Fugaku Uchiha

Although no one else was around now, Yun Yan did not do anything discourteous while in someone else's home.

He merely walked around the room, examining and appreciating the various calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls to pass the time.

As expected of the clan head's home. Several pieces of calligraphy and paintings in this reception room alone could be considered antiques.

Compared to this, his own home seemed rather shabby.

The reception room in his house was fairly ordinary, decorated only with a few plain and elegant vases. There were no antiques to lend it any prestige.

This was what having a legacy meant.

Fugaku Uchiha's father seemed to have been the previous head of the Uchiha Clan as well. Their family was practically the clan head's line, passed down generation after generation. Of course their foundation would be profound.

And what about his own family?

As Yun Yan looked over the antique calligraphy and paintings, he recalled the original owner's circumstances through the memories he had inherited.

The original owner had been far worse off. His background was not distinguished in the slightest; he had been a bona fide member of a branch family in the Uchiha Clan.

Not only that, the original owner's mother had merely been a genin. His father had worked himself to the bone for over forty years before finally becoming a jonin of the Uchiha Clan.

Unfortunately, not long after becoming a jonin, he lost his life during a mission. His mother soon followed from overwhelming grief, leaving behind the original owner—an unwanted orphan neglected by everyone.

If the Uchiha Clan had not at least had some principles when it came to orphans of their own clan, would anyone believe that even the house Yun Yan lived in now would have been taken from him?

After all, Yun Yan's home could not compare with the clan head's residence, but on the outskirts of the Uchiha Clan compound, his house was considered quite good.

Just as Yun Yan idly reflected on the past, the Uchiha Clan's head, Fugaku Uchiha, arrived.

Sensing that presence approaching, Yun Yan turned around and happened to see Fugaku Uchiha entering the room.

The middle-aged man looked to be around forty. He had a steady temperament and rarely smiled. His features bore a five- or six-tenths resemblance to Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha from earlier. One look was enough to tell they were father and sons.

At last, he had met Fugaku Uchiha. The man was, after all, the clan head, so Yun Yan took the initiative to greet him out of respect.

"Yo, Clan Head."

Hmm, he had taken the initiative to show respect by greeting him.

Yet when Fugaku Uchiha heard that greeting, he still found it somewhat strange.

There was nothing wrong with the honorific "Clan Head," but what was with that "yo" in front of it?

Listening to the greeting and seeing Yun Yan's somewhat frivolous expression, Fugaku Uchiha felt a slight headache coming on.

This clansman's personality seemed different from the others. That probably isn't just my imagination.

With that thought in mind, Fugaku Uchiha remained expressionless. He nodded to Yun Yan with a stern face throughout, then replied in a deep voice.

"Yes. You are... Yun Yan Uchiha, correct? I remember you.

Several years ago, when Konoha needed to send someone to serve among the Twelve Guardian Ninja and protect the daimyo, few ninjas in the village were willing to take on such a time-consuming and thankless task.

As Konoha's foremost clan, the Uchiha Clan had to make some gesture when such a matter arose.

Of the twelve positions among the Twelve Guardian Ninja, at least one had to be filled by a member of our Uchiha Clan.

Unfortunately, the other clansmen looked down on such a position and were unwilling to take on the assignment.

Only you stepped forward.

Though you were young at the time, your strength had already begun to reach the level of a jonin. You took on that long-term mission, resolving this minor problem for the clan and preserving its dignity.

I have not remembered any of that incorrectly, have I?"

At the mention of what had happened back then, Yun Yan smiled. This smile was somewhat more genuine.

"You have a good memory, Clan Head. You still remember the affairs of a minor figure like me.

That's right, that was indeed what happened. Everyone disliked the position in the Twelve Guardian Ninja, so an outsider like me had no choice but to volunteer."

When Fugaku Uchiha heard Yun Yan call himself an outsider, he knew that Yun Yan was expressing dissatisfaction.

However, there were plenty of people dissatisfied in one way or another. There were also countless orphans in the Uchiha Clan. Even as clan head, Fugaku Uchiha could not possibly concern himself with all of them.

If Yun Yan had not been a Konoha jonin with sufficient rank and strength, Fugaku Uchiha might not even have come out to meet him during this visit.

In the end, it all came down to one's own strength and value.

Only those with enough strength, enough demonstrated value, and enough usefulness to the clan were worth Fugaku Uchiha's attention.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Fugaku Uchiha took the initiative to sit on the tatami. He gestured for Yun Yan to sit before him as well, displaying his respect and regard.

Watching Fugaku Uchiha settle into a perfectly standard seiza posture with such rigid precision, Yun Yan felt a headache coming on.

He did not particularly like sitting that way. Keeping that posture for too long made his legs uncomfortable.

If someone had been visiting his own home, then naturally he would sit however he pleased without caring about etiquette.

But now that he was the guest visiting someone else, he could only follow local customs and endure it for a while.

Thus, concealing the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, Yun Yan could only sit in seiza as properly as possible before Fugaku Uchiha.

In this way, the two sat facing one another in the reception room, both wearing solemn expressions. The atmosphere and occasion were exceedingly formal.

Looking at Yun Yan, this minor figure he had never paid attention to and had nearly forgotten, Fugaku Uchiha considered that the young man had been excluded outside the village for several years and likely harbored some resentment.

As clan head, Fugaku Uchiha felt he ought to offer some comfort and show the clan's concern for outstanding juniors like him.

Thus, with that same expressionless face, Fugaku Uchiha formally spoke.

"Yun Yan, you have served as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja in the capital of Fire Country these past few years. How have your duties and missions gone? Have you tarnished the Uchiha Clan's reputation?"

Hearing this, Yun Yan could not help feeling somewhat irritated.

This... asking about my work these past few years should be meant as concern, right?

Fine, express your concern. Fine, ask your questions. But why did you have to add, 'Have you tarnished the Uchiha Clan's reputation?' at the end?

That doesn't sound like concern at all. It sounds like an interrogation.

Is this how the Uchiha Clan shows concern for people? Even if they are not good at expressing emotion, surely they do not have to turn perfectly good concern into an interrogation?

Seeing Fugaku Uchiha's calm expression, Yun Yan knew that the clan head had no awareness of this whatsoever.

Or perhaps, in his heart, the Uchiha Clan's reputation was more important than anything else?

With a helpless sigh inwardly, Yun Yan answered as tactfully as he could, both to keep things from becoming too awkward and to maintain appearances.

"The Uchiha Clan's reputation... should be fine.

Over the past few years, I have worked normally among the Twelve Guardian Ninja and carried out my missions normally.

My mission completion rate was one hundred percent. Not a single mission failed.

I was also diligent in my guard duties, and no mistakes occurred."

Hearing Yun Yan's answer, Fugaku Uchiha nodded in satisfaction.

"I see. You have done well.

But why did you suddenly return? Are you no longer serving among the Twelve Guardian Ninja?"

Yun Yan felt rather bored by that question.

"You should ask Lord Hokage that. He was the one who transferred me back to Konoha."

"Lord Hokage transferred you back to Konoha..."

As he murmured about the Hokage, Fugaku Uchiha seriously contemplated the recent conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha's upper ranks. On his own, he filled in the reason Yun Yan had suddenly been transferred back.

It had to be another form of exclusion! Another act of targeting them!

Most likely, Konoha's upper ranks had discovered that there was an Uchiha among the Twelve Guardian Ninja. They must have considered that inappropriate and transferred the only Uchiha at the daimyo's side back.

What a nuisance. They would not even leave alone an Uchiha carrying out a long-term mission outside Konoha...

Though he imagined all this inwardly, Fugaku Uchiha had to maintain a dignified facade on the surface.

"Since Lord Hokage transferred you back, he must have his reasons. You need only obey orders."

Yun Yan spread his hands.

"Of course. What else could I do besides obey orders?"

At that moment, Yun Yan looked exactly like an innocent little victim caught up in the conflict between the clan and the village, pitiful and resentful.

Naturally, he was only putting on that appearance. There were parts of the truth that he had not revealed to Fugaku Uchiha at all.

For example, Hiruzen Sarutobi had urgently transferred him back to Konoha because, over the past few years, Yun Yan had earned considerable favor and trust from the daimyo of Fire Country. The Hokage's faction had sensed a threat and therefore refused to let him continue serving among the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

For another, during his return journey, he had been ambushed by Root ninjas. To their surprise, he easily killed them in return, and even after returning, he continued to be targeted by Root ninjas.

Yun Yan concealed all of this and told Fugaku Uchiha none of it.

The reason he hid it was because Yun Yan felt Fugaku Uchiha had no need to know these matters. Even if he did, it would be of no use.

Could Fugaku Uchiha directly fall out with Konoha's upper ranks because of such matters? Impossible.