One-Eyed Vulture (3rd Update)

Konoha.

Near the south, there is a large and imposing complex of buildings, which is the settlement of the Uchiha Clan.

The Uchiha Clan, once a powerful Ninja Clan on par with the Senju, possesses a profound heritage.

After the Senju Clan was disbanded by the Second Hokage, the Uchiha became the strongest clan in Konoha in terms of overall strength, without exception.

However, because the previous clan leader Uchiha Madara, betrayed the village and severely injured the First Hokage in the battle at the Valley of the End, the First died of illness shortly after the battle.

Therefore, the Uchiha Clan has been viewed with suspicion since the time of the Second Hokage.

Many Uchiha were arrogant and difficult to get along with, but their formidable strength was undeniable.

Although the higher-ups continued the policies of the Second Hokage, they remained wary and cautious of the Uchiha.

But the Uchiha remains an indispensable part of Konoha.

Whether in peacetime or wartime, the Uchiha Clan is a sharp blade for Konoha.

The reputation of Konoha's number one Ninja Clan was forged in blood.

From the time of the Second Hokage, the Uchiha took charge of the Konoha Police Force, bearing the heavy responsibility of maintaining Konoha.

However, many Uchiha were not satisfied with this.

Because Konoha was founded by the Senju and Uchiha, the two strongest Ninja Clan of the Warring States period.

The fact that three consecutive Hokage have come from the Senju lineage, and given the current trend, the Fourth Hokage might also come from the Senju lineage, is something many Uchiha hard to accept.

In particular, the succession of the Third Hokage did not go through the Jōnin election; he was directly appointed as the successor by the Second Hokage while he was away.

Although Uchiha Madara betrayed Konoha, the Uchiha Clan did not.

The Uchiha always believed that Madara should not be held responsible for his mistakes.

At this time, in the central area of Uchiha Compound, not far from the clan head's mansion, there was also a luxurious and imposing residence, which was the residence of Uchiha Hayato, an elder of the Uchiha Clan.

Since the death of the previous clan leader in the later stages of the First Shinobi World War, the Uchiha Clan has produced many geniuses and has the largest number of Jōnin among all Ninja Clan, but the position of clan leader has remained vacant.

Because to be a clan leader, it is not enough to have strength alone; one must also have the ability to coordinate the overall situation.

Uchiha Madara's lesson has been profound enough!

Although no new clan leader has emerged, most of the Uchiha Clan's daily affairs are handled by a few elders.

Among them, Uchiha Hayato the oldest. He is from the same era as the First, the Second Hokage, and Uchiha Madara, and is now over seventy years old.

Even the current Konoha High-Level are his juniors.

At that moment, a series of crisp sounds came from a room in the backyard of the mansion.

Snap!

Snap!

Snap!

Uchiha Soujin, who was always arrogant, was kneeling on the floor.

Behind him stood a bald old man with white hair and beard, who was waving a horsewhip and whipping his back hard.

The bald old man had a scar running from his forehead to his chin on the left side of his face. He wore an eye patch over his left eye, and his only remaining right eye was filled with a fierce look. He didn't look like an elderly man in his seventies, but rather like a furious lion, full of ferocious power.

This person is none other than Uchiha Soujin's grandfather, Uchiha Hayato, the elder in charge of the Uchiha Clan.

Because of his domineering and aggressive style, he had a bad reputation among ninjas. In addition, he lost an eye in the First Shinobi World War, so he was nicknamed "One-Eyed Vulture".

Of course, just like Danzo's title of "The Dark Side of the Ninja," ordinary people wouldn't dare to mention it casually.

Uchiha Hayato whipped Uchiha Soujin while cursing loudly!

"You idiot!"

"Idiot!"

"How have I always taught you? Why can't you remember?!"

"You know how much effort the family has put into their plans over the years, and you ruined them with just a few words!"

"Is this how you repay me for all the effort I've put in?!"

Uchiha Hayato grew angrier with each curse, and finally lashed out with the whip several times, tearing the skin and flesh from Uchiha Soujin's back before stopping.

"Speak! Do you know you're wrong?!"

Uchiha Soujin turned around. Because of the chest injury he sustained during the mission, and the new wound on his back, the intense pain caused cold sweat to pour down his forehead. But he still stubbornly said, "I did nothing wrong! Captain Sakumo did nothing wrong either!"

"You!" Uchiha Hayato's eyes widened, as if he wanted to devour someone, but when he saw that blood was seeping from the bandage on Uchiha Soujin's chest, he stopped hitting him.

Uchiha Hayato riding whip, a deep disappointment flashing in his eyes. His grandson, whom he had raised from childhood, was so useless; it was utterly disappointing.

It's no problem for any normal person to not notice White Fang.

While completing missions is the primary task for ninjas, prioritizing comrades over missions is an unspoken rule in Konoha.

Uchiha Hayato waved his hand impatiently:

"Get out!"

Uchiha Soujin gritted his teeth, stood up, bowed to Uchiha Hayato, then opened the wooden door and walked out of the room.

He had just left the backyard when two Kunoichi approached him.

The older Kunoichi appeared to be in her early forties, mature and beautiful; she was none other than Uchiha Soujin's mother Uchiha Chizuru.

The young Kunoichi was Chiho.

Seeing her son stagger towards her with a pale face, Uchiha Chizuru was shocked. She pushed aside Chiho beside her and rushed forward to check on him, asking with a pained expression, "Has that old bastard gone mad?! Did he hit you again? Doesn't he know you're injured?"

"Mother, let's go home first." Uchiha Soujin didn't say much, but just endured the pain and walked outside.

Although Uchiha Chizuru wanted to rush in and argue with him immediately, she held back and quickly ran over to support her son. "Zongren, slow down!"

Chiho was left awkwardly in place, unsure whether to go forward or retreat.

At that moment, an attendant approached her and bowed respectfully. "Miss Chiho, Hayato wants you to come in."

After bandaging his wounds, Uchiha Soujin returned to his room to rest.

Even across the corridor, I could hear my mother's hysterical shouting.

"Uchiha Shin! Are you going to do anything about this?! Munehito will be beaten to death by your old bastard father sooner or later!"

Are you deaf?!

Can't you hear me?

"Why are you pretending to be deaf and dumb?!"

The noise lasted for a long time before it finally stopped.

After a while, a gentle voice came from outside the room. "Zongren, are you resting?"

Uchiha Soujin coldly replied, "No."

A refined and handsome middle-aged man opened the wooden door and entered the room.

Uchiha Shin came to Uchiha Soujin's bedside and comforted him:

"Zongren, don't blame your grandfather. He has very high expectations for you, which is why he is so strict with you."

After all, his lifelong wish was for our Uchiha Clan to produce a Hokage.

He poured all his heart and soul into you.

You fought very bravely in this mission.

The White Fang incident was actually a political issue. The higher-ups were just using this opportunity to damage his reputation and prevent the Hokage position from falling into other hands.

Even if you stand up for White Fang, it's useless.

You should know that you and Fugaku are currently the strongest among the younger generation of the Uchiha Clan.

Your attitude, to a certain extent, represents the attitude of the Uchiha, so you cannot openly question the Will of Fire.

Uchiha Soujin sat up abruptly:

"Just because I told the truth? Was I wrong? If someone like Captain Sakumo can be persecuted and forced to compromise, how can the Uchiha have a future?"

Does the Will of Fire, as proclaimed by the First Hokage, truly exist? He was able to establish Konoha because of his overwhelming power throughout the Shinobi World, not some nonsensical Will of Fire!

"You!" Uchiha Shin's expression changed. "No matter what your true thoughts are, you can't express them directly. This is a political issue, and you can't act impulsively!"

"I need to rest," Uchiha Soujin said coldly.

"That's how the political landscape of Konoha is. If you don't have the strength of the First, you have to abide by the village's rules!"

Before leaving the room, Uchiha Shin left these words behind.

"Hmph, laughable rules." Uchiha Soujin sneered, "If this were the time of the First, perhaps I would actually believe in the Will of Fire."