"Man! What can I say?" Uchiha Ling couldn't help throwing his head back and shouting.
The Mangekyō Sharingan truly was the eye that reflected the heart. With this, his biggest worry—how to stay alive—had been taken care of.
After purchasing the Mangekyō Sharingan, he still had 3,462 Emotion Points. Uchiha Ling planned to spend every last one of them in one go.
[Purchased Body Flicker Technique Mastery: 500 Emotion Points]
This had to be one of the best-value purchases in the System Store. In Naruto, the Body Flicker Technique was only classified as a D-rank technique.
And since the system happened to set prices according to a technique's rank, Uchiha Ling had gotten an incredible bargain.
With the remaining Emotion Points, Uchiha Ling purchased three Ninjutsu Mastery Scrolls (750×3), using them on the Shikkotsu Forest Sage Art, Yin Healing Wound Bullet, and Strength of a Hundred.
He opened his status panel again.
[Host: Uchiha Ling]
[Age: 13]
[Bloodline: Mangekyō Sharingan, Beginner Uzumaki Constitution]
[Chakra: 25 cards]
[Attributes: Wind, Fire, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yin, Yang]
[Overall Combat Power Assessment: Strong Kage Level]
[Skills: Three Body Technique, Uchiha Style Body Technique, Shurikenjutsu
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Fire Style: Fire Dragon Technique
Hell Viewing Technique, Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique, Haze Clone Technique, Interrogation Genjutsu, Kari-shin Technique, Body Freeze Technique
Advanced Chakra Refinement Method, Chakra Control (Mastery), Hand Seals (Mastery)
Rasengan (Mastery), Strength of a Hundred (Mastery), Summoning Technique, Shadow Clone Technique (Mastery), Shikkotsu Forest Sage Art (Mastery), Mystical Palm Technique (Proficient), Yin Healing Wound Bullet (Mastery)]
[Personal Items: None]
[Overall Evaluation: At thirteen, Madara Uchiha was peeing by the river, and Hashirama Senju was skipping stones. At thirteen, the host has already become a first-rate powerhouse in the Shinobi World.]
"Whoa, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan even boosted my chakra reserves quite a bit.
At this point in the Shinobi World, the only ones with Strong Kage Level strength are probably old Madara and Nagato, who can summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, right?
Doesn't that mean I can do whatever I want in the Shinobi World?"
Seeing the combat assessment on the panel, Uchiha Ling felt a rush of excitement.
With no shortcomings in his combat strength, Uchiha Ling began planning his political strategy.
Hadn't I, Uchiha Ling, always dreamed of becoming Hokage?
His current position was a little delicate. In name, he was a disciple of one of the Sannin, which gave him exceptional standing. In reality, though, with his mentor gone, he had become a "freelancer" with no permanent squad assignment.
In peacetime, that might have meant freedom. But in the early stages of a war, it meant considerable uncertainty and risk.
Danzo, who had once fallen from power, had gradually regained his influence after Mito Uzumaki's death. If Shimura Danzō and the "Root" organization he led absorbed him under the pretext of "special wartime conscription," it would completely upend all his plans.
Uchiha Ling needed a foothold: a platform that would let him reasonably avoid the bloodiest attrition battles in the early stages of the war, build up a legitimate record of service, and gain access to the heart of power.
Uchiha Ling's gaze settled precisely on the imposing building across the river, its red-and-white fan crest hanging above the entrance: the Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters.
Created by Second Hokage Tobirama Senju with the intention of giving the Uchiha power while keeping them on the margins, the organization was, in Uchiha Ling's strategic plans, the ideal refuge, observation post, and springboard.
More importantly, within the Uchiha Clan, a current of thought was quietly gaining momentum. Its supporters wanted to change the status quo and improve relations with the village's mainstream factions. The doves were beginning to gain the upper hand.
As someone with close ties to a disciple of the Hokage's faction, Namikaze Minato; one of the Sannin, Tsunade; and even the former Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina, he was a "bridge" whose value in the eyes of the clan's upper ranks had become far greater than before.
The opportunity wouldn't last.
Uchiha Ling changed into his formal clan robes. The dark, high-collared garment was neatly pressed, making his figure look even more upright.
He went straight to the clan's meeting hall in the heart of the Uchiha district and requested an audience with the current clan head, Uchiha Chizheng, and the elders in power.
The meeting hall was solemn and dignified, the faint scent of incense lingering in the air.
Clan head Uchiha Chishin sat in the main seat. He was around fifty and had a refined appearance, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, seeming to see through everyone they passed over.
Uchiha Chishin was neither an extremist hawk nor a dove willing to compromise at every turn. His approach to leadership leaned toward pragmatically and cautiously seeking a way to coexist with the village while upholding the Uchiha's honor and pride.
The elders on either side wore varied expressions. Yet compared to a few years ago, those who advocated taking a harder line with the village leadership had clearly grown quieter in the face of the looming threat of war.
Maintaining stability within the village, thereby safeguarding the clan's security and interests during wartime, had become a more pressing concern.
Uchiha Ling stepped forward. "Clan head, honored elders. I formally request to join the Konoha Military Police Force!"
Uchiha Chishin's voice carried undisguised approval. "Ling, it is a blessing to the clan that you feel this way. The situation is turbulent, and the Military Police Force needs capable, energetic young people like you. You'll show the village that the Uchiha are not just a clan of fighters, but also an indispensable force protecting Konoha."
Even two years earlier, when Uchiha Ling was still attending the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Chishin had thought highly of him and hoped he would join the Konoha Military Police Force after graduating.
He had believed Uchiha Ling could be key to resolving the clan's current problems. But Ling had become a disciple of Tsunade, one of the Sannin, as soon as he graduated, so Uchiha Chishin hadn't been able to bring it up.
Another elder, Uchiha Setsuna, had once criticized Uchiha Ling for being too close to the "Hokage faction." This time, however, he merely furrowed his brow slightly and said in a low voice, "The Military Police Force has grave responsibilities and represents the clan's reputation. You must understand that once you put on that uniform, everything you say and do will represent more than just yourself."
Seeing Uchiha Setsuna relent, the clan head spoke at last. "Uchiha Ling cares about both the clan and the village. Effective today, you are officially assigned to the Konoha Military Police Force."
The clan head's decision settled the matter. Most of the elders present accepted the outcome.
The whole process went more smoothly than expected.
The next day, Uchiha Ling received the dark blue uniform that symbolized responsibility and authority at the Military Police Force Headquarters.
Under the force's standard arrangement, field assignments were usually carried out by three-person squads.
Uchiha Ling was assigned to the Third Squad, responsible for security in Konoha's central district. He was teamed up with two other elite Uchiha of his generation.
His teammates were none other than the renowned young Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Yashiro.
Uchiha Tekka was just like his name suggested: tempered like fine steel, fiery, upright, and sharp-edged.
He had heard plenty about Uchiha Ling's strength and even felt a desire to test himself against him.
Uchiha Yashiro, by contrast, was the complete opposite of Tekka.
His expression was calm and his gaze restrained. Though young, he already possessed a maturity and strategic sense beyond his years, making him a rare tactician among their generation.
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