Chapter 6

Uchiha Senichi froze for a moment, then raised a hand to stroke his chin.

"The clan head position? I'm not all that interested. There's too much to manage, too much weight on your shoulders. You have to bear the rise and fall of the entire clan. My temperament isn't suited to that chair."

He paused before adding, "As for that kid Fugaku, he's passable. He's just a little young, and sometimes too soft-hearted when handling matters. Other than that, there's nothing major to criticize."

Being able to become the deputy captain of the Police Force required more than strength that ranked among elite jonin. Naturally, he was no fool.

He simply liked to play dumb and could not be bothered to wear all his shrewdness on his face.

Of course, he understood the Third Elder's implication perfectly well.

But he knew himself. He truly was not cut out for being the one in charge.

"Mm."

The Third Elder responded blandly and did not pursue the matter further.

After chatting about a few more trivial things, Uchiha Senichi rose to take his leave.

He then turned and went to the First Elder's home, where he likewise presented two prescriptions.

"These are both a small token from Xiao Xuan," he explained. "The body-tempering medicinal bath prescription is for Mikoto, while the nourishing medicinal bath prescription is for you. It can strengthen the body, dispel old injuries and hidden ailments accumulated over the years, and even prolong your life. Please accept it. The Third Elder has already taken his."

Because of Mikoto, his family was quite close to the First Elder.

Of course, it also had much to do with Uchiha Senichi's considerable standing within the clan, as well as his straightforward nature and lack of ulterior motives.

"How thoughtful. Then I won't stand on ceremony."

After hearing him out—especially upon learning that the nourishing medicinal bath could eliminate old injuries—the First Elder immediately beamed, his wrinkles bunching together.

He accepted the prescriptions and examined them carefully before looking up.

"That child Xiao Xuan is quite impressive."

Then the First Elder changed the subject. "By the way, the clan head has brought Fugaku to see me several times recently. From the looks of it, he wants Fugaku to inherit his position. He even seems to want to match Mikoto with Fugaku. What do you think?"

"This..." Uchiha Senichi froze, his face full of confusion. "Is it appropriate to tell me this? Asking me to make the call doesn't seem right either, does it?"

He was muttering to himself inwardly as well.

Why had the Third Elder asked him about this too? Why were they both coming to him with this sort of question?

He truly had no desire whatsoever for the clan head's seat!

"What's inappropriate about it?" The First Elder took a leisurely sip of tea and spoke unhurriedly. "As the deputy captain of the Police Force, you hold real authority. Your opinion carries weight when it comes to choosing the clan head."

"Besides, the clan head's position concerns the Uchiha Clan's future. Shouldn't we hear what you think?"

He set down his teacup and looked at Senichi.

"Also, Mikoto is so close to Xiao Xuan. Do you really not see anything? Ever since she met Xiao Xuan, she's become increasingly resistant to marrying Fugaku. She's my only biological granddaughter. No matter what, I have to consider her wishes at least a little, don't I?"

Uchiha Senichi was stunned. It took him a long while to recover.

"What?"

He stared at the First Elder in disbelief. "You're not mistaken, are you? My Xiao Xuan is only a little over one year old. Him and Mikoto?"

No matter how he thought about it, this was wrong.

Were children these days really maturing this early?

Images of Mikoto spending time with his youngest son over the past half year suddenly flashed through his mind.

And there were those two times when Xuan had specifically reminded him to prepare medicinal bath ingredients for Mikoto as well.

No matter how he looked at it, there was something indescribably suspicious about it.

The First Elder had no idea what he was thinking. He merely smiled and asked in return, "A little over one year old, yet he can come up with such heaven-defying prescriptions. Add that to everything he's done since birth—do you really think he's an ordinary one-year-old child?"

He was simply a monster.

A monster whose future no one could stop.

As long as he did not die young, this child would certainly reach heights no one had ever attained—and bring the Uchiha Clan up with him.

The First Elder had even seen in Uchiha Yan the shadow of someone who could surpass Uchiha Madara.

That was the true reason he had been hesitating over Mikoto and Fugaku's marriage.

Compared with the unremarkable Fugaku, he now wanted to place his bet on Uchiha Yan.

And Mikoto already had feelings for Xuan, so this had tremendous potential.

As for whether Xuan could grow up safely, the First Elder had never worried about that.

With Uchiha Senichi, his biological father, standing in front of him, along with the Third Elder and himself, if they still could not protect a child, they might as well stop pretending to be anything.

"Uh... that's true. That brat really can't be treated like an ordinary child."

Uchiha Senichi smiled and scratched the back of his head.

Though he still felt that discussing Mikoto and Xuan's marriage now was rather absurd.

After all, there was a full twelve-year age gap between them.

Still, Xuan should decide this for himself.

It was not as though he could make decisions for Xuan anyway.

What if Xuan actually wanted it?

"We should let Xuan and Mikoto decide for themselves. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to interfere."

Uchiha Senichi made his stance clear to the First Elder. "In any case, I don't object. Meixin probably won't object either. She already likes Mikoto."

"Mm."

The First Elder nodded in satisfaction. "Then let the children sort it out themselves. We won't meddle."

Uchiha Senichi sighed and said, "I'll hold Fugaku off for now and see what Xuan and Mikoto themselves want."

"I reckon they'll settle things within three to five years."

In truth, he had another consideration—these next three to five years would also show whether Xuan would soar into the heavens or, like everyone else, quickly fade into obscurity.

"I have no objections." Uchiha Senichi smiled.

At Uchiha Yan's home.

"What? The First Elder wants to match Xuan with Mikoto?"

Meixin was stunned after hearing what her husband had to say.

"That's more or less what he meant." Senichi nodded. "He went around in circles, but that was clearly his intention. To put it bluntly, he's taken a fancy to our Xiao Xuan's talent and abilities and wants to place his bet early."

"What do you think? There's quite an age gap between them, isn't there?"

Meixin found it amusing instead. "So what? I think Mikoto is a fine girl."

"She's pretty, has a good figure, a good personality, and her talent is beyond question. She's more than worthy of our Xuan."

"Of course, it still depends on what Xiao Xuan himself wants. We can't make the decision for him just because we're his parents."

Besides, even if they did, that brat might not listen.

"Mm."

Inside the Hokage Office.

The moment Danzo entered, he got straight to the point. "Hiruzen, you should know about the Uchiha matter by now, right?"

The Third Hokage held a pipe between his teeth, glanced at him, and nodded. "Mm, I heard. The Uchiha truly are the Uchiha. Geniuses keep appearing one after another."

Danzo snorted coldly, his tone sharp. "No matter how many geniuses they have, the Uchiha carry the roots of rebellion in their bones."

"Hiruzen, you know how Sensei evaluated the Uchiha back then, and what policies he established. I want to bring that brat called Uchiha Yan into Root for training. What do you think?"

The Third Hokage rolled his eyes and replied irritably, "I think it's a terrible idea."

"He's Uchiha Senichi's son, and he's only one year old. Do you think they'd agree?"

Had Danzo gotten water in his brain?

What was the point of suggesting something so obviously impossible?

If the Uchiha really agreed, then they would not be the Uchiha. He would not need to worry about them growing stronger, either.

But Danzo did not see it that way. His face darkened. "But we can't just watch them produce another genius, can we? I have a feeling this brat is even more outrageous than Uchiha Madara was as a child. Who knows what he'll grow into in the future?"