Chapter 4

Ninjutsu was something he could not touch yet. Even if he got his hands on it, he could only stare at it and think it over; he could not practice it at all.

The Third Elder raised a brow, his eyes carrying a hint of surprise and admiration. "You brat, you're really something! You've achieved so much already, yet you can still keep your composure without getting arrogant. That's truly rare!"

"You want to read books? Grandpa approves. Even if you hadn't asked, with your skill in medicine, these books would have been open to you anyway."

The Third Elder waved a hand, his tone turning solemn. "So this doesn't count. Think of something else and say it boldly."

This was the clan's precious treasure.

From the bottom of his heart, he wanted to give him more.

Perhaps the future of the Uchiha Clan would rest on Xiao Xuan's shoulders.

He, as the Third Elder, knew the clan's current circumstances all too well. The Uchiha desperately needed a great talent capable of influencing the entire clan, or even the whole village.

Uchiha Yan pondered for a moment before speaking. "Then give me some of the clan's taijutsu scrolls as well. I'm interested in those too."

The medicinal baths had already gotten on track. Next, he planned to study ways to temper the body.

The Third Elder glanced at the scroll and looked somewhat surprised. "You want to learn taijutsu?"

This kid was barely over a year old, yet his ambitions were not small.

Then again, someone who could devise a medicinal bath formula could not be judged by the standards of an ordinary child.

The Third Elder did not hesitate for long before making the decision. "Fine! I'll have someone deliver all the books you mentioned later."

He vaguely felt that Uchiha Yan would likely cause an even greater stir in the future.

A genius had to be raised with methods fit for a genius.

The Third Elder added, "Once the clan assembly is held and your contribution is confirmed, your treatment within the clan can be raised as well."

"The clan has never been stingy with promising talents. You can rest assured of that."

The reason the Uchiha Clan had always stood above others was this clear system of rewards and punishments.

Suppressing their own geniuses? They could never do something so disgraceful.

Uchiha Yan smiled and nodded.

He did not care much about treatment or benefits.

His father was the deputy captain of the Police Force, and their family was not short on money.

That very afternoon, the Third Elder gathered the clan at South Kaga Shrine and publicly announced that Uchiha Yan had created a medicinal bath formula.

The crowd below immediately erupted.

Some believed it, while others did not.

"What? Did I hear that wrong? Isn't that the little brat from Deputy Captain Senichi's family? He's only a little over a year old. He can come up with something like this?"

"Yeah, could there have been a mistake?"

"Heh, it's not impossible. Senichi's youngest son could walk at three months, and by half a year old he could read and talk. If he did something like this, I'd say it's perfectly normal."

"The Third Elder personally brought it up at the clan assembly. How could it be fake? What's there to doubt?"

"Exactly."

Once it had been verified, everyone fell silent.

Clan Head Uchiha Tianrong swept his gaze across the room before delivering the final decision. "The Foundation-Building Medicinal Bath Formula created by Uchiha Yan is a major contribution to the clan. Besides what the Third Elder has already promised him, his future resource allocation will be raised to the highest level."

"Furthermore, all secret techniques and ninjutsu below S-rank will no longer be restricted to him for reading. What do you all think?"

The appearance of this formula was indeed tremendous news and immensely useful to the entire Uchiha Clan. No one could find fault with the rewards he was being given.

Not to mention, this was a perfect opportunity to win over Uchiha Senichi's group.

Tianrong was getting older, and his health worsened with every passing year. In recent years, he had begun paving the way for his son, Fugaku, hoping the boy could take charge sooner.

So that he could smoothly inherit the position of clan head from him in the future.

Therefore, building good relations early with Senichi, the deputy captain of the Uchiha Police Force, and the Third Elder, Qiuye, was absolutely the right move.

In Tianrong's view, Uchiha Yan was far too young. No matter how monstrous his talent was, he had no chance of competing with his son for the position of clan head.

By the time Xiao Xuan truly grew up, his son Fugaku would already be firmly established as clan head.

At that point, no matter how capable Uchiha Yan was, replacing Fugaku would be harder than climbing to the heavens.

Of course, to guard against any possibility, Tianrong intended to continue gathering support from every faction in the clan for his son over the next few years, thoroughly securing Fugaku's right of succession.

He even calculated inwardly, Uchiha Yan is extraordinarily gifted. I can have Fugaku spend more time with him from a young age. If they build a bond early, Yan can become my son's right-hand man in the future.

"We have no objections!"

"He deserves it! Nothing wrong with that!"

"Haha! With this support, Xiao Xuan will definitely become another genius powerhouse of our Uchiha Clan in the future!"

"Exactly!"

"Once he grows up and our strength increases, let's see how Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and those Konoha higher-ups dare suppress us!"

"That's right! The Second Hokage's disciples have become more and more excessive these past few years. We can't keep enduring this..."

The moment the Third Hokage and Danzo's group were mentioned, the topic completely shifted.

Every Uchiha upper- and middle-ranking clansman present with three tomoe in their Sharingan wore indignant expressions.

At Uchiha Yan's home.

Uchiha Senichi set down the last batch of sealing scrolls in his hands and instructed his youngest son, "There you go, son! All the clan's medical books and taijutsu scrolls are here. The Third Elder specifically had people make fresh copies for you, so don't let down his expectations. He thinks very highly of you, haha!"

Judging by his glowing face, he was clearly in an excellent mood.

Uchiha Senichi felt as if his back had never been straighter. Those people who had once been at odds with him now had to force smiles whenever they saw him. Why? Because his youngest son had done him proud by creating that medicinal bath formula. Even the factional disputes within the Police Force had eased considerably, all because this formula was so useful to the clan's younger generation.

"Alright, alright, Dad. Go do your work."

Xiao Xuan glanced up at his father, casually tossed out the remark, then lowered his head and resumed reading the medical book in his hands. His father was good in every way, except that he talked too much. Whenever something happened, he practically wanted to shout it to the entire clan.

Uchiha Senichi froze in place, feeling somewhat hurt. Was this kid sick of him? His youngest son was good in every way, except that he was too mature. He was nothing like the soft, adorable child he had been right after birth. But Xiao Xuan had spoken, so Senichi could only turn around gloomily and roar at his eldest son, Uchiha Hao, who was standing nearby in a daze, "What are you still standing there for? Didn't you hear your brother needs quiet? Get out!"

After saying that, he headed outside first.

Uchiha Hao: "..."

Well, love really did disappear, didn't it? His status as the older brother was getting lower and lower.

"Oh, right."

Xiao Xuan suddenly looked up again and called after his father and brother. "Dad, switch my and my brother's medicinal baths to the new formula I made for now. Once I come up with something better, we'll switch again. If there's any extra, send a portion to Sister Mikoto too."

Over the past year or so, Uchiha Mikoto had come to see him every few days and treated him exceptionally well. Naturally, Xiao Xuan would not forget her.

"Alright, leave it to me!"

Uchiha Senichi nodded in agreement and turned to leave.

Watching his father and brother depart, Xiao Xuan began making plans. My brother is already fifteen. It's actually a little late for Foundation Building, so I need to make another medicinal bath suitable for his current stage. The same goes for Mom and Dad. I can't focus only on the young ones; the older ones need arrangements too.

He made up his mind. Since he intended to cultivate his entire family into his support, he naturally had to put in more effort. Chakra reserves and physical fitness were what determined a ninja's upper limit of strength. Medicinal baths were incredibly effective in both areas.

At dawn the next day.

Uchiha Mikoto came running excitedly to Xiao Xuan's home.

"Xiao Xuan! Long time no see. Did you miss your big sister?"

The moment she entered, she pulled Xiao Xuan into her arms, planted a loud kiss on his cheek, and asked with a bright smile.