Political Maneuvering

After returning from the battlefield at Mount Kumogakure, Izuna was surprised to discover that his Skill Points had risen from 54 to 104.

In other words, signing the Truce Agreement had earned him 50 Skill Points.

That was even more than he'd gotten for defeating Tobirama Senju, who had only just reached Kage Level!

Only then did Izuna remember.

Skill Points didn't have to come from defeating enemies. They could also be earned by accomplishing certain special feats.

For example, completing a special quest for an NPC, finding rare resources, or achieving the lofty goal of becoming Hokage.

All of those things could earn him varying amounts of Skill Points.

And signing a three-year truce between the Uchiha and Senju Clans was a first in Uchiha history.

So it made sense that he'd earned as many as 50 Skill Points.

With 104 Skill Points, he had enough to unlock an S-Rank Ninjutsu.

But just as Izuna was eyeing some incredibly powerful techniques and practically drooling over them, he suddenly thought of something even more important.

That was Uchiha Tajima's death, and the question of who would become the next clan leader.

Going by past tradition, when the clan leader died, the Vice Clan Leader would take over.

After all, the clan leader's position wasn't like an emperor's throne, passed down by bloodline.

With Uchiha Tajima's passing, Uchiha Gakugyo should inherit the position.

In the original story, Uchiha Gakugyo had probably succeeded Tajima, and after Gakugyo died, Madara became the next clan leader.

It wasn't as though Madara had immediately taken over the moment Uchiha Tajima died.

But Izuna didn't intend to let things drag on. Instead, he planned to use this clan meeting to make Madara clan leader right away.

And to compete with Uchiha Gakugyo, who was nearly twice his age, strength was secondary. Experience and military accomplishments mattered more.

Nearly every middle-aged ninja in the clan over forty stood on Uchiha Gakugyo's side.

So Izuna set his sights on the younger generation instead.

More precisely, he meant their parents.

Those between twenty-five and thirty-five or so were the same generation as Izuna and Madara.

That was right: Izuna and Madara were the same generation as these students' parents.

The Warring States Period was much like ancient China in Izuna's previous life.

People usually married and had children at fourteen or fifteen.

The point was to raise up the next generation. If you died, at least you'd leave behind new fighters to fill the gap.

These children's parents were, on average, around twenty-five.

Izuna and Madara, both twenty and still unmarried and childless, were already considered oddities.

Thinking of that, Izuna was overcome with emotion.

Would he ever get married?

It wasn't something he could just ask for, was it?

Though if he wanted to, there were plenty of single beauties in the Uchiha Clan for him to choose from.

In the end, Izuna decided to spend his points on one B-Rank Ninjutsu and one A-Rank Ninjutsu.

He would use them as political capital to support himself and Madara.

Although Izuna had already taught the Uchiha students the Hand Seals and the basic principles behind the two techniques, they were still B-Rank Ninjutsu. They weren't something anyone could master in a short time.

But before long, Izuna spotted several promising students who had already managed to produce the beginnings of Lightning Style: Gratitude Wave.

"What are your names?"

Izuna walked up behind two students, a boy and a girl, who were practicing side by side.

Hearing the voice behind them, the two students, both under ten, turned around at once and replied nervously but excitedly:

"Y-yes, Lord Izuna. My name is Uchiha Sōren. I'm practicing the technique you taught us."

"I-I'm Uchiha Uzuki. H-hello, Lord Izuna."

After committing their names to memory, Izuna smiled calmly. "Keep practicing. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask the Third Elder. You can ask me, too."

"W-wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"

Uchiha Sōren and Uchiha Uzuki were both flattered.

Their parents were Chunin, the most ordinary kind of ninja. To them, Izuna was an unreachable figure.

At that, Izuna smiled again. "It's rare to have a break in the fighting, so I have some free time. Besides, you're the future of the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Sōren was so moved that tears welled in his eyes. He bowed deeply, nearly ninety degrees. "Lord Izuna, I'll do anything for the Uchiha Clan from now on—no, for you!"

Uchiha Uzuki hurriedly added, "M-me too!"

Izuna smiled faintly, turned, and left to check on the other students' training.

In a relatively secluded corner of the training ground, Izuna spotted a student practicing alone. He looked to be about ten.

"Lightning Style: Gratitude Wave!"

Crackling!

Several long, shrill bolts of lightning shot from his mouth, but they didn't spread out or change shape along the way. Instead, they went out of control and slammed into a nearby tree.

Even so, he was already worthy of being called a "genius."

"You're putting too much force into it. You look like a child wildly swinging a Shuriken."

The student turned around in surprise. "L-Lord Izuna..."

Izuna folded his arms across his chest. "This technique's strength lies in control. Unlike the explosive force of Great Fireball, it requires you to control your Chakra more delicately. Think of it like when you first learned to use chopsticks to pick up food as a child."

"Uh... I understand."

The student scratched his head awkwardly.

"What's your name?"

"Y-yes. I'm Uchiha Gōya. M-my father is Uchiha Gakugyo."

Uchiha Gakugyo, the current Vice Clan Leader!

Izuna's expression stiffened. No wonder the boy's features had seemed familiar.

But Uchiha Gakugyo was already over forty, wasn't he? Judging by the boy's age, his father must have been in his thirties when he was born.

Compared with Madara and Izuna, two twenty-year-old bachelors, that seemed even more impressive.

"Keep practicing. Don't let down the bloodline you carry."

Izuna left him with those words and walked away.

"Yes."

Uchiha Gōya, who was rather solitary by nature, answered with just one word, but his voice still carried a hint of admiration.

Izuna spent only two days at the Uchiha academy, but word that he had created a B-Rank Ninjutsu and an A-Rank Ninjutsu had already spread like wildfire through the clan grounds.

Many young parents in their twenties came to Izuna's residence in person, hoping to thank him, but he turned them all away.

Even so, they kept his kindness in their hearts.

While reviewing the Skill Points in his system, Izuna noticed that the number had risen from "17" to "40"!

It really had been a worthwhile undertaking. Judging by how much the total had increased, it had made a deep impression.

He'd earned nearly half as many points as he had from the Truce Agreement.