Temptation from the Clan Head

After leaving Hyuga Himeji, Uchiha Chen returned home alone.

To him, comforting Hyuga Himeji had merely been a small favor.

As for what fruit it would bear in the future, that was beyond his control.

Perhaps Hyuga Himeji really could become Hokage and change the Hyuga Clan.

Uchiha Chen retraced his steps. He no longer had any interest in taking a walk. His previously relaxed mood grew heavy again.

Time forever stood high above, looking down upon our lives and manipulating every story of life, death, reunion, and parting.

It turned the liveliest people silent, made even the most steadfast waiting lose all meaning, and dulled the most sensitive hearts.

Yet we were powerless to resist.

Uchiha Chen headed toward his house.

"Who's there?" Uchiha Chen narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning wary.

A faint, elusive presence had just locked onto him.

Whoosh.

A figure appeared before Uchiha Chen. "So fast!"

Uchiha Chen raised his head.

Before him stood a man around thirty years old. He wore the Uchiha Clan's distinctive windbreaker and looked at Uchiha Chen with a cold expression.

Uchiha Chen's pupils contracted. It seemed the other man had deliberately revealed that presence just now.

"Vice Captain of the Police Force, may I ask what you need from me?" Uchiha Chen's tone carried just the right amount of respect.

That was right. The man before him was the vice captain of the Police Force controlled by the Uchiha Clan—Uchiha Kan.

As the right-hand man of the Uchiha Clan's head, he had been active within the clan for years.

"It's so late. Where did you go?"

Uchiha Kan spoke to Uchiha Chen in an unreadable tone.

Uchiha Chen could not discern the man's attitude.

"I just went for a walk by myself." Uchiha Chen touched his hair and deliberately revealed a somewhat awkward smile, as though he were facing an important figure.

"Mm, no need to be nervous. When training gets tiring, it's good to go out and take a walk." Uchiha Kan smiled like an elder concerned for a junior.

"The clan head wants to see you. Come with me."

Hmm?

What was going on tonight? Why did everyone have business with him?

When had he become such an important person?

Uchiha Chen could only follow in silence. There were some people an orphan like him could not resist.

The other man might look gentle now, but as vice captain, countless lives had already been taken by his hands.

Uchiha Kan deliberately slowed down, clearly afraid that Uchiha Chen would not be able to keep up.

Uchiha Chen's home was still some distance from the clan head's residence.

Clan Head Uchiha Yama lived at the center of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Uchiha Chen, meanwhile, lived on the outskirts.

Still, this was Uchiha Chen's first time visiting the clan head's home. Only here could he truly sense the deep foundations of Konoha's largest clan.

So this was how rich people lived.

As they passed through a long courtyard, a teenage boy in training clothes was sparring with a Jonin.

—Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Chen was quite interested in Uchiha Fugaku.

After all, as a man who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, his talent went without saying. What was more, he was Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke's father.

But whether Itachi and Sasuke would even be born in the future was something Uchiha Chen could not know.

After all, there was a kind of green called Fugaku green—the young man with the Hulunbuir Grassland above his head.

Under Uchiha Kan's guidance, Uchiha Chen entered a room.

The room was piled full of Scrolls. Uchiha Yama was the only person inside, seated there as he handled official business.

Uchiha Yama was nearly forty years old. He carried an imposing air.

Uchiha Yama was a fearsome figure. He had survived the latter years of the Warring States Period and the First Shinobi World War.

His experiences during the Warring States Period had forged in him a sharper style than that of ordinary shinobi, like a steel blade.

Uchiha Yama waved a hand, and Uchiha Kan immediately withdrew.

"Clan Head," Uchiha Chen said with his head lowered.

There was no helping it. When under another's roof, one had to bow one's head. Just as Uchiha Chen had said, weakness was the original sin.

Even if Uchiha Chen was now a genius, he was still only a Ninja Academy student.

"You're here." Uchiha Yama stopped writing and raised his head, his eyes sweeping over Uchiha Chen.

Under that pressure, Uchiha Chen found it somewhat hard to breathe.

Fortunately, the other man immediately withdrew his aura.

"All right, sit down, child." Uchiha Yama revealed a hearty smile.

"Not bad, not bad. As expected of the Uchiha Clan genius who has been making quite a name for himself recently."

"Even within the clan, I've heard rumors about you. You've brought great honor to our Uchiha Clan." Uchiha Yama wore the expression of an elder caring for a younger clan member.

"Back then, your father, Uchiha Kagami, and I were good friends. We were both teacher and friend to one another. I never expected him to die so young." Uchiha Yama looked deeply regretful.

Who was he trying to fool?

As the Second Hokage's disciple, Uchiha Kagami having a good relationship with these conservatives would be absurd.

Besides, Uchiha Chen had been ostracized by the clan all these years, yet he had never seen them stand up for him.

If Uchiha Chen had not transmigrated here, he might actually have been moved.

After all, tears of sorrow were even streaming down that sincere old face.

The other man was definitely a veteran performer, and his acting was better than Uchiha Chen's.

Yet Uchiha Chen still revealed a surprised expression.

"You knew my father?"

"Of course. At the time, your father and I were the best of friends. Back then, he was the strongest member of our Uchiha Clan. It's just a pity—" Uchiha Yama drew out his voice, revealing a sorrowful expression.

Uchiha Chen silently cursed the old fox.

"A pity for what, Clan Head?"

"A pity that your father was murdered." Uchiha Yama's face was filled with anger.

"Impossible! Didn't Lord Hokage say my father died while carrying out a mission?"

Uchiha Yama revealed an expression of heartbreak.

"That's right, I believed that at first as well. But later, I sensed something was wrong, so I've been secretly investigating all these years."

"Then I finally uncovered the secret. When your father, Uchiha Kagami, was carrying out a mission, someone leaked information about him. That was why he was ambushed by the enemy and died."

"Who did it?" Uchiha Chen asked at just the right moment.

"It was the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the leader of Root, Shimura Danzo."

"After the Second Hokage died in battle, Sarutobi Hiruzen temporarily inherited the position of Third Hokage. But he was too young, and his position was unstable. At that time, your father, Uchiha Kagami, gave his full support to help Sarutobi Hiruzen secure his place."

"So Sarutobi Hiruzen became deeply wary of the Uchiha Clan's influence. He feared that your father would seize power in the future and turn him into a Puppet. Thus, during one of your father's missions, he joined forces with Shimura Danzo, now the leader of Root, and had your father killed."

Growing emotional, Uchiha Yama could not help but stand up.

"I've lost my composure, I've lost my composure. Child, we share Uchiha blood. Do you think I would lie to you?"

"And look at us. Our Uchiha Clan was clearly one of Konoha Village's two founding clans. The Senju Clan has already produced two generations of Hokage, while our Uchiha Clan is still excluded from the center of power."

"Are you willing to accept that, child? Don't you want to inherit your father's will and become Hokage?" Uchiha Yama tempted him.

Uchiha Chen inwardly complained wildly. He had just tempted Hyuga Himeji to become Hokage, and now someone was tempting him.

This really was...

"So, child, if you want revenge, your current strength will not do. You need the clan's help." Uchiha Yama's voice came at just the right moment.

"Then, Clan Head, what do you need me to do?" Uchiha Chen lowered his head and asked.

Uchiha Yama pondered for a moment before asking, "Today, you earned a place in the top three, so you can choose one of three Jonin."

"So I hope you choose Orochimaru."