Seisui and Shisui led the curious Rin Nohara through the Uchiha Clan Compound.
As someone determined to become an outstanding medical-nin, Rin Nohara could not resist the temptation of learning the Mystical Palm Technique.
At the same time, Rin Nohara also longed to become friends with Seisui.
Who would not want a handsome, young, wealthy, generous, gentle, and powerful friend?
"As expected of the Uchiha Clan..."
Like a sightseeing tourist, Rin Nohara found the Uchiha Clan's distinctively styled architecture and the heritage of a great clan captivating. Everywhere she looked felt novel to her.
Yet the antique-like Uchiha Clan Compound, comparable to a scenic attraction, was also a place few people in Konoha ever set foot in.
That had much to do with the Uchiha Clan's responsibility for the Konoha Military Police and its current reputation within Konoha.
This meant that, even though the Uchiha Clan had been one of the core shinobi clans in founding Konoha...
Even now, many Konoha shinobi still held an inexplicable fear of the Uchiha, as well as a considerable lack of understanding about them.
In a sense, the Uchiha Clan occupied a position in Konoha rather similar to Shimura Danzō's.
They both appeared to hold high status, yet neither possessed the good reputation needed to become Hokage or rise any higher. Both had become blades in someone else's hand, with virtually no hope of becoming the one wielding the blade.
"If you like it, come over whenever you have time. Usually, it's just Shisui and me at home."
Seisui ruffled Shisui's hair and said wistfully, "Even though our house is pretty big, it still feels empty with only the two of us. Don't you think so, Shisui?"
"Not at all! It's great when it's just you and me at home, Elder Brother!" Shisui puffed out his cheeks like a bun.
The little fellow was openly expressing his strong dissatisfaction with Rin Nohara interrupting his perfect weekend alone with his elder brother.
"Ow, Elder Brother, you hit me..."
"You need to learn how to make friends, Shisui. Your elder brother can't stay with you forever." Seisui smiled.
Rin Nohara covered her mouth and laughed softly. As an only child, she found the interaction between Seisui and Shisui quite amusing. "You brothers really are close..."
Shisui snorted, unconvinced by Seisui's words.
Why couldn't his elder brother stay with him forever? He would stay with him forever!
The three of them bickered and laughed as they walked. From afar, they looked like a harmonious family.
At that moment, gazes from three different directions converged upon Seisui and the others.
One group consisted of Uchiha Yashiro, Inabi Uchiha, Tekka Uchiha, and the others.
These elite Three Tomoe Jonin of the Uchiha had the duty of guarding the clan compound. Naturally, they scrutinized Rin Nohara, an outsider, more closely.
"Elder Brother Yashiro, that troublesome brat actually brought an outsider in. Let's use that as an excuse to teach him a lesson. It'll also help you vent some anger..."
As one of Uchiha Yashiro's staunch friends, Tekka Uchiha was also a member of the Uchiha Clan's Hawk Faction.
After receiving Seisui's gentle education, Uchiha Yashiro had returned to report while suppressing the shame in his heart. He vaguely claimed that he had defeated Seisui but suffered a slight loss, though the mission had been completed fairly satisfactorily overall.
Yet during conversations with his friends, Uchiha Yashiro could not help praising Seisui repeatedly.
This led his friends, Inabi and Tekka, to mistakenly believe that Seisui had caused Uchiha Yashiro considerable trouble, and that he had only refrained from saying so to save face.
Ever since Seisui had made a name for himself among the Uchiha through Water Release, the Hawk Faction Uchiha had been dissatisfied with him. Setsuna Uchiha had stirred up the sentiment even more.
Tekka Uchiha was eager to act. He exchanged a glance with Inabi Uchiha, and the two grinned viciously in mutual understanding.
However, the moment Uchiha Yashiro saw their expressions, his face changed sharply. Both hands shot out, firmly gripping Tekka and Inabi by the shoulders.
"Tekka, Inabi, can I trust you two?" Uchiha Yashiro asked in an extremely solemn voice.
"What are you talking about? Inabi's parents and mine died early, and our families were poor. If you hadn't supported us, becoming shinobi might have been beyond our reach."
"Over all these years, Inabi and I have long regarded you as our real elder brother."
Tekka Uchiha looked at the serious Uchiha Yashiro in confusion, but still answered earnestly.
Inabi Uchiha nodded. "That's right, Elder Brother Yashiro."
"Then listen to me. Never let Seisui feel that the clan is hostile toward him."
Uchiha Yashiro's hands tightened on their shoulders. "As for why, come to my house tonight and I'll tell you..."
"For now, remember just one thing: if you make Seisui dissatisfied with the clan, whether it's the two of you or me, we will become unforgivable sinners of the Uchiha Clan!"
By the end, a trace of killing intent had even appeared in Uchiha Yashiro's eyes!
Tekka Uchiha and Inabi Uchiha were both startled. Seeing the Tomoe spinning in Uchiha Yashiro's eyes, they swallowed hard and hurriedly nodded.
On the other hand.
Obito Uchiha, who was training alongside Setsuna Uchiha, stared blankly at Rin Nohara's retreating figure from afar, sweat covering his head.
"Rin..."
Obito Uchiha called out unconsciously. He stared fixedly at Rin Nohara's back, but she never turned around. She simply continued ahead, talking and laughing with Seisui and Shisui.
Setsuna Uchiha watched the scene with a smile, seeming to mutter to himself while also speaking to Obito:
"The Shinobi World is just such a place. Shinobi without strength can only watch the things they want get taken away."
"The position of Hokage is like that. The woman you love is like that. Everything is like that..."
"If you had defeated Seisui Uchiha that day, would you be the one walking beside her right now?"
"So train hard, Obito. When your shoulders can bear the clan, you will naturally obtain what you desire."
Obito Uchiha's eyes turned fierce. He nodded silently. "Elder Setsuna, let's continue training. I'll take back everything that belongs to me!"
But Obito Uchiha had forgotten something.
The young Rin Nohara was merely an ordinary, warmhearted girl. She had helped Obito Uchiha because she wanted to encourage every classmate as much as she could.
Her feelings for Obito Uchiha were far from love.
Yet Obito Uchiha, encouraged by her, was like a beggar who had received alms. Rather than being content with the coin in his hand, he wanted to possess the kind wallet all for himself, forgetting that he had no right to do so.
The last one watching Seisui and the others was Black Zetsu.
Or rather, it should have been called "Rin Uchiha."
"Interesting. Seisui, are you an anomaly like Kagami Uchiha, or a monster hiding yourself very deeply..."
"Obito Uchiha truly has the makings of a good pawn, but that trash Setsuna Uchiha—how could such clumsy rhetoric bring forth the true darkness in his heart?"
"You must first let him experience the beauty of the world, then tear it apart in the most brutal way possible. Only then can he feel despair..."
Rin Uchiha spoke such cruel words, yet smiled sweetly.
From an observer's perspective, her smile was even more beautiful than Rin Nohara's...
In a corner unknown to anyone.
The gears of the Shinobi World's fate had already begun turning silently, unstoppable.
Weekend bonus chapter! Good night, everyone...
The pleasant weekend was over. It was time to go back to work tomorrow!
Orz...
Book recommendation: A Reincarnation Paradise fanfic, featuring a behind-the-scenes mastermind following the Gray Gentleman power system. Interested readers can give it a try!
Before you continue