granddaughter.
"Mikoto, you're being too extreme!"
But Mikoto remained composed. She slowly took a ninjutsu scroll out of her ninja pouch. Seeing his confusion, a hint of warmth appeared in her eyes.
"This is Yosuke's original, seal-less A-rank jutsu!"
Boom!
At that moment, Elder Setsuna fell silent. 'This brat! He's truly willing to go all out for her!'
A ninja's original jutsu would usually only be passed on to their children or disciples, rarely even shared with a spouse, especially in a noble clan.
As for the concept of "sharing with the clan?"
One's lineage was part of the clan. Sharing within that lineage was, in essence, sharing with the clan. Who would dare demand "sharing" openly? Why wouldn't they share their own techniques and secrets, then?
This was the limited perspective of a clan. As for the Hokage, he had to think for the entire village. If given the Hokage's authority, Elder Setsuna would willingly contribute all of Uchiha's techniques to Konoha.
"Are you doing this all for this brat?"
Elder Setsuna raised his head, gazing calmly at his defiant granddaughter. At that moment, he realized he had never truly understood her.
Beneath her gentle demeanor, Uchiha Mikoto held unwavering determination as she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Yosuke's dreams are grand. I can feel he wants to change the clan. He never says it outright; he just proves everything through his actions.
"Grand… grandfather, your time with us is limited."
Mikoto hesitated, initially about to address him as Elder, but chose to call him Grandfather this time.
Clearly, she was the type of traditional kunoichi who would only support from the background.
As for risk?
To the Uchiha, backing down out of fear of danger was disgraceful. Even the women of the Uchiha clan would look down upon such weakness.
This pride was deeply rooted in every Uchiha, young or old, male or female.
"You!"
Elder Setsuna felt increasingly aggrieved. It was as if he hadn't yet passed, yet his granddaughter and this outsider were already plotting to take over his legacy.
And they'd stop at nothing to achieve it, even if it meant facing risks!
Damn it!
So it turns out, I was the fool all along!
At that moment, Elder Setsuna felt utterly exasperated. His own granddaughter was siding with an outsider against him.
"Fine! I will do everything in my power to protect this Uchiha genius!"
This wasn't about the pride of Uchiha. They were practically forcing him to open up all his resources to this brat!
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