Transformation of Image

Knock, knock, knock.

"Fugaku, Gen is here."

Mikoto Uchiha knocked softly on the door and spoke gently.

"Let him in." A deep, dignified voice rang out.

"Thank you, Mikoto."

After politely thanking her, Uchiha Gen opened the door and walked inside. Mikoto Uchiha casually shut the door behind him.

"Greetings, Young Clan Leader." Uchiha Gen glanced over and gave a slight bow.

Fugaku Uchiha had short black hair and wore a dark blue robe emblazoned with the Uchiha Clan's fan crest on the back. Over it was green Jonin armor, paired with black trousers.

"No need for such formalities. Sit."

A faint smile appeared on Fugaku Uchiha's stern face, and his tone was gentle.

At his words, Uchiha Gen sat seiza across from Fugaku, his back straight and expression relaxed.

In truth, Uchiha Gen disliked sitting seiza. With the body from his previous life, he probably would not have been able to hold the position for long.

This world's body could maintain it for a long time, but he still did not like it. It was simply basic etiquette among great clans, so he had no choice but to observe it.

"Have some tea."

Fugaku Uchiha slid over a cup of freshly brewed green tea. After saying thank you, Uchiha Gen accepted it and took a sip.

"What do you think?"

"I do not know much about tea. I can only say that it tastes good."

"Haha, an honest kid."

"Did the Young Clan Leader summon me because you had some instructions?"

"It is nothing. After returning to the clan, I heard that the Uchiha Clan had produced another genius, so I wished to meet you."

"I heard you joined Jonin Minato's team?" Fugaku Uchiha asked, his eyes gleaming.

Uchiha Gen shook his head. "Not yet. I have only temporarily joined Team 7. To formally become his disciple, I need to earn the genuine recognition of Senior Minato and my two teammates."

"Then perform well. Jonin Minato is already a popular candidate for Hokage."

"If you become his disciple, the Uchiha may have hope for producing the next Hokage."

"If there is anything the clan can help you with, speak freely," Fugaku Uchiha encouraged.

"Rest assured, Young Clan Leader. I will perform well."

"Still, the standard of recognition is too vague. I do not know when I will be able to reach it..."

"However, I do have a way to make Senior Minato take an Uchiha as his disciple sooner."

"Oh? Let me hear it." Fugaku Uchiha raised a brow.

"You know that Obito gave his Sharingan to Kakashi, right?"

"Of course I know. Quite a few clansmen have urged me to retrieve the Sharingan, but this matter is difficult to handle."

Thinking of it gave Fugaku Uchiha a headache.

No bloodline-limit clan in the shinobi world would allow its bloodline limit to fall into outsiders' hands, yet this matter was truly difficult to resolve.

First, Kakashi had not stolen the Sharingan. Obito had given it to him.

The two were both heroes acknowledged by Konoha. If they disregarded a hero's final wish, the Uchiha's reputation would inevitably suffer.

Second, Kakashi was the head of the Hatake Clan and the only son of Hatake Sakumo, the Konoha White Fang.

When Hatake Sakumo had still been alive, the Uchiha had enjoyed a good relationship with him. It would not be right to bully an old friend's son.

Most importantly, Kakashi was Minato Namikaze's disciple. Minato Namikaze was the disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, and Jiraiya was the Third Hokage's disciple.

His background was impeccable. If they stepped forward to plead his case, the Uchiha Clan would be hard-pressed to stand firm. Otherwise, there would be endless trouble down the line.

Yet if they did not reclaim the Sharingan, they could not explain themselves to the clansmen, and it would also damage the Uchiha's prestige.

"Young Clan Leader, in my view, it will be very difficult to retrieve the Sharingan. You cannot possibly have overlooked the reasons."

"Since that is the case, why not exchange the Sharingan for benefits?"

"They have to give the Uchiha a way out, do they not?"

"Once the Uchiha have been given that way out, we can acknowledge Obito's gift in the clan's name. What do you think?"

Fugaku Uchiha pondered. "You mean using the ownership of the Sharingan to secure your place as Jonin Minato's disciple?"

Uchiha Gen smiled faintly and said righteously, "It does not have to be me. Shisui, Itachi, any Uchiha clansman would do."

"Everything is for the clan!"

Fugaku Uchiha was deeply shaken by those words.

He had never imagined that Uchiha Gen's awareness would be so high, that he could even give up the chance to become a Hokage candidate's disciple...

He was truly loyal to the clan, and so clever as well. He had to be cultivated vigorously!

The thought that his eldest son, Itachi, might have a chance to become Minato Namikaze's disciple made Fugaku Uchiha's heart pound.

In reality, Uchiha Gen was not as loyal to the Uchiha Clan as Fugaku Uchiha imagined, because he had a backup option.

Compared to Minato Namikaze's way of doing things, Uchiha Gen had gradually come to feel that the backup option suited him better.

From the clan's perspective, becoming Minato Namikaze's disciple would bring greater benefits, but from the perspective of his own interests, becoming the backup option's disciple would bring greater benefits.

"Gen, I now fully understand your devotion to the clan."

"No matter who becomes Jonin Minato's disciple, once I become clan leader, you will be a squad captain in the Military Police Force."

Fugaku Uchiha's expression turned solemn as he made his promise in earnest.

In Fugaku Uchiha's eyes, his son had a great chance.

As long as Minato Namikaze accepted his son as a disciple, he could gain the Uchiha Clan's support, greatly increasing his chances of becoming Hokage.

The Uchiha Clan leader and the head of the Military Police Force had always been the same person, so Fugaku Uchiha was not making an empty promise.

In fact, Fugaku Uchiha was already the deputy head of the Military Police Force. Once the clan leader stepped down or passed away, he could take the position.

"Thank you for your cultivation, Young Clan Leader."

After thanking him solemnly, Uchiha Gen changed the subject.

"However, one who has no long-term concerns will have immediate troubles."

"Senior Minato is not guaranteed to become Hokage. Lord Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, is an extremely formidable competitor!"

"If Lord Orochimaru takes the position, then given his age, Senior Minato may have no chance in this lifetime..."

Although Jiraiya also had a chance of becoming Hokage, his personality made him the least favored of the Sannin.

Tsunade's support was no weaker than Orochimaru's, but because of Dan Katō and Nawaki, Tsunade currently had no interest in becoming Hokage at all.

Orochimaru had originally been the certain next Hokage, but the sudden rise of Minato Namikaze had made him his greatest competitor.

Orochimaru was still interested in the position of Hokage.

Fugaku Uchiha's expression immediately became grave, and his earlier joy and excitement vanished.

That was right. What if Orochimaru became Hokage?

Choosing the wrong side in a political struggle could bring extremely serious consequences!

The Uchiha would not be destroyed given their strength and size, but they would likely face severe suppression. At the very least, they could forget about having even the slightest room for advancement.

"Gen, what do you mean...?"

After their earlier discussion, Fugaku Uchiha no longer saw Uchiha Gen merely as a gifted genius, but also as a wise man devoted to the clan.

"Young Clan Leader, I believe the way for a great clan to endure and prosper is to never put all its eggs in one basket, but to invest and place bets in multiple directions."

"That way, we may not gain the greatest benefits, but it is the most stable approach."

"Our Uchiha Clan has been passed down for a thousand years and possesses deep foundations. We do not need to be like small clans, forced to choose only one side—achieving explosive growth if they win and declining rapidly if they lose."

"Any Hokage candidate who gains our support receives powerful assistance. Even if they know we are backing two sides, they are unlikely to refuse."

"Because refusal would mean that our Uchiha Clan would fully support their competitor, reducing their own chances of becoming Hokage."

"Acceptance is the best choice, allowing them to maintain balance."

"Perhaps some may even offer benefits in exchange for greater support..."

The more Fugaku Uchiha listened, the brighter his eyes became. At the end, he slapped his palm and laughed loudly. "Hahaha, brilliant! Brilliant!"