"Recruit them?"
Uchiha Setsuna was so caught off guard by the suggestion that he nearly sprayed out a mouthful of tea.
He forcibly suppressed the burning in his throat and coughed several times before finally steadying his breathing.
Then he raised his eyes, disbelief written all over his face. "All that confident talk from you just now was nothing but bragging?"
"How is that bragging?"
Ren hurried over, gently patting the old man's back as he explained.
"Think about it. There are nearly twenty Uchiha children in every class at the Ninja Academy now. Across six years, that comes to just over a hundred."
"We'll open Clan Academy classes and assign two Jonin instructors to each year, selecting the six best students from among them."
"Then two clan members who have awakened the Three Tomoe will provide them with all-around elite training."
The boy's voice was calm and clear. "At the same time, we'll implement elimination for the lowest-ranked students and encourage children from the regular classes to challenge for seats in the elite classes."
"With such concentrated resources and a competitive system, if a civilian student can still rise above the rest and surpass every Uchiha, that only proves their talent is worth recruiting into our clan."
Setsuna looked up at Ren's gentle smile. After pondering for a moment, he nodded.
"Twelve Jonin, twelve Three Tomoe Jonin—a full force of twenty-four people... That alone would be enough to sweep aside any small country beyond the Five Great Nations."
The old man tapped the table with his fingertips, pride surfacing in his eyes. "You're right. Looking across the entire Shinobi World, only the Uchiha Clan could afford such an undertaking."
He lifted his teacup, and the curling steam blurred the wrinkles on his face.
"With that kind of cultivation, there really is no reason for the clan's children to lose."
"If anyone can truly surpass them, they must be a peerless genius like Orochimaru, Namikaze Minato, or Hatake Kakashi. Someone like that is indeed worth winning over."
The teacup landed on the table with a soft clink.
A smile flickered across Setsuna's lips. "Perfect. Most of the clan members have nothing to do anyway. This will give them something proper to occupy themselves with."
The Uchiha Clan had deep coffers.
Since the Warring States era, they had acquired vast tracts of land throughout the Land of Fire. They possessed not only sprawling estates, but also several mines that brought in steady profits.
The Senju Clan had been the same, but unfortunately, they had donated all their assets to Konohagakure. In the end, no one knew whose pockets those assets had fallen into.
Most Uchiha properties were managed by the Ninken Clan. The Uchiha only needed to step in when necessary to intimidate others and eliminate those who failed to know their place, then return to the village and enjoy the profits.
However, Konohagakure had limited Jonin positions, and the Police Force had long since reached capacity. With the clan also guarding against the village's higher-ups, a large number of Uchiha Jonin had accumulated within the clan.
These elites "idled away" their days with expressions that said, "Don't mess with me," as though the moment a signal arrow pierced the clouds, they would pull out machetes and charge into a gang fight.
Setsuna had discussed this issue with the other two before. Now that these people had a suitable place to go, they would naturally be happy to accept it.
"You can discuss the personnel arrangements among yourselves. This old man will give you my full support."
Watching his grandfather spend every day drinking tea and holding meetings with the Old Clan Head and Elder Huoke after handing over all real power in the Hawk Faction to him, Ren's smile grew even brighter.
"Even the Ninja Academy has the Hokage personally serving as its principal. Though our Uchiha Clan Academy is smaller in scale, its teaching staff is the best in the Shinobi World."
"For such an important academy, we naturally need to invite a highly respected elder to serve as its Head of Academy."
A sly glint flashed through the boy's eyes as he seized his grandfather's arm at just the right moment.
"Don't you agree?"
Setsuna, who had been planning to have a drink and play a game of chess with Huoke today, could not help widening his eyes.
He stared at Ren, who was smiling as though he had him completely figured out. The words of refusal reached his lips, only for him to swallow them back down.
He had just said he would give his full support. Wouldn't refusing outright now be slapping himself in the face?
Besides, the words "highly respected" really did make him feel good all over.
Still, agreeing so easily would be rather undignified.
The old man coughed lightly and pretended to deliberate. "The Clan Head and Huoke are both suitable candidates. Why don't you ask them first?"
"How could they possibly compare to you!"
Ren shook Setsuna's arm as he raised his voice in praise, his tone brimming with sincere admiration.
"You are the clan's pillar that holds up the heavens, the backbone resisting the Hokage's faction! If not for your careful planning all these years, the clan would likely have been devoured piece by piece by Konohagakure's higher-ups!"
Setsuna's other hand, which had been stroking his chin, paused slightly. A trace of hesitation appeared on his face at just the right moment, yet the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes could not conceal his delight.
He sighed deeply for show, but his eyes had already betrayed how pleased he was.
Seeing this, Ren immediately struck while the iron was hot and leaned forward.
"Grandfather, think about it. The Hokage serving as principal of the Ninja Academy is nothing more than an empty title."
"But if you become the Head of Academy for the Clan Academy, you'll be personally cultivating elites who can crush Konohagakure's entire younger generation."
His voice gradually took on an impassioned tone.
"When the time comes, Uchiha students will claim first place in every assessment and crush the competition in every match—"
"This will not only be a victory for the Uchiha Clan, but also the most powerful response from you, as Head of Academy, to the Hokage's educational philosophy!"
"When the Uchiha crest shines at the top of every ranking, all of Konohagakure will understand who truly holds the village's future!"
Setsuna's fingers tapped unconsciously against his knee, as though he could already see Uchiha children punching Hyuga and kicking Sarutobi Clan members, looking down upon everyone else on the training grounds.
Ren caught that subtle movement and secretly laughed to himself, lowering his voice.
"At that time, everyone will say—just as expected of students personally cultivated by Elder Setsuna. Isn't that honor worth taking up the teaching whip yourself?"
The old man finally could not hold back the upward curve of his lips, and the light in his eyes grew sharper.
"Hmph, honor or no honor, it's all about contributing to the clan."
Setsuna spoke righteously. "With this old man as Head of Academy, the clan members will have work to do, the children will benefit, and everyone will have a bright future."
Seeing how tsundere the old man was acting, Ren nearly burst out laughing. He put on a solemn expression and said in a low voice.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Grandfather. Ren still has matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
Setsuna watched his grandson's departing figure, the smugness on his face already gone, as though his earlier delight had been nothing more than an illusion.
He took a sip of the tea that had gradually cooled, then laughed and cursed without restraint.
"That brat. Who did he learn such shameless flattery from? Did he practice it while courting that girl Mikoto?"
The fragrance of tea lingered between his lips and teeth, but the old man's gaze gradually deepened.
Even if Ren had not invited him, he was determined to claim the position of Head of Academy for the Clan Academy.
After all, those youths about to enter the Clan Academy were the true foundation of the Uchiha Clan.
By the time they had grown up, Ren would be in the prime of his life.
These children personally cultivated by him would surely become the Clan Head's strongest support.
Before you continue