Which Clan Rule Says You Can't Hit the Clan Leader's Son?

Hiruzen had a strange feeling, as if the one fighting on the field were Lord Tobirama in his youth.

He was startled by the thought that had suddenly sprung into his mind.

Hiruzen shook his head, casting that dangerous thought out of his mind.

If Lord Tobirama knew that someone had linked him with the Uchiha, he would probably be angry enough to flip over his coffin.

Even so, Hiruzen couldn't help thinking in that direction.

Whether it was his ninjutsu techniques or his close-combat skills, they were simply too much like his teacher's.

But that still left the question: Who had taught Eiji?

Among the Uchiha, who could use Water Release to such an extent?

Hiruzen pondered for a moment, but still couldn't come up with an answer.

So he picked up the report delivered by an Anbu ninja and read it carefully from beginning to end.

After a long while, Hiruzen's expression suddenly became complicated.

"Eiji's father was taught by Kagami and inherited his fiercely burning Will of Fire."

"He sacrificed himself to protect the village in a battle many years ago..."

Hiruzen took out his pipe and drew hard on it.

He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, recalling the little moments he had shared with his old friend Kagami.

"Kagami... In that case, Eiji could be considered to have indirectly received your teachings."

At that thought, Hiruzen's mood improved somewhat.

If he really was a ninja who had inherited Kagami's will, then he should stand on Konoha's side...

Hiruzen's mind raced, and one thought after another—thoughts known only to him—flashed through his mind.

Elsewhere, the Chunin Ninja Exams were still underway.

Compared with the first battle, however, the Genin who came afterward were far less impressive.

Only a few pretty older girls in the front rows, half-covering their flushed cheeks, kept their eyes locked firmly on the handsome Eiji.

They were thinking about getting a bowl of ramen with him after the exams, or inviting him home to see their cat do a backflip.

Two and a half hours later, the Chunin Ninja Exams were declared over.

After the examiners discussed the results, Genma announced the list of those who had successfully advanced to Chunin.

It included the distracted Uchiha Eiji, Uchiha Itachi—whom Eiji had beaten into the hospital—and passersby A and B, among others.

When everyone heard Itachi's name, they couldn't help letting out a surprised sound.

"He got promoted even after being beaten that badly? We could do that too."

His companion immediately covered his mouth. "Idiot. Don't drag me into your bragging. Even if the two of us were stacked on top of each other, we still wouldn't be enough for Itachi to beat."

The speaker let out an "Oh," realizing that his companion had a point.

He looked once more at the White Hair at the back of the group and sighed quietly.

The genius boy Itachi had been beaten into that state. Just how powerful was Eiji?

The Uchiha truly were terrifying.

Finally, the examiners gave their closing remarks, and the Chunin Ninja Exams came to a perfect end.

Eiji slowly walked out of the exam venue with the crowd. He was thinking about going home to rest for a while when he suddenly saw a familiar figure at the entrance.

A broad square face and a center-parted hairstyle—wasn't that the clan leader, Fugaku?

He instinctively tightened his grip on his ninja blade. Had he beaten the younger one, and now the older one had come to avenge him?

No, that couldn't be right. Fugaku was the clan leader, after all. Surely he wasn't that narrow-minded.

Eiji thought about it and decided it would be best to pretend he hadn't seen him.

He lowered his head, trying to slip away with the crowd.

Unfortunately, his White Hair was too conspicuous, and Fugaku precisely picked out his movements from among the crowd.

He raised his voice slightly. "Eiji, come here for a moment."

Eiji's mouth twitched as he slowly shuffled over.

"Clan Leader Fugaku, good afternoon."

As he spoke, he secretly studied Fugaku's expression, trying to discern his intentions.

Eiji guessed that Fugaku had come because of the exams.

Should I apologize to him?

How should I put it? I'm truly sorry for beating Itachi into that state?

Or perhaps, Itachi put up a pretty good fight?

Why does that sound more and more like I'm mocking him?

Eiji wasn't the only one feeling conflicted. Fugaku was also deeply troubled.

His son had been beaten into the hospital, so naturally, he was somewhat displeased.

But then again, if someone was weak, they needed to train harder. What kind of sense did it make for a father to seek revenge just because his son had been beaten?

On the other hand, Eiji's performance today had indeed been dazzling.

After all, he was a member of the Uchiha. As clan leader, Fugaku still had to encourage him.

With the relationship between the clan and the village growing increasingly tense, the emergence of a genius like Eiji was extremely important to the Uchiha.

Of course, that depended on which side Eiji chose to stand on.

Seeing Fugaku's expression as if he wanted to speak but stopped himself, Eiji guessed that he hadn't come for revenge, and relaxed considerably.

He quietly loosened his left hand, which had been gripping an Explosive Tag, and moved his right hand away from the hilt of his blade.

"Clan Leader Fugaku?" Eiji gave him an innocuous smile. "May I ask what you need?"

Fugaku came back to himself, still unsure what to say.

So he lightly patted Eiji on the shoulder. "Congratulations on becoming a qualified Chunin."

Eiji froze. "Huh?"

Fugaku nodded. "I still have things to do. I'll be leaving first."

With that, Fugaku turned and walked away.

Itachi was still in the hospital. He had to go check on him.

That left Eiji standing there in utter confusion.

He muttered under his breath, "Clan Leader Fugaku really is awkward..."

That afternoon, news of two genius boys being promoted to Chunin spread to the ears of every clan member.

Naturally, they also heard that Itachi had suffered a setback that day.

The clan showed no sign of displeasure toward the boy who had brutally beaten the clan leader's eldest son on the field.

The Uchiha had always recognized only one's fists.

So what if he was the clan leader's son? Which clan rule said you couldn't beat the clan leader's son?

Forget Itachi. Back in the day, Clan Leader Fugaku and Elder Setsuna had disagreed over their beliefs and had even fought each other in the courtyard for half a day.

So when Eiji passed by the senbei shop, Uncle Uchiha Tesho even gave him several senbei to celebrate his successful completion of the exams.

Eiji ate the senbei as he slowly made his way through the lively streets.

He wasn't worried that the Uchiha would target him relentlessly over this incident.

Fugaku's behavior today had been proof enough.

Besides, the clan elders should send him a few small gifts to congratulate him.

As it turned out, Eiji's guess had been correct.

Not long after he returned home, the front door sounded.