Uchiha Zhuang settled down and thought it through carefully. In Konoha today, the Second Hokage, Tobirama, was suppressing the Uchiha. Policies and benefits favored second-rate and smaller clans; important posts in the Hokage Building were kept out of the Uchiha Clan's hands, openly or behind the scenes; and among the civilians, people spread theories about the Uchiha's evil nature and ambitions, along with other political tactics. The Uchiha Clan was like a lone wolf slowly approaching a cliff, with a pack of monkeys, deer, pigs, and other animals behind it, constantly threatening and frightening it, trying to force it over the edge. Yet they dared not charge in and face the wolf's final desperate retaliation. These timid livestock had grand ambitions but narrow minds. For a single rotten fruit in their mouths, they could send off a wolf who had once been their ally without the slightest hesitation. Tsk, it was truly an eye-opener. Fine, Konoha was still growing now. Once the Second Hokage died and the Third took over, everything would be over. What a ruthless man, cutting down his own people—several neighboring friends were stunned by it, except for the later Mizukage. So, if he had the ability, he'd seize Konoha's foundation and develop it; if he didn't, he'd take as many pillars of the community as he could, lie low, and grow in secret.
Seeing the two of them still worrying about him, Uchiha Zhuang smiled gently. "It's fine. Didn't I tell you before? I'm a prophet, the chosen one of this world, and the one and only. One day, I'll be the king who brings order to this world." Hearing his embarrassingly grand words, Genmu and Meiko were speechless. They'd thought it was just childish nonsense, but it turned out he really believed it.
"That, um, Genmu, teach me the Transformation Technique, Substitution Technique, and Clone Technique! I haven't learned them yet, and you know how much of a disadvantage I'd be in a fight without the Three Basic Techniques!" "No way, you little brat. Weren't you having a great time fighting just now? You nearly sent your father to Takamagahara. I'd say you're already strong enough without the Three Basic Techniques. You don't need me, a Chunin, to teach you." Genmu turned his head and mocked him, putting extra emphasis on the word "Chunin." Uchiha Zhuang looked at Genmu's shameless expression, then gestured with both hands, pleading with Meiko to help. Meiko said to Genmu, "You're a grown man, and you're still arguing with your own child over these basic techniques? I think Daizō might learn the advanced techniques you want to learn faster than you do. Why not have him teach you?" Struck by that devastating blow, Genmu practically fell apart. After being bombarded by Uchiha Zhuang and Meiko in turn, Genmu finally agreed to teach Uchiha Zhuang the Three Basic Techniques. In return, though, Uchiha Zhuang had to help him look through the scrolls and offer ideas for learning advanced techniques.
The next day, Uchiha Zhuang got up early and saw Genmu returning from his morning training. He thought to himself that shinobi had to keep training constantly and never let themselves slack off. Then he sat down at the table and took his time eating breakfast. Seeing Uchiha Zhuang's attitude, Genmu was speechless. He couldn't hit him, in case Uchiha Zhuang hit him back and embarrassed him. He couldn't scold him, either, with Meiko watching him like a hawk. Sigh, being a man is hard; being a male shinobi is even harder; and being a married male shinobi is harder still!
After breakfast, the two of them headed out to the training ground in the clan compound. Looking at the scorched training ground, Uchiha Zhuang asked, "Genmu, are all the Uchiha Clan shinobi Fire Release users? Are there any who can't use it?" "Sure, but there aren't many, and they're not very strong. Special Jōnin is probably the highest they get. Come to think of it, once you enroll, you'll learn the Three Basic Techniques at school, so you didn't need to come here just to study them with me." "I want to make learning fun. The techniques and feel you gain through actual combat aren't something you can learn in a classroom." Seeing the slightly serious look on Uchiha Zhuang's face, Genmu froze for a moment and thought, Could this kid really be a genius? He's only five! Maybe my genes are pretty impressive. Should I consider having another child? Make one tonight. Maybe the next one will be even more obedient and talented than this brat! "Hey, I can't read your mind, but that lecherous look gives you away. You're thinking about something vulgar, aren't you?" Uchiha Zhuang teased. "Mind your own business. Stop talking and watch closely. Pay attention and learn." Genmu had grown used to being mocked and was now immune to it. They spent the whole morning at the training ground.
In the afternoon, Uchiha Zhuang looked at Genmu on the training ground and said, "Is it really that hard? I learned all three basic techniques this morning. You still can't use the Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique? And I've already explained the key points and what makes it difficult." Genmu, his face darkening further, finally couldn't hold back. "You think everyone's as much of a genius as you? Most people aren't even as good as me, all right? I already know three or four advanced techniques. A Chunin like me is pretty impressive. I'm still young, and in a few years I'll be promoted to Jōnin. That's enough, brat. Want me to cast an illusion and make you dance in front of everyone?" As the two of them kept training and learning, Genmu had discovered Uchiha Zhuang's weakness: his resistance to illusions was very low, basically at Genin level. If he encountered a shinobi skilled in illusions, he'd be at a disadvantage. After all, illusions weren't limited to what you saw with your eyes. They could affect your hearing, skin, sense of smell, sense of taste, and even your sixth sense. Most people had little resistance to illusions, and only relentless combat or a near-death experience could strengthen mental resistance. So Genmu had no good solution, and could only teach Uchiha Zhuang a few ways to break illusions. Uchiha Zhuang performed the Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique once more, then swaggered away from the training ground. Watching him saunter off, Genmu wore the smile of a proud father. "That kid—if he keeps training hard, he'll surpass everyone in the Uchiha Clan one day. The Shinobi World is vast. I hope he can restore the Uchiha Clan to glory!"
Leaving the clan compound, he entered Konoha's main street. He wore a loose robe and a pair of old-fashioned northern cloth shoes that Uchiha Zhuang had asked the women to make for him. He wasn't carrying the Streamer Red Dragon great sword on his back. His hair was styled normally, like Goku's, with absolutely no chonmage. A large wallet full of thick stacks of bills sat in his pocket. Uchiha Zhuang had no interest in anything ugly: if he saw something good, he'd take it and enjoy it; if it wasn't good, he'd kick it aside. That was the way of the ninja in everyday life! As Uchiha Zhuang strolled along, he looked at Konoha, far more prosperous and wealthy than the towns near the Land of Fire's border and Baiye Town by the mountains, and felt deeply moved. It was good to be rich. With money, you really could do whatever you wanted! Just look at the golden pillars and jade halls of the lord's palace, while people in ragged winter clothes lay abandoned by the roadside! Tsk! The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, his family, and his retainers, along with Konoha's elders, advisors, and their families, cared only about outdoing one another in luxury, never in compassion. The dark side that the original story had never revealed could only be understood more deeply now, by looking at these bustling streets and the happy smiles on the faces of the people coming and going. After a brief bout of worrying about the nation and its people, Uchiha Zhuang knew he didn't yet have the power to shake any entrenched forces. It would be like an ant trying to topple a tree. Lying low and growing in secret was an eternal principle!
As he walked down the street, the evening market gradually grew livelier, and the food stalls began setting up one by one.
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