The Sharingan's Gift...!

"Li, did you really awaken the Sharingan?"

After returning to the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha Hao learned that Li had awakened the Sharingan. He immediately summoned all the clan members to the Ancestral Hall, where the memorial tablets of the previous clan heads were kept. Whenever something important happened in the Uchiha Clan, the members who had awakened their eyes gathered there to discuss it—and, in doing so, seek the ancestors' approval.

All the clan members who had awakened their eyes had arrived. Two or three hundred people in black, high-collared coats stood below, each staring at Li with scarlet eyes. The sky had already darkened, and in the lightless hall, their pairs of scarlet Sharingan looked like the eyes of demons, eerie and terrifying.

At Uchiha Hao's question, Li nodded. His black eyes turned blood-red, and a single Tomoe appeared in each. He then looked toward the clan members below, his scarlet Sharingan meeting their gazes. When they saw the One-Tomoe Sharingan in Li's eyes, the crowd erupted.

"How could this be? The boy's only six! Why has he awakened the Sharingan already? Even Madara Uchiha wasn't this impressive! Isn't this kid an orphan?"

"Yeah. His parents died saving the clan head not long after the Second Shinobi World War broke out. All they left behind was four-year-old Li!"

The Uchiha below broke into animated discussion, each of them astonished. Looking back through the history of the Uchiha Clan, Madara Uchiha had awakened his eyes at the youngest age—but even he hadn't done so until after he turned seven. But how old was Li now? Six! Don't underestimate what seemed like a one-year difference. It already spoke volumes about a person's talent.

"Uchiha clansmen, our ancestors have blessed us by sending a genius like Li to our clan. I believe that before long, the Uchiha Clan will reclaim the glory and prosperity we enjoyed during the Warring States Period. Even Konoha will be ours for the taking! Let us look forward to that day!" Uchiha Hao declared, staring down at the crowd with his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"Uchiha... Uchiha...!"

Everyone roared in unison. They had been taught from childhood to take pride in the Uchiha, and in their hearts, nothing mattered more than the clan's glory.

"Li, tell Uncle Hao how you awakened your Sharingan. Were there any signs when it happened?"

After the meeting ended, Uchiha Hao took Li to his study and asked him for the details.

"Today, a new student transferred into our class. She'd come all the way to Konoha, so I figured she must be lonely, and I made friends with her. But after school, when Mikoto and I were going home, we ran into some boys picking on her. I was so angry that my head suddenly started hurting, and then the Sharingan appeared on its own!" Li made up a lie on the spot. He couldn't tell anyone about the system—not even Kushina or Uchiha Mikoto, the two people he felt closest to.

Uchiha Hao nodded. He didn't find it strange. Uchiha who awakened their eyes did so suddenly after experiencing some kind of emotional shock, without warning. Li's experience was much the same. But the new student who had triggered his awakening caught Uchiha Hao's attention. Konoha had brought a girl from the Land of Whirlpools. Even if ordinary ninja didn't know about it, the head of Konoha's most powerful clan was naturally well informed. The current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was nearing death, so Konoha had been forced to bring in a new Jinchuriki from the Land of Whirlpools.

"Li, I won't stop you from spending time with that new student, but I want you to remember that you're the greatest genius in the Uchiha Clan. You need to have pride and awareness of who you are. Don't do anything that brings shame on the clan. Understand?" When he spoke of the clan's honor, Uchiha Hao's expression turned serious.

"Yeah, I understand!" Li nodded, though he didn't take Uchiha Hao's words to heart. He'd do what he wanted. Could clan honor put food on the table? Without strength, honor would be trampled—that was simply a fact.

Every Uchiha was proud, and Uchiha Hao was no exception. If anyone else knew Kushina was a Jinchuriki, they'd surely try every means to bring her into their clan. The most straightforward way would be to marry her. But Uchiha Hao looked down on Jinchuriki. The Sharingan could control Tailed Beasts, as Madara Uchiha had once proved. To Uchiha Hao, the so-called Nine-Tails was nothing more than a pet. Why lower himself to schemes and tricks over a pet?

After they chatted for a while longer, Uchiha Hao sent Li home to rest. This time, Uchiha Hao treated him more warmly than before and paid more attention to certain matters. Though Li still didn't quite measure up to his biological son, Uchiha Fugaku, he wasn't far behind. Uchiha Hao hoped that once Uchiha Fugaku became clan head, Li would do his utmost to support him. That was Uchiha Hao's real goal.

"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"

On the lakeside deck, Li practiced the Great Fireball Technique. After forming the hand seals, he opened his mouth and spat out a fireball a meter in diameter. It rolled toward the lake, boiling the water and sending steam billowing into the air.

"Phew! I can bring out almost the full power of the Great Fireball now. I've pretty much mastered this Ninjutsu!" Li let out a small breath and murmured.

"Hey, aren't you cold, standing by the lake practicing Ninjutsu in weather like this?" Kushina called out from the shore, waving at Li.

Winter had set in, and snow had begun to pile up along the roads. Hearing Kushina, Li smiled, climbed onto the shore, and walked over to her. "The Uchiha specialize in Fire Release Ninjutsu, so Fire Release is one of our main forms of Ninjutsu. Practicing it in this cold is even harder, but once you succeed, its power increases too!"

Kushina nodded, only half understanding. She was still at the stage of refining chakra and hadn't started learning Ninjutsu, so she didn't know how to train.

"Okay, now that you're done training, let's go get something to eat. It's so cold out—I think dumplings would hit the spot. What do you say?" Kushina pinched her chin and blinked.

"Sure!" Li nodded.

Just then, a few children came running over with an older boy. He wore a Forehead Protector, so he was clearly a ninja, but he was dressed casually and appeared to be a Genin.

"Big brother, those two picked on us! You have to help us get revenge!" The boy leading them was a little chubby. Li remembered him: he'd been the one who picked on Kushina last time, only to end up crying after Li scared him.