Tea Ninja

Uchiha Shin was a generous man, and he understood the value of the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique to the Uchiha Clan.

So before Uchiha Tajima could even speak, he proactively pulled a thin booklet from his clothes and handed it to Uchiha Tajima with both hands.

"Father, this booklet contains my notes on how to practice the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique, which I developed by improving upon the Clone Technique."

Uchiha Shin said this with complete sincerity.

For the sake of the Uchiha Clan, I've even contributed the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique...

Shouldn't my standing in the eyes of you, old man Uchiha Tajima, go up a little?

Shouldn't you invest even more resources in my training?

Uchiha Shin's little schemes were anything but subtle.

"Hahaha..."

Uchiha Tajima laughed heartily, delighted.

After putting away the booklet containing the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique, Uchiha Tajima happily ruffled Uchiha Shin's hair.

Then Uchiha Tajima beckoned to Madara and Izuna, who were standing beside the training ground, and the four of them headed home together, chatting happily.

On the way home, Uchiha Shin asked Uchiha Tajima questions about ninjutsu while stealing glances at Madara from the corner of his eye.

If Uchiha Shin hadn't been mistaken, he'd read a hint of envy in Madara's slightly complicated expression, along with a trace of resentment and even the faintest hint of jealousy.

How interesting. This was just too interesting. Haha.

Madara was only four years old, yet he already had so many thoughts...

Still, Madara was too young to know how to hide what he was thinking, so all his feelings showed plainly on his face.

But then again, Madara was only four.

If he could already hide himself perfectly at this age, Uchiha Shin would have to wonder whether some old monster was lurking inside Madara.

After all, Uchiha Shin himself had transmigrated into this world, so it wasn't impossible that Madara had been transmigrated into as well.

Uchiha Shin really disliked protagonists who transmigrated as a pair, but what if?

After all, one of the most basic qualities of a transmigrator was a healthy sense of suspicion!

Besides, in the Warring States Period of Naruto, the average human lifespan was no more than thirty. Children from ninja clans had to go to the battlefield around the age of six. If they weren't mature beyond their years, they couldn't survive in this era.

After all, on a battlefield, being too naive often cost you your life.

So Uchiha Shin had to survive in this era—and live a more remarkable life than anyone else.

Even if it meant doing whatever it took, even if it meant leaving a trail of corpses behind him.

Come to think of it, Uchiha Shin figured that his performance at the training ground today had dealt Madara a good blow in terms of strength.

But it wasn't enough...

If he only suppressed Madara through sheer strength, then after a while, Uchiha Tajima would probably see his behavior as nothing more than a brute's.

That wouldn't be enough to qualify him as a candidate for the future head of the Uchiha Clan.

So Uchiha Shin had to outshine Madara in every respect, such as leadership and the ability to see the bigger picture...

After all, the future head of the Uchiha Clan had to be powerful, of course, but most importantly, he had to lead the clan to dominate the Land of Fire—and even the Ninja World.

Heh. So he still had to put on another performance in front of Uchiha Tajima to show him his ambitions for the future.

Only then could he get his foot in the door and make Uchiha Tajima consider him a candidate for the next clan head.

"We're home." ×4

"Welcome back."

Uchiha Aoi opened the door with a smile and warmly welcomed Uchiha Shin, his father, and his brothers home from the training ground.

"If I'm not mistaken, Shin passed the test, didn't he?"

"Right, dear?"

Uchiha Aoi looked up at Uchiha Tajima, who nodded with a smile.

"That's my son, all right. Haha..."

"To celebrate Shin passing the test today..."

"I've cooked his favorite red bean rice."

"Go wash your hands. Dinner will be ready in a moment."

Uchiha Aoi said happily, then turned and began bringing the red bean rice to the low table.

After washing their hands, the four of them sat around the low table in turn. The red bean rice steamed before them, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

All of them couldn't help but look entranced.

"Red bean rice, huh..."

Uchiha Shin couldn't help sighing. Who would have thought that a bowl of red bean rice could leave him so entranced?

The material conditions in the Warring States Period really were shockingly poor. That was all Uchiha Shin could think to grumble.

"Let's eat!" ×5

After finishing the delicious red bean rice, Uchiha Shin, Uchiha Tajima, Madara, and Izuna each held a cup of hot tea and sipped it slowly.

People seemed to enjoy a cup of hot tea after a meal, whether in the original island nation or in Naruto.

As Uchiha Shin held his tea, he watched from the corner of his eye.

Uchiha Aoi was washing the dishes, while Madara and Izuna chattered about the fight between Uchiha Tajima and Uchiha Shin at the training ground that day.

Izuna did most of the talking, while Madara chimed in distractedly.

Uchiha Tajima appeared to be focused on his tea, but in truth he was listening closely to what his two sons were saying.

Heh. It seemed this father wasn't as cold as he appeared.

He almost seemed like a tsundere...

Uchiha Shin stopped watching and silently teased him in his mind.

But...

Uchiha Shin's lips curled slightly as he considered the situation. Wasn't this exactly the perfect opportunity?

As the saying went, a first burst of energy could carry you forward, but the second would fade, and the third would be exhausted...

That morning, Uchiha Shin had dealt Madara a blow in terms of strength. Wouldn't it be even better to press his advantage and deal him another blow by talking about ambition and ideals?

Uchiha Tajima was right there, too. Wouldn't this earn him points as a future clan leader?

At the thought, Uchiha Shin chuckled to himself.

I really am a clever little schemer. Haha.

"Ahem..."

With that, Uchiha Shin gently set down his teacup, put on a thoughtful expression, and turned to ask Uchiha Tajima,

"Father, when will the war finally end?"

Hearing his eldest son's question, Uchiha Tajima set down his teacup and turned to look at Uchiha Shin, who seemed deep in thought.

Uchiha Tajima looked at his eldest son in surprise, noticing an earnestness in his young face that he'd never seen before.

This was a reflection on war...

This was the kind of conversation a man had with another man.

Hadn't he once asked his own father the same question?

A trace of nostalgia flashed in Uchiha Tajima's eyes. After a moment's silence,

he gave a brutally simple answer: "When all our enemies have been wiped out!"

Just as he'd expected...

Uchiha Shin remembered that in the original Naruto, Senju Hashirama's father, Senju Butsuma, had given Hashirama much the same answer.

It seemed the clan leaders of the Ninja World's Warring States Period had let killing completely shackle their thinking.

At Uchiha Tajima's answer, Uchiha Shin shook his head slightly.

Seeing his eldest son reject his answer, Uchiha Tajima didn't get angry.

The training ground that day, and the technique called the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique, had already given Uchiha Tajima enough pleasant surprises.

So now Uchiha Tajima wanted to know whether, on the eternal subject of war, his eldest son would surprise him even more, just as he had that morning at the training ground.

Uchiha Tajima felt a little anticipation...