Chapter 34

As dusk settled, Saitama tucked the old woman's blanket around her. "These old bones of mine don't need to be coaxed to sleep." Though Uchiha Kaori said that, she still let him adjust the height of her pillow. Only after the front door closed did she tremble as she pressed the television's power button, the blue glow of the evening news reflecting off the family portrait on the wall.

In the Uchiha Main Estate's training ground, the sound of kunai slicing through the air rang without end. The shuriken Itachi had thrown backhandedly was still spinning through the air when he spotted someone leaning against the doorframe beneath the moonlight, biting into a tomato. "Mind if I join the night training?" Saitama flicked a kunai with an explosive tag tied to it toward him, its cold metallic gleam cutting through the night.

"Saitama!" Itachi, who had been practicing intently, looked up. The moment he saw the familiar figure entering the courtyard, he immediately set down his ninja tools and hurried over.

"Mm." The corners of Saitama's lips lifted as he reached out and ruffled Itachi's black hair. Rather than dodging, the boy rubbed against his arm like a kitten. Though they were only five years apart in actual age, the steady and composed Saitama looked far older than Itachi.

"Father is inside." Itachi tugged on Saitama's sleeve and led him toward the inner rooms. Ever since they had met half a year ago, this outstanding shinobi whom his father often praised had become the person he admired most.

As they crossed the courtyard, Mikoto Uchiha emerged from a side room with a bamboo basket on her arm. "Saitama, you're here."

"Hello, Aunt Mikoto. I came to see the captain about something." Saitama gave a polite bow.

"You two go ahead." Mikoto smiled gently before turning toward the kitchen.

"Father said you can go in." Itachi came running out, grabbed Saitama's finger, and pulled him into the room.

Inside the study, Fugaku was bent over his desk reviewing documents, a rare pair of glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. Seeing the two enter, he removed them and rubbed his brow.

"My eyes are a little strained." Noticing Saitama's gaze, Fugaku explained casually. Saitama pondered this inwardly. Ordinary Sharingan should not have developed vision problems this early.

"Itachi, go practice first." Fugaku waved his son away. Though little Itachi pouted, he obediently ran back to the courtyard to continue his throwing practice.

Once Itachi had left, Fugaku gestured for Saitama to sit. "Did you come by so suddenly because of something?"

"Isn't there a clan meeting later? I wanted to go with you." Saitama pulled over a chair and sat down, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest.

"Nervous about attending a high-level meeting for the first time?" Fugaku's eyes held a trace of teasing.

"A little, honestly," Saitama admitted.

Fugaku chuckled. "Relax. Besides the four elders, today's attendees are just the jonin from each squad and the clan's stewards."

"Elders?" Saitama raised a brow.

"Four retired clan elders. They're highly respected within the clan," Fugaku explained. Saitama nodded, his expression unchanged as he looked out at the training ground through the window.

"The Uchiha Clan has nearly forty jonin, including shinobi like you who possess jonin-level strength. For a clan this large to keep running, the Uchiha needs many businesses. That is why many people with limited potential on the shinobi path choose to devote themselves to the clan's commerce."

"The Uchiha has businesses in Konoha Village and every major town in the Land of Fire, spanning all sorts of industries." Fugaku continued, a hint of pride in his voice.

Saitama sat beside him and listened quietly. It was much as he had expected. It was hardly surprising for a major clan like the Uchiha to have assets spread throughout the land.

"Today's meeting is only a routine gathering. Since it's your first time attending, just listen and observe." Fugaku folded his hands together, his tone calm.

"It's getting late. We should leave." He glanced at the wall clock and rose to his feet. He was still dressed in a casual kimono, comfortable but not formal enough, so he needed to change before heading out.

"Clan Head!" "Clan Head!"

Following behind Fugaku, Saitama felt countless gazes fixed on him. Before they arrived, a great many clan members had already gathered outside the shrine in the Uchiha Ancestral Grounds. Aside from those on the battlefield, away on missions, or unable to attend for other reasons, most of the Uchiha Clan's elite had assembled here.

Many clan members who spent most of their time traveling outside did not know Saitama well. But once one person recognized him, the news quickly spread. After all, anyone could see that Saitama had an unusual relationship with the clan head, and no one wanted to know nothing about someone favored by the clan head.

"Mm, you're back." Fugaku spoke warmly to a middle-aged man, without any of the airs of a clan head.

"Yes, Clan Head!" The middle-aged man still bowed respectfully. Though Fugaku was young, he held tremendous prestige within the Uchiha Clan.

As the two walked deeper into the shrine, the clan members they encountered grew stronger and stronger. By the time they reached the innermost area, they were surrounded entirely by jonin and high-ranking clan members.

Saitama knew almost none of the people here. The only two familiar faces were Fugaku and Uchiha Mori.

Too lazy to keep following behind Fugaku, Saitama walked off to one side and silently observed the people around him.

He tried to find someone he knew, but there were no familiar faces in the crowd. After all, everyone present was an Uchiha clansman who had never appeared in the original story.

Just as Saitama was watching an old man conversing with Fugaku, a booming voice suddenly rang in his ears like the toll of a bell.

"You're Uchiha Saitama?"

"Uh, that's me." He turned and saw a burly man with exceptionally developed muscles, standing in stark contrast to the other lean clan members.

"I've heard so much about you! I'm Uchiha Zhuang!" Seeing Saitama respond, the burly man grabbed his shoulder, looking a little excited.

Saitama was one meter sixty, while the man before him stood two heads taller, likely around two meters tall. His entire body was packed with muscles, making him seem somewhat out of place among the Uchiha Clan.

"Hello." Saitama was unarmed. He grabbed the hand resting on his shoulder and gently moved it away.

"Haha, sorry!" Noticing Saitama's displeasure, the big man quickly withdrew his hand and gave an honest smile.

"I heard you were incredible on the Sand Shinobi Battlefield!" Uchiha Zhuang looked straight at Saitama with clear eyes.

"It was just an outburst in a life-or-death situation." Seeing no ill will in him, Saitama nodded in reply.

"I just came back from a long-term mission. In a few days, I plan to head to the front lines. The clan wants that too." Uchiha Zhuang stood beside Saitama, his tone relaxed.

"Why not go east?" Saitama was somewhat surprised. The fighting in the south was intense and casualties were heavy. Going now was not a wise choice.

"The east won't be fighting anytime soon, but things are lively in the south!" Uchiha Zhuang patted his chest, his voice booming.

"Uchiha Zhuang!" An old man in the distance called out sternly. The big man immediately sobered up and fell silent.

"Tch!" Uchiha Zhuang lowered his body and leaned close to Saitama's ear.

"That's my old man. Always sticking his nose into everything. Annoying as hell!" He wore an expression like that of a child.

"What about you, Saitama?" Uchiha Zhuang asked in a low voice.

"Me? I'll follow the clan's arrangements," Saitama answered.

"Oh? I was hoping we could become the 'Uchiha Twin Stars' and make a big name for ourselves together on the Sand Shinobi Battlefield!" Though Uchiha Zhuang was in his twenties, there was an innocence to the way he spoke. Still, Saitama felt that he was sincere.

"No rush. There'll be chances later." Saitama smiled.

"Come on, let's find a seat. Looks like the meeting is about to start."

Uchiha Zhuang looked at the people moving around them and spoke to Saitama.

"Sure." Saitama followed him to the jonin seating area.

The seats were nothing more than ordinary cushions laid on the floor around several soft mats at the center of the shrine.

Saitama was somewhat surprised that the seemingly simple-minded Uchiha Zhuang was actually a jonin. He had assumed the man was attending through clan connections and the strength of a chunin. After all, that old man appeared to be an elder, and even Fugaku had bowed respectfully to him.

Jonin was not a title one could obtain simply through strength or by defeating a jonin. Many factors had to be considered, such as mastery of ninjutsu, tactical decision-making, and contributions to the village.

The number of jonin directly reflected a village's military strength and was one of the key standards by which its prosperity was judged. Therefore, every village was extremely strict in reviewing jonin promotions and would never lower its standards merely to inflate its numbers. Such practices only existed in certain small ninja villages that cared about empty prestige. Major villages would never do so.

Saitama sat shoulder to shoulder with Uchiha Zhuang, ignoring the curious looks around them as he focused on the five seats in the center.

"Cough, cough!"

The last elder arrived late, finally filling the central seats. This old man was the eldest among the elders. He walked with an unsteady gait, and Saitama was even worried that he might accidentally fall and injure himself.

"Now that everyone is here, the meeting will begin!" Fugaku stood in the center of the circle and announced loudly.

In truth, he did not need to say anything. Everyone had long since taken their seats in silence, waiting for someone to speak. Fugaku swept his gaze across the room, lingering briefly on Saitama and Uchiha Zhuang before showing a meaningful smile.

"Then, the meeting officially begins!"

With that, Fugaku sat down and immediately signaled for a middle-aged man beside him to speak.

The following proceedings were fairly routine. The heads of each business reported in turn on the operations under their management. Although these matters had already been mentioned during the year-end summary meeting, new changes had arisen over the past month.

Saitama had no place to interject in such matters, so he simply began quietly chatting with the equally bored Uchiha Zhuang. With his many years of experience in the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Zhuang introduced Saitama to many people he had never known about.

"That's Uchiha Shang, a commercial genius and a chunin himself. Apparently, he realized back then that his talent as a shinobi had already reached its limit. Along with an old arm injury from a mission, he switched to managing the clan's businesses."

Saitama looked toward the middle-aged man who was currently speaking. It was the very man they had encountered at the shrine entrance earlier.

No wonder Fugaku values him so highly. Saitama silently remembered him. He needed to familiarize himself with the important figures in the Uchiha Clan, and Uchiha Shang was clearly one of them.

"Mm, he does look shrewd." Saitama leaned closer to Uchiha Zhuang and lowered his voice.

"Uchiha Shang really is extraordinarily gifted in business, and everyone in the clan thinks highly of him. He spends all year outside managing the clan's affairs, traveling all over the place. Every time he comes home, he brings back local specialties for the clan members."

The corners of Uchiha Zhuang's lips lifted. He remembered that Shang had once brought back some secret rheumatism medicine from a small country for his old man. Regardless of whether it worked, the thoughtfulness alone had left Zhuang with a favorable impression of Shang.

"Mm." Saitama nodded in agreement, looking toward Uchiha Shang, who had risen and was enthusiastically sharing his experiences with the surrounding clan members.

"By the way, Saitama, when are we going to spar? I've been looking forward to fighting you!"

Uchiha Zhuang bumped Saitama with his shoulder, breaking his train of thought.

"Sure. I'm ready anytime. Lately, I've been at the Guard Force training ground. Just come find me when you're free."

"The Guard Force? The place next to the Police Force?"

"Yeah, that's the one."

"Ah, if I weren't over the age limit, I'd have signed up for the Guard Force too." Uchiha Zhuang scratched his head, regret in his voice.

Saitama glanced at another clan member who had risen to speak, saying nothing.

The Guard Force did have an age threshold—one could not be older than twenty-four. After that stage, a shinobi's development was largely set, leaving little value in further training. There were exceptions, but they were few and far between.

"Tell me about the four great elders." Saitama looked toward the respected old men seated among them, his eyes full of curiosity.

"You don't even know that?" Uchiha Zhuang's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Should I?" Saitama awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. Being stared at as though he were an idiot by this blunt big man made even him uncomfortable.

"Fine, I'll give you a lesson!" Zhuang stopped dwelling on it and dragged his cushion closer to Saitama by half a foot.

"You know the ancestral grounds are divided into four districts, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

"So each of the four great elders manages one district!" Zhuang declared as if it were only natural.

"..." Saitama was speechless at such a crude and simplistic explanation.

"That's it?" he asked in disbelief.

"Of course not. The four districts correspond to the clan's four branch lines from its early days, and the elders are the representatives of their respective branches." Zhuang paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the four old men seated in the center.

"The ancestral grounds are divided according to that tradition too. But over the past few decades, the clan has played down its factions, so the elders have limited real authority. At most, they're like neighborhood committee directors for their districts—is that how you'd put it, Saitama?"