Konoha.
In the Senju Clan's medical research lab, Tsunade's expression was grave as she meticulously examined uncharted territory. Uchiha Yo sat obediently, answering every question she asked.
"Kid, how does this kekkei genkai feel?"
"It's burning! I feel heat and a sharp pain."
Tsunade's brow furrowed as she studied the strange phenomenon. "Alright, stop for now. The cells in your body are already being eroded!"
At her command, Uchiha Yo frowned. Slowly, the black flame-like curse marks that covered half his face and body began to recede.
Seeing this, Tsunade's eyes glimmered with an unusual light.
"It hurts! After the kekkei genkai fades, I feel like every cell in my body is screaming in pain."
Tsunade sneered coldly. "Your kekkei genkai causes cellular rejection. Every time you use it, your body gets eroded. Although the erosion is slow, if it progresses too far, you'll lose control over yourself."
She paused for a moment, her tone suddenly lighter. "Of course, it depends on your luck too."
Having finished her examination, Tsunade sat back calmly in her chair. "While your body is being eroded, it's also adapting to the new kekkei genkai. As long as you don't overuse it or overexert yourself, and with the help of medication, your condition should stabilize in five to six years…"
Uchiha Yo nodded respectfully as he listened to her professional explanation. In Tsunade's expert eyes, his condition had already been categorized as a kekkei disease.
"Thank you, Captain Tsunade."
After the last drop of liquid in the IV bag entered his body, Uchiha Yo carefully removed the needle. This scene didn't escape Tsunade's notice. Though his body was weak, he forced himself to get up from the hospital bed.
"Kid, here's the bill for this session."
Tsunade tossed over a piece of paper. Glancing at it, Uchiha Yo's pupils shrank, and he exclaimed in disbelief:
"Twenty… twenty thousand?!"
His eyes widened. He knew stabilizing agents weren't cheap, but this was outrageous!
Tsunade's sneer deepened. "Twenty thousand is expensive? This is a custom-made medication specifically tailored for you. The dosage must be precise, and your body's condition requires constant monitoring. Not to mention, do you know how much was wasted during your examination?"
Uchiha Yo was speechless.
Twenty thousand ryo! A B-rank mission in the shinobi world only paid 8,000 to 20,000 ryo, and that didn't include the village's cut, personal tool expenses, or post-mission medical costs.
(Mission reward data, as per official sources: D-rank: 5,000–50,000 ryo; C-rank: 30,000–100,000 ryo; B-rank: 80,000–200,000 ryo; A-rank: 150,000–1,000,000 ryo; S-rank: 1,000,000+ ryo.)
Tsunade noticed his stunned expression, and a sly smile flickered across her face. At least she managed to shock the brat.
"For the sake of the village, I'll continue adjusting your medication periodically," she said.
Before she could finish, Uchiha Yo solemnly interrupted, his voice resolute: "Captain Tsunade, I will pay it back."
The determination in his eyes momentarily caught Tsunade off guard. Then she sighed internally. So stubborn, so proud, refusing to owe anyone anything. Isn't that just like an Uchiha?
Uchiha and sanity rarely went hand in hand.
In the silent research lab, Uchiha Yo stood up and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Captain Tsunade."
His apology carried a heavy tone of self-reproach.
As Uchiha Yo prepared to leave, Tsunade threw him a scroll and crossed her arms. "This is the research report on your new kekkei genkai."
"Thank you, Captain Tsunade."
After respectfully bowing once more, Uchiha Yo left.
When the door finally shut, and his footsteps faded into the distance, Tsunade relaxed her guard.
In the quiet room, she crossed her legs casually, revealing fair toes adorned with red nail polish peeking out from black high heels. Her expression shifted—gone was the grief for Nawaki, replaced by visible exhaustion.
"An Uchiha brat... and someone pulling the strings from the shadows."
Tsunade frowned and glanced out the window toward the Hokage Rock, her gaze filled with unease.
"The Senju Clan... are we really such a threat to you all?"
---
The Uchiha Clan.
"Yo, you've awakened your Sharingan!"
Back in the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Yo immediately shared the news with Uchiha Mikoto.
As expected, Mikoto was initially stunned, but her shock quickly gave way to joy.
"Yo, I knew it! With your talent, awakening your Sharingan was only a matter of time."
Seeing Mikoto's beaming smile, Uchiha Yo felt a warmth in his heart. In this world, the only people genuinely happy for his awakening were probably within the Uchiha Clan.
"Mikoto-nee, don't rush to celebrate. Here's Captain Tsunade's report. This time…"
Without hiding anything, Uchiha Yo recounted everything, including his dual kekkei genkai.
The Uchiha name left him with no choice but to rely on the clan. Betraying them to ally with the Third Hokage? That was ridiculous.
The Uchiha Clan could provide resources and protection that the Hokage wouldn't. Besides, the Third Hokage would see him as a mere tool or a double agent.
Within the Uchiha Clan, as long as one displayed their potential and strength, they would be granted everything they needed.
From the very beginning, he had never considered concealing his dual kekkei genkai. He was too eager to improve! Only by advancing could he gain access to more resources.
"Dual kekkei genkai!"
After hearing Uchiha Yo's explanation and reading the report, Mikoto's shock turned into a satisfied smile.
"Yo!"
Her joy was quickly replaced by seriousness. "Should I hand this report to the clan head or the elder?"
The clan head or the elder?
This was a choice. The current clan head was from the moderate faction, while Elder Setsuna, who once attempted a coup, was undeniably from the hawkish faction.
Understanding Mikoto's concern, Uchiha Yo chuckled. "Mikoto-nee, haven't you always looked forward to me awakening my Sharingan?"
The two exchanged a knowing look, and Mikoto's smile became even more genuine.
Mikoto was Elder Setsuna's only direct descendant and the sole heir to his power within the clan.
In the Uchiha Clan, bloodline inheritance was a given, but one also needed strength to back it up.
As a woman with dual tomoe Sharingan at her age, Mikoto was undoubtedly a prodigy. Uchiha Yo, in turn, would serve as her ally.
He wasn't foolish. The clan head's power was dominant, while Elder Setsuna's faction lay dormant. To align with the elder now was a clear choice—better to assist when help was needed than to add to a pile of support already present.
As for the hawkish faction?
Being an Uchiha left him no other option. Every Uchiha who awakened their Sharingan gravitated toward aggression and ambition.
The moderate faction might hold sway, but the h
awks boasted the majority of elite Sharingan users. With Mikoto's support, his path forward was clear.
He was too eager to improve!