Uchiha's Fire

Fire was the symbol of the Uchiha Clan.

The Uchiha Clan's fan crest came from this as well, meaning "one who commands fire."

The Uchiha Clan was also the clan of the Sharingan and Fire Style.

Ninja born into the Uchiha Clan might fail to awaken the Sharingan, but Fire Style was absolutely an essential skill. Techniques like the Great Fireball Technique were mandatory for every Uchiha, from Genin to Jonin. They were truly indispensable for probing the enemy, killing people, and looting their goods.

Moreover, the greatest difference between Fire Style and ninjutsu of other attributes was that its power depended on the user's ability rather than a simple rank. Broad range + ferocious power + immense potential for development—combined with the exceptional Chakra control and insight of Uchiha ninja after awakening the Sharingan, these three traits were enough to make up for Fire Style's slower projectile speed and greater commotion. Although Fire Style was also jokingly called "the art that can't kill anyone," and Fire Style users in the original work frequently missed their ultimate attacks, Kishimoto was just a damn manga artist. What the hell did he know about Fire Style? Add in all kinds of bizarre and unpredictable genjutsu, and that was how the Uchiha Clan earned its reputation for taking on three opponents alone.

The first light of dawn appeared, and the sky was faintly bright.

Uchiha Tokimitsu got up early, changed into his clothes, organized his ninja tools, and put them on one by one. These tools had been prepared by his father, Uchiha Nakagen, for his daily training. They were a size smaller than ordinary ninja tools, but for four-year-old Uchiha Tokimitsu, they fit just right.

Shuriken × 20

Kunai × 5

Uchiha Special Fire Style Steel Wire × 5 rolls

Wakizashi × 2

There were also several Military Rations Pills, bandages, hemostatic powder, antidotes, and so on. Uchiha Tokimitsu didn't know what today's training would involve. After all, after he demonstrated the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique yesterday, Elder Setsuna had only cared about laughing. Uchiha Kamon had to take care of the Elder, whose jaw had been dislocated from laughing. The stoic Uchiha Nakagen had been excited, but his ability to express himself was rather poor. After returning home and telling Emiko about Uchiha Tokimitsu's outstanding performance, he had opened several more bottles of fine liquor and drunk himself into a stupor. His mother had merely kept muttering, "As expected of my precious son," before busying herself with taking care of her drunken husband. She had given him no further instructions.

Still, bringing everything along counted as being prepared for anything.

Fully equipped, Uchiha Tokimitsu stood before the mirror and looked at the handsome boy reflected within. He was quite satisfied.

After all, as Director Ju had famously said, whether someone was strong or not depended on whether they looked handsome. Perhaps that law of causality applied in the Ninja World too.

Uchiha Nakagen and Emiko had both risen early that day as well. They had gotten up before dawn to prepare. Uchiha Nakagen sat quietly in the living room by the stairs, waiting, while Emiko quietly prepared breakfast.

Her excellent skills ensured that the entire process made almost no sound. Everything was ready.

Not long afterward, the door upstairs opened with a creak, and Uchiha Tokimitsu came downstairs in a complete set of standard little ninja attire.

"Good morning, little Tokimitsu~" Mother Emiko greeted him cheerfully. "With that much equipment, are you planning to conquer the Capital city?"

"...I thought I might need all of it." Uchiha Tokimitsu felt a little embarrassed too.

"I'll get you a few Sealing Scrolls. Eat breakfast first, okay?" Emiko said as she got up and returned to the room to rummage through things.

"Okay," Uchiha Tokimitsu replied. "Father, have you eaten?"

"Mm, I've already eaten. Take your time. I have something to tell you."

"Okay!"

Uchiha Tokimitsu slowly began eating breakfast. Today's meal was still milk, eggs, and sandwiches. It seemed Mother Emiko only knew how to make these few things.

"Before this, did anyone in the clan ever mention someone to you..." Uchiha Nakagen said slowly. "Uchiha Madara."

"No. Do you mean Lord Madara, whom Elder Setsuna mentioned yesterday?"

"Yes..." Uchiha Nakagen sounded hesitant, as though he did not know where to begin. "Elder Setsuna was once Lord Madara's direct subordinate."

At that moment, Emiko came out of the inner room holding two scrolls. She sat beside Uchiha Nakagen without saying anything, simply wrapping her arm around her husband's and watching her precious son quietly with a smile.

"Lord Madara was the strongest person in our clan's history..." Uchiha Nakagen carefully chose his words as he spoke slowly.

"After founding Konoha together with the First Hokage, Lord Senju Hashirama, he... left Konoha due to their differing ideals later on." Uchiha Nakagen paused before continuing. "The clansmen, who had finally found peace after the endless slaughter of the Warring States Period, did not follow him..."

"Including my uncle, Elder Setsuna," Uchiha Emiko added, her smile unchanged.

"Yes..." Uchiha Nakagen glanced at his wife beside him and continued. "But the suspicion between the clan and the village was planted from that point onward."

"Later, Lord Madara controlled the Nine-Tails, the strongest Tailed Beast, and attacked the village. But he was defeated by the First Hokage."

"Lord Madara died in battle, and the First Hokage also passed away not long after returning to the village," Uchiha Emiko added.

"...Yes. But the suspicion and hostility between the village and the clan could no longer be erased. Furthermore, disagreements within the clan over how to deal with the village caused it to split into the Radical Faction and the Conservative Faction." Uchiha Nakagen paused and observed Uchiha Tokimitsu's expression. Seeing that he was listening carefully and showed no unusual reaction, he continued, "Over the past twenty years, before you were born, the clan experienced several Civil Wars and lost much of its strength as a result."

"I was injured during one of the clan's Civil Wars and have been unable to use Five Elemental Ninjutsu ever since," Uchiha Emiko added. "I also killed several Anbu sent by the Second Hokage to suppress us back then."

Uchiha Tokimitsu was somewhat Astonished at this point. He had known a little in his previous life about the love-hate entanglement between Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, as well as the conflict between the clan and the village. Although he had stopped reading the Naruto manga at the Chunin Exams, many Fan Fiction novels that emerged later had covered this dark chapter of Uchiha history. But what surprised him most was that his mother, who Seemed gentle and delicate in this life, had once been such a fierce and formidable female ninja.

"Little Tokimitsu, don't underestimate Mommy," Uchiha Emiko said playfully, winking at Uchiha Tokimitsu. She did not look at all like a decisive, battle-hardened female ninja.

"Yes, Emiko... Back then, she was even a little stronger than me..."

"Oh my~ Nakagen-kun is the strongest. He's my favorite Uchiha~"

...That sudden display of affection stuffed Uchiha Tokimitsu's mouth full.

"Later, because the losses were too great and the Second Hokage intervened, the clan's Civil War was brought to an end." Uchiha Nakagen turned slightly and wrapped his left arm around Emiko. "With Elder Setsuna keeping things under control as well, the Radical Faction and the Conservative Faction no longer intended to force the other side into submission through violence. They mostly just... well... argued a little at Clan Meetings."

There was a trace of hesitation in Uchiha Nakagen's tone.

"When facing the village, especially the Senju Branch, the clan could still temporarily unite despite internal differences of opinion. When facing the village's other ninja clans, however, the clan no longer restricted individual behavior. One could keep their distance or become close to them."

"Elder Setsuna, Emiko, and I are all members of the Radical Faction." Uchiha Nakagen looked at Uchiha Tokimitsu. "My son, what is your choice?"

As his words fell, the living room became completely silent.

For a moment.

"I... am Uchiha Tokimitsu of the Uchiha Clan."

"I am Uchiha Tokimitsu, the Uchiha Tokimitsu of Uchiha Nakagen and Uchiha Emiko."

"I am also Uchiha Tokimitsu, belonging to myself."

Like a tongue twister, Uchiha Tokimitsu spoke slowly.

"Since the Senju Branch preaches the Will of Fire, then I—Uchiha Tokimitsu—will be the fire of the Uchiha!"