"Outrageous! What does a six-year-old brat like you know?!"
Fugaku was both shocked and furious. He berated Sen sharply, secretly relieved: Thank goodness the Uchiha Clan's future won't be handed to an extremist like him. Otherwise, it'll be doomed within a few years!
Just as the other elders were about to speak up and scold him, the sound of a cane tapping lightly against the wooden floor came from the corner.
"Knock."
Everyone fell silent and turned toward the corner in unison.
Sitting there was Uchiha Setsuna!
A ruthless man who had even dared to assassinate the Second! Even now, with an old illness and his best years behind him, no one dared underestimate his authority!
Uchiha Setsuna coldly surveyed the elders, who had fallen deathly silent, and let out a scornful snort.
Only after everyone lowered their heads did he turn his gaze to Sen, who was preparing to leave, and speak slowly:
"Kid, you've got some spirit. You remind me of your grandfather!"
Sen turned at the sound of his voice and carefully studied the legendary figure.
Uchiha Setsuna. If he hadn't failed to assassinate Senju Tobirama and been imprisoned for a full ten years, the position of Uchiha Clan Head would undoubtedly have been his.
If he raised his voice, the clan's hawkish prodigies would flock to his side.
Unfortunately, even heroes grew old.
At that moment, Uchiha Setsuna couldn't even stand up without leaning on his cane.
He braced himself against it and shakily rose to his feet. Without even looking at the current Clan Leader, he said, "Since this young fellow doesn't want to join Fugaku's team, there's no problem with an old man like me taking a promising descendant of an old friend under my wing, is there?"
Uchiha Sōgaku didn't dare say a word against him. He bowed hurriedly. "I'll leave everything to you, Senior Setsuna."
Uchiha Setsuna paid him no further attention and slowly walked toward the door. As he passed Sen, he left him with just three words: "Come with me."
Curious about the "grandfather" Setsuna had just mentioned, Sen silently followed him.
The two arrived at a small courtyard. It was pitifully tiny, with hardly any space beyond a single guest hall.
The two guards standing at the entrance seemed oddly "luxurious" and out of place.
It was hard to imagine that the residence of a Great Elder could be so plain.
They sat down in the courtyard. After an attendant served tea and the guards withdrew, Uchiha Setsuna finally spoke, his voice carrying a trace of age and weariness.
"There are some things I'd rather not bring up again. But after seeing how you acted today, I'm relieved. I'd thought those people had already broken the backbone of our Uchiha Clan."
Sen had always admired this senior's courage, and seeing his modest residence made him like the man even more.
A Great Elder who didn't crave power and was willing to fight for what he believed in was a rare thing indeed among the Uchiha Clan.
"Senior, you mentioned my grandfather just now. Could you tell me more about him?" Sen asked.
A glint flashed through Uchiha Setsuna's clouded eyes, as if he'd returned to those turbulent years.
"You know I ambushed Senju Tobirama back then, right?" When Sen nodded, he continued, "After the ambush failed, I should have been executed. But your grandfather—my best friend—stepped forward and took all the blame. He claimed he'd been the mastermind. That was how I escaped death and received only a prison sentence."
Sen's heart stirred. He hadn't expected there to be such a hidden story behind it.
At the memory, Uchiha Setsuna's face filled with anger, and his voice began to tremble.
"Do you think that hypocrite Senju Tobirama left it at that? During the more than ten years I was imprisoned, my son and daughter both died on so-called 'missions'! My only grandson was mysteriously bitten by a venomous snake and killed!"
He slammed his hand on the table. His final words crashed through Sen's mind like a thunderclap. "Not a single person who took part in that operation back then escaped! Your parents included—they both died on a damn 'accidental mission'!"
There was so much to take in that, even though Sen had only hazy memories of his parents in this world, it took him a long time to process the shocking revelation.
But he quickly seized on the key point: Could all of this have been a coincidence?
After all, it was common for ninja to die on missions.
He asked cautiously, "Senior, how can you be sure... that all of this is true?"
Uchiha Setsuna picked up his teacup and forced down his anger.
"At first, I thought it was a coincidence too. But when that brat Sarutobi Hiruzen released me, he actually said, all fake and polite, 'I'm truly sorry so many things have happened.' Wasn't that as good as admitting it?"
He set down his teacup, his eyes full of self-mockery and sorrow. "Besides, the fact that they dared to release me is the best proof. They think these old bones of mine can no longer... threaten them."
Sen fell silent.
Considering Senju Tobirama's hatred of the Uchiha and Sarutobi Hiruzen's political need to win people over when he first took office, it was almost certainly true.
"Then..."
Seeing Sen's grave expression, Uchiha Setsuna cut him off and patted him on the shoulder. "It's all in the past. Don't take the whole burden onto yourself. It'll crush you."
Sen's expression remained grave. After all, his goal really was a little complicated.
"Then should I find a time to dig up Senju Tobirama and whip his corpse?"
"Pfft—cough, cough!"
Uchiha Setsuna spat out his tea. His hand, which had been patting Sen's shoulder, froze in midair.
Several seconds later, he burst into thunderous laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha! You little rascal! You've got some nerve!"
After laughing, he shook his head in satisfaction. "I don't expect you to actually pull it off. But you're the descendant of an old friend. If you need help with your training, these old bones of mine can still lend you a hand."
After all, the boy was only six. So-called "school prodigies" were as common as fish crossing a river—
Most were fleeting flashes in the pan. How many actually became dragons?
Sen had no idea what Setsuna was thinking, and immediately took the opening. "What I need most right now is ninjutsu. The clan's ninjutsu scrolls are too expensive. I've been saving for ages, and I've only learned one technique, the Great Fireball.
"I'd also like to spar with a strong opponent and build up real combat experience."
That was his real goal: to fight someone else and rack up the system's trait rewards!
After hearing him out, Uchiha Setsuna didn't hesitate. He untied a token from his waist and tossed it carelessly onto the table.
Then he called toward the door, and a guard immediately came in.
"This is my guard, Uchiha Hikaru. He's one of the better fighters in the clan. If you need someone to spar with, come find him anytime."
Sen gazed at the ancient-looking token on the table, his heart burning with excitement. This was the Great Elder's token!
With it, he could ask to learn a few ninjutsu techniques—or even say he wanted to burn down the Hokage Building, and people would stop to think it over.
Uchiha Hikaru looked to be around thirty. His eyes were as steady as a blade, and he wore the crisp uniform of the Guard Unit. As the Great Elder's personal guard, he was undoubtedly formidable.
"You two, trade a few blows so I can see what you can do," Uchiha Setsuna said, intrigued.
Sen knew this was a test. He showed no hesitation and walked into the courtyard with Uchiha Hikaru.
Uchiha Hikaru took up a stance, his tone calm. "Whenever you're ready. It's just a test, so don't worry about winning or losing."
To him, this was nothing more than a sparring session. His opponent was just a six-year-old student, not even as tall as his waist. How strong could he be?
Sen nodded. This wasn't the time to play the underdog.
Boom!
Chakra erupted beneath his feet. He shot forward like a cannonball, leaving a shallow crater in the sand!
Uchiha Hikaru raised an eyebrow. That speed was already comparable to an ordinary Genin's!
But what came next astonished him even more.
Sen's punches were heavy, each one carrying a gust that seemed to tear through the air. Whenever Hikaru blocked one head-on, his entire arm went numb from the impact.
Just how much chakra and stamina did this kid have to keep up this relentless barrage?
Sen was just as frustrated.
He relied on his abundant chakra, pouring it into every attack. That had always been his surefire way to deal with other people. But Uchiha Hikaru seemed to deflect his attacks with ease, as if they sank into the sea without a trace.
Looks like I'll have to take a dangerous gamble.
Before you continue