The Uchiha Clan's Retired Official

Konohagakure.

April.

The season of blooming cherry blossoms. A breeze swept by, carrying tiny petals filled with freedom and wild abandon. Their faint fragrance drifted through the air, involuntarily relaxing both body and mind and bringing natural smiles to people's faces.

Adorned by them, the village appeared especially prosperous and beautiful. Its tranquil atmosphere made every hair on one's body seem to relax.

Uchiha Kazuna rocked in his recliner, squinting as he lay lazily beneath a cherry tree.

He held a steaming cup of tea and took occasional slurps from it.

A birdcage sat beside him.

Inside, a brightly colored bird curiously observed its surroundings.

"Now this is living!"

He let out a satisfied sigh.

"Indeed!"

Someone answered him. "It reminded me of something you once said, Kazuna."

A figure abruptly appeared.

The newcomer had handsome features and a rare... dumpling-shaped nose.

He wore dark clothing and carried a short tanto on his back.

Uchiha Kazuna lazily asked, "What did I say?"

The man walked over to Uchiha Kazuna and plopped down on the grass. "You're living. We're merely surviving."

Uchiha Kazuna chuckled. "I can't compare to elites like you, especially you. Tsk, tsk, the famous Body Flicker Shisui. And me? I'm just trash who abandoned his companions to complete a mission."

Uchiha Shisui lowered his face into the tree's shade and remained silent.

His slightly heavier breathing revealed just how unsettled he was.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Konohagakure had produced three young and exceptionally powerful ninjas.

The Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze!

Body Flicker Shisui!

The last was Uchiha Kazuna, Blood Flame Kazuna!

His Fire Release far surpassed ordinary standards. Thick and crimson as blood, it had incinerated countless enemies.

Many ninja believed the three would inherit the legendary Sannin titles of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, becoming Konohagakure's new Sannin.

Yet, on the eve of victory in the Third Shinobi World War, an enormous scandal about Uchiha Kazuna had emerged... he had abandoned his companions to complete a mission.

Such behavior had earned everyone's scorn.

After returning to the village, Kazuna had suffered enormous public backlash and ultimately become a "retired official."

Every day, he wandered around the Uchiha Clan Grounds with a teacup and birdcage in hand, either basking in the sun or strolling about, enjoying retirement ahead of schedule.

A top-tier genius had thus fallen silent!

"I believe you would never do something like that!"

Shisui's words were filled with conviction, his hands clenched tightly.

He believed in his friend!

Kazuna was absolutely not the kind of person who would abandon his companions for a mission.

Uchiha Kazuna neither confirmed nor denied it. Lazily, he said, "By the way, what's wrong with you? You look miserable. Did your goddess run off with another man? Uh, don't tell me I accidentally hurt her during one of my recent 'wild slaughters'?"

He instinctively pounded his lower back.

He had been exerting himself a little too hard lately!

It wasn't his fault. The young ladies were simply too charming.

Accidentally hurt her?

Shisui nearly choked. He glared at Kazuna and said helplessly, "Could you be serious? And in that regard, can't you be more careful? I remember you spent time under Lord Jiraiya. Did he teach you that?"

"Give me a break!" Kazuna looked disdainful. "Can that old pervert compare to me? He peeps. I go in with real blades and guns. We're on completely different levels!"

Shisui rubbed his brow, wearing an expression of agony.

The atmosphere was gone...

He had clearly come here feeling troubled.

Yet he had somehow been led astray!

And he truly did not understand—was that something to be proud of?

Forget it!

"You didn't attend yesterday's Uchiha Clan Council?"

"Huh?" Kazuna looked somewhat surprised. "You attended? Sounds like something interesting happened."

Shisui glanced at him and sneered. "You don't know?"

Kazuna innocently said, "How would I know if you don't tell me? You're a grown man. Just say what you mean instead of hemming and hawing. Disgusting!"

Shisui curled his lip.

He did not believe Kazuna knew nothing.

This guy appeared idle all day long, but he was actually the leading figure among the Uchiha Clan's younger generation. Within the clan, his prestige definitely surpassed even that of Body Flicker Shisui.

Countless young Uchiha admired him and listened to him.

No matter how large or small an event occurred within the clan, it could not escape his notice.

Many major clan decisions were also influenced by him.

Sometimes, Shisui found it strange. Kazuna had gone through something like that and been plagued by such rumors, so why were so many clansmen still willing to follow him?

Based on past examples, shouldn't Kazuna have been ostracized or even maliciously attacked?

Compared to himself...

He had devoted himself wholeheartedly to both the village and the Uchiha Clan, yet neither side appreciated him.

There was no need to mention the village. The moment they heard the words "Uchiha Clan," their expressions changed.

And within the clan?

Quite a few people were beginning to dislike him as well.

Shisui felt bitter!

Yet he could not simply do nothing. No, the moment he had finished his mission, he had rushed here to find Kazuna.

He sighed and said with a headache, "The resentment the clansmen have accumulated is growing heavier and heavier. Many from the neutral faction and the Dove Faction have begun moving closer to the Hawk Faction, and even the Clan Leader..."

Shisui irritably grabbed at his hair. "The Clan Leader's attitude this time is also subtly leaning toward the Hawk Faction. Their patience with the village is reaching its limit."

"Oh."

"Slurp, slurp..."

Uchiha Kazuna slurped his tea and casually said, "An armed coup? The Uchiha Clan taking the position of Hokage? Not a bad idea."

"Nonsense! Once the Uchiha Clan launches a coup, the entire village will be engulfed in war. The other villages won't stand by and watch. Konohagakure itself might even be destroyed. Don't tell me you haven't considered that."

Shisui looked at him unhappily. "Why can you still be so carefree?"

"What else can I do besides be carefree?" Kazuna yawned. "Right now, aside from sunbathing, drinking tea, and reading the newspaper, all I can do is go find my girlfriends..."

"By the way, you're a few months older than me. Don't tell me you're still single?"

"...I don't understand what 'single' means, but I feel like I've been attacked."

Kazuna wore a serious expression. "Believe me, Shisui. You can be more confident!"

Shisui's face darkened. "Kazuna, I'm being serious. Be serious with me."

"Fine, fine!" Kazuna laughed. "Serious, serious. Proper, proper. Go on, what do you need from me?"

Shisui said solemnly, "Kazuna, we need your strength. You should understand that the Uchiha Clan is now sitting atop a volcano that could erupt at any moment. For the sake of the village, I hope you can step forward."

"We?" Uchiha Kazuna smiled teasingly. "Who is 'we'?"

"The Uchiha Clan? Konohagakure? Or... the Hokage?"

"What difference does it make?"

Shisui raised his voice slightly, his expression solemn. "The Uchiha Clan is part of the village. The Hokage is the village's soul and our highest leader. We should obey his orders."

Uchiha Kazuna did not answer and simply continued slurping his tea.

At that moment, a cold, eerie voice rang out. "A soul? A leader? So that means he can harm others without restraint?"

"Who?"

Shisui was startled and turned around.

A black-haired boy had appeared behind him at some point.

Like a ghost.

Those deep, pitch-black eyes stared directly at Shisui.

"Itachi?"

Shisui sucked in a cold breath.

He knew the eldest son of the Clan Leader's House very well, and they had a good relationship.

Uchiha Itachi was a recognized genius. He had awakened the Sharingan at eight, become a Chunin at ten, and this year had even become a Squad Captain in the Anbu.

Yet Shisui realized that he had still underestimated him.

Because his conversation with Kazuna involved many sensitive subjects, Shisui had pushed his senses to their limit, fearing that someone might overhear them.

Under such circumstances, a thirteen-year-old boy had actually managed to approach him without making a sound.

If this had been an assassination...

A chill ran through Shisui's heart.

Uchiha Itachi's strength was at least close to that of an Elite Jonin!

This talent... was truly outrageous!

"Brother Shisui."

Uchiha Itachi curled his lips into a smile, but there was not a trace of amusement in his eyes. They were like black holes that could suck in one's soul.

"Brother Shisui, what you just said placed you entirely on the Hokage faction's side. Don't forget—you are an Uchiha!"

Hearing that, Kazuna nodded emphatically.

Good boy!

All the effort I had put into you since your birth had not been wasted. You had not gone astray after all!

Unfortunately, he was only looking after one end and neglecting the other...

Kazuna turned his gaze toward Shisui and sighed inwardly. He had clearly paid plenty of attention to this grown Uchiha too, so how had someone still managed to exploit the opening?

However, it was not too late!

Though he had been an ordinary office worker in his previous life, he had some knowledge of the Original Work.

Then he had been reborn as a genius of the Uchiha Clan, and he even possessed a cheat!

The conditions were simply too good.

First, he had become Shisui's best friend, someone he could talk to about anything. Then, he had become Itachi's de facto teacher, openly and covertly changing both of their mindsets.

These two problem children of the Uchiha Clan definitely would not go astray this time.

This year seemed to be the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall?

Who knew whose clan would be wiped out!

Right, Konohagakure's F4!

A flash of red glinted in Kazuna's eyes as a gentle smile appeared on his face.