Becoming the Uchiha's Sword!

The next day, Arata woke up according to his biological clock.

Dressing, washing up, popping a Military Ration Pill, and strapping on his weights—everything remained as mechanical as ever.

Yesterday, his conversation with Shisui had stalled at the mention of Kotoamatsukami.

When the other party brought up the idea of forcibly altering the will of their clansmen, he truly found it difficult to contain his emotions.

The Uchiha clan was a proud one.

Even the Senju of the Forest, who stood on equal footing with them, did not possess such intense sentiments in this regard.

Therefore, allowing his clansmen to lose their own will and become mere puppets for the Hidden Leaf Village was something simply intolerable.

It was even more agonizing than death itself!

Having received his answer, Shisui Uchiha had said nothing more, merely asking him to seek him out again today, as he wanted the answer to the previous question.

Regarding the question of which side to take.

Arata had never made any other choice from the very beginning; the Uchiha were his only home, the only place that had ever offered him warmth.

Whether it was Uncle Yashiro, with whom he had a close relationship, Sister Izumi, the noodle shop owner he greeted daily, or the elderly woman who asked him for help—even when public opinion was at its most turbulent, they had all continued to care for him in their own different ways.

Looking at the Hidden Leaf, however.

What those higher-ups wanted was simple.

They wanted to build a Hidden Leaf Village without the Uchiha!

Even though this clan had helped them suppress one neighboring powerhouse after another and had sacrificed countless vibrant lives, those four old geezers still refused to accept them.

He was Arata of the Uchiha!

Naturally, he would fight for the Uchiha!

However, Shisui's concerns were not without merit.

Once the two sides went to war, the price paid would inevitably be tragic.

The ordinary residents in the city, the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children within the clan who possessed no combat power—all would become victims of this war.

But!

The power to initiate the conflict clearly lay with the Hidden Leaf side!

If they could face the Uchiha squarely and treat them fairly, would such a rift have ever appeared?

"Arata."

Walking along the street, Arata Uchiha was suddenly called out.

The voice was somewhat familiar, yet mostly strange; it was likely a clansman he had not interacted with much.

He raised his gaze.

Without realizing it, he had walked to the noodle stall, and the ones calling him were the two ninjas who had mocked him yesterday.

The difference was that today they were not wearing the uniforms of the Military Police Force, clearly not on duty.

But if they weren't on duty, why were they here so early?

Waiting for him?

Confusion flickered in Arata Uchiha's eyes, and not knowing how to respond, he could only quietly look up at the two men before him.

Being stared at in such a way, the two men suddenly became somewhat awkward, lacking any of the typical Uchiha pride, but after exchanging a glance, they bowed in unison.

"We are sorry, we were wrong yesterday. Please forgive us."

Their hesitant voices grew firm and resonant as they finished the sentence.

At the age of eight, sweeping through a training ground of genin was impressive, but it was nothing extraordinary.

What truly shocked the two of them was that the boy before them had actually suppressed an Anbu operative and even managed to land a blade on him!

What kind of magical feat was that?!

That was an Anbu, the private soldiers directly under the Third Hokage!

What had the clan leader always demanded of them?

Ignore them.

Don't engage.

Even while under surveillance, they were to suppress the indignation in their hearts!

But Arata had gone and shattered the very rules they had long been dissatisfied with!!

It wasn't just these two brothers; many members of the Military Police Force had felt a sense of relief upon hearing the news, and the unrestrained laughter of Captain Inabi yesterday had nearly blown the roof off the Military Police headquarters!!!

Furthermore, when compared to Itachi Uchiha's affinity for the Anbu and his repeated absences from clan meetings, their perspectives had begun to undergo a sea change.

Of course, these changes were currently limited to the Military Police Force, who had the most contact with the Anbu.

"Mm."

Arata hummed, feeling somewhat at a loss for how to react.

However, he suddenly recalled the warning from Izumi.

"Hmm, ah, oh, okay, wait—not even a single-character reply is allowed! It's all just perfunctory, a sign of disrespect!"

"It's fine."

Arata added.

"Whew."

"As expected, just as Yashiro-sama said, he's actually quite easy to talk to."

Upon receiving a response, one of the clansmen let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy stone had finally been lifted from his heart.

Immediately afterward, he straightened his expression, focusing intently as he spoke word by word: "Regardless of the reason for that sparring match, I, Meika Uchiha, am willing to believe in you."

"I, Endo Uchiha, feel the same!"

Not far away, the stall owner watched the scene, nodding slightly with an expression that suggested the youth was finally showing promise.

Hearing this, Arata was momentarily stunned, then quietly looked away.

His emotions were in turmoil at this moment.

He truly did not know how to sort through them.

Because aside from Uncle Yashiro and Izumi, these were the first clansmen to say they understood and believed in him.

"Thank you."

Lacking eloquence, this was the only way he could respond.

"Oh, right."

Meika seemed to suddenly remember something; he lowered his head and began to unbuckle the ninja tool pouch at his waist. It was evident that the pouch, which should have been neat and convenient, was currently overburdened, bulging with all sorts of items.

"Here."

"Remember, if there's a next time, help us stab them a few more times!"

"I've long been sick of those Anbu lingering around like ghosts. If it weren't for the clan's constraints, I'd really want to have it out with them! Don't they know the peace on the borders was bought with the blood of the Uchiha clan?"

Meika Uchiha shoved the ninja pouch into Arata's hands without room for argument, the clanging of metal echoing his restless mood.

"And mine too!"

Endo also decisively unbuckled his own pouch.

They both remembered the restrictions placed upon Arata by the clan grounds.

Therefore, this was the only way they could show their support and express the fervor in their hearts.

"I..."

Arata opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But apart from "thank you," he truly did not know what else to say.

"Alright, alright, it's enough that you can forgive our words from yesterday. Keep it up."

Meika waved his hand, his expression as relaxed as if he had just resolved a major life event.

"Thank you."

Walking through the woods, Arata's steps were light, and the coldness that had layered his handsome face for days was replaced by a faint smile.

He had found the answer to the question he had pondered all night.

From the perspective of the clan, they only wanted to be treated fairly and to receive the respect and honor they deserved. Was such a request excessive?

Not at all!

The Uchiha deserved to be respected.

Yet, from the perspective of the village, the source of the Nine-Tails incident pointed directly to the Uchiha. No one could refute that; the Sharingan possessed such power, and furthermore, the mastermind behind that catastrophe was an Uchiha!

Moreover, whether it was the clan head Fugaku or Body Flicker Shisui, either could replicate such a catastrophe.

It was understandable that the village harbored suspicion.

But such extreme suppression was truly unfair, and it was the most direct reason why the Uchiha clan grew resentful and began to harbor intentions of rebellion.

After all, this was a clan of deep, intense emotions!

How could it be resolved?

It could be said that unless the Konoha high-ups abandoned their suppression, it was fundamentally impossible to resolve.

With his own status and strength, he could not sway the will of either faction.

Therefore, there was only one thing he could do: become the sword of the Uchiha.

Protect all his companions within the clan grounds, strike down anyone who dared to intrude, and execute any potential traitors!

Not just for the sake of slaughter.

But to be a sword forged for protection!