Standing Up Doesn't Mean Becoming a Banner

Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Shin-getsu was practicing Hand Seals in the courtyard.

He could already perform the Great Fireball Technique.

But his Hand Seals were still slow.

In a real fight, if he was too slow, the enemy wouldn't give him a chance.

So all he needed to do now was practice the basic seals until they became second nature.

Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.

Once.

Twice.

Ten times.

A hundred times.

His fingers moved faster and faster.

But the movement still tugged at his wounds.

Cold sweat gradually beaded on his forehead.

The Police Force ninja assigned to protect him watched, the corner of his eye twitching.

"Shin-getsu, that's enough, isn't it?"

"Your injuries haven't healed yet."

Shin-getsu didn't stop.

"Ten more times."

The Uchiha ninja beside him couldn't help saying:

"You've already said 'ten more times' three times this morning."

Shin-getsu's hands kept moving.

"This time I mean it."

The other man's mouth twitched.

He finally understood why Senior Tekka had called this kid a ruthless man wearing a child's skin.

Ruthless to his enemies.

Even more ruthless to himself.

Just then, the courtyard gate swung open.

Uchiha Tekka walked in.

He held a scroll in his hand, his expression complicated.

Shin-getsu stopped forming Hand Seals.

"Did you finish checking the Secret Tunnel?"

Tekka nodded.

"We did."

He briefly explained what they had found.

Shin-getsu wasn't particularly surprised when he heard the results.

"The core evidence was destroyed?"

Tekka's expression darkened.

"Yes."

"The hidden compartment was burned away by a Sealing Technique."

Shin-getsu nodded.

"Figures."

"If I were the one behind it, I'd have set up an automatic cleanup measure too."

Tekka gritted his teeth.

"But we still found plenty of things."

"Old-model Anbu Communication Needles."

"Signs of recent maintenance."

"Sealing Techniques from the Anbu system."

"This time, they won't be able to brush it off so easily."

Shin-getsu didn't answer right away.

After a moment, he asked:

"What did the Hokage Building say?"

Tekka's expression turned odd.

"The Hokage offered compensation."

Shin-getsu raised an eyebrow.

"For the Uchiha?"

"Part of it."

Tekka said, "While the investigation is underway, the Police Force is allowed to take over defensive duties around the clan grounds. We're also allowed to set up our own Sealing Barriers."

"Besides, there's something for you, too."

"For me?"

Shin-getsu was a little surprised.

Tekka handed him the scroll.

"Lord Hokage cited the two attacks on you as grounds to grant you a chance to learn a C-rank ninjutsu."

"He's also allowing you to enter the first floor of the Konoha Public Training Archive once."

Shin-getsu took the scroll, his eyes shifting slightly.

Compensation from the Hokage.

That was interesting.

Was the Third Hokage trying to appease him?

Or was he trying to show the Uchiha that the Hokage Building wasn't hostile to Shin-getsu?

Either way, Shin-getsu had nothing to lose.

A chance to learn a C-rank ninjutsu.

The first floor of the Konoha Public Training Archive.

They weren't high-level resources, but they were exactly the kind of foundational knowledge he needed right now.

Especially the archive.

It might not contain powerful ninjutsu, but it could have plenty of notes on tactics, ninja tools, Chakra Control, and Taijutsu training.

Those would be highly valuable to him at this stage.

Tekka frowned and asked:

"What do you think?"

Shin-getsu put away the scroll.

"Take it."

Tekka was taken aback.

"You're not worried they'll tamper with it?"

Shin-getsu replied calmly:

"The Hokage Building wouldn't dare tamper with the compensation right now."

"At least, not openly."

"Besides, when resources are handed to you, you might as well take them."

Tekka grinned.

"I knew you'd say that."

Then he lowered his voice.

"But there's been some talk in the clan lately."

Shin-getsu looked up.

"What kind of talk?"

Tekka's expression was grim.

"Some people say the clan head is too cautious."

"We've found the Secret Tunnel, but he's still waiting for the Hokage Building to deal with it."

"Others say you're the clearest-headed person in this whole affair."

"Some even think you should speak at the next clan meeting."

Shin-getsu's eyes suddenly turned cold.

Here it comes.

His first reaction wasn't happiness.

He realized something was wrong.

This was too fast.

He did want to gain more influence within the Uchiha.

But not now.

And certainly not by being pushed forward like this by the Radical Faction.

He was only nine years old.

He had Two-Tomoe.

He didn't even have Three-Tomoe.

If they really pushed him into the spotlight and made him the Radical Faction's banner, that wouldn't be exhilarating. It would be a death sentence.

Fugaku would grow wary of him.

Itachi would be on guard against him.

The Third Hokage would be wary of him.

Danzo would go to any lengths to eliminate him.

Shin-getsu narrowed his eyes.

"Where did this talk start?"

Tekka shook his head.

"We're still looking into it."

"But it's spreading fast."

Shin-getsu sneered.

"Someone's trying to build me up just to bring me down."

Tekka's expression changed.

"Build you up just to bring you down?"

Shin-getsu looked at him, his voice calm but cold.

"They're trying to make me the representative of the Uchiha hardliners."

"To put me ahead of the clan head."

"To draw all the hostility from the Hokage Building and Root onto me."

"Or even let the clan's Radical Faction use my name to pressure the clan head."

"If I accept, I'll be trapped in that position."

"If I refuse, I'll disappoint the Radical Faction."

"It's not clever."

"But it's disgusting."

Tekka's expression grew darker with every word.

"Danzo?"

Shin-getsu didn't answer.

But the answer was obvious.

This kind of underhanded scheme seemed very much like Root.

Tekka gritted his teeth.

"I'll find whoever's spreading the rumors and drag them out!"

Shin-getsu immediately said:

"No."

Tekka froze.

Shin-getsu spoke slowly:

"Don't rush to catch them."

"Let them keep spreading it for now."

Tekka frowned.

"Why?"

Shin-getsu's gaze turned inscrutable.

"They want to build me up just to bring me down."

"Then I'll use them to draw out the person behind the rumors."

"And..."

He paused.

"Some things really did need to be said at the clan meeting."

Tekka's expression shifted.

"You're really going to step forward?"

Shin-getsu replied calmly:

"Stepping forward doesn't mean becoming a figurehead."

"I won't charge ahead on behalf of the Radical Faction."

"And I won't help the clan leader pretend everything is fine."

"What I intend to do is tell every Uchiha—"

"Who they should truly hate."

Tekka looked at Shin-getsu and suddenly felt a chill creep down his back.

This kid was setting another trap.

Shin-getsu lowered his eyes to the compensation scroll the Hokage had sent, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

Danzo wanted to put him on the spot.

Fine.

But fire burned whoever touched it.

And there was no telling who would end up getting burned.

At the same time, the System Prompt chimed.

[The host has seen through Root's strategy of praising him to set him up.]

[Hidden side quest triggered: Clan Public Opinion War.]

[Objective: Establish your position at the next Uchiha clan meeting and trace the rumors back to their source.]

[Reward: Determined by completion level.]

Shin-getsu's eyes lit up.

A hidden side quest.

Excellent.

He looked up at Tekka.

"Tekka, I need you to do something for me."

Tekka replied gravely:

"Go ahead."

Shin-getsu began slowly:

"Write down every word of praise about me."

"Who said it, where they said it, and whose mouth it first came from."

"Especially anyone urging me to step forward or even encouraging me to overshadow the clan leader."

"Don't miss a single one."

A cold glint flashed in Tekka's eyes.

"Understood."

Shin-getsu added:

"Also, notify Washiyama and Inabi."

"Tell them not to stop the rumors."

"But guide them so they keep spreading."

Tekka paused, then understood.

"You want the fish to bite the hook themselves."

Shin-getsu nodded.

"Root has reached its hand into the Uchiha."

"Then that hand is staying right here."

Tekka grinned, his smile full of menace.

"Good."

"I like this kind of job."

With that, he turned and left.

The courtyard fell quiet again.

Shin-getsu opened the compensation scroll from the Third Hokage and glanced at the Hokage's seal.

A chance to learn a C-rank jutsu.

A one-time pass to enter the archives.

The Hokage's goodwill.

Root's setup.

The expectations of the Uchiha.

Everything was bearing down on him.

An ordinary nine-year-old would have been crushed by the pressure.

But Shin-getsu merely smiled.

Pressure?

Pressure was fuel for shifting causality.

He wanted everyone's eyes on him.

Then, just when they thought they'd seen through everything, he'd flip the board.

"The clan meeting, huh..."

Shin-getsu murmured.

"Perfect."

"Some seeds are due to be buried a little deeper."