A Genius's Hobby

"Are we just going to ignore Shingen Uchiha?"

"His status is unique; he is the link between the Uchiha and Konoha. If he were truly brainwashed by Setsuna Uchiha, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

"It is of no concern."

Fugaku Uchiha was not worried about this.

Recalling how Shingen Uchiha had behaved all along, a hint of a smile even tugged at the corners of his mouth:

"If Elder Setsuna had been after Shisui tonight, I would never have stood by and let it happen."

"That kid Shingen may be young, but he sees many things more clearly than the vast majority of the clan, and his way of thinking is different from others. He is not so easily brainwashed."

Uchiha Yakumi recalled Shingen Uchiha's usual slacker attitude and felt a moment of helplessness:

"That is true, I suppose."

"That kid is single-mindedly focused on clocking in at the Police Force. If he could, he would probably spend his whole life just like that."

Mentioning this subordinate of his, Uchiha Yakumi did not know how to evaluate him.

He possessed talent that could be considered top-tier in Uchiha history and a mind that did not lose to the Nara, yet he had also picked up the lazy nature inherited by the Nara clan.

If he hadn't investigated beforehand and confirmed that Shingen Uchiha was a pure-blooded member of the Uchiha clan, he would have truly suspected that Nara blood flowed through Shingen Uchiha's veins.

But that was exactly why it was so frustrating to watch!

"Hahaha~"

Seeing his helpless expression, Fugaku Uchiha could not help but laugh and comfort him:

"You don't have to be so upset."

"I heard that after that kid started following Jiraiya, he changed his ways, didn't he? He's training in the Forest of Death every day now."

"You don't understand."

Uchiha Yakumi let out a long sigh:

"He's training with Shadow Clone, and that kid spends every day hanging out with Jiraiya writing books."

"Uh..."

Fugaku Uchiha was stunned:

"Writing books?!"

Uchiha Yakumi nodded:

"Yes, I heard Shisui is reading them too. If you are interested, I can bring you a copy."

"That will do. I happen to want to see what kind of books the two most outstanding members of the Uchiha in this era are reading."

Fugaku Uchiha became interested:

"After all, a book is a reflection of a person's inner self, capable of triggering resonance in the soul."

"These two kids—one seems unserious, yet no one can see through his heart; the other has an upright personality and possesses thinking that transcends the ordinary."

The next morning.

Uchiha Yakumi walked into Fugaku's office with a strange expression. Fidgeting, he pulled Make-Out Hell from his bosom and placed it in front of Fugaku.

"Here."

"This is what Shingen and Shisui are both reading."

"That kid Shingen is even collaborating with Jiraiya recently, preparing to launch a new work together."

At a single glance, Fugaku saw the exposed, sexy woman on the cover of Make-Out Hell, and his previously muddled brain cleared up instantly.

What is this garbage?

The two most outstanding geniuses of the Uchiha are reading this kind of thing?!

No, no!

Perhaps I am only looking at the surface and failing to see the deeper meaning; this book might have other connotations.

The picture on the cover doesn't mean what I think it means either.

Fugaku took a deep breath and, with great patience, began to flip through it.

But the more he read, the more spectacular the expression on Fugaku's face became, and the tips of his ears could not help but turn red.

"No, they are both minors and they are reading this? I'm an adult and I don't even look at this stuff!"

Fugaku Uchiha felt his worldview had been shattered, even creating the illusion that he had been left behind by the times.

When he was twelve or thirteen, let alone smut, he hadn't even held a girl's hand!

Mikoto was only seven or eight years old back then!

Wait a minute...

These two brats—one is thirteen, the other is eight. If you do the math, that's equivalent to a thirteen-year-old me taking an eight-year-old Mikoto and...

No!

I cannot keep thinking about this!

Snap!

Fugaku Uchiha slammed Make-Out Paradise shut, tossed it into his desk drawer, and immediately began his critique:

"Neglecting one's proper duties! Simply neglecting one's duties!"

"The Uchiha clan has a major problem with the education of the new generation. At such a young age, they have already embarked on such a path of no return!"

"This is a dereliction of duty as Patriarch."

Fugaku Uchiha looked heartbroken as he waved his hand, signaling for Yakumi to leave first.

He failed to notice the latter's expression of wanting to say something, nor his gaze, which remained fixed firmly on the drawer.

Setsuna Uchiha's actions were faster than Uchiha Shingen had originally anticipated.

By the afternoon of the very next day, he had arrived with two servants who attended to his daily needs and moved into Uchiha Shingen's small villa.

This house was an inheritance left behind by Uchiha Shingen's parents; although it was located on the edge of the Uchiha clan grounds, it was by no means small.

It had two floors and over a dozen rooms, so accommodating three or four more people wouldn't have much of an impact.

Moreover, since Uchiha Shingen had just agreed to become the disciple of Setsuna Uchiha and inherit his mantle, he couldn't very well kick him out at this moment.

Yet, looking at the smug expression on the old man's face, Uchiha Shingen couldn't shake the feeling that he had been swindled.

Forget it.

When this old man dies, his inheritance will all be mine.

"Inheritance?"

Toma Uchiha, who was busy moving things inside, set down his luggage and blinked his large eyes at Uchiha Shingen.

This look of innocent confusion made Uchiha Shingen's heart skip a beat:

"The Elder promised it at the Clan Meeting last night, saying he would let me inherit his mantle and give me his estate after he passes."

"Uh..."

Toma Uchiha's expression stiffened, and he hesitated before saying:

"Elder Setsuna was imprisoned for over thirty years. Everything in his home was cleared out long ago; the only thing that could be considered valuable was that mansion of his."

Uchiha Shingen cursed the old man for scamming him. Although he felt some resentment, he swallowed his anger at the thought that he would at least still have a large house.

Suddenly, a cry of alarm came from outside.

"Fire!"

"There's a fire in the Uchiha clan grounds!"

This old man wouldn't go to such extremes just to scam me, would he?!

Uchiha Shingen sensed that something was wrong. He took Toma Uchiha out of the house and looked toward the direction of the fire.

The flames were raging; even from hundreds of meters away, he could still feel the rising heat.

By now, many ninjas proficient in Water Style had already stepped in, but it was already a step too late.

This fire was strange—sudden and fierce, leaving no time for anyone to react.

In just a few minutes, it had reduced a mansion covering thousands of square meters to ruins, yet it had no effect on the surrounding buildings at all.

"That wouldn't be..."

Uchiha Shingen pointed at the mansion, which was now reduced to nothing but a few standing pillars, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

"Oh."

Toma Uchiha nodded:

"That is Lord Setsuna's inheritance."

"You old geezer, you did this on purpose, didn't you? I'll fight you to the death!"

Uchiha Shingen felt his head buzzing. He turned his head to see Setsuna Uchiha pushing his wheelchair over with a wicked grin:

"Kid, you're still too green to play games with me!"