Uchiha Lin!

Konoha's intelligence division is located on the border of the Land of Fire, specifically tasked with gathering intelligence on enemy nations. For a village, an intelligence department is crucial, but on the other hand, the personnel responsible for intelligence lose the qualifications to participate in Konoha's internal affairs. They are only responsible for collecting intelligence on enemy nations, while how to handle it is decided by the village. To put it nicely, they are intelligence officers; to put it bluntly, they are just reconnaissance planes.

The Third Hokage's intent was already very clear, at least to Mirai Uchiha it was. This was an attempt to push him out of Konoha. On one hand, it could dilute his connection with the Uchiha Clan, and on the other, it could keep him away from Konoha's upper echelons. Even if his strength became formidable in the future, without prestige, he would be unable to compete for the position of Hokage. The Third Hokage's scheme was a classic case of killing two birds with one stone.

"Thank you for your kindness, Teacher Sarutobi, but Uchiha Hao already arranged work for me yesterday, so I'm afraid..." Mirai Uchiha was not so foolish. Being summoned and dismissed at will by Uchiha Hao was one thing, but for the Third Hokage to try and manipulate him as well? Since Uchiha Hao was already acting as his shield, if the Third Hokage wasn't happy, he could go take it up with Uchiha Hao himself.

Hearing Mirai Uchiha's reply, the Third Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly. Clearly, he had not expected Mirai Uchiha to refuse. As for Uchiha Hao, the Third Hokage was no fool; he knew Mirai Uchiha was simply using Uchiha Hao as a shield.

What a deep-thinking brat! The Third Hokage felt a sense of profound emotion, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes. As long as he doesn't do anything to harm Konoha, that's fine. But if he does, don't blame me for disregarding our teacher-student bond!

"Hmm, since your clan has already made arrangements for you, I won't ask further. It's getting late now, go back and rest early!" The Third Hokage chuckled, his face full of warmth.

"Yes, Teacher Sarutobi!" Mirai Uchiha bowed slightly, then glanced briefly at Orochimaru before turning to leave. Despite his internal frustration, he had to endure it while his strength was still insufficient.

"Orochimaru, what do you think of this child, Mirai Uchiha?" After Mirai Uchiha left, the smile on the Third Hokage's face vanished, and he looked at Orochimaru, pondering the question.

"Heh, you already know the answer, Teacher Sarutobi, why ask?" Orochimaru smiled slightly, his voice raspy. His eyes were fixed on the direction Mirai Uchiha had departed, filled with an inexplicable meaning. He could sense that Mirai Uchiha was just like him—filled with a fanatical pursuit of power. They were the same kind of people.

"Brother Mirai Uchiha, did you become a ninja?"

As soon as he returned home, Uchiha Mikoto, that little girl, came to the courtyard where Mirai Uchiha lived as she did every day after class. Seeing the Konoha forehead protector on Mirai Uchiha's forehead, her eyes were filled with intense excitement. Every child took pride in becoming a ninja, even those from great clans. The Konoha forehead protector was proof that one could stand on their own; every child hoped to break free from their parents' protection and prove their independence.

"If you work a little harder, you'll be able to become a ninja soon too!" Mirai Uchiha smiled slightly and patted Uchiha Mikoto on the back of her head.

This was purely to comfort Uchiha Mikoto. To become a ninja, there were only two scenarios: first, being an extreme genius; second, the village being short-handed during wartime. Uchiha Mikoto was not a genius, and she didn't even have the strength of a genin yet, so the first scenario clearly didn't apply. As for the second, the Great Ninja War had just ended, so there would naturally be no situation where students graduated early. Barring any accidents, Uchiha Mikoto would likely have to spend the full six years in the academy.

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. Mikoto is so smart, she must be a genius!"

Not wanting to dampen Uchiha Mikoto's enthusiasm, Mirai Uchiha told a small lie. After spending some time with her, the sky gradually darkened, and Uchiha Mikoto had to return home, albeit reluctantly. She was different from Mirai Uchiha; although her parents had sacrificed their lives, she still had a grandfather, and his status was not low—he was one of the elders of the clan, ranked third. Besides Uchiha Hao, there were three other elders in the Uchiha Clan, and Uchiha Mikoto's grandfather was one of them. As the apple of the Third Elder's eye, she had a strictly mandated curfew every day. No matter how reluctant she was to leave Mirai Uchiha, she dared not defy her grandfather.

After Uchiha Mikoto left, Mirai Uchiha began his daily training!

The next morning, after working out and taking a shower, Mirai Uchiha put on his forehead protector and headed to the Military Police Force to report. The Military Police Force was located on the main path leading to the Uchiha Clan, not far from the Hokage Office Building. It was a place that could be considered an autonomous region. Of course, this so-called autonomy only existed when the Second Hokage was in power, back when the Uchiha Clan still had experts who could intimidate the small-minded. Nowadays, the clan's experts had either died in the war or were hiding within the clan, ignoring worldly affairs. The power of the Military Police Force was not what it used to be. Although no one dared to interfere, it could hardly be called an autonomous region—at the very least, the Third Hokage could stroll in whenever he pleased.

"You're Mirai Uchiha?"

Upon arriving at the Military Police Force, a thin boy who looked only fifteen or sixteen greeted him. Uchiha Hao had already sent word yesterday, so everyone in the Military Police Force knew that a six-year-old genin would be arriving today.

"Yes!" Mirai Uchiha nodded indifferently without saying much. He saw a trace of hostility in the boy's eyes; although it was only for a split second, he still felt it.

"Tch!" Seeing Mirai Uchiha's indifferent demeanor, the boy curled his lip slightly, a flash of arrogance and disdain in his eyes. He lifted his chin slightly and said coldly, "My name is Uchiha Lin, and I am the captain of the Second Squad of the Military Police Force. You will be working in my squad from now on. But before that, you need to remember one thing!" At this, Uchiha Lin narrowed his eyes, his voice dropping as he said flatly, "No matter how much your clansmen call you a genius, now that you are my subordinate, if you dare to defy me in the slightest, I will make you pay dearly!"

Hearing Uchiha Lin's words, Mirai Uchiha frowned slightly. He didn't recall ever meeting him, and he rarely interacted with others in the clan, so he hadn't made any enemies. Why was this guy's tone so aggressive? It was as if he were deliberately trying to provoke him.

"You... seem to have a major problem with me!" Mirai Uchiha narrowed his eyes and looked at Uchiha Lin, speaking calmly. Mirai Uchiha was not one to suffer in silence. If he lacked the ability, he might have swallowed his pride, but this Uchiha Lin was just an obscure member of the clan. Mirai Uchiha would not be cowed by him.