Sasuke! King of the Uchiha!

A fine rain fell without end, carrying a gentle warmth as it drifted over the Uchiha Compound beside the Naka River. Today was a rare occasion for the Uchiha Clan to celebrate: a birthday feast for the clan leader's youngest son. Nearly the entire clan had gathered, their faces alight with joy.

Because of the steady rain, the elders had decided to move the festivities indoors, to the clan's training hall. Before the celebration had even begun, a crowd had gathered around several elders as they loudly discussed and criticized the Hyuga Clan.

Elder Shana was by far the loudest of them.

"And they call that giving everything the clan can muster? The Hyuga are so stingy! They can't even put on a decent birthday feast, and they still have the nerve to call him the main family's heir?"

Elder Homen was more restrained. The old man merely sneered from the side. "Can they match the spectacle we put on? A prestigious clan, and yet they're so miserly. Look how shabby they are!"

Just then, Shisui returned from gathering information, rushing inside with mist clinging to him. He reported that the Hyuga main and branch families were holding their celebration in the courtyard, getting soaked by the rain.

That only fired the old men up further. Pointing at the sealed roof of the training hall, they mocked the Hyuga again. "The Hyuga Clan really has no consideration for its own people. They've even left a three-year-old child standing in the rain. That's downright inhuman!"

Their remarks were rather cutting, but they drew wave after wave of laughter from the clan.

Ever since Qing Xuan's father's generation, the Hyuga had been eyeing the Uchiha's position as Konoha's foremost clan. The brothers Fugaku and his sibling had beaten them back every time, but the village leadership's favoritism never let up. The Uchiha loved seeing the Hyuga get humiliated. It wasn't about hatred; they simply enjoyed it.

Even Shisui shared that taste. It was all thanks to him running back and forth between the two clans that the Uchiha had a constant stream of updates on the Hyuga's celebration. Body Flicker Shisui had made a great contribution!

The rain fell like senbon, pattering onto the ground and drawing solid circles of varying sizes.

Qing Xuan left his home with Haku, Tsunade, and the others, and ambled toward the training hall.

He wore a loose black outfit today. The breeze occasionally stirred his hair in the fine rain, revealing the clan crest embroidered on his back in tight stitches: a fan.

Along the stone-paved path to the training hall, Uchiha clan members slowed their steps, waiting for Qing Xuan to pass. They lowered their voices to greet him.

As they called out "Young Clan Head" one after another, Qing Xuan nodded calmly and went on his way. Tsunade, following behind him, watched in a daze.

The rain on the stone path made everything hazy. The small figure whom everyone treated with such respect seemed to grow larger in her eyes. His gentle smile, beaded with rain, and the soft gaze beneath his tousled hair gradually blended with the face of someone in her memories. For a moment, Tsunade was lost in thought.

"Lord Tsunade?"

Ling's puzzled voice came from beside her. When Tsunade came back to herself, she saw through her blurred vision that the figure ahead had turned around in the rain and was waiting for her.

"Come on, Mom. We'll be late."

"I'm coming!"

Tsunade answered softly and wiped the rain from her eyes with the back of her hand. The face ahead came into sharper focus.

One spring rain, two very different sorrows and joys.

Unlike the Hyuga's solemn grief, the Uchiha were in the midst of a celebration.

It seemed the clan, suppressed for so many years, had not enjoyed such unrestrained happiness in a long time.

The patter of rain grew louder, but it could not drown out the rising excitement.

And the fervor reached its peak when the clan leader and the Young Clan Head's family arrived.

The fan crest was reflected above the sea of people filling the training hall. Countless eyes watched the front of the ceremony in silence. For a moment, the entire compound seemed to fall into a quiet unlike any it had known before.

The celebration began.

With every clan member watching, Qing Xuan solemnly lifted three-year-old Sasuke high above his head and recited the birthday speech he had prepared.

"My little brother!"

Behind him, Fugaku and the elders stood in a line, quietly watching the young man who always seemed to surprise them.

Itachi stood beside Fugaku, his eyes smiling as he watched his two younger brothers at the front. He was grateful to Qing Xuan. Their father had told him that Qing Xuan had worked tirelessly with the elders to secure this birthday celebration for Sasuke.

Receiving the blessings of the entire clan on his birthday—Sasuke must be so happy, right?

But Itachi didn't know that Sasuke was feeling a little afraid of heights as Qing Xuan held him up. Having so many people watching him made him uncomfortable, too.

Qing Xuan paid no heed to that. Instead, he raised Sasuke even higher, swaying him back and forth as he continued.

"From the day you were born,

the forests of Konoha whispered your name—Sasuke Uchiha!"

That was pretty grand.

Quite a few Uchiha couldn't help raising their eyebrows. They had expected the Young Clan Head to offer a simple "Happy birthday" or something along those lines. They hadn't expected him to open with something so extravagant!

This was practically a memorial service!

That one opening alone seemed to elevate the whole celebration several notches. It was so very Uchiha.

"My little brother,

I proudly watch you grow each day, becoming the embodiment of flame.

Remember, we have always built our reputation in the village through strength and wisdom."

Quite a few clan members straightened up without thinking. The suddenly solemn atmosphere left them at a loss. They felt that failing to take it seriously would be an unforgivable show of disrespect.

Perhaps this was what a truly prestigious clan was meant to be like.

Everyone couldn't help thinking so.

"And I know,

you will use your great power with caution.

But true victory

is the hope that inspires your clan."

The Uchiha's expressions grew more and more solemn. They could no longer connect the scene before them with an ordinary birthday feast.

"One day, my path will reach its end."

Qing Xuan's speech was finally nearing its conclusion. Then he suddenly raised his voice, and his eyes turned scarlet.

"And you will be crowned king!"

The words crashed into the ears of every Uchiha like thunder. It was as if the blood that had lain dormant in their veins for ages had suddenly begun to boil again. One Uchiha after another lifted their heads, black tomoe blooming in their Scarlet Eyes as if answering Qing Xuan's call.

The tomoe in Qing Xuan's eyes slowly revolved. He held Sasuke high above him and shouted once more.

"You will be crowned king!"

Boom!

In an instant, a taut string snapped.

The Uchiha joined in, shouting at the top of their lungs.

As if letting out years of pent-up frustration, they roared until their voices were hoarse!

"King! You will be crowned king!"

This was the Uchiha! The great clan of Konoha!

There was no denying Qing Xuan had a gift. No one else could have delivered a birthday speech like that, even with Body Flicker. And he had a real talent for stirring people's hearts...

An uncontrollable smile spread across Fugaku's face. He folded his arms over his chest, but his clenched fingers still trembled.

Unlike the other clan members, whose emotions had been so easily stirred, Elder Shana and the others scoffed at the brazen praise.

They thought that if Qing Xuan had said those things about himself, that would have been one thing. But wasn't he raising Sasuke Uchiha far too high?

They didn't agree with it at all, but under Fugaku's fierce glare, they could only go along...

"Sasuke! King of the Uchiha!"

The Uchiha Clan's celebration began in earnest!