Elder Setsuna's Invitation

Chuanhe certainly knew his son was following behind him.

Just as he had promised before, no matter what decision Hui made, as long as it did not violate his principles, he would support it.

"Chuanhe-kun, it really isn't easy to get you to come out for a visit," an old man with a dignified face said, kneeling opposite Chuanhe.

"Not at all, Elder Setsuna, I have just been preoccupied with my research," Chuanhe said, sitting cross-legged.

He did not care what others thought of him. Kneeling? That was absolutely impossible, and besides, he no longer needed to concern himself with the opinions of these people.

"Haha, Chuanhe-kun is young and promising; no wonder that little girl Yuki took a fancy to you," Elder Setsuna laughed.

Chuanhe's expression darkened instantly. Ever since he invented the Flame Explosion Technique, no one had dared to provoke him like this to his face.

"Chuanhe-kun, I will keep this brief. You have seen the situation today. I hope you will not let down the clan that has cultivated you for so many years."

"Could you hand over the original manuscript of the Flame Explosion Technique to this old man? That boy Fugaku is far too indecisive; the clan still needs these old bones of mine to lead it."

Elder Setsuna looked very pleased with himself.

"Elder Setsuna, I am an outsider after all; I have already handed the technique over to Captain Fugaku," Chuanhe said flatly.

An Uchiha standing to the side with his Three Tomoe activated could not help but interject: "Elder Setsuna, I told you there was no need to waste words with him. We should just use genjutsu to interrogate him. Please wait, I will just..."

Before he could finish, Hui opened his Three Tomoe and used Space Leap to reach the corner of the room, blocking the path in front of Chuanhe.

Although Hui had great confidence in his father's strength, the severe injuries from yesterday and the assassination attempt today left him unable to rest easy.

He had not expected to see the chakra in the room beginning to flare through his Four-Dimensional Perception, so he had rushed in without hesitation.

The people in the room were very quiet; the chamber fell into a deathly silence.

The few Uchiha surrounding Elder Setsuna stared at Hui in disbelief.

"Three Tomoe?"

"Impossible!"

"How old is he?"

"Yuki clearly hasn't even awakened her eyes yet."

Elder Setsuna's complexion grew even more flushed, overcome with joy.

"Haha, Heaven bless the Uchiha, Heaven bless the Uchiha indeed."

"Chuanhe-kun, you have raised a fine son! Was that the Flying Thunder God just now? Tsk tsk. A six-year-old Fourth Hokage candidate with a Sharingan? Unbelievable."

Chuanhe spoke softly to Hui's back: "Hui, put down your weapon first and sit down to listen to the advice of our clan's 'seniors'."

Chuanhe deliberately emphasized the word "seniors."

"But... yes, Father." After a moment of hesitation, Hui obediently sat cross-legged, though he kept his Three Tomoe Sharingan fixed on the opposite side.

"Elder Setsuna, do you have any further instructions?" Chuanhe said, offering no explanation.

Expecting this stubborn old man to have any new ideas was harder than ascending to heaven.

"Insolent! It seems that still..." the Three Tomoe Uchiha to the side could not help but say, only to be interrupted by Setsuna.

"Chuanhe-kun, if you leave just like this, I can no longer guarantee your safety."

Holding back his clansman, Elder Setsuna said with a calm tone.

"Do not misunderstand, Chuanhe-kun. Since Danzo dared to assassinate you once, there will certainly be a next time."

"I appreciate the Elder's concern, but that is not something you need to worry about," Chuanhe said faintly.

"Hmph, then you may leave, but Hui must stay behind," Setsuna snorted coldly.

"Oh? I don't think so. I believe I am still capable of protecting my own child."

An invisible "wind" emanated from Chuanhe. He disrupted the chakra of everyone present, including the few hidden in the shadows; not one was spared.

So hot, it feels like flames are burning throughout my entire body.

This sensation was just like a failed Fire Release technique, only the range had expanded to cover his entire body.

Elder Setsuna and the others wore pained expressions, veins bulging on their foreheads. Fortunately, the feeling dissipated after a few seconds.

The Uchiha were terrified; after exchanging glances, they moved to physically block Elder Setsuna. Several pairs of Three Tomoe stared daggers at Chuanhe.

Hui stared back at them, showing no signs of weakness.

"Slow down! You all step back first. Chuanhe-kun, you have impressive means. This old man admits defeat, but I hope Chuanhe-kun does not forget that the Uchiha clan still has a Militant Faction. If the clan makes a decision in the future, I hope Chuanhe-kun will still stand on the side of the clan. Tekka, see them out."

After a brief moment of shock, Setsuna quickly regained his composure. He was, after all, an old man who had survived three Ninja World Wars; he was rich in experience.

Hui, sitting to the side, looked puzzled. Through his chakra perception, he had felt the sensation of a Fire Release being unleashed. Did he forcibly use the opponent's chakra to release a Fire Release?

How did Father do that? Dimensions? It doesn't seem like it, Hui pondered carefully.

"Elder Setsuna, until we meet again."

After Chuanhe and the others left, the Three Tomoe Uchiha asked, "Elder Setsuna, should we..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Hmph, foolish. Have you ever heard of such a method? Forcibly using my own chakra to release a Fire Release—it is simply unheard of. Such mastery of Fire Release is truly worthy of the talent who created the Flame Explosion Technique."

"If he were willing, this old man could die from the backlash of a failed Fire Release. Indeed, if he could kill Chuanhe, perhaps that brat Hui could recreate those legendary eyes."

"However, since he was able to cultivate Three Tomoe for Hui at the age of six, he likely has a way to go even further. Ever since he arrived, I haven't heard of him sustaining any injuries. That brat Hui only has his father as kin."

Elder Setsuna said, his entire body trembling slightly.

Returning home, Hui asked with some confusion: "Father, what is the Militant Faction?"

"A bunch of pathetic ghosts drowning in the past glory of the Uchiha," Chuanhe replied after a moment of thought.

Past... glory, huh.

"If they truly had that kind of resolve, why didn't they leave Konoha with Uchiha Madara back then?"

Leave? For some reason, Hui remembered this word. However, he immediately cast it to the back of his mind.

"Father, how complicated is the relationship between the clan and the village? And who is Danzo? Why did he come to assassinate us? Does the village not care about this..." Hui's barrage of questions gave Chuanhe a headache.

"Wait, wait, one at a time."

"The relationship is very complex. If it weren't for the Flame Explosion Technique, they would likely have all been ready to move."

Move? What kind of move? Hui was even more confused.

"Hui, you must remember: Danzo is the most direct villain in this village. Almost all the problems in the village are related to him."

"As for the assassination, I'm not entirely sure either, though his timing caught me off guard. Wait, Naruto! Alright, I know why now."

"You and Sasuke looking after Naruto touched his sore spot."

"Isn't Naruto an orphan? Is Danzo so despicable that he won't even allow us to look after a classmate?"

Hui felt a toothache; was Danzo not overstepping his bounds a bit? And what about that Third Hokage grandfather Naruto always talked about? Was he just going to watch?

"Naruto... his status is a bit special. You can decide when to tell him about this. He is the son of the Fourth, a hero's descendant, and also the village's Jinchuriki, with the Nine-Tails sealed inside him," Chuanhe said, though he hesitated.

Hui understood even less. With these three identities combined, why was Naruto treated this way?

Hui looked out the window in a daze. The night was perfect, with a crescent moon hanging in the sky. The moonlight was so gentle, yet Hui felt a bone-chilling cold. Was this truly the Konoha that Iruka spoke of?

Recalling today's assassination, Chuanhe made a certain decision.

"It is time. Hui, come with me. I want to share some good news with you," Chuanhe said calmly.