So I Was the Clown All Along!

Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Mikoto, do you have any objections to Uchiha Yoru's Jonin appointment notice?"

Inside the wooden house, Uchiha Setsuna coughed weakly, forcing himself upright as he asked in a deep voice.

After reading the appointment notice, Uchiha Mikoto merely nodded calmly.

"Under the Cursed Seal Bloodline Limit's eruption, Uchiha Yoru possesses the strength to fight a Jonin. Combined with his talent for creating self-created Ninjutsu without hand seals, as well as his Two Tomoe Sharingan, I have no objections to Yoru's Jonin appointment."

Hearing his granddaughter's words, Elder Setsuna gave a stifled, bitter sneer through a cough.

"Fool! You're not even as shrewd as that brat. How can I rest easy handing this branch over to you in the future!"

Elder Setsuna rebuked her irritably before speaking to Mikoto in a grave voice.

"A thirteen-year-old Jonin who created self-created Ninjutsu without hand seals, an A-rank technique, and the youngest genius Jonin in Konoha's history—do you know what that means?"

"I'll tell you! The moment this appointment notice appeared, all information on that brat would have been delivered to the offices of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Then it would spread through every village, along with high-priced bounty notices!"

At this point, Elder Setsuna's face twisted with fury as he slapped his thigh viciously.

"Now that he's a Jonin, the missions that brat takes will become far more dangerous. And with his name as a genius spreading, countless shinobi will learn his information. Every village will analyze his weaknesses and Ninjutsu affinities."

"Do you really think becoming a famous Jonin is a good thing? That Third old geezer clearly wants to destroy our Uchiha genius!"

Elder Setsuna's face was full of rage. As the first person in Konoha to rebel besides Madara, no one understood schemes better than he did.

Any famous shinobi was terrifyingly powerful. So what if their weaknesses were known? To the weak, even a strong person's weakness was still overwhelming.

But Uchiha Yoru was only thirteen. Even with his Bloodline Limit, he could merely contend with a Jonin, not kill one.

A genius who had yet to mature would be in great danger if he encountered an enemy Jonin familiar with his information.

Uchiha Yoru's information in particular—his Cursed Seal Bloodline Limit could not last long. A battle of attrition could wear him to death.

His Chakra affinities were Fire, Lightning, and Earth, along with several commonly used Ninjutsu. They had probably long since appeared in the offices of every major shinobi village and would soon be distributed further.

Yet upon hearing that Uchiha Yoru was in danger, Uchiha Mikoto did not panic. Instead, her expression turned resolute as she raised her head and said coldly.

"Elder! Yoru is the family's genius. I believe he can grow amidst the dangers of war!"

The proud Uchiha Clan had never feared danger!

Seeing Uchiha Mikoto's unyielding nature, Elder Setsuna's face reddened. He glared at her, his raised finger trembling.

"Mikoto! You... you!"

"Elder!"

Clearly, Uchiha Mikoto did not have a particularly close relationship with Elder Setsuna, her grandfather. It was even somewhat stiff.

"Mikoto, when you chose that brat back then, I recall your original intention was that he would be easy to control, while also being a genius."

Uchiha Mikoto's pupils constricted at those words, and her expression darkened. Then she snorted coldly.

"That's right. Back then, I did value how easy Yoru was to control!"

"And what about now?"

Faced with Elder Setsuna's questioning, Uchiha Mikoto fell silent. At first, she had merely wanted to resist the family. Given Elder Setsuna's physical condition, he likely would not last until she had grown up.

But she refused to accept her grandfather's arrangement for her to attach herself to the clan leader's branch. So, she had wanted to choose a genius she could easily control.

At the time, Uchiha Yoru's reputation as a genius at the Ninja Academy, coupled with the fact that they had grown up together, made him the perfect choice.

Yet after spending time with him, in just a few short years, his unreserved trust and gentle smile had gradually opened her heart. Before she realized it, she had sunk into it.

Seeing his granddaughter like this, Elder Setsuna felt exasperated at her failure to meet his expectations, yet he could only sigh helplessly.

"Mikoto, that brat's growth proves your judgment was not wrong. When I was as young as you, I too believed firmly in The pride of the Uchiha. But at my age, I know that pride alone is useless. The Uchiha must possess strength to match it!"

As he said this, Elder Setsuna sighed helplessly. The Uchiha's problem lay in their pride. At this age, an Uchiha's backbone was at its hardest, and it was simply too difficult for him.

"Don't put yourself in danger for hollow pride! Do you want that brat to die clinging to the so-called glory of being an Uchiha genius?"

It had to be said that Elder Setsuna had matured greatly after experiencing rebellion and so many major events. He was no longer blindly proud like an ordinary Uchiha.

Yet young people like Uchiha Mikoto simply could not understand his thinking. That was why he was angry.

"If Yoru dies in battle, I will avenge him! Then I will follow him as his widow!"

Good heavens!

At that moment, Elder Setsuna nearly coughed up blood. His eyes widened as he stared at his single-minded granddaughter.

"Mikoto, you're too extreme!"

But Uchiha Mikoto remained calm. Slowly, she took out a Ninjutsu Scroll from her shinobi tool pouch. Under Elder Setsuna's puzzled gaze, a trace of tenderness appeared in her eyes.

"This is an A-rank Ninjutsu without hand seals that Yoru created himself!"

Boom!

Elder Setsuna fell silent. Good kid! He was truly willing to spend so much for his granddaughter!

Ninjutsu created by shinobi would only be passed down to their children or disciples. They would guard it even from their wives. Even great clans were the same.

As for why they did not simply share it with the clan?

They were clan members to begin with. Passing it down through their own branch was already passing it down to the clan. Who had the right to speak of sharing? Why didn't you share all your own Ninjutsu and secret techniques as well?

That was the limited perspective of a clan. But the Hokage had to consider an entire village. If the Uchiha had a Hokage, Elder Setsuna would dare to contribute all Uchiha Ninjutsu.

"You're doing this for that brat!"

Elder Setsuna raised his head and looked calmly at his stubborn granddaughter. It seemed that only at this moment did he realize that he had never truly understood her.

Beneath Uchiha Mikoto's gentle exterior was unwavering determination. She nodded calmly, tacitly admitting it.

"Yoru's dream is immense, but I can feel that he wants to change the family. He never says it aloud; he merely uses his actions to prove everything.

Elder... grandfather, your health means we do not have much time left."

Uchiha Mikoto had initially wanted to call him elder, but after hesitating, she chose to call him grandfather this time.

Clearly, she was the traditional type of woman in the Shinobi World, one who only offered support from behind.

As for taking risks?

To the Uchiha, if one became timid because of danger, even an Uchiha woman would look down on them.

That pride had been carved deep into the bones of the Uchiha Clan, regardless of gender or age.

"You!"

Elder Setsuna could not help feeling utterly stifled. It was like he had not even breathed his last, yet his granddaughter and an outsider were already plotting to take over his estate.

And they were sparing no effort, willing to do it even at the risk of danger!

Damn it!

After all that, it turned out he was the clown!

At that moment, Elder Setsuna felt utterly aggrieved. His own granddaughter was helping an outsider scheme against this old man.

"Fine! I will protect this Uchiha genius!"

What pride of the Uchiha? This was clearly forcing him to use his authority and grant that brat full access.

Thanks to 'A Jiujiu' for the 00 coins, and 'Mojie Table' for the 100 coins. Thanks to both of you, Guanxi and Yanzu, for your support.

Tomorrow is Tuesday. I ask all Guanxi and Yanzu to please keep reading. Many thanks.