Unmarked Healing

"What do you think of the village?"

Uchiha Siming's expression turned serious.

Good question!

The mafia boss pats your shoulder and asks: You got a problem with my mafia, huh?

Siming's mind automatically reframed the question.

"The village isn't one person's village."

Uchiha Siming's gaze sharpened, his tone righteous: "It's the village of all its villagers. No matter who—whether it's my own clan or anyone else—if they dare to disrupt the village's peace, I will never let them off!"

He snapped his legs together, producing a crisp, solid thud, and saluted toward the Hokage Rock: "Loyalty!"

"Is the creed I will uphold throughout my life!"

This was his resolve!

No.

Although it sounded fine, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt something was off in his gut. And shouldn't the salute be directed at him? Why the Hokage Rock?

But it wasn't a big problem.

Though the Will of Fire was a bit skewed, the First Hokage's Will of Fire was still the Will of Fire. After all, the First Hokage was already dead—no need to quibble with a corpse.

Uchiha Siming wasn't the First Hokage.

He couldn't exactly seize power, could he?

"Ahem!"

He coughed twice: "Siming, I understand your resolve. The conflict between the village and the Uchiha Clan is growing more serious by the day. I hope you can inform me promptly if the Uchiha Clan makes any unusual moves."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Uchiha Siming saluted the Hokage Rock once more, then turned and left.

Tch!

This old man's pretty cautious.

Otherwise, I'd definitely have Uchiha Itachi come have a deep chat with him about the Will of Fire. He'd probably test me too. Old guys his age always like to play it safe.

But what Siming didn't expect was that the moment he stepped out of the Hokage Building—

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in a low voice: "Shisui, I'll leave this to you. The conflict between the village and the Uchiha is escalating. Siming might also be a spy for the Hawk faction!"

This was a critical moment.

He couldn't afford to let his guard down.

Itachi was a fine blade, but when it came to investigation and heart-to-heart talks, Shisui was clearly the better fit.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. I will discern Siming's true intentions."

From the shadows.

Came Uchiha Shisui's earnest voice.

Konoha's sunlight was bright.

The spring day was radiant.

Uchiha Siming looked up at the sky, feeling the sun's warmth, his chakra practically dancing inside him: "What a wonderful day! Since there's nothing to do, I'll go lie around at the Senju Clan!"

At the Senju Clan, he could both bask in the sun.

And increase his mission progress—why not?

The important thing was that the Uchiha Clan was gloomy and oppressive, while the Senju Clan was different. Even with no one around, the whole compound radiated a warm, cozy atmosphere.

But just then.

A middle-aged man who had just arrived heard Siming's words, his expression stunned, his face darkening: "Siming! You're a member of the Uchiha Clan! Hanging around the Senju Clan every day—what kind of nonsense is that!"

An Uchiha.

Going to the Senju Clan every day to loaf around—was there anything more absurd than this?

"Hmm..."

A swept-back hairstyle.

A stern face.

Small eyes.

Siming stared at the man, his brow slightly furrowed, as if confirming something.

"What are you looking at?"

The middle-aged man was taken aback, then felt a pang of regret. Siming was a kid who went to the Senju Clan every day, but the Senju Clan was gone now. Inside the Uchiha Clan, there wasn't much hatred left for the Senju anymore.

After all, debts were cleared when the debtor died.

The Uchiha Clan isn't that petty.

"Not old man, I said who are you?"

Siming's lips twitched: "I didn't provoke you or mess with you, who are you trying to lecture here?"

Watching Siming, who first looked confused, then curled his lips with the standard arrogant Uchiha face, the middle-aged man's face darkened: "I'm Uchiha Yashiro! Stop wandering around here and come back to the clan with me!"

"What's the deal with you hanging around the Senju Clan all day?"

"I'll find you a job in the Police Force later, so you're not idle every day!"

Oh.

The dragged-off Uchiha Siming came to his senses. He remembered now—it was Uchiha Yashiro. The guy didn't look like a "handsome Uchiha" at all, which is why he didn't recognize him at first, but this person was actually pretty nice.

Could be considered a Dove faction Uchiha.

Leaning toward peaceful coexistence between the Uchiha and the village.

"Tch."

How to put this? If he were a troublemaker, he'd have burst into Uchiha maniacal laughter on the spot. But the problem was Uchiha Yashiro wasn't that—this was a serious yet warm-hearted good person among the Uchiha.

In short.

An older, more serious version of Shisui with reduced strength.

"Ah, really helpless and powerless."

Uchiha Siming shook his head helplessly.

[Ding! Lord Hashirama is actually making contact with the Uchiha Clan. Please have Lord Hashirama display the enthusiasm befitting the Hokage, letting the Uchiha Clan feel the care from Konoha. Mission issued: Handshake and Make Peace!]

[Handshake and Make Peace: Lord Hashirama must shake hands with over ten Uchiha clan members!]

[Mission Reward: Unmarked Healing!]

The system's electronic voice rang in his mind.

But even with that electronic tone, Siming could hear the system's shock and excitement.

Indeed, the Uchiha Clan always walked around Hashirama Senju.

How could they be like him, getting dragged along...

"Senior Yashiro, I can walk on my own!"

Siming pulled free of Yashiro's hand and helplessly straightened his sleeves.

[Ding! Mission progress 1/10]

"Senior Yashiro, is there something going on in the clan today?"

As soon as he stepped into the Uchiha Clan's territory—out in the wilderness—there were noticeably more people. Normally, the Uchiha were either cutting people down or on their way to cut people down, so during the day the clan grounds were mostly the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

Today was different.

So many people.

"Uh..."

Yashiro wanted to speak but didn't know where to start. He was silent for a moment, then finally sighed, looking at Siming with a hint of envy in his eyes: "Actually, staying with the Senju Clan isn't bad."

As for Siming.

He naturally understood—he was neither Hawk faction nor Dove faction.

Just a simple, ordinary Uchiha clan member who liked sunbathing with the Senju Clan, had decent talent, but hadn't awakened his Sharingan even at fifteen.

"No!"

Siming said with righteous conviction: "As a member of the Uchiha Clan, how could I stay with the Senju Clan every day? I carry the responsibilities of the Uchiha Clan!"

Then.

Under Yashiro's confused gaze, he walked toward the other Uchiha clan members.

"Hey! Long time no see, Zero, and Hanabi! Hi! Isn't this Shui Ling? Getting bigger, huh!"

"And Izumi! Getting more beautiful every day!"

He enthusiastically shook hands with every Uchiha.

"Oh, and Itachi? Your nasolabial folds are getting deeper, man. Don't just keep a cold face—a smile takes ten years off, you know?"

Siming firmly shook Itachi's hand, not caring whether he resisted or not.

Uchiha Itachi: "..."

First of all.

He didn't want to come to this clan meeting at all.

Also.

He hadn't provoked anyone!