Fugaku Uchiha Could Not Accept This

Seeing Fugaku Uchiha's sudden change in attitude and his obvious insincerity, Yun Yan suddenly found it terribly boring.

Yes, terribly boring.

If his strength really were only at the elite jonin level, and he had finally returned to the clan to make those clansmen who had once looked down on him see him in a new light, putting on a show of swaggering around and slapping faces, that would have been one thing.

But his strength was clearly far beyond elite jonin. What the hell was an elite jonin worth? His true strength was...

Precisely because Yun Yan's true strength was far, far greater than Fugaku Uchiha had predicted, Yun Yan found the whole thing especially boring, even tiresome.

If he had to put it into words, Yun Yan currently felt like one could not discuss ice with a summer insect.

The clan had gained one elite jonin, and as clan head, you were already acting like this. If you truly knew my real strength, wouldn't you rebel on the spot?

Thinking this, Yun Yan suddenly felt utterly bored as he watched Fugaku Uchiha's pleased expression.

He could not even be bothered to keep up appearances. He kicked his feet forward and folded his legs beneath him, changing from a proper kneeling posture into a more casual, comfortable cross-legged sit right in front of Fugaku Uchiha.

Yun Yan did not want to make himself uncomfortable anymore. He was a guest in someone else's home right now, but why did he have to suffer for it? He would sit however he found comfortable.

Seeing Yun Yan like this, Fugaku Uchiha was momentarily at a loss.

This fellow's personality... was indeed different from the other clansmen.

Was it just his imagination? He felt like Yun Yan had the temperament of an irreverent rogue.

Before Fugaku Uchiha could say anything to smooth things over, Yun Yan spoke first, his face full of impatience:

"Do as you please, Clan Head. In any case, after these past few years, my strength has reached this point.

"Besides, I trained outside all these years. The clan never asked after me, nor did it ever give me any help.

"I reached where I am today entirely through my own efforts."

Those words practically sealed Fugaku Uchiha's mouth shut, and the dignified clan head's expression turned somewhat awkward.

Was that not the truth? Back then, when they saw that a clansman was finally willing to serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, he and the Uchiha Clan elders had eagerly sent Yun Yan away. Afterward, they had simply ignored him completely.

And now, he had returned transformed, having made a name for himself and greatly improved his strength. The moment he returned, he was already the high-level combat power the clan desperately needed.

This... was the Uchiha Clan not embarrassed?

Did the Uchiha Clan really have the nerve to point fingers at Yun Yan after he returned and demand that he contribute to the clan?

Even though Fugaku Uchiha was the clan head, he found it difficult to speak at this moment.

After an awkward silence, Fugaku Uchiha kept a stiff face but still spoke as gently as he could.

He wanted to win over this clansman who had already grown distant from the clan by further changing his attitude:

"Yun Yan, it seems these past few years outside have not been especially smooth for you.

"This matter... is truly regrettable.

"However, the clan has its own difficulties. I believe you can understand that as well.

"You had a difficult time outside these past few years, but what you may not know is that the clan's situation in Konoha has not been particularly good either.

"Now, our Uchiha Clan is being increasingly excluded by Konoha's upper ranks. It has already become difficult for us to even touch core authority. If this continues, the clan's situation will become dire.

"Back when Konoha Village was founded, our Uchiha Clan also contributed greatly. Yet now, our Uchiha Clan is instead being pushed to the margins. Thinking it over carefully, it is truly laughable.

"This situation must change. Our Uchiha Clan absolutely cannot compromise. The struggle against Konoha's upper ranks... must continue.

"Now that you have returned, Yun Yan, you have returned at just the right time. The clan is in need of people!"

Sitting cross-legged across from Fugaku Uchiha, Yun Yan simply watched his performance coldly and listened calmly to his words.

Worthy of being the clan head. He was quite adept at getting something for nothing.

This long speech both explained the clan's plight and reminisced about its former glory. With such lofty rhetoric thrown at them, any other young man would probably have been dazed by it already.

And what would happen after they were dazed?

Naturally, their sense of responsibility and mission would overflow, and they would voluntarily offer to serve the clan, willing to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the Uchiha Clan's revival!

See? This was Fugaku Uchiha's usual routine. He was not much better than that old fellow Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Unfortunately, Yun Yan was not some inexperienced young man. His mind had always been clear, so he remained silent, calmly meeting Fugaku Uchiha's gaze without responding to his words.

After watching Yun Yan for a while and finding that he remained impassive, without the slightest reaction, Fugaku Uchiha grew awkward again.

Why was this kid so different from the other clansmen?

The other clansmen had long since thrown themselves forward for the clan. Why was he not showing the slightest response?

So what if the clan ignored you when you were young? Now that you have grown up and gained ability, can't you support the clan a little?

That was Fugaku Uchiha's instinctive anger, his unconscious thought.

But Fugaku Uchiha still had some bottom line. Compared to those clansmen with muddled minds, this clan head was relatively clear-headed.

After that moment of instinctive anger, Fugaku Uchiha suddenly came to his senses and sighed helplessly inside.

Sigh... that thought was truly a little shameless.

The clan had offered the other party no help whatsoever when he was struggling as a child, yet now that he had grown strong, they turned around and demanded that he willingly devote himself to the clan. How could there be such a good deal in the world?

After reflecting on himself a little, Fugaku Uchiha felt somewhat ashamed.

But ashamed or not, he still had to keep trying to win him over.

No matter what, Yun Yan bore the Uchiha name. It was one thing when they had not known and had neglected him before, but now that they had discovered such a young elite jonin in the clan, they absolutely could not simply hand him over to others.

Thus, Fugaku Uchiha hardened himself and shamelessly continued:

"Yun Yan, now that you have finally returned to the clan, what are your plans going forward?

"Do you intend to work in the police force? Or serve the clan?

"With your elite jonin-level strength, no matter which path you choose, you are certain to shine brilliantly. I look forward greatly to your future."

Seeing a look of expectation and anticipation on Fugaku Uchiha's perpetually stern face was an extremely incongruous feeling.

Seeing that incongruity, Yun Yan finally responded, and his very first words were quite impolite:

"There is no need for the Clan Head to worry. I have already decided where I will go next."

Fugaku Uchiha found this somewhat strange and asked naturally:

"Oh? Yun Yan, you intend to..."

"Lord Hokage invited me to join the ANBU, and I have already agreed."

Upon hearing that, Fugaku Uchiha's eyes widened, and he nearly lost his composure:

"What!? He invited you into the ANBU!? And you already agreed!?"

Yun Yan looked at him calmly.

"Yes, Clan Head. Is there a problem?"

A problem? The problem was enormous!

What kind of place was the ANBU? It was the elite force the Hokage's faction had always relied upon, arguably the most important trump card in Konoha's upper ranks' hands.

If this force deployed in full, it could even change the course of a war! It was unquestionably the Hokage's direct force!

Yet an Uchiha was going to join the ANBU. How was that any different from defecting to someone else? And the people he was joining were the very people hostile to the clan!

He had just been thinking that they absolutely could not hand such a young elite jonin over to others, yet the kid himself was about to run off eagerly. Who could possibly accept that?

Thus, agitated, Fugaku Uchiha could no longer maintain his former calm. He frowned, anxiously trying to persuade Yun Yan without knowing where to begin:

"The ANBU... Yun Yan, is the ANBU really suitable for you?"

Having basically seen through Fugaku Uchiha's thoughts, Yun Yan still looked listless and indifferent to everything.

"How is the ANBU unsuitable for me?

"I know the competition there is fierce and the missions are extremely dangerous, but my strength has already reached this level. If I want to improve further and receive more training, I can only enter that kind of environment.

"Compared to the ANBU, whether it is the police force or the clan, the environment is far too comfortable. It would not help me at all."

That reasoning was simply too sound, leaving Fugaku Uchiha unable to refute it for the moment.

After a brief silence, Fugaku Uchiha's face stiffened once more, returning to that unapproachable look.

With a cold expression, he asked unwillingly:

"Yun Yan, are you certain you want to join the ANBU?"

Yun Yan nodded.

"I have already made an agreement with Lord Hokage. I cannot go back on my word, can I? Besides, there is no reason to go back on something like this."

Fugaku Uchiha frowned slightly.

"But... do you not know about the conflict between the clan and Konoha's upper ranks?

"No matter what, you bear the Uchiha name. If you enter the ANBU like this, will you truly be valued? Won't the ANBU members exclude and target you?

"If you are targeted even a little while carrying out a high-difficulty mission, you could be in danger."