Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation

Uchiha Kō looked toward Uchiha Kiyoshi, seemingly wanting to read something from his expression, only to find that Uchiha Kiyoshi's face was stiff, devoid of any emotional change.

Uchiha Kō sighed. "Lead the way."

"Understood!" Uchiha Kiyoshi replied. He opened the gates to the Uchiha Clan Compound and led Uchiha Kō inside. Although Uchiha Kō had never toured the Uchiha Clan Compound and felt a spark of curiosity, he had been summoned by the Clan Head for negotiations, so he could not afford to lose his imposing aura.

Thus, Uchiha Kō kept his gaze fixed forward, ignoring the stares and whispers of the people nearby. Most of the Uchiha clansmen were interested in Uchiha Kō; after all, rumors behind closed doors suggested he was the true commander of the war in the Land of Rain.

Yet these were merely hearsay, unverified. If it were true, why wouldn't the Clan Head and the Hokage have announced it?

Uchiha Kō sighed. He knew these fellows would have such expressions, but he was no pushover to be gawked at!

He let out a cold snort, gathering chakra in his hands. Magnet Release: Great Wind Curtain (a self-created ninjutsu, unranked) isolated him from the prying eyes of the clansmen.

A curtain of sand, gathered from wind and grit, blocked the view of the Uchiha clansmen, preventing them from seeing even a sliver of Uchiha Kō.

The crowd's expressions shifted. It was Magnet Release—a Kekkei Genkai! Combined with Uchiha Kō's Sharingan, he was a dual-Kekkei Genkai genius!

The eyes of the Uchiha clansmen were no longer filled with inquiry, but with shock and wild ecstasy!

Although they were a clan that admired strength, they were also a clan where honor stood above all else. Now that a dual-Kekkei genius had appeared within their ranks, he was the darling of the Uchiha clan!

Since the genius didn't want to be watched, they would leave. They were all Uchiha, and knowing that was enough! In an instant, the ninjas dispersed.

The Uchiha clan always held a respectful attitude toward geniuses and the strong. Uchiha Kō raised an eyebrow; this Uchiha clan wasn't half bad!

Following Uchiha Kiyoshi's lead, Uchiha Kō soon arrived at the residence of the Clan Head, Uchiha Hirotomo. Uchiha Kō knocked on the door, but Uchiha Hirotomo did not respond.

Uchiha Kō frowned and knocked again. Still no response. He sneered. Heh, trying to give me a cold shoulder? Fine, watch me flip the table!

Uchiha Kō said, "Kiyoshi, step aside!" Uchiha Kiyoshi was stunned, unsure of what Uchiha Kō was about to do. He saw Uchiha Kō clap his hands together, take a deep breath, and exhale a torrent of high-temperature flames.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!" Uchiha Hirotomo could no longer remain calm. His eyes snapped open, and he performed hand seals. "Water Style: Water Formation Wall!" "Water Style: Water Prison Technique!"

The Water Formation Wall blocked the onslaught of the Great Fire Annihilation for two seconds. In that window, the Water Prison Technique enveloped the house, and finally, the Water Prison collided with the Great Fire Annihilation, causing both to dissipate.

A figure slowly emerged from a cloud of white steam. He was flushed red—don't ask, it was just the steam!

Uchiha Kiyoshi's eyes widened, his mouth twitching as he looked at Uchiha Kō. Damn it, he just starts throwing ninjutsu without a word!

Uchiha Hirotomo, temples throbbing, stepped out. He only wanted to make him wait a little; using a skill right away was a bit excessive!

Uchiha Kō offered a faint smile. "Greetings, Clan Head."

Uchiha Hirotomo's brow relaxed. "Kō, you've arrived. Please, come in." He gestured toward his house. Uchiha Kō did not move, looking at the house with a smile.

Uchiha Hirotomo scratched his head. Neither moved. Finally, he gave Kiyoshi a look. Uchiha Kiyoshi understood immediately, walked out of the courtyard, closed the gate, and stood guard, observing the surroundings.

Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Kō sat around the stone table in the courtyard. Neither spoke; Uchiha Kō knew this was a contest of patience, and the first to speak would be at a disadvantage.

Uchiha Hirotomo looked at Uchiha Kō's appearance and temperament and couldn't help but gasp. His looks were somewhat like that man, while his temperament was similar to Uchiha Izuna.

Elegant and wise, as if everything were calculated. He didn't understand why Uchiha Kō looked so much like that man, yet possessed a personality like Lord Izuna.

He would have to find time to check the clan records. This kid was extraordinary.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Kō observed Uchiha Hirotomo's appearance, finding him somewhat like Uchiha Itachi. His tear troughs were very prominent, and his hair was smooth, hanging down on both sides.

The only difference from Uchiha Itachi was that there was light in his eyes, and he didn't have that look of death that Uchiha Itachi had at such a young age.

Finally, after a period of silence, Uchiha Hirotomo sighed. "A hero emerges from the youth. Kō, I want to ask you, are you interested in becoming an elder in the clan?"

Uchiha Kō was silent, not giving an immediate response. He calculated in his mind whether this would be advantageous for him.

Uchiha Hirotomo did not rush him. He believed Uchiha Kō would agree. The Uchiha clan needed a smart person, and his own days were numbered. Once he died, the Uchiha clan would be targeted by many.

Uchiha Kō pondered for a long time. Becoming an elder meant the life and death of the Uchiha clan would be tied to his own; it was a responsibility. But as an elder, he could possess the clan's intelligence network. What was intelligence?

Intelligence was the first-mover advantage. If he could know the enemy's layout faster, he could devise countermeasures faster. Furthermore, the Uchiha clan was straightforward; though arrogant, they would never scheme against their own.

He had to guard against the future Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen. He couldn't handle them alone, so he had to seize the power of the clan—and he had to hold real authority!

As for Fugaku? He was capable of maintaining the status quo but lacked the drive to advance. Among the clans in Konoha, if you lacked the drive to advance, you were destined to be devoured and enslaved!

Thinking of this, Uchiha Kō took a deep breath. "I can, but I have one condition. If the Clan Head does not agree, I can only choose to look out for myself."

Uchiha Hirotomo felt a surge of joy. His goal was to bind Uchiha Kō to the Uchiha, so offering the elder position was just a test; if it didn't work, he could sweeten the deal.

"Kō, just say it. As Clan Head, I will certainly agree." Uchiha Hirotomo smiled slightly.

Uchiha Kō nodded. "Hand the Uchiha clan's intelligence network over to me. Once there is any situation, inform me immediately!"

Uchiha Hirotomo nodded. "No problem. You are an elder, after all; you have the right to access it."

"Clan Head, I don't want the right to access intelligence—I want to control the intelligence network!" Uchiha Kō smiled faintly.

Uchiha Hirotomo fell silent. He had deliberately changed the subject earlier because he knew how important this was, but seeing Uchiha Kō's attitude, he knew he couldn't bluff his way out of it.

"Very well." This time, Uchiha Hirotomo did not change the subject, because he saw that Uchiha Kō's eyes had turned into the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Ding! (Three-Tomoe Sharingan) activated.

To increase his bargaining chip—his talent—Uchiha Kō chose to force an upgrade to the Three-Tomoe.

An 18-year-old with the Three-Tomoe and the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai; as long as he didn't die, he would surely be a Kage-level powerhouse in the future!

What could Uchiha Hirotomo do? Just obey!