In fact, the Great Elder and the others had arrived at the scene when Uchiha Tunan first unleashed the Great Fireball Technique.
From the traces at the scene and the conversation between Uchiha Tunan and Uchiha Tetsugo, the Great Elder had already learned roughly what had happened.
But Uchiha Tetsugo was, after all, a member of the Uchiha Clan. They still needed to investigate thoroughly before reaching a conclusion.
Thus, the Great Elder ordered someone to treat Uchiha Tetsugo's injuries and lock him in the shrine hall to await his personal interrogation.
The reason Uchiha Tunan had stayed behind to fight Uchiha Tetsugo was because he had guessed that the clan members had already arrived.
After all, they had been within the Uchiha Clan Compound, and he had shouted so loudly from the start.
All of this had been to nail down Uchiha Tetsugo's crime.
In the dim shrine hall, the Great Elder sat in his seat and looked down at the kneeling Uchiha Tetsugo.
"So you admit that you accidentally killed Tenyu."
Uchiha Tetsugo gritted his teeth. He felt deeply wronged, but an Uchiha could not show weakness even when wronged, so he could only say indignantly,
"Who knew that trash would be so useless? He made a mistake while casting a C-rank ninjutsu."
"According to you, Tenyu had awakened the Sharingan. Do you know how precious the Sharingan is to the Uchiha Clan?"
"You also wanted to kill Tunan to silence him, didn't you?"
"Speak! Did you or didn't you?"
"Yes."
"He's only six, yet he has already awakened the Sharingan. He's an undisputed genius of the Uchiha Clan, with greater potential than either you or Tenyu."
Uchiha Tetsugo looked unconvinced. "That was only because he saw Tenyu die and was shocked into awakening it. I just don't know why he was so close to Tenyu."
The Great Elder's expression darkened. He rose to his feet and walked toward the exit of the shrine hall.
"Two geniuses who awakened the Sharingan. You killed one and tried to kill the other.
"Even if the first time was an accident, the second time was a deliberate attempt on a fellow clansman's life.
"In a few days, once everything has been investigated, I will execute you before the entire clan."
Although Uchiha Tetsugo had already confessed, anything could happen in the world of ninjas.
At that moment, in the Hokage's office, an Anbu suddenly appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Reporting to the Hokage, a murder case has occurred within the Uchiha Clan."
"Hmm, what happened?" Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a ring of smoke, listening to the Anbu's report while handling documents.
"Two Uchiha Clan students are suspected to have come into conflict, and one accidentally killed the other."
Upon hearing their names, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused.
"Uchiha Tenyu and Uchiha Tetsugo. Both were students about to graduate. What a pity."
Then he continued processing his documents.
Clearly, two young geniuses were not enough to catch Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention, especially when they belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
"There was another Uchiha present, named Uchiha Tunan, a first-year student who seemed to have been close to the deceased Uchiha.
"After that Uchiha was killed, he awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan and used the Great Fireball Technique against Uchiha Tetsugo. Neither side gained the upper hand."
"Oh? Uchiha Tunan? I didn't expect him to be a genius as well.
"Not bad, not bad. You may leave."
After the Anbu left, Hiruzen Sarutobi set down the documents and narrowed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
The next day.
Uchiha Tunan woke up in bed to find the Great Elder's gentle smile before him.
"You're awake."
Uchiha Tunan nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked anxiously, "Where is Tenyu-san?"
An unreadable look flashed through the Great Elder's eyes. He gently patted Uchiha Tunan's hand and said,
"Don't dwell on the past. This old man is a decent judge of character, and I can tell that you are a very broad-minded child.
"Remember, the clan will never harm you, nor will it use you."
With that, the Great Elder rose and walked outside. Only when he reached the doorway did he say,
"Oh, right. Tonight, I will carry out the clan's law before everyone and execute Tetsugo.
"I've already had someone ask the Ninja Academy for leave on your behalf. Rest well at home today."
With that, he left without looking back.
In the bedroom, Uchiha Tunan curled up with a gloomy expression, seemingly lost in thought.
After a while, a white pigeon landed on the windowsill and quietly stared at Uchiha Tunan.
Uchiha Tunan took out special feed from his pocket and fed it to the pigeon.
The pigeon pecked up the feed and flew away contentedly.
This white pigeon was a reconnaissance ninja beast Uchiha Tunan had raised according to the methods in the Complete Manual of Ninja Beast Training.
It usually helped him check whether anyone was watching him.
These ninja beasts had originally just been ordinary animals. All one had to do was cast a specific genjutsu on them so that they recognized their master, then feed them regularly.
Pigeons symbolized peace. He did not like ninja beasts like crows, which made everyone know at a glance that he was a bad person.
An excellent hunter needed proper camouflage before baring his fangs.
Uchiha Tunan did not attend the public execution that night. Instead, he stayed home writing in his diary.
"Tenyu-san is dead. Tetsugo-san killed him. I'm very sad.
"All of a sudden, I remembered something the Third Lord once said...
"(Thirteen thousand words omitted here.)
"Oh, right. Tonight, the Great Elder will execute Tetsugo-san before the clan.
"I hope Tenyu-san's soul can rest in peace."
After closing his diary, Uchiha Tunan went to the kitchen and stared blankly at the remaining vegetables and wild grass in the refrigerator.
After a pause, he took out all the remaining wild grass and boiled it in a pot.
That night, Uchiha Tunan got his wish and went to the toilet more than a dozen times, nearly diarrheaing himself into collapse.
Early the next morning, Uchiha Tunan packed his things and headed for the Ninja Academy with a mournful expression.
As he passed through the Uchiha Clan Compound, the clan members no longer looked at him with contempt. Only goodwill remained in their eyes.
So this was the change brought by potential.
When he arrived at school, Mizuki Uno saw Uchiha Tunan's haggard appearance and assumed that he was overwhelmed with grief.
He did not ask about it. Instead, when Uchiha Tunan entered the classroom, he reached out and gently patted his shoulder.
During the morning theory class, Uchiha Tunan lay facedown on his desk the entire time, putting on the appearance of someone who had lost his soul.
In truth, Uchiha Tunan was thinking about his future plans.
His parents had rather tough lives. Even at Chunin level, they had survived for this long.
Now that he had some strength, he could not put all his eggs in one basket.
The plot of Naruto began surfacing in his mind as he searched for people destined to die young.
Suddenly, a name appeared in Uchiha Tunan's mind.
Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.
Kakashi was still a first-year student, but according to the plot, Kakashi should graduate from the Ninja Academy after just one year.
In other words, Hatake Sakumo's suicide was only a few years away.
Perhaps he could make a big move.
Hatake Sakumo would definitely die. What Uchiha Tunan needed to do was gain his approval in advance.
There were many kinds of approval.
Emotional approval was impossible first of all, since he and Hatake Sakumo were neither family nor friends.
Approval based on strength was even harder. Even if his worthless parents died immediately, his strength would still not meet that standard.
That only left approval based on ideals. Perhaps he could plan something carefully.
If he won this gamble, he could basically ensure that he had the strength to survive for the next twenty years.
During the break, Uchiha Obito ran over to Uchiha Tunan and poked his arm with a finger.
"Hey, hey."
Uchiha Tunan raised his head. Deep tear tracks still remained on his cheeks.
"Um, I heard about what happened to you from the clan this morning. Don't be sad," Obito said, scratching his head awkwardly.
Uchiha Tunan nodded weakly and buried his head in his arms again.
Obito smiled awkwardly. "Don't worry. Without Tenyu-san, this future Hokage will guide your training from now on."
"Thank you," Uchiha Tunan said softly.
Obito beamed and returned to his seat.
"Obito, what happened? Tell us."
"Yeah, why is Tunan crying like that?"
"Could it be his parents..."
"A clansman who was close to Tunan died. He was a Ninja Academy graduate named Uchiha Tenyu." Under the gentle assault of the girls around him, Obito immediately surrendered.
The afternoon practical class arrived.
Led by Mizuki Uno, the students gathered on the training ground.
"Today will be one-on-one combat practice. You may choose your own opponents, but everyone must choose one."
"The student who takes first place in practical combat will receive extra points at the end of the term."
"Tunan, do you need to rest?"
Following Mizuki Uno's gaze, everyone focused on Uchiha Tunan at the back of the crowd, who had kept his head lowered.
Uchiha Tunan shook his head, then slowly raised it. Revealing his one-tomoe Sharingan, he said with a determined expression,
"No, Uno-sensei. I've already pulled myself together. I will inherit Tenyu-san's wish and become an outstanding ninja."
He awakened the Sharingan after suffering such a major upheaval? This child must have been hit hard this time.
But he recovered so quickly. His mental fortitude is quite good.
Mizuki Uno smiled knowingly. "In that case, you may choose your opponent first today."
"I'm here!" Obito raised his hand high in the crowd.
"As for the person I want to challenge..."
Uchiha Tunan swept his gaze across the crowd, ignoring Obito's eager self-recommendation. Then his eyes settled on the white-haired boy. He placed his hands on his knees and bowed deeply.
"Kakashi, please teach me."
Before you continue