What Does It Feel Like to Misjudge Someone?

After asking Yunyan about the missions he had undertaken over the past few years, Uchiha Fugaku politely began asking about Yunyan's strength.

That was understandable. For a ninja, the two most important things were carrying out missions and improving one's own strength.

As the clan head of the Uchiha Clan, those were the only two areas through which Uchiha Fugaku could show concern for a younger clansman.

So, as Uchiha Fugaku looked at Yunyan, he naturally asked:

"No matter what, returning to Konoha and returning to the clan is ultimately a good thing. It is better than being alone out there.

Yunyan, after training outside these past few years, how strong have you become? Your jonin-level strength should have stabilized by now, right? Do you have the confidence to go a step further and reach elite jonin level? To become a pillar of the clan?"

Listening to those questions and looking at Uchiha Fugaku, Yunyan's expression turned somewhat strange.

What was wrong with this clan head? Couldn't he see for himself?

To avoid exposing himself, Yunyan had restrained his aura and suppressed his strength when he arrived. The strength he was currently displaying was that of an elite jonin.

Could this clan head really not tell?

Thus, Yunyan explained in a strained tone:

"When I left Konoha back then, I had already just reached jonin level.

After cultivating over the past few years, not only did I stabilize my strength at jonin level, I also advanced further and reached elite jonin level."

"Oh, I see," Uchiha Fugaku replied reflexively.

He wanted to offer a few polite words of comfort, perhaps encourage Yunyan not to lose heart and to keep working hard in the future.

But then a flash of realization struck him, and Uchiha Fugaku finally reacted:

"What? You've already reached elite jonin level?!"

Yunyan's expression became even more speechless, his gaze seeming to say: Can't you see for yourself?

Under Yunyan's somewhat disrespectful gaze, Uchiha Fugaku actually felt a rare flicker of embarrassment.

But that embarrassment was only temporary. He hurriedly focused his eyes and carefully sensed the aura of strength Uchiha Yunyan was displaying.

That's right! It was elite jonin, without question! That powerful feeling was definitely elite jonin level!

After the surprise came disbelief:

This kid had actually become an elite jonin!?

How was that possible? Serving as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja was not some cushy assignment, nor was it a good place to gain experience.

With such a boring job, such an ostracized position, and insufficient cultivation resources, how had this kid broken through to elite jonin level?

What was more, all the clan members with elite jonin potential had long been on his list. He had always kept an eye on those promising seeds, those children. They were the clan's future!

Among them, there had definitely been no Uchiha Yunyan. He did not have that aptitude or potential. The clan had confirmed that long ago! Uchiha Fugaku himself could guarantee it!

For a moment, Uchiha Fugaku was utterly shaken by this unexpected development! It was simply unbelievable!

From this train of thought, one could see Uchiha Fugaku's general impression of Yunyan, as well as how he had viewed and treated him in the past.

In Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, Uchiha Yunyan had been nothing more than an ordinary orphan of the clan, with limited potential and aptitude. He would probably stop at jonin level in this life and was not worth special attention or increased investment.

The fact that he had barely managed to initially reach jonin level a few years ago had already seemed fortunate to Uchiha Fugaku. Perhaps he had used some secret technique or medicine to force his strength to that level. It would probably be difficult for him to improve any further.

It was precisely because of this, because Uchiha Yunyan had been practically a discarded child of the clan in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, that Fugaku had so readily agreed to let Yunyan serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

The Twelve Guardian Ninja sounded glamorous and impressive, but was that really the case?

They were supposedly Konoha ninja sent to protect the daimyo, but in truth, the daimyo had ninja of his own recruitment and did not necessarily trust Konoha's ninja.

Therefore, the Twelve Guardian Ninja's usual duties were merely the superficial duty of guarding him.

Put bluntly, they were just higher-class bodyguards, as well as a ceremonial guard Konoha had assigned to the daimyo to preserve appearances for both sides.

Besides acting as bodyguards and ceremonial guards, they would occasionally run errands for the daimyo and handle certain matters for him, grandly described as following the daimyo's commands and carrying out missions on his behalf.

A position with such duties, such work, was absolutely not a desirable posting.

Moreover, the Fire Country capital and the daimyo's side were generally safe and peaceful. There was little opportunity for training, and none of the abundant cultivation resources that Konoha Village possessed.

Therefore, in the eyes of the Uchiha Clan's ninja, serving as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja meant being exiled to the frontier, being pushed aside far away!

That was also why none of the Uchiha Clan's ninja had been willing to join the Twelve Guardian Ninja back then.

But no matter what, the Uchiha Clan was Konoha's foremost clan. Out of those twelve positions, there had to be at least one Uchiha, or else it would be difficult to justify and bad for appearances.

Fortunately, Yunyan, whose strength was barely sufficient and who was neither valued by the clan nor considered a seed worth focusing on, stepped forward!

When Uchiha Fugaku and the other clan elders saw that, they thought, Oh, someone is actually willing to be the sucker.

Since he was willing to go, they let him go. In any case, this junior was not particularly important. Even if he were sent to the battlefield, he would only be cannon fodder.

With that indifferent mindset, Uchiha Fugaku had agreed to let Yunyan serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

But! But! But!

Who could have imagined that Yunyan would now return after being pushed aside.

Fine, he had returned after being pushed aside. But he had also become an elite jonin!

This was not some common trash like genin and chunin, nor was it some ordinary cabbage like a regular jonin. This was an elite jonin! The backbone among the upper ranks of the entire ninja world! The highest level most ninja could reach in their lives!

Even within the Uchiha Clan, there were not many elite jonin. They absolutely counted as pillars of the clan, as forces the clan valued greatly!

And yet... Uchiha Yunyan had become someone with that kind of strength, someone of that standing!?

Looking at the unmistakable elite jonin aura around Yunyan and recalling Yunyan's past, Uchiha Fugaku was deeply shocked and felt extremely awkward inside.

If he had to describe it, Uchiha Fugaku currently felt as if he had eaten shit.

Wasn't that so? A clansman he had never cared about, a junior he had deemed untalented and unworthy of cultivation, had been sent far away by him.

And now the one he had sent away had returned, transformed into a pillar of the clan!?

Who could accept that!? Wasn't this slapping his own face!? Wasn't it plainly proving... that Uchiha Fugaku had misjudged him! That the great Uchiha Clan head's judgment was shit!

Because of that, while Uchiha Fugaku was shocked inside, his expression began to shift repeatedly.

Watching this man's changing expression and sensing the various fascinating thoughts in his heart, Yunyan found it amusing and sneered inwardly.

The whole "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" routine might be cliché, but it was damn satisfying!

I was an orphan of the Uchiha Clan from childhood. The clan never gave me a second glance. I was always an invisible little nobody, ignored by everyone, with no one caring for or helping me.

And yet I grew to this point on my own. From beginning to end, I received no benefits from the clan. I relied entirely on my own efforts.

Clan Head, are you satisfied now?

Whether he was satisfied or not, one thing was certain: Uchiha Fugaku was feeling rather embarrassed and irritated right now.

He had misjudged him. Misjudged him badly!

The minor clansman he had completely dismissed and neglected had returned to the clan transformed, nearly becoming a fierce dragon crossing the river. Who could accept that?

Even with Uchiha Fugaku's many years of composure as clan head, he felt bitter for a moment, as though he had no choice but to swallow broken teeth with blood.

But no matter what, even if it was somewhat embarrassing and even if he felt awkward facing Yunyan, Uchiha Fugaku had to pull himself together and treat Yunyan seriously again in this situation.

Indeed, Uchiha Fugaku's attitude had undergone an obvious change.

After all, treating an ordinary jonin of the clan and treating a young elite jonin with limitless potential carried entirely different implications.

This was an elite jonin. There were not many within the clan, and he was still young. If he gave it everything he had, he might even reach Kage level. Uchiha Fugaku could not afford not to value him.

Even if he had just embarrassed himself over this matter, even if the dignified clan head felt somewhat unable to face him, with benefits before him and the clan's prospects at stake, Uchiha Fugaku could not worry about such things.

He adjusted his expression, forcing delight and satisfaction onto his stern face while also showing encouragement and praise:

"Yunyan, I truly did not expect you to astonish us all and become an elite jonin! This is truly a tremendous surprise for our Uchiha Clan!

You must know that among the clan, there are only a few elite jonin as young as you. The only one who seems even more outstanding than you is Shisui!"