The Sharingan Brings...!

"Li, have you truly awakened the Sharingan?"

Upon returning to the Uchiha Clan compound, Uchiha Hao learned of Li's awakening and immediately summoned all clansmen to the Ancestral Hall. This was where the spirit tablets of past patriarchs were kept; whenever a major event occurred, those who had awakened their eyes would gather here to deliberate, a process that also served as seeking the approval of their ancestors.

The clansmen who had awakened their eyes arrived, two or three hundred figures clad in black high-collared coats standing in the hall. Each one stared at Li with scarlet eyes. As the day had faded into dusk, these pairs of crimson Sharingan in the lightless Ancestral Hall looked like the eyes of demons, appearing exceptionally eerie and terrifying.

Hearing Uchiha Hao's question, Li nodded. His black pupils instantly turned blood-red, and a single tomoe appeared within each eye. He then looked toward the clansmen below, his scarlet One-Tomoe Sharingan reflecting the gazes of the crowd. Seeing the One-Tomoe Sharingan in Li's eyes, everyone erupted into a frenzy.

"How is this possible? The boy is only six, right? Why would he awaken the Sharingan so early? Even Madara Uchiha in his day wasn't this formidable! And isn't this brat an orphan?"

"Indeed, his parents died shortly after the outbreak of the Second Shinobi World War while rescuing the patriarch, leaving behind only a four-year-old Mirai Uchiha!"

The Uchiha clansmen whispered among themselves, filled with inexplicable shock. Looking back at the history of the Uchiha Clan, the earliest to awaken was Madara Uchiha, but even he did so only after the age of seven. Yet, how old was Li now? Six. Do not underestimate this seemingly one-year gap; it was a testament to one's innate talent.

"Fellow Uchiha, may our ancestors be praised for sending this genius, Li, to our clan. I believe that before long, our Uchiha Clan will reclaim the glory and prosperity of the Warring States Period. Even Konoha will eventually fall into our grasp. Everyone, look forward to the arrival of that day!" Uchiha Hao declared loudly, his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan glaring at the crowd below.

"Uchiha... Uchiha...!"

Everyone roared in unison. They had been instilled with the honor of the Uchiha since childhood; in their hearts, everything else was secondary to the glory of the Uchiha Clan.

"Li, tell Uncle Hao, how did you awaken the Sharingan? Were there any signs when it happened?"

After the meeting concluded, Uchiha Hao brought Li to his study to inquire about the details.

"Well, a new student transferred to our class today. Seeing her arrive in Konoha from so far away, I figured she must be very lonely, so I became her friend. However, after school, when Uchiha Mikoto and I were walking home, we ran into a few boys bullying her. I felt an intense surge of anger, and then my head suddenly throbbed with pain, and the Sharingan just appeared!" Li fabricated a lie. The matter of the system could not be shared with anyone, not even Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto, whom Li considered his closest companions.

Uchiha Hao nodded upon hearing this, finding nothing strange about it. Those in the Uchiha Clan who awakened their eyes often did so suddenly after being provoked, without any warning. Li's situation was much the same. However, the new student who triggered Li's awakening caught Uchiha Hao's attention. Konoha had brought a girl from the Land of Whirlpools; even if civilian ninja were unaware, as the patriarch of Konoha's premier noble family, Uchiha Hao knew it clearly. The current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was nearing death, so Konoha had no choice but to find a new host from the Land of Whirlpools.

"Li, I will not restrict you from associating with that new student, but I hope you remember that you are the Uchiha Clan's greatest genius. You must maintain your pride and be conscious of your status. Never do anything that would bring shame to the Uchiha Clan, do you understand?" When speaking of clan honor, Uchiha Hao's expression became solemn.

"Yes, I understand!" Li nodded, though in his heart, he dismissed Uchiha Hao's concerns. He would do as he pleased. Could clan honor be eaten as food? Without power, honor would simply be trampled upon; that was an indisputable fact.

The Uchiha clansmen were all arrogant, and Uchiha Hao was no exception. If others knew of Kushina's identity as a Jinchuriki, they would surely scheme to bring her into their own families, most directly by marrying her in. However, Uchiha Hao looked down upon Jinchuriki. The Sharingan could control a Tailed Beast—a fact proven by Madara Uchiha in the past. Therefore, in Uchiha Hao's mind, the so-called Nine-Tails was merely a pet. Was it worth lowering one's status to engage in schemes and plots for the sake of a pet?

After chatting for a while longer, Uchiha Hao let Li return to rest. This time, Uchiha Hao's attitude was warmer than usual, and he showed more concern for certain matters. Though not quite to the level of his own son, Uchiha Fugaku, it was not far off. Uchiha Hao hoped that Li would wholeheartedly assist Uchiha Fugaku once he ascended to the position of patriarch; this was Uchiha Hao's fundamental goal.

"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"

On the deck by the lake, Li was practicing the Great Fireball Technique. After finishing the hand seals, he opened his mouth and spat out a fireball one meter in diameter, which rolled toward the surface of the lake. Wherever it passed, the lake water boiled and steam billowed.

"Phew! The power of the Great Fireball is almost fully realized. I suppose I have mastered this Ninjutsu," Li muttered, exhaling slightly.

"Hey, it's so cold out. Aren't you freezing standing by the lake in the wind practicing Ninjutsu?" On the shore, Kushina waved her hands and shouted loudly at Li.

It was now deep winter, and there was snow on the road. Hearing Kushina, Li smiled, then climbed onto the shore and walked over to her. "We Uchiha are skilled in Fire Release, so it is our primary form of Ninjutsu. Practicing it in this freezing weather is more difficult, but by the same token, once successful, the power of the Fire Release increases significantly!"

Kushina nodded, seemingly half-understanding. She was still in the stage of refining chakra and had not yet touched upon Ninjutsu, so she did not understand how to train.

"Alright, since your training is done, let's go get something to eat. In this cold weather, I think dumplings would be great, don't you?" Kushina pinched her chin and blinked her eyes.

"Yes, that works!" Li nodded.

However, just then, a few children ran over, accompanied by an older boy. The older boy wore a forehead protector, clearly a ninja, though judging by his casual attire, he was likely a Genin.

"Big brother, it's those two who bullied us! You must help us get revenge!" The leader was a chubby boy. Li remembered him; he was the one who had led the trouble for Kushina last time, only to be scared to tears by Li.