Chapter 29

"Has Uye been comfortable living here for the past half-year?"

Uchiha Madara smiled faintly. Contrary to his gentle expression, his ink-black eyes held a chilling indifference, and his mild tone carried an imperceptible sense of superiority.

Fujiwara Uye sat kneeling upright before him, his waist rigid, his clenched palms damp with sweat. "N-no, not at all!" Even as a prince, he could not summon a shred of indignation or humiliation at being overlooked; he even had to struggle to keep from avoiding the man's black eyes, which seemed capable of peering straight into his soul.

He did not know why the Uchiha clan leader, whom he had only met once upon his arrival and who had ignored him ever since, had suddenly summoned him. His understanding of the man was limited to the one-sided accounts he had heard from the Uchiha clansmen over the past six months, as well as the respect, caution, and... profound reticence his own father displayed whenever he mentioned this man.

A child's heart is the most sensitive of all.

"Heh, no need to be nervous." As soon as the words left his lips, the young prince's body stiffened further. Madara chuckled silently, reaching out like an ordinary elder to stroke the boy's upturned hair. As he withdrew his hand, his fingers brushed against the boy's cervical spine, and he felt the uncontrollable trembling seeping from the very bones of the small body beneath his touch.

Fear, or awe? Fujiwara Uye could not tell.

His heart was so tense that his breathing became shallow and rapid without him realizing it, and his intuition screamed a warning: Do not defy this man! Not under any circumstances!

To understand caution and how to read a situation at the tender age of four—it was truly remarkable. One had to realize that many adults failed to grasp such a valuable quality even when facing their own demise. It seemed the young prince's temperament was more like his father's. That was fine; even if he couldn't achieve great things, he could at least live well, and he would be more than capable of being a steady ruler in the future.

Madara was quite satisfied, and the tone he used to speak to the boy softened with a hint of genuine warmth. "I have read your essays. To have mastered the prose and begun to develop a literary style after only half a year of study—your talent is commendable."

"My mother provided me with early instruction, so I dare not take the credit," Fujiwara Uye replied, suppressing his confusion and carefully weighing his words. "It is thanks to Master Hoshino's guidance that I have gained a little."

In just two short sentences, he had invoked his mother, Uchiha Yoshiko, to demonstrate his close ties to the Uchiha; attributed his success to others to deflect attention from himself; practiced humility to show he knew his place; and finally, elevated Hoshino Zhan to show his respect for his teacher. Hoshino Zhan, who had been watching the entire exchange from the side, was dumbfounded. You're only four years old, right?! Your mind is so deep—does this world have to be this cruel?! And since when did this little brat Fujiwara Uye become so respectful to me, huh?! Having one face for behind people's backs and another to their faces, along with all this pretense—is this really just a talent of the nobility?!

...For a four-year-old child to possess such skill—Big Brother was right. The complex maneuvering of the upper echelons was indeed not something he could involve himself in at his current level... Was this perhaps why he had been driven out by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire? Compared to ordinary aides, his vision and strategic planning were indeed a cut above, but when it came to the dark, bloodless political struggles and the "tacit" rules of the upper class, he was still too green. And a true strategist could not avoid these things.

"Is that so?" The man opposite him nodded slightly, his unchanging expression revealing nothing of his thoughts on the answer. "How far have you progressed in your studies?"

"I finished reading the Enlightenment before the new year, and I have begun studying the Great Learning, the second half of the Ming Studies."

Enlightenment was the standard primary textbook across the continent, used to teach children vocabulary and basic common knowledge, much like the Three Character Classic.

"You finished the first half?"

"I have memorized it, but I have not yet studied it in detail. Master Hoshino says that to study Ming Studies, one must first gain a broad overview before delving into the details, seeking the spirit rather than becoming mired in the form." The young prince answered in a stiff, flawless manner.

"Not bad." Madara smiled and handed him a pastry, just as one might treat an ordinary child. The young prince took it tactfully, thanked him in a low voice, and lowered his head to take a small bite. When he ate at his own residence, every item was inspected by specialists. But for food handed to him by the Uchiha clan leader, he would eat it even if it were poison.

Madara, naturally, would not use such low-class methods on a child. Anything that reached him was the best in the entire continent, if not entirely unique. The pastry melted the moment it touched his tongue, leaving a faint, refreshing sweetness. The young prince's eyes brightened ever so slightly; he cast a swift, covert glance at the plate before pulling his gaze back, sitting upright and looking straight ahead once more.

Madara did not point it out, turning instead to Hoshino Zhan. "You have taught Uye well, though four is a bit young to be studying the Great Learning."

"He is the future ruler of the country." Hoshino Zhan was bold, expressing his opinion directly to Madara, unlike the overly cautious young prince. "He has to learn it sooner or later."

"He is still a child."

A glance devoid of emotion swept over him, and Hoshino Zhan swallowed the rest of his words. In his heart, however, he roared: A child? Where is the child?! I only saw two monsters, one big and one small, trading barbs for half an hour! Damn it, has this world been taken over by monsters and schemers? Is there any path left for us normal people?!

"The arrangements regarding your brother are nearly complete. Once the situation in the Land of Fire stabilizes, you may go there to assist."

Upon hearing this, Hoshino Zhan immediately cast all other thoughts aside, leaning forward and asking eagerly, "Really? Can I really go to the Land of Fire and show what I can do? Is there anything you need me to do?!" The days of teaching the child had been as dull as water, even if the boy was a prince—it didn't change the fact that he was only four. During this time, he had had no outlet for his talent and passion!

Madara smiled without answering, saying only, "Once you go, you will naturally know."

The corners of Hoshino Zhan's mouth twitched. Such a familiar answer... That bad habit of yours, keeping people in suspense, is definitely something you infected my brother with!

"The war has only just begun; how can you be so sure you will win?" he asked, feeling piqued.

"Of course we will win." Madara chuckled, his tone one of irrefutable certainty. "We will definitely win."

At that moment, Uchiha Yan appeared silently behind the screen. "Clan Leader, the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Elders have arrived."

"Show them to the inner study." Madara glanced at the time and said to the two of them, "You may return now. Yan, have someone pack a box of Light Cloud Pastries and send them to the prince's residence."

A flash of surprise crossed Fujiwara Uye's face, and he bowed slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Madara nodded lightly and rose to enter the study.

Fujiwara Uye and Hoshino Zhan left quietly. The interior of the clan leader's residence was designed with winding, deep corridors. As they walked silently along the veranda, passing a half-open window at a corner, scattered fragments of conversation drifted out.

"...the prince is only four... is it perhaps too..."

"Hostility does not only come from enemies; even the closest allies must be assessed, and the way of dealing with one another must be grasped."

The only perfectly clear sentence reached his ears, and he wondered if Madara had intended for it to be heard. A chill ran through Fujiwara Uye's heart. Daring not to listen or think any further, he quickened his pace, turning the corner of the corridor, and the fragmented dialogue was extinguished by the sound of his own rapid breathing.

"Prince, slow down." Hoshino Zhan hurried to catch up. "This is your first time here; the layout is complex, and you might get lost if you aren't careful."

The child gave a muffled grunt of acknowledgment. His obedient demeanor made Hoshino Zhan feel uncomfortable—the young prince should be flamboyant, arrogant, and full of energy! Cursing himself for being a glutton for punishment, he comforted him, "You are a prince of the Land of Fire, and your mother is of the Uchiha clan; don't be so overly cautious. Lord Madara won't do anything to you." He had seen how extremely careful Fujiwara Uye was when facing Madara. To have such a heavy heart at such a young age, living so exhaustingly—the affection he had developed over their half-year together filled him with pity for the little prince.

Fujiwara Uye was silent for a moment before saying, "'Even the closest allies must be assessed, and the way of dealing with one another must be grasped.' One must do what is necessary."

"What does that mean?" Hoshino Zhan was puzzled; he had been walking slowly and hadn't heard what Madara said. Fujiwara Uye did not elaborate, and Hoshino Zhan did not feel it was his place to press. And so, the rest of the journey was completely silent.