To put it bluntly

Hiss—!

Uchiha Fugaku sucked in a cold breath, his brow twitching as he recounted the history of why the Uchiha Clan should produce the Hokage.

His eyes lit up instantly!

Though the Uchiha's current predicament was self-inflicted, the clan truly hadn't received fair treatment. As an introverted man, he disliked saying such things, especially since his eldest son didn't quite trust him.

But when someone else said it—

The effect was this good!

This matter, he knew it all too well.

"Siming, do you realize that in the entire Uchiha Clan, even I as the clan head have never extorted anyone before."

He intended to properly educate the young Uchiha before him.

Too damn arrogant!

"I know."

Uchiha Siming was unperturbed, even a little self-righteous: "You're incorruptible, you're noble, but... what's that got to do with me?"

Put nicely—

That was meddling.

Put bluntly, wasn't that just calling himself stupid?

"Fine, fine!"

Fugaku waved his hand. The Uchiha Clan indeed had no clan rule against taking advantage, especially not against taking advantage of the clan head.

Clearly—

This Uchiha youth was dead set on the path of extortion. Fugaku remembered his parents were both honest, simple Uchiha.

"Siming, please let Itachi draw closer to the Uchiha Clan. This isn't just a clan head's request, but also a father's plea."

"As repayment, you may choose any one ninjutsu from within the clan!"

He lifted his head, his eyes full of gravity.

Uchiha Siming understood well that given Uchiha Fugaku's tsundere personality, saying this showed just how much he valued Uchiha Itachi.

"I can make Itachi protect the Uchiha forever."

Uchiha Siming's lips curled upward: "But I want two ninjutsu!"

Uchiha Fugaku pondered a moment, then didn't hesitate: "Fine, but the second ninjutsu will be given to you only after you achieve certain results."

"Deal, done!"

After all, this was a cost-free transaction. Uchiha Fugaku's caution was justified. He stood up: "Follow me. I'll take you to choose a secret technique, but remember, you can only pick one."

The last time he went to the secret chamber was three years ago.

He had taken Itachi there to learn ninjutsu. To learn secret techniques, one needed to make great contributions to the clan.

And in peacetime, such opportunities were too rare.

Then, he led Siming into a room and brought out a stack of bamboo slats, each inscribed with a ninjutsu and its effect.

[Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique.]

[Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.]

[Uchiha Flame Formation: Barrier-type Fire Style, summons hellfire to form a protective ring.]

[Transcription Seal: Seals a ninjutsu into the Sharingan via the user's own eyes, allowing a set trigger time and condition.]

[Izanagi: At the cost of a Three Tomoe Sharingan's blindness, rewrites the reality of the user's own death.]

[Izanami: At the cost of a Three Tomoe Sharingan's blindness, records the opponent's actions through physical contact, trapping them in an infinite loop of time fragments. Only by accepting their own fate and repenting can they break free.]

Uchiha Siming: "..."

Staring at the slats before him, he said faintly: "So we choose based on these brief introductions on the boards? I thought you'd take me straight to the secret chamber."

"How could it be the secret chamber!"

Uchiha Fugaku's eyes widened in anger: "Only the current clan head is qualified to enter the Uchiha secret chamber. Hurry up and choose—which one do you pick?"

Every one of these ninjutsu was extremely powerful.

No Uchiha clan member could resist their temptation.

"Then this one."

Uchiha Siming placed his finger on the Izanami slat, a smirk curling his lips: "This thing is a real treasure."

Uchiha Fugaku was surprised, lifting his head: "I thought you'd choose Izanagi. After all, its effect can rewrite a certain death at the cost of one Sharingan. Living is more important than anything."

His words carried a pointed meaning.

"Tch. Don't try to fool me with that."

Uchiha Siming curled his lip: "When the Uchiha Clan really faces danger, Izanagi gets handed out for free. Didn't all the Three Tomoe Sharingan users get issued one during the Second Shinobi World War?"

Izanagi is impressive.

But in reality, it's not scarce within the Uchiha Clan. Whenever war breaks out, the Uchiha Clan distributes it for free.

Besides, this Dojutsu can't be used by anyone other than the Uchiha anyway.

In other words.

Parted-hair Fugaku was just being blunt.

Fugaku: "..."

Hey.

Say what you will, this kid Siming might look young, but he's got plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

His face didn't flush, his heart beat normally, utterly unchanged: "In that case, I'll go get you Izanami."

To be honest.

If he'd asked for Izanagi, there was already a transcribed copy in his bedroom.

Fugaku's wife gracefully poured him fresh tea, showing off her keen awareness, her slightly bent figure outlining an enticing matronly curve. About ten minutes later, Fugaku returned, holding a transcribed copy in his hand.

"Destroy it on the spot after you learn it. Never reveal it to anyone, not even fellow clansmen!"

"Too bad you don't have the Sharingan, kid. Otherwise, one look would be enough."

He said it as if offhandedly.

It seemed like an unintentional remark, but it was deliberate.

Hmph.

Trying to get one over on me, huh.

"Heh, looking down on me, are you?"

Uchiha Siming lifted his eyelids and let out a scoff: "Clan Leader, don't do things like this in the future. It embarrasses us Uchiha men."

"Get some spirit, don't lose face!"

His eyes opened and closed in an instant, and the Two-Tomoe Sharingan flickered to life, imprinting the scroll's contents clearly in his mind.

After memorizing it, he stood up, turned around, and walked away.

Leaving behind a completely bewildered Uchiha Fugaku: "???"

Staring at Uchiha Siming's retreating back, he still hadn't processed it: "Wait, when did Siming awaken his eyes? He didn't even awaken them during the Second War!"

And he awakened straight to Two-Tomoe.

Could Siming be a genius?!

In other words, while awakening earlier marks a greater genius, it doesn't mean awakening late makes one mediocre. Uchiha history is full of late-awakening geniuses, like Uchiha Madara.

He also awakened his eyes at fifteen.

That doesn't mean their talent was poor. Rather, some late-awakeners had minds so damn steadfast that they simply wouldn't awaken easily. These are the "late-awakening geniuses" of the Uchiha Clan.

Root.

Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Shimura Danzō's face instantly turned cold: "Hmph! An ingrate who can't read the situation. Then perish along with the Uchiha Clan!"

He paused: "Also, how is Orochimaru's experiment progressing?"

"Lord Danzo, Orochimaru has sent word. He's stopped researching Hashirama's cells recently, but he hopes we can provide him with more Sharingan specimens."

"Hmph!"

Shimura Danzō let out a cold snort: "Give it to him. I want to see what he can possibly research. What, does he think he can develop the Mangekyo Sharingan?!"