Uchiha Tunan went into his bedroom, took a diary from the drawer, and began writing in it.
"July 1st.
Today, Third Lord came to the school to speak about the Will of Fire.
At first, I did not understand it very well.
But as Third Lord explained it in simple terms, I gradually came to understand.
I have summarized it as follows... (three thousand words omitted)
Oh, right. Today, Father and Mother left a note saying that they had gone to the battlefield.
May everything go smoothly for them."
After writing that, Uchiha Tunan closed the diary and placed it somewhere conspicuous.
This would definitely prove useful someday.
He wondered whether this body's parents would successfully die on the battlefield.
He should make another arrangement, though it would involve a little risk.
The next day, Uchiha Tunan took his wallet and went to the largest bookstore in Konoha.
The bookstore owner was an old man with glasses. When he saw Uchiha Tunan enter, he greeted him warmly. "Welcome, little Uchiha. What do you need?"
"Hello. I'd like to buy books about ninja. The more, the better."
"I suppose you've already enrolled in the Ninja Academy. Our bookstore is not allowed to sell books about ninjutsu.
We do have plenty of books on ninja precautions, as well as espionage and assassination, but they aren't really suitable for you."
"As long as they're about ninja, I'll take them all." Those ninja books were exactly what Uchiha Tunan had come for.
The bookstore owner rubbed his chin, secretly delighted. "All of them... Let's be clear first: no returns after purchase."
Following the principle that only an idiot turned down money, the bookstore owner shamelessly stuffed the books from the shelves into bags.
"Little one, we also have plenty of storybooks here. Want any?" Having finally found such a gullible customer, the bookstore owner was determined to fleece him for all he was worth.
"Do you have any books about Lord Hokage?" Uchiha Tunan asked calmly.
"Mm, we do. This one is about First Hokage, this one is about Second Hokage, and this one is about Third Hokage.
And this one—the Will of Fire, personally signed by Third Lord. Would you like a copy?"
"I'll take them all."
Before long, Uchiha Tunan walked out of the bookstore carrying a huge bag of books.
"Thank you for your patronage. Little one, you'll definitely become a great ninja someday." The bookstore owner smiled and waved at Uchiha Tunan.
What a killing...
After returning home, Uchiha Tunan sorted the books into categories.
First, he opened the book Will of Fire and placed it on the table. Then he put the other books about the deeds of the past Hokage beside his bed.
Finally, he kept one book about ninja and put all the rest into the cabinet.
Opening the book titled Trap Setting Manual, Uchiha Tunan began studying in earnest.
In this dangerous world of ninja, the first thing he needed to learn was how to stay alive.
He was currently in Konoha, so there was basically not much danger.
But there was never anything wrong with being cautious.
First, he had to choose a side. Once he chose wrong, it would be easy to fall asleep one day and never wake up again.
Clinging tightly to Hiruzen Sarutobi's thigh was the politically correct choice.
He had to use every method to make his position clear and express his loyalty.
There was another point: ninja were much like assassins, high offense and low defense.
No matter how terrifying your damage output was, a kunai in the neck would kill you instantly.
So while he still had plenty of time, he needed to learn more underhanded tricks. Even if he did not use them, they could still help him guard against such tactics.
Since Uchiha Tunan was a left-behind child,
elders from the clan occasionally came by to check on him.
Yet every time they entered the room, the first thing they saw was the copy of Will of Fire on the table.
Most of them would angrily scold him a few times before flicking their sleeves and leaving.
Even those with greater tolerance could not suppress their impulse when they saw the many books about the deeds of past Hokage beside Uchiha Tunan's bed. They would give Uchiha Tunan the Uchiha Clan's uniquely stern admonishments.
But no matter how others tried to persuade him, Uchiha Tunan's eyes remained filled with stubbornness.
"Don't you dare talk about Lord Hokage like that."
"Tunan, you must understand that you are an Uchiha. The clan must come first in all things."
Compared to the other Uchiha clansmen, this elder was already speaking quite mildly.
But after looking once more at Uchiha Tunan's stubborn face, the elder finally could not hold back any longer. He snorted coldly and left.
After angering the elder into leaving, Uchiha Tunan returned to his room, opened his diary, and wrote:
"I truly do not understand why the clansmen cannot understand the Will of Fire.
Have they never even read this book?
Perhaps Third Lord's ideas are simply too advanced, while the clansmen's hearts are too restless.
In truth, if they would only calm down and study and reflect seriously, they would discover just how advanced Third Lord's principles of governing the village are.
After studying over the past few days, I have drawn three fundamental points from the deeds of the past Lords Hokage.
First Hokage's deeds taught me that I must learn unity.
Second Hokage's deeds taught me that I must learn diligence.
Third Hokage's deeds taught me that I must learn protection.
These three fundamental points are the shining qualities I saw in the three Lords Hokage.
Third Lord's philosophy of protection in particular has benefited me greatly.
I have decided to stand firm in my convictions, never waver, never believe rumors, take protecting Konoha as my duty, and swear to follow in Third Lord's footsteps until death.
With Third Lord's will... (eight thousand words omitted)
Oh, right. Today, Mother sent back a letter telling me to take good care of myself. I will listen to her."
Fortunately, no one in the Uchiha Clan casually rummaged through other people's belongings.
If they saw what he had written in his diary, they would probably roast him into charcoal with a Great Fireball.
The Uchiha Clan were all loudmouths. Especially when they encountered something they disdained, they would spread it far and wide.
After fermenting for several days, news about Uchiha Tunan had thoroughly spread through the Uchiha Clan Compound.
"That brat from Uchiha Genbo's family spends all day at home reading Third Hokage's Will of Fire nonsense."
"Hmph, useless brat. Doesn't he know that strength is everything?"
"I heard that brat has been at the Ninja Academy for half a year, and his exam scores are at the bottom just like Obito's."
"Those two brats are simply disgracing the glory of the Uchiha Clan."
"I want to suggest to the elders that this brat be expelled from the Uchiha Clan."
"The elders won't agree. After all, both his parents are on the battlefield."
"Once his parents return, I'll definitely go speak to them personally. How exactly did they raise that brat?"
"Genbo has still only been a Chunin after all these years, and Nanako is the same. They're nothing but trash themselves, and now they've given birth to a little piece of trash."
"Stop talking. If the elders hear you, they will definitely punish you."
These Wind Talk rumors naturally reached Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears through the Anbu.
In the Hokage's office, after listening to the Anbu report on the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a ring of smoke and said:
"Uchiha Tunan? So it was that child. He has quite the awareness."
He then took the Ninja Academy's exam results from a drawer.
"This child is rather severely lopsided."
On the report card, Uchiha Tunan ranked first in theoretical knowledge, while his taijutsu and ninjutsu ranked at the bottom.
Of course, Uchiha Obito had the worst overall score.
That was because Uchiha Obito scored zero in theoretical knowledge, with only his taijutsu being slightly better than Uchiha Tunan's.
"What a pity." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and put the report card back into the drawer, then stopped paying attention to Uchiha Tunan.
A useless person without strength could at most become a loyal civilian. His future value would be cheering for him.
Before you continue