Become Big Brother

Hearing Lihuo's words, the confusion and self-mockery in Aotian's eyes gradually faded, leaving only a blazing fighting spirit!

"The taijutsu match isn't over yet! I won't lose to you!" Aotian charged at Lihuo and opened a new round with a flying kick.

But no matter what moves Aotian tried, Lihuo could always neutralize them with casual ease.

Lihuo calmly handled every move, but sweat had begun to bead on the forehead of Aotian, who kept pressing the attack.

The younger boys watching nearby were stunned. They all knew that before their boss took the entrance exam, they had been the most notorious pranksters in the entire Uchiha Clan.

They had often driven their aunties and uncles into a rage. But ever since their boss had taken the entrance exam, everything had changed.

Their boss had started leading them in daily training. Day after day, many of the boys couldn't stand it.

But whenever someone started thinking about giving up, they would look at their boss. He always trained twice as much as they did, and that was why they had kept going.

But now, their boss, who had always been formidable in both strength and manner, was showing his weakness for the first time.

Lihuo gave his body a slight shake, and Aotian was sent staggering back ten steps.

Lihuo said calmly, "Your fundamentals are solid, and you work very hard. But you haven't had enough time to build up your strength, and your physical conditioning still needs improvement."

"It's fine. If you keep at it, given enough time..."

"Don't give me that crap! There isn't enough time!" Aotian suddenly snapped. Then, as if he had accepted it, he said quietly,

"Uchiha Lihuo, I know you're strong. We don't need to test our ninjutsu. You've already won."

"But I just want to know how strong you really are. Can you show me what a true genius looks like?"

Lihuo knew the boy before him wasn't willing to accept his defeat. Still, out of respect for his opponent, Lihuo decided to show him his true strength.

"Then I'll show you my strongest power in my normal state."

With that, Lihuo's body shuddered. A silent wave of force burst from him, and his weights dropped to the ground, smashing a small crater into it.

"No way. Those weights are ridiculously heavy!"

The boys nearby could clearly feel that Lihuo was completely different from before. His aura kept growing stronger.

Suddenly, Lihuo vanished from everyone's sight. In the next instant, he appeared in front of Aotian like a phantom, a sharp kunai pressed against Aotian's neck.

"You lose!"

Aotian lowered his head in despair. Seeing him like that, Lihuo asked, puzzled, "Why are you trying so hard to surpass me?"

At last, utterly dispirited, Aotian told Lihuo everything.

"Ever since I can remember, my father has been sighing. It's as if sighing came naturally to him."

"But whenever he faces me, he always acts as if nothing is wrong."

"I overheard him talking with my uncle, and learned that things in the Uchiha Clan are far from promising."

"But I couldn't do anything to help. It wasn't until you defeated me for the first time and I wanted to ask my father to avenge me that I realized I'd always been living under his protection."

"Watching you train so hard made me wonder: if I trained just as hard and became strong, would that stop my father from sighing all the time?"

As he spoke, two streams of tears ran down Aotian's face. He was still a child, after all, and not strong enough to keep his emotions in check. Lihuo patted him on the shoulder.

"The Uchiha Clan has plenty of people. Why are things so bad?"

Aotian looked up at Lihuo as if he were seeing this genius for the first time.

"I didn't think you knew so little about the Uchiha Clan. With the Hokage suppressing us, the Hawk Faction led by my father has less and less room to survive."

"The Dove Faction, on the other hand, keeps growing stronger. But endless compromise and retreat will only let them slowly devour us!"

Lihuo couldn't believe that Aotian, so young, had come up with these ideas on his own. He must have learned them by eavesdropping on his father's conversations. Still, there was truth in what he said. The Uchiha Clan's tragic extermination several years later proved it.

Lihuo asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

Aotian froze in place, then said bitterly, "I don't know either."

But his expression soon grew determined.

"But there's one thing I do know. In the Uchiha Clan, strength always comes first."

"Since I lost to you, I should naturally acknowledge you as my big brother!"

Lihuo was taken aback, and the boys around them were just as astonished.

"Boss, don't leave us behind!"

"No, Boss! We can't bear to part with you!"

Aotian turned and looked around at them. For a moment, he truly seemed like a leader.

"Everyone saw it. Uchiha Lihuo really is strong. And I've spent time with him—he's a good person. I trust him."

"From today on, I'll acknowledge him as my big brother. If you trust me, come with me."

Seeing how things were going, Lihuo was about to turn him down, but Aotian cut him off with a single sentence.

"With your abilities, you'll definitely have a role in the Uchiha Clan's affairs someday. And we'll be your solid backing."

Some of the boys nearby still seemed uncertain, so Aotian shouted, "Greetings, Big Brother Lihuo!"

With Aotian leading the way, the boys followed suit and pledged themselves to Lihuo. Two or three dozen Uchiha boys called out together, "Greetings, Big Brother Lihuo!"

Lihuo had never been one to lose his nerve. Faced with such a crowd, he remained calm and collected.

"Thank you all for trusting me. I won't let you down!"

Over the next few days, while keeping up his training, Lihuo also learned about the boys under Aotian.

He wouldn't have guessed if he hadn't asked. Nearly two-fifths of the Uchiha boys of their generation were under Aotian's command—that was quite a lot.

Aotian's ability to manage such a large group so well spoke volumes about his leadership.

Believing that those he trusted should be given full responsibility, and hoping to leave himself more time to train, Lihuo entrusted all team management to Aotian.

He also drew on his own training experience to compile a simple body-conditioning routine for the boys.

"This routine may be simple, but it's suitable for their age. If they keep training, their physical conditioning will steadily improve."

And, drawing on his experience from his previous life, Lihuo wrote a book titled Guidance Outline on How to Properly Foster Unity, Kindness, Mutual Assistance, and Harmony Within the Uchiha Clan and gave it to Aotian, hoping to instill the right values in the Uchiha boys from a young age.

At first, the boys didn't think much of it. Even Aotian had no idea what Lihuo was trying to accomplish.

But once the boys had actually helped their fellow clan members and received praise, they began helping the Uchiha Clan members with enthusiasm.

Days passed, and before long, another half-month had gone by.

At Aotian's home,

"Father, I've finished my match with Lihuo."

"Little Aotian, I already know."

"Father, how..."

"What could possibly escape your father's notice? I even read that Guidance Outline of yours."

"Then, Father, what do you think..."

"I have to say, this writing doesn't seem like it came from a kid who's just entered the Ninja Academy. It reads more like the political propaganda of an old hand such as the Third Hokage."

"Still, I don't see anything wrong with its contents. The core idea is that clan members should help one another. If it's good for the Uchiha Clan, I have no problem with it."

"Not only that, I gave the boy a hand by helping promote it."

"What? Father, does that mean you recommended this book to others?"

"Heh. Not only that, I secretly printed copies and handed them out to the other Uchiha children."

"...So that's pirating the book..."

Uchiha Ting: (･_･;, Mind your own business!

"Father, I'm going to invite Lihuo over in three days."

"So you do remember that. Good. I'll make sure to give your friend a proper welcome."

Aotian immediately told Lihuo about it. Lihuo couldn't refuse the goodwill, but privately wondered why Aotian's father had invited him over now.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Konoha, inside Root's underground base,

A cold-blooded Root member respectfully placed a book on the desk of their leader, Danzo.

"My lord, this book has recently started circulating among the Uchiha Clan."

"It's just a book. What's so important about it?"

"The publisher is Uchiha Ting, an elder with real power in the Uchiha Hawk Faction."

"Oh?" Danzo took an interest at once and began reading it carefully.

Bang!

"Utter nonsense! Clan members helping one another? What does that make of Konoha? What a dangerous idea!"

"The author... Uchiha Lihuo."

"Good, good, good. Investigate Uchiha Lihuo. And remember, don't alert him!"

With that, Danzo stormed off, carrying the book toward the Hokage Office.