013. Uchiha's Past

Yashui was stunned upon hearing this. He had only felt as though he had lost all sense of time, never imagining he had accomplished such a monumental feat.

"Member of the Uchiha Clan, speak. What is your wish?" Much like a quest in a game, Yashui, having completed the task, could now demand his reward from the Three-Legged Golden Crow.

"Then... Three-Legged Golden Crow," Yashui asked, "may I sign a summoning contract with you all?"

"Our Hundred Bird Nest has always maintained a contractual relationship with the Uchiha Clan, yet in recent years, the only one from the Uchiha Clan who still summons us is that young man named 'Itachi'." The Three-Legged Golden Crow sighed, "It seems the Uchiha Clan has abandoned us once again..."

"Very well, we shall sign a contract with you. From this day forward, all birds in the Hundred Bird Nest may become your summoning beasts." The Three-Legged Golden Crow asked, "What is your name?"

"Uchiha Yashui," Yashui replied.

"I understand. Now, drip your blood onto the ground."

Yashui did as the Three-Legged Golden Crow instructed. As the blood hit the ground, the clouds beneath them were instantly dyed the color of blood, only to return to white a moment later.

"The contract is complete," the Three-Legged Golden Crow nodded.

It seemed the method for signing contracts varied depending on the beast. This method of signing a summoning contract was far simpler than that of Naruto in the original story.

"Do you have anything else you wish to say?"

Yashui pondered for a moment. "There is much I wish to say. May I speak at length?"

"Hahahaha..." The Three-Legged Golden Crow looked up and laughed. "No matter. You may come here daily; consider it a way to relieve my boredom."

"Thank you." Yashui sat cross-legged on the ground. Having made contact with such a significant figure, his mood relaxed considerably. "I shall start today by speaking of the Uchiha Clan."

"The Uchiha Clan has only a few members left to this day..." From their previous conversation, Yashui vaguely sensed that this place was cut off from news of the outside world. He decided to give them a crash course on the major events that had occurred recently.

Yashui began with the origins of the rift between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, telling the Three-Legged Golden Crow of the Uchiha's ambitions and the measures Konoha had taken to prevent a rebellion.

Yashui spoke for several hours on this topic alone. He spoke with such vivid emotion that his audience grew steadily. By the time he finished this segment, thousands of birds of all sizes had gathered around him; some, unafraid of humans, simply perched on Yashui's shoulders to listen.

Next, Yashui told them of Konoha's perception of the Uchiha and the measures taken by different factions. He spoke of how the Uchiha's forced relocation had fueled their desire for rebellion, eventually leading to the mention of Uchiha Shisui.

Unexpectedly, the moment Uchiha Shisui was mentioned, the onlookers—or rather, the birds—began to chatter incessantly.

"Uchiha Shisui single-handedly brought about the downfall of the Uchiha; he is a sinner of the Uchiha," a magpie chirped.

"Why did Uchiha Shisui turn his back on his own kin?" An eagle scratched its head. "Was he caught in a Konoha genjutsu?"

"At least he protected Konoha, didn't he?" a sparrow chirped.

"I was a summoning beast he once called upon; he did not seem to be under any genjutsu," a crow said.

In an instant, the quiet palace was filled with endless chirping and squawking. Everyone held different attitudes toward Shisui, and the birds were in heated disagreement.

"Shut up!" Yashui roared, and the entire world fell silent.

"I, Uchiha Yashui, am Uchiha Shisui's younger brother." Yashui's words stunned everyone. "I do not intend to deny what he did. Whatever he chose to do was his own freedom and choice. Of course, I have no intention of seeking revenge for him either."

"However, I have no intention of walking the same path as him. I am dull, not as clever as my brother. I cannot distinguish right from wrong. I only know that whoever is good to me, I shall repay; whoever wishes to kill me, I shall cut them down at the roots before they can strike." Yashui paused. "I do not mean to stop you all from discussing this, but I hope you will not discuss Shisui in front of his only brother. Please show me some respect."

Yashui stared straight ahead with firm resolve, a pair of Sharingan reflecting in his eyes.

Suddenly, there was not a sound. It was a "true: silence of the crows and sparrows."

The Three-Legged Golden Crow cast an approving look at Yashui. "It has been a long time since I have seen such a child. If nurtured, he might achieve great things." What he valued was not Yashui's intelligence, but his impartial character and his dignified, unyielding temperament.

"Continue," the Three-Legged Golden Crow said.

"Understood." Yashui nodded and continued his tale.

Yashui went on to recount the final chapter of the Uchiha Clan to the Three-Legged Golden Crow and the birds—the total annihilation of the Uchiha Clan at the hands of Uchiha Itachi.

Upon hearing this, the birds were too shocked to even discuss it. They might have guessed the truth from the rumors between Konoha and the Uchiha, but they never imagined that the one who had slaughtered the entire clan was that very Uchiha Itachi!

"Yashui, are you certain of what you say?" a crow asked. Though small in stature, the other birds seemed to hold it in high regard.

"I have always been the exclusive summoning beast for your brother and Uchiha Itachi, yet he never told me any of this." The crow seemed unable to believe Yashui, or perhaps, unwilling to believe it.

"Did you ask?" Yashui countered.

The crow fell silent.

"Why not simply use your summoning technique to bring Uchiha Itachi here?" the Three-Legged Golden Crow suggested.

The crow seemed to break into a cold sweat. It lowered its head and said, "Lord Three-Legged Golden Crow, in truth, Uchiha Itachi has not summoned me for several years. His strength is now sufficient to resist the reverse summoning technique."

"That is fine as well," the Three-Legged Golden Crow shook his head. "We are all hermits who ignore the affairs of the world; we should not concern ourselves with worldly matters. In the end, we summoning beasts are merely ninja tools. When we are no longer needed, we are forgotten and discarded."

"Just as the Uchiha Clan once threw us away like trash." The Three-Legged Golden Crow glanced at Yashui. "What do you intend to do now, young man?"

"I..." Yashui did not know how to answer. He himself had no desire for revenge, but the original owner of this body had wanted it...

"Just speak what is in your heart," the Three-Legged Golden Crow noted Yashui's hesitation.

"In my memories, there isn't much regarding the Uchiha. For the clansmen I never knew who met such a tragic end, I can only offer my regrets. I have no obligation to avenge them. But for the sake of the name Uchiha, I suppose I should try. Yet, to pour all my energy from this vibrant world into revenge—that is something someone as lacking in perseverance as me could never accomplish."