Evening, Hokage Office
Compared with the bustle of the day, the Hokage Building was especially quiet in the evening. Beneath the setting sun, only countless "shadows" hidden in the darkness kept the Hokage company.
Suddenly, a figure barged into the Hokage Building at an inopportune time and strode toward the Hokage Office with a menacing air. After recognizing who it was, the Anbu lurking in the shadows actually allowed him to pass.
Bang!
The door to the Hokage Office was roughly shoved open. Inside, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked somewhat surprised.
"Danzo? What brings you here? You didn't even let me know in advance."
As he spoke, the Third Hokage made a show of pouring Danzo some tea.
But they had been brothers and comrades for decades, having faced life and death together. How could Danzo fail to see that Hiruzen was playing dumb?
"Quit pretending! It's already past quitting time. You're deliberately staying because you knew I'd come."
Hiruzen didn't seem to mind. Sitting serenely behind his desk, he asked, "What brings you here this time? Is Root running into trouble?"
The confusion caused by his old friend's interruption cleared in an instant. Danzo slammed the Guidance Outline down on the desk.
"Hiruzen, take a look at what this Uchiha brat wrote!"
"He puts his clan above everything else without a second thought. What does he think Konoha is to him?"
The Third Hokage casually flipped through Lihuo's book, but Danzo could tell that Hiruzen was already familiar with its contents.
After reading it, the Third Hokage merely smiled.
"This kid certainly has ideas. A few months ago, he was shouting that he wanted to become Hokage, and now he wants to show the Uchiha some love."
Seeing that his old friend still didn't realize how serious the matter was, Danzo was so angry he practically jumped.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen! This book's content is bad for the village, and it was printed by the Uchiha Hawk Faction. Do you know what will happen if a publication like this spreads throughout the Uchiha Clan?"
Hiruzen fell silent, sinking into thought instead.
Seeing that the Hokage seemed to accept his argument, Danzo prepared to press the point.
"This Uchiha Lihuo! He's a wolf in sheep's clothing, full of ambition. He can't be allowed to live. We should hand him over to Root—"
"Enough. There's no need to worry about Uchiha Lihuo. I sent Orochimaru to investigate him in secret months ago."
The Third Hokage cut him off.
"What? Orochimaru isn't coming to Root to conduct experiments because he's—because of some little brat?"
"You said it yourself: the boy is no ordinary person."
The Third Hokage offered a hint, but didn't explain further.
Danzo froze for a moment, then declared, "I don't care what you think. The publication must be banned, and Uchiha Lihuo must be placed under Root's supervision!"
Realizing Danzo was still stubbornly set in his ways, Hiruzen sighed softly.
"Danzo, I'm the Hokage."
Those words made Danzo flush with rage. The past came rushing back like a tide, and he angrily strode toward the door.
"Hiruzen! You'll regret this!"
The Third Hokage merely smiled as he listened.
"Danzo, with your temperament, you were never meant to become Hokage."
"The Uchiha have harbored resentment for a long time. It's better to guide it than to suppress it. If we rashly ban the publication, people will accuse us of pettiness."
"Remember, solving a problem is often much harder than dealing with the person who raised it."
"As long as Uchiha Lihuo's heart is with the village, even if he really is a wolf with ambitions, he'll still be firmly tethered to the village."
Thinking this, Hiruzen couldn't help laughing. Then he suddenly seemed to remember something and stopped.
"I hear Nara Lujing is hosting Uchiha Lihuo for dinner. Why not take the opportunity to win him over?"
With that thought, Hiruzen raised a hand. A shadow darted out from a blind spot.
"Yue, take an A-rank genjutsu scroll to Nara Lujing. He'll understand what I mean."
"Also, tell Orochimaru to keep observing Uchiha Lihuo. He can test him if necessary!"
Yue left without a sound. Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared to head home. Meanwhile, Lihuo was training with Guy and Kakashi at the training ground.
"Why do you think Aotian's dad wanted to see me?" Lihuo panted, sitting on the ground. He had clearly been through a brutal training session.
"How should I know? Maybe he heard you beat up his son and wants to lure you into a trap so they can gang up on you?"
Spending so much time with Lihuo had made Kakashi pretty sharp-tongued too.
"Why worry about all that? Youth means charging forward. Hesitating like you is no good."
The resident youth fanatic offered his opinion.
"Forget it. Asking you two, with your zero social skills, is just asking for trouble."
"Let's get back to training!"
A few days later, Lihuo returned to school, and the promised Uchiha family banquet was being held that evening.
So Lihuo had asked Uchiha Ting about his preferences ahead of time and bought a gift. It would be bad manners to show up empty-handed when an elder had invited him to dinner.
Following Aotian to his home, Lihuo was immediately stunned by the mansion before him.
"Whoa, Aotian, you didn't tell me your house was this huge. Not bad—you're loaded!"
"Of course, boss! Do you even know who my dad is?"
Having put his worries behind him, Aotian had gradually become more cheerful.
"If you want one, I can give you a house like this," a middle-aged man's voice rang out behind Lihuo, deep and steady.
"Sure, that'd be great," Lihuo said happily, then froze on the spot.
"Dad, what are you doing out here?" Aotian asked cheerfully.
"Why, I wanted to see what the Uchiha Clan's newest genius looks like," Uchiha Ting said with a smile.
Only then did Lihuo, who had been cringing in embarrassment, finally come to his senses.
"Hello, sir. I'm Uchiha Lihuo. Sorry for speaking so casually just now. This is a gift for you. I hope you'll accept it."
Seeing that Lihuo had brought him things he liked, Uchiha Ting was delighted.
This boy has strength, character, and good manners. He hardly seems like an Uchiha at all. He really is something.
But aloud, he said, "A hero truly can come from the young. Come on in and have a seat."
With that, he went inside first.
Only then did Lihuo realize he hadn't sensed Uchiha Ting standing behind him.
"First Teacher Oshima, now Aotian's dad. How are all these people so good at hiding their abilities?"
Once inside, the three took their seats as host and guests and exchanged a few pleasantries.
The conversation was mostly small talk: asking about each other's backgrounds and sharing a few experiences. Much of it was meaningless chatter.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the banquet was nearing its end.
But Lihuo instinctively felt that this dinner might not be so simple.
"Little Lihuo, which matters more to you: the village or the clan?" Ting suddenly asked. Though he reeked of alcohol, his eyes were perfectly clear.
Before coming, Lihuo had learned from Aotian that Uchiha Ting was an influential elder in the Hawk Faction, with both considerable political acumen and formidable methods.
He understood that this question was the real reason behind the family banquet.
"I was born into the Uchiha Clan. My uncles and aunties in the clan raised me. They're the people closest to me."
Lihuo hadn't chosen to answer the question directly, but Ting wasn't upset. On the contrary, he thought even more highly of the boy.
"To be honest, I'm not good at beating around the bush. I'm just a straightforward man!"
"So I paid for it myself and had your book printed and distributed to even more Uchiha youngsters."
"I hope you won't mind that I was only trying to help, little Lihuo."
After hearing Ting out, Lihuo's heart sank. Those weren't mere pleasantries; this was a calculated move.
You don't want to pick a side? Then I'll pick one for you.
Lihuo could easily imagine what the various factions would think when they saw that the book had been printed by the Uchiha Hawk Faction.
Without a doubt, Lihuo had already been half-bound to the Hawk Faction's ship.
Before Lihuo could think further, Ting pressed on.
"If two factions emerge within the clan, one favoring the clan's interests and the other favoring the village as a whole, what would you do?" Ting, whose eyes had been bleary with drink, suddenly radiated an imposing aura.
Ting thought a boy this age would usually hesitate when faced with a question like that. Add the pressure of his imposing presence, and he could easily catch his opponent off guard.
But Lihuo, who had been hesitant moments ago, now spoke boldly.
"No matter whose interests are at stake, if anyone harms the innocent, I'll fight them to the death."
Ting was surprised by the answer. He was astonished by Lihuo's decisiveness, and couldn't help feeling that Lihuo's words carried a deeper meaning.
Satisfied with Lihuo's answer, Ting waved a hand and used his Secret Technique: Money Scatter.
He would cover all of Lihuo's training expenses and provide him with a fixed amount of training resources and money every month.
"Elder Ting, you know I have some savings of my own..."
"Little Lihuo, do you mean..."
"I want to get stronger."
"Hahaha." Rather than being put off by Lihuo's greed, Ting felt reassured.
He knew that the Uchiha Clan never lacked talented people. What they lacked were people with talent who also knew how to make use of it.
Besides, cultivating an outstanding Uchiha talent would benefit the clan, both publicly and privately.
"I'll give you one more A-rank ninjutsu scroll."
Lihuo couldn't help beaming at that.
As expected of a loaded family. They were generous with their gifts. Lihuo thanked Ting and accepted.
After a few more pleasantries, Lihuo took the opportunity to say his goodbyes.
On the way home, Lihuo couldn't help thinking,
One thing is certain: as I grow stronger, more and more important people are taking notice of me. It's only a matter of time before I meet them.
"I have to get stronger as quickly as possible. Strength is the greatest asset."
When he got home, Lihuo saw a key lying quietly on his desk.
The address on it was in the most prosperous part of the Uchiha Clan Grounds. It looked like another gift from Ting...
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