Qingguang is still too young and needs tempering (Seeking reads, seeking collections!)

"Inabi, Tekka, you two really drank too much tonight. Let me take you home to rest."

Under the moonlight, Qingguang stood between them, looking left and right at Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Tekka as they stumbled out of a restaurant.

Both were already dizzy, unable to tell north from south.

"Qingguang, after all these years, you've finally come back to live in the clan compound. I'm just happy today—normally, we two never touch a drop."

"That's right, Qingguang. You don't know this, but Tekka here's been talking about you all the time."

"Nonsense!"

"See, see? Big brother's getting shy, hahaha."

Amid laughter and chatter, Qingguang saw them both home before returning to his own wooden house.

Even before bed, he didn't rest, training Wood Release until late into the night before stopping.

[Wood Release: 119/10000]

[Resettable Points: 119]

Same as before, Qingguang added them all to the Sharingan.

[Sharingan: 2882+118/10000]

Still the same routine—leave 1 point for Wood Release.

Half a month had passed since his first clan meeting.

Over this month, Qingguang spent his days building presence in the Uchiha clan compound and his nights training Wood Release. By leeching points from Wood Release, he'd pushed his Sharingan score to 3000.

He could clearly feel the pupil power in his eye sockets growing stronger. When he meditated, he could even see a blurry giant figure.

Though he couldn't make out its full form, Qingguang knew it was his own Susanoo.

At that first clan meeting, Qingguang hadn't shown off much—just made a simple appearance so everyone knew the Uchiha clan had gained another genius.

Every day since, representatives from the clan's three major factions came to recruit him. Tonight's dinner with Inabi and Tekka marked the Hawk Faction, led by Kakaku Elder.

To all of them, Qingguang gave roughly the same answer.

He expressed understanding and support, never giving a clear commitment to join, but still earned their goodwill.

"About time for the next step."

"I wonder how Mikoto's been doing..."

After the clan meeting, he'd visited Uncle Shifang again, but hadn't seen Mikoto that day.

From Shifang, he learned that after awakening her Sharingan that night, Mikoto had been leaving early and returning late, training every day at the grounds around Naka Shrine.

What Mikoto was really thinking, he couldn't know. But working hard to get stronger was a good thing. He'd only gone to watch her once from the shadows, without showing himself...

The next morning, Qingguang arrived early at the Uchiha Police Force entrance.

At 7:30, Fugaku spotted him at the door and broke into a smile.

"Qingguang, are you planning to join the Police Force?"

Awakening a Three Tomoe Sharingan at fourteen—that was what he'd learned about Qingguang from his father.

A genius on par with himself, Fugaku had assumed he'd be arrogant like most Uchiha.

He'd even paid special attention at the last clan meeting, but Qingguang's performance surprised him and left him deeply satisfied.

He was a rare Uchiha who could stay calm, think rationally, and remain humble.

That night, Fugaku had extended an invitation for him to join the Police Force, but Qingguang had declined, asking for time to think.

"Minister Fugaku, that's right. I've thought it over and I'm fully prepared."

"The Police Force exam covers strength assessment, order mediation, and case reasoning. I've learned a lot from Inabi and Tekka."

"I'll definitely pass!"

Qingguang was full of confidence, his gaze firm.

Fugaku was a bit taken aback by his words, smiling as he led him into the office.

He looked at Qingguang with appreciation. "Qingguang, what you just said is just what's written on paper."

"If we actually recruited Police Force members by those standards, most of the clan would be cut."

"Strictly speaking, only the strength assessment matters. As long as you're at chunin level, you pass."

Hearing this from Fugaku's mouth, Qingguang's face showed surprise and confusion.

"But if it's only about strength, doesn't that prove what the villagers say—that we Uchiha enforce the law with violence?"

A helpless look crossed Fugaku's face. He pulled out a stack of letters and pushed them in front of Qingguang.

"See for yourself. These are all the complaint letters received during Uchiha enforcement. And this is just from the last half-month."

That pile—nearly a hundred complaint letters—made Qingguang's emotions stir.

"Minister Fugaku, this..."

"Are you trying to say this is the result of violent law enforcement?" Fugaku had already anticipated what Qingguang was about to say.

Qingguang nodded helplessly.

"Sigh, Qingguang, I joined the Police Department at fourteen, and four years have passed since. At first, I shared the same thoughts as you."

"But back then, the complaint letters were at least twice as many as now."

"It wasn't until later that I understood a truth—reasoning with those unruly folks is futile. Only absolute force can make them fear and submit."

"Otherwise, the Police Department wouldn't need to do anything else; we'd just spend every day responding to complaint letters."

Faced with this explanation, Qingguang was disheartened. He unconsciously lowered his head, his expression bitter.

A trace of stubbornness lingered on his face.

"Minister Fugaku, but I still want to give it a try."

Seeing the earnest look on Qingguang's face, Fugaku knew he wasn't joking—he truly believed in this.

He himself had once held the same conviction as the Qingguang before him, but the complaints from his subordinates, the incomprehension of the villagers, and the complaint letters that only increased instead of decreasing had ultimately made him give up.

Qingguang, you're still too young. You need experience.

In the end, Fugaku still nodded in agreement.

"Alright, Qingguang, since you insist, I'll respect your decision."

"For the next half-month, I'll assign you, Yashiro, and Inabi to a team for the Police Department's daily patrol duties."

"During that time, I'll have them support you with you taking the lead."

"If you truly can change this situation, you'll be a great contributor to the Police Department, and on behalf of all its members, I thank you."

Qingguang immediately waved his hand in refusal: "No, no, no, Minister Fugaku. I'm already grateful that you've given me this opportunity."

"To be honest, my understanding is still too shallow. I haven't put it into practice—it's all just armchair theorizing. There's no need for such words."

"The effort and sweat you've poured into the clan far, far exceed mine."

These words landed on Fugaku's ears, and the more he heard them, the more pleasing they felt.

He found Qingguang increasingly agreeable, even beginning to suspect that the reason Qingguang hadn't directly accepted his invitation before was because he felt he wasn't ready.

That he still didn't deserve the status of the Police Department.