At sunset, inside the house.
Uchiha Yo and Uchiha Mikoto stood face to face.
"Mikoto-nee!"
Just as Uchiha Yo began to speak, Mikoto smiled warmly, her understanding demeanor on full display.
"Yo-kun, this is the quickest way for you to enter the upper echelons of the clan."
Looking at her, Yo felt a wave of warmth in his heart. He understood that Mikoto was worried about him.
The Kekkei Disease.
Those three words were like a nightmare to clans with kekkei genkai. Yo, who had just awakened his Sharingan and hadn't fully matured, wasn't someone the Uchiha would typically invest heavily in.
Every vial of cell stabilization agent cost between 100,000 and 200,000 ryo, and the price could increase depending on his physical condition and frequency of usage.
To the proud Uchiha, only the Sharingan was supreme. Other kekkei genkai were insignificant.
Thus, despite having dual kekkei genkai, Yo didn't draw much attention within the clan.
He sighed inwardly but buried the thought. With a puzzled look, he asked, "Mikoto-nee, about Kushina…"
When the topic turned to Uzumaki Kushina, Mikoto's usual composure gave way to a rare, faintly helpless smile.
"Yo-kun, I approached her for the sake of the clan, but Kushina is also a pitiful person. She even knows my motives, but we still became close friends."
Though Mikoto was older than Kushina, her face softened as she spoke about her, the corners of her lips curving into a gentle smile.
"This mission isn't something you need to stress over. You just need to go through the motions. I've already made arrangements with Kushina…"
Listening to Mikoto's plans, Yo realized how much she had done for him.
The Kekkei Disease. Mikoto didn't want him to be hurt, so she orchestrated everything to steer the mission's development.
She ensured both sides would benefit.
Noticing his gaze, Mikoto chuckled lightly, teasing him for once.
"Yo-kun, I'm not doing this entirely for you. I have my own selfish reasons. Once that old man is gone, I might not be able to hold everything together by myself. I'll need your help."
Given five or six more years, Mikoto was confident she could fully inherit Elder Setsuna's faction.
The Uchiha might emphasize bloodline, but they valued strength even more.
Understanding her meaning, Yo smirked and teased back, "Mikoto-nee, the clan's future will depend on us then."
Their laughter seemed to ease all their burdens, filling the room with a lighter atmosphere.
As Mikoto prepared to leave, her Sharingan flashed briefly. "Yo-kun, train hard. I'm aiming to become a special jonin soon."
Her parting words left Yo momentarily speechless.
As her figure disappeared, and the house grew quiet, Yo sat alone, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Uchiha…"
Massaging his temples, Yo let out a soft chuckle. This clan—proud, radical, yet unyielding—was exactly what he needed. Ancient but not outdated, their belief in strength over all else was a philosophy he resonated with far more than the Hyuga's rigid traditions.
"There's an old saying: when you lack the power to change your circumstances, you must learn to adapt."
A faint smile crept onto his lips.
He truly loved this clan.
---
The Senju Compound.
"Kid, what brings you here in the middle of the night?"
Tsunade sat with her usual indifferent demeanor, a front she maintained to cope with the grief of her brother's death.
Before her, Uchiha Yo bowed his head respectfully and spoke in a serious tone:
"Captain Tsunade, my clan is aware of my Sharingan awakening and dual kekkei genkai. Earlier today, I was summoned to the Nanga Shrine, where the clan head and elder met with me.
From my observation, the supposed divide between the elder and the clan head seems to be a façade."
Tsunade sneered internally. As if the Senju wouldn't know. Even an outsider could tell. It's just a tactic to balance the hawks and doves within the Uchiha.
Without their leadership, the Uchiha's extreme tendencies would have led to one faction annihilating the other long ago.
Still, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. This kid was sent as a spy during the day and already reporting back at night? Typical Uchiha.
"The elder and clan head tasked me with secretly approaching Uzumaki Kushina. They claimed it was a bridge between the clan and the village and could even pave the way for the Uchiha to enter the higher ranks…"
Hearing this, Tsunade's expression grew graver.
"They want you to approach Kushina in secret?"
Though anger simmered within her, Tsunade couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility. The Uchiha, desperate to integrate into Konoha's power structure, might very well come up with such a scheme.
"Mikoto-nee contacted me privately. She told me she informed Kushina of the plan and assured me it was just for appearances…"
Yo spared no detail, recounting everything that transpired in the Nanga Shrine, including Mikoto's arrangement to make the mission a mere formality.
There was no need for lies. Gaining Tsunade's trust was essential, and he knew the truth would serve him better.
Analyzing the situation further, Yo recalled the eventual outcomes: the Third Hokage's faction ultimately triumphed, the Senju fell, and Minato Namikaze, Kushina's future husband, became the Fourth Hokage.
It was clear. Control of the Nine-Tails jinchuriki had shifted entirely to the Third Hokage's camp, solidifying their dominance.
Tsunade's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Kid, doesn't it bother you to betray your own clan like this?"
Her sharp gaze fixed on him, as if trying to pierce through his soul.
Yo's expression turned solemn, and he replied firmly:
"Captain Tsunade! I am not betraying my clan! Konoha was founded by both the Uchiha and the Senju. I've never forgotten this fact! Everything I do is for my clan and the village!
The Uchiha's love for this village is no less than the Senju's, nor anyone else's!"
His voice grew more impassioned as the Sharingan slowly emerged in his eyes.
"What kind of world do we live in? War! Ninjas with power live in poverty, and when they age, they suffer even more. Captain Tsunade, haven't you seen the damage war has done to the village?
The Uchiha Clan has always fought to end war. Uchiha ninja, masters of fire release, have never hesitated to confront the enemy on the Rain Country battlefield!"
Tsunade's scalp tingled at the sight of Yo's growing fervor.
"We Uchihas are not madmen! We bleed for this village and strive for peace!"
His Sharingan's tomoe spun furiously, leaving Tsunade almost exasperated. Is this kid about to evolve his Sharingan here and now?
"Captain Tsunade! The Uchiha's enemies are those who seek to divide and sow discord within the village!"
Looking at Yo's earnest expression and fiery conviction, Tsunade found herself uncharacteristically solemn.
"I understand now. I apologize for my earlier words."
Tsunade... apologized.
Yo was momentarily stunned. Then, recalling her straightforward nature, he nodded in realization.
This was the woman who, even under the Infinite Tsukuyomi's dream, envisioned a world where the Uchiha still existed—a testament to her integrity.
Her bright brown eyes gleamed with determination, radiating an unyielding strength.
"Captain Tsunade!"
Taking a
deep breath, Yo withdrew his Sharingan and retrieved a scroll from his ninja pouch.
Now was the time to begin pulling Tsunade closer to his side.