World's Number One Ninja Tournament!

World's Number One Ninja!

Although the members of the Uchiha Clan had been informed that this was a tournament before being summoned, the reason it attracted nearly every ninja in the clan was primarily because...

Uh... Uchiha Jin was paying way too much!

The champion of the Chunin division would receive a prize of ten million ryo, along with a "Strongest Chunin" trophy certified by the Police Force.

The champion of the Jonin division would receive an even greater prize of thirty million ryo, plus a "World's Number One Ninja" trophy certified by the Police Force.

Other placements, such as the runners-up, third-place finishers, and the top eight, were also entitled to substantial cash rewards, as well as various honorary medals and trophies.

Hmm!

Self-important, arrogant, haughty... the proud Uchiha would naturally never admit to being greedy for that bit of prize money; it was mainly because the title of "World's Number One Ninja" was theirs by right, and as members of the Uchiha Clan, they naturally had to give their all for the sake of honor!

As for whether it was inappropriate for only the Uchiha Clan to participate in this "World's Number One Ninja Tournament"?

If this were any other group—even the oldest ninja clans like the Senju or the Hyuga—they might feel a sense of arrogance or self-delusion.

But the Uchiha Clan!

Aside from a few genetic anomalies like Uchiha Shisui, the nearly one thousand legitimate Uchiha present at the scene felt absolutely nothing wrong with it; the thought didn't even cross their minds.

As the most powerful noble clan in the Land of Fire—the greatest nation in the ninja world—and the strongest family in Konoha, the premier ninja village, the term "World's Number One" naturally belonged to the Uchiha Clan!

Was there any problem with that?

Therefore, it must be said that after the plaque was unveiled, the Uchiha in the audience became even more excited and fanatical.

The only thing that made these Uchiha feel slightly uncomfortable were the two vertical plaques standing on either side of the high-hanging "World's Number One" sign, displaying two lines of vigorous, powerful calligraphy from left to right!

Admitting defeat is not shameful; playing dirty is trash!

Although these two lines, which were stylistically at odds with the atmosphere of the scene, made the Uchiha present feel a slight sense of discomfort, they didn't pay it much mind.

Because at this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the heroic figure standing under the scorching sun, waiting for the opening of this unprecedented grand event.

"Very good!"

Uchiha Jin surveyed the crowd, a hint of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.

Eighty-eight Jonin!

Sixty of them had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and the scarlet glint from their eyes seemed to cast a chill even under the blazing sun!

Behind this line of Jonin stood a neat formation of one hundred and eighty-eight Special Jonin, their uniform Two-Tomoe Sharingan equally intimidating!

As for the six hundred and sixty-six Chunin at the very back, although they were the largest group and two-thirds of them had awakened the Sharingan, they appeared much less impressive compared to the former.

And the Genin?

Uh... a few dozen little kids who hadn't grown up yet were currently off to the side, curiously watching the show alongside the Uchiha villagers.

Combined with the Uchiha Clan Head and the six members of the Elder Council on the podium, nearly the entire combat strength of the Uchiha Clan was present!

Nearly a thousand ninjas—nearly a thousand ninjas of such high caliber!

The Uchiha Clan was truly the undisputed strongest noble family in Konoha, having achieved the great feat of "one clan suppressing one village" during the Third Shinobi World War. It was precisely because they possessed such formidable strength that the current Konoha leadership was so wary of them.

Uchiha Jin really couldn't understand how such a powerful Uchiha Clan could be wiped out in the future by a traitor like Uchiha Itachi.

Forget a thousand ninjas; even if they were a thousand pigs, Uchiha Itachi would have to spend half a day killing them!

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen failing to provide reinforcements in time?

Was he thinking of staging another clumsy performance like the one during the destruction of the Uzumaki Village?

However, considering Uchiha Itachi's superb mastery of genjutsu and his Mangekyo Sharingan, combined with the Uchiha Clan's trust in the eldest son of their clan head, if he used some low-down poisons, sedatives, genjutsu suggestions, ambushes, and seals...

With all these conditions stacked together, plus the cooperation of Uchiha Obito—who possessed a space-time Mangekyo Sharingan—from the inside, and the sneak attacks from the vicious and ruthless members of Root from the outside, the extermination of the Uchiha Clan wasn't entirely surprising.

Hmm...

Should he find a way to assassinate this traitor first?

His own "leeks" hadn't even had the chance to mature yet, and already a group of people in the shadows were preparing to help him "harvest" them early. Did they really think he would thank them? Thinking of this, Uchiha Jin felt a sense of speechlessness.

"Uchiha Itachi, step forward!"

One of the core purposes of the World's Number One Ninja Tournament was to establish recognition and bonds, and in Jin's script, a guy like Uchiha Itachi clearly didn't deserve that.

Hmm?

Uchiha Itachi, standing in the ranks of the Special Jonin, couldn't help but frown. Currently burdened with the Anbu duty of "monitoring the Uchiha Clan," he clearly didn't want to attract anyone's attention.

Yes!

The Uchiha Clan was making such a huge commotion that it almost felt like they were about to launch a coup, yet the Konoha F4 were still able to sit calmly on the podium.

This was naturally something Uchiha Jin had intentionally allowed, giving the two little traitors, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, the opportunity to pass the information along.

And precisely because of this...

The Konoha leadership, led by Sarutobi Hiruzen, likely regarded this incident as the scheme of some "Jade Shatter" fanatic trying to stir up trouble.

After all, if the Uchiha were truly launching a coup, they wouldn't be stupid enough to beat up the "Root" ninjas monitoring them before they even started.

Everyone who had participated in the ninja wars knew of the Uchiha's strength. As long as it wasn't confirmed that the Uchiha were truly betraying the village, no ninja clan was willing to become a mortal enemy of the Uchiha.

Therefore.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had never feared the Uchiha Clan's silent sneak attacks; what he truly dreaded was whether Konoha, weakened by the annihilation of the Uchiha, would be able to withstand the four great ninja villages that constantly coveted it.

If the Uchiha were truly reckless enough to engage the entire village in a direct, head-on confrontation, Sarutobi Hiruzen was confident he could rally the combined strength of all the ninja clans within the village in the shortest possible time to completely eradicate this uncontrollable force, now officially branded as traitors.

As for the subsequent fallout, that was an entirely different matter.

At this moment, Uchiha Itachi's mission and duty were to relay every movement of the Uchiha Clan to the outside, especially now that the Anbu and Root could no longer infiltrate the Uchiha compound.

It was precisely because of this that, under Uchiha Jin's cold, piercing gaze, the shadow in Uchiha Itachi's heart was expanding rapidly.

Have I been discovered?

Uchiha Itachi truly could not fathom where he had slipped up; even if there had been some oversight, he had ensured that no evidence could ever leak out. After taking a deep breath, he walked with steady, determined steps onto the massive one-hundred-by-one-hundred-meter arena ahead.

So this is the leader of that detestable 'Jade Shatter'! Brother Shisui said he was a ruthless man who dared to threaten him with his own life!

Uchiha Itachi warily sized up the handsome figure before him. Filled with the Will of Fire, he was naturally brimming with anger toward such a "villain" who disrupted the harmony between the clan and the village. However, as a double agent, he could not show even the slightest hint of this in such a setting, so he could only feign ignorance and ask Uchiha Jin with a look of confusion.

"What is it?"

Uchiha Jin remained silent. Instead of answering Uchiha Itachi's question, he studied the young body before him with a strange gaze.

Finally!

The killing intent in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by a touch of mockery. A gentle smile appeared on Uchiha Jin's face as he spoke to Uchiha Itachi in a kindly tone.

"Little one, how old are you?"