Sunagakure Enters the Fray

"Chonhua, call me Uncle Lutai."

"...Yes, Uncle Lutai. May I ask why you called me here today?"

Uchiha Lutai feigned displeasure. "Does there have to be a reason for you to come visit? Chonhua, you should come over and play with Mikoto more often. The two of you get along so well. Ever since she started at the Ninja Academy, she's been talking about you all the time at home."

Uchiha Lutai patted his right ear and laughed. "I've got calluses on my ears from hearing it so much."

Are you sure you didn't just make that up?

Uchiha Chonhua wasn't entirely convinced. He only suspected that Uchiha Lutai was using his relationship with Mikoto as an excuse to get closer to him.

Naturally, Uchiha Chonhua nodded along.

"Yes, Uncle Lutai. I'll come over and play with Mikoto more often."

"Mm, that's more like it."

Uchiha Lutai nodded in satisfaction, then took out an exquisite wooden box and handed it to Uchiha Chonhua.

Uchiha Chonhua accepted it, looking at him in confusion.

What was this about? Was he going straight to giving gifts?

"Ah."

Uchiha Lutai suddenly sighed. "I've already sent those six people to prison. I'll make sure they receive the punishment they deserve. I failed to keep a proper eye on things within the clan. I only learned about this from my daughter, Mikoto."

In truth, he'd learned the full story from his subordinate, Uchiha Muze. But it was Mikoto who had asked Uchiha Muze to secretly protect Uchiha Chonhua.

Uchiha Chonhua's parents both knew that some people within the clan were unhappy about his frequent visits to the Senju Compound. Others could have found out as well, if they'd cared to look.

Uchiha Mikoto was one of those who cared.

After hearing that someone had taken a dislike to Uchiha Chonhua, she worried they might go too far and bully him.

So Uchiha Mikoto had instructed Uchiha Muze to protect Uchiha Chonhua in secret.

But Uchiha Chonhua's strength had taken them all by surprise.

A five-year-old child had defeated six Genin. What kind of talent did that take?

When Uchiha Lutai first heard the news, he hadn't believed a word of it. But after his subordinate vouched for it, he had no choice but to accept it.

The five-year-old boy before him already had the strength of a Genin. Such extraordinary talent immediately made Uchiha Lutai want to win him over.

He really had to thank his daughter, Mikoto. An attempt to protect her classmate had let him discover such a genius before anyone else.

"There are two ninjutsu techniques in here. Please accept them as an apology."

Uchiha Chonhua tried to refuse. "Uncle Lutai, please take them back. Those six were the ones with malicious intentions. It had nothing to do with you, so there's no need to apologize to me."

Uchiha Lutai pressed down on the wooden box and firmly pushed it back toward him.

"A mistake is a mistake. There's no need to say more. Just accept it, Chonhua."

Uchiha Chonhua accepted the box, going along with it. "All right, I'll take it. Please don't let it weigh on your mind, Uncle Lutai."

"But, Uncle Lutai, do you have a problem with me visiting the Senju Compound so often?"

Uchiha Lutai picked up a cup of sake and chuckled. "Of course not. Chonhua, I'm not like certain people in the clan. You can put your mind at ease. Not only will I not stop you from going to the Senju Compound, I actually hope you'll keep going."

"Chonhua, the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan were once sworn enemies. But now, we're all part of Konoha."

"We are the Uchiha Clan of Konoha. Do you understand?"

Uchiha Chonhua nodded. He understood.

The Uchiha Lutai before him belonged to the faction within the Uchiha Clan that was friendly toward Konoha's leadership.

He was happy to see Uchiha Chonhua visiting the Senju Compound so often.

Uchiha Lutai privately scoffed at those clan members who couldn't see reality and were still intoxicated by past glory.

With their hardline way of thinking, the Uchiha would only meet their end instead of growing stronger.

The era when ninja clans fought one another independently was over.

Konoha's big family included ninja clans both large and small. Could the Uchiha really take on all of Konoha by themselves?

Uchiha Lutai sincerely believed they couldn't. Since the Uchiha couldn't dominate Konoha on their own, growing closer to Konoha's leadership could only do them good.

"I heard your dream is to become Hokage?"

Uchiha Chonhua nodded, his voice full of longing. "I like Konoha. I like everyone here. I like everything about this place. I want to protect them."

Uchiha Chonhua declared with conviction, "I want to become Hokage."

Uchiha Lutai clapped and laughed. "That's a fine dream. I once dreamed of becoming Hokage, too."

Really?

Uchiha Chonhua gave him an understanding look, but didn't believe him for a second.

In Konoha's early years, the Hokage's authority hadn't yet become as firmly established or as deeply ingrained as it was now. Uchiha Lutai's dream back then had been to become Hokage?

Heh.

"There's a lot you need to prepare for if you want to become Hokage. First and foremost, you need exceptional strength that earns people's admiration and trust."

Uchiha Lutai invited Uchiha Chonhua to get up. Together, they crossed the corridor and entered the courtyard.

"Let me see what you can do."

"Dad, Chonhua's visiting our home for the first time. No fighting!"

With a clatter, Uchiha Mikoto slid open the door and ran out of another room, glaring at her father, Uchiha Lutai, in disapproval.

"Ah, my dear daughter, why did you come out?" Uchiha Lutai patted Mikoto's head. "Doesn't this prove you were eavesdropping?"

"Ah!"

Uchiha Mikoto cried out and turned around, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Uchiha Chonhua gave her a gentle smile.

He'd sensed Uchiha Mikoto eavesdropping in the next room long ago. Since her father hadn't stopped her, he had even less reason to overstep and send her away.

Besides, this was his first time meeting Uchiha Lutai. They weren't going to discuss anything particularly serious.

A little eavesdropping was harmless.

"It's all right, Mikoto. Just be more careful next time."

"I'm sorry, Chonhua."

Uchiha Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief, then glared at her father.

"No fighting. It's Chonhua's first time here, so we should make him feel welcome."

"Mother's already prepared dinner. Dad, Chonhua, let's go eat."

Uchiha Lutai shook his head regretfully. "Ah, I was hoping to see what Chonhua could do. But Mikoto's right. We shouldn't be fighting the first time we meet. We should welcome our guest with a delicious feast."

"Chonhua, we'll leave the assessment for next time. Come over often from now on. You've received two ninjutsu techniques, so if there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."

Chapter 17: Sunagakure Enters the Fray

That night, Uchiha Chonhua opened the exquisite box and examined the two ninjutsu techniques.

One was the C-rank Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, and the other was the B-rank Shadow Clone Technique.

Uchiha Chonhua casually tossed them aside.

Having obtained Uchiha Itachi's Character Card, he had already learned both techniques.

What truly mattered was Uchiha Lutai's offer to answer any questions he might have.

As an Uchiha Clan Jonin, his experience and knowledge appealed far more to Uchiha Chonhua.

He could go to him for advice, but he shouldn't go too often.

Though Uchiha Lutai belonged to the faction friendly toward Konoha, he still put the interests of the Uchiha Clan first.

The persona Uchiha Chonhua wanted to cultivate was that of someone who put the interests of the village above those of his clan and was wholeheartedly devoted to Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's cause.

People's hearts were hard to read. Getting too involved with the Uchiha Clan might give Sarutobi Hiruzen the wrong idea, which would work against him.

Some time later, Sarutobi Hiruzen visited the Ninja Academy to give a lecture.

After class, Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered the top ten students of that year and spoke with them one by one.

When it was Uchiha Chonhua's turn, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked pleased.

"Chonhua, keep working hard. You're an excellent student, ranked first in your year, but you mustn't slack off."

Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Uchiha Chonhua on the shoulder and smiled. "I've been keeping an eye on you."

Uchiha Chonhua acted like an overexcited fan meeting his idol. His reply even came out tense and shaky.

"Yes! I'll study hard and won't let you down, Lord Hokage!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and nodded, then took out a scroll and handed it to Uchiha Chonhua.

"This is your reward for ranking first. It's a B-rank Shadow Clone Technique, a technique that's difficult to learn."

"It's a B-rank ninjutsu! Lord Hokage, this is far too valuable!"

Uchiha Chonhua put on an ecstatic display, though inside he felt nothing at all.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had given him the Shadow Clone Technique, too. Uchiha Chonhua didn't know what to say.

"Take it. Your grades are excellent, so you've earned it. I believe in you."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

After that, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Mikoto one C-rank ninjutsu each, then left.

"Minato, Mikoto, let's learn the Shadow Clone Technique together."

Uchiha Chonhua invited them, but Namikaze Minato hurriedly refused. "That doesn't seem right. It's your reward."

"Since it's my reward, I get to decide what to do with it!"

When Namikaze Minato still hesitated, Uchiha Chonhua pretended to sound annoyed. "Come on, Minato, don't refuse. I learned the Shadow Clone Technique a long time ago. It's useless to me, so there's no harm in letting you learn it."

"How about this? Let me have a look at the ninjutsu you got."

"One B-rank and one C-rank..."

Namikaze Minato looked a little uneasy, but when he saw Uchiha Chonhua getting annoyed, his voice grew quieter. "All right, all right. Sorry, Chonhua. I'm making you take the loss."

"Chonhua learned the Shadow Clone Technique that quickly?"

Uchiha Mikoto stared blankly. He'd only given the technique away a few days ago, and now he'd already learned it?

But Chonhua had already proved his talent by defeating six Genin. On second thought, learning the Shadow Clone Technique so quickly seemed perfectly reasonable.

"Then I'll share the ninjutsu I got, too."

In the end, the three of them studied one another's reward techniques.

Namikaze Minato had received Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, while Uchiha Mikoto had received Fire Release: Flame Meteor.

One technique unleashed a powerful gust of wind, while the other sent a stream of small fireballs from the mouth.

Uchiha Chonhua had already tested his chakra affinities: fire and lightning.

The Uchiha Itachi Character Card he'd inherited had given him affinities for fire, wind, and water.

So he could learn Namikaze Minato's Wind Release technique, too.

Everyone had Yin and Yang Release to some extent, with varying degrees of affinity. That meant Uchiha Chonhua only lacked earth release to complete all seven chakra natures.

Whether he gained it would depend on the Ninja World Character Card he drew after graduating and becoming a Genin.

Word spread that Uchiha Lutai, the Uchiha Clan's second-in-command, thought highly of Uchiha Chonhua.

Now, whenever Uchiha Chonhua walked around the compound, he could feel eyes turning toward him from all directions.

He paid them no mind. He'd already expected this to happen.

Uchiha Lutai wanted to win him over because he saw his potential. Naturally, he wanted to leave the mark of his faction on him.