A Promise to Safeguard the Uchiha Clan's Future

To enlist Yun Yan's help, Fugaku stated an unchangeable fact: he bore the Uchiha name.

Looking at the clan head, Yun Yan sighed. He knew there was no way to avoid this, and he had to face the clan head's plea head-on.

His expression growing slightly solemn, Yun Yan answered seriously:

"What you said is right, Clan Head. My surname is Uchiha. I have a pair of Sharingan, and Uchiha blood runs through my veins. No matter what, that cannot be changed.

"Honestly, this bloodline and these eyes played a major role in giving me my current strength. I am grateful for them.

"But that is all. Nothing more than gratitude.

"So if you intend to invoke that debt of gratitude, Clan Head, you should forget it. That won't work on me."

Fugaku sighed, still disappointed.

"Yun Yan, is there truly no room for discussion?

"For the neglect and unfair treatment you suffered as a child, I can apologize to you on behalf of the entire clan."

Yun Yan gently shook his head.

"If an apology was any use, why didn't you do it sooner?"

Fugaku finally looked somewhat dejected.

What could he do about someone who had never received any favor from the clan and had independently grown to this point?

Even as clan head, there was little he could do.

Point fingers? Throw his weight around? Rebuke Yun Yan or directly order him around on the authority of his position as clan head?

What a joke. Fugaku had already realized what kind of temperament Yun Yan had. He would never accept that sort of thing.

Rather than make things ugly between them and force Yun Yan further and further away from the clan, it was better to accommodate him somewhat and do his best to preserve the bond formed by their shared bloodline.

In truth, Fugaku's plan and his approach were very correct.

No matter how indifferent Yun Yan was toward the Uchiha Clan, he still cared about his Sharingan. And because of that, he could never completely sever his connection to the bloodline that had given rise to those eyes.

Looking at Fugaku like this, Yun Yan sighed and made a promise.

"There is no need for you to be like this, Clan Head. I am merely a junior of the clan. I am not worth such care from you.

"Sigh, how about this?

"I have heard a little about the clan's current predicament. The other clansmen are not particularly clear-headed. I believe you can see that yourself, Clan Head.

"So do not expect me to devote myself wholeheartedly to the clan. That is simply my nature; there is nothing to be done about it.

"However, I can promise that if the Uchiha Clan faces a major crisis in the future, I will not stand by and do nothing. No matter what, I will safeguard the Uchiha Clan's future.

"What do you say?"

Hearing that promise, Fugaku's eyes lit up.

Yun Yan's attitude... was rather interesting.

It was certain that he was not close to the clan and even strongly disapproved of many things within it.

Yet he could not cast aside his connection to this bloodline. After all, he still bore the Uchiha name, and he acknowledged that himself.

That was why Yun Yan had made this promise. If the most dangerous situation arose in the future, he would not stand aside. He would preserve the clan's future.

What did that amount to? It meant he had voluntarily agreed to be the clan's last line of defense.

With such a promise, Fugaku could finally rest a little easier.

Having gained something and received some response, Fugaku let out a breath of relief inwardly.

Fine. Though it was not the ideal outcome, this was acceptable too.

Wait! Something seemed off.

Coming back to his senses, Fugaku noticed something very strange.

Why did facing Yun Yan give him the feeling that he was entrusting an orphan to someone? As though he were placing the clan's entire future in this young man's hands?

What a joke. No matter how strong Yun Yan was now, he was only an elite jonin, not Kage-level. Why had he just had such thoughts? Why had he felt Yun Yan would be enough to serve as the clan's final safety net?

If Yun Yan were Kage-level, then perhaps he could do it. But he was only an elite jonin, so all they could hope for was... that when the clan was at its most perilous, he could preserve its last remaining bloodline.

After realizing this, Fugaku was filled with confusion.

How strange. Why did he have the illusion that Yun Yan, standing before him, could change everything and save the clan?

This kid had considerable potential, but he had not reached that level yet, had he?

Looking at Yun Yan in confusion, Fugaku thought for a moment before coming up with a rather vague explanation.

Perhaps it was because this kid was too calm and composed?

The air he projected gave Fugaku the feeling that he feared nothing, that there was nothing he needed to fear.

Especially when he had just said he could safeguard the clan's future, the bearing he displayed had made Fugaku believe him without even realizing it.

That calm composure, that confidence that everything was under control—it truly was infectious.

He just did not know where Yun Yan got such confidence. To make a promise to safeguard the clan's future, he would need at least Kage-level strength, wouldn't he?

Hmm... Or perhaps Fugaku thought highly of this kid's future and believed that, like Shisui, he would eventually reach Kage-level, which was why he had unconsciously believed him?

That seemed possible too.

Those were Fugaku's inner thoughts, the reasons he came up with all on his own.

But the one real possibility never occurred to him.

It never crossed Fugaku's mind that Yun Yan could make such a promise with such calm composure because he possessed the strength to fulfill it.

With that kind of strength, he naturally spoke with confidence, and that confidence inevitably influenced Fugaku.

No matter what, Fugaku was still very pleased with the attitude Yun Yan had displayed in the end.

He did not want to continue discussing such heavy matters, so he began talking with Yun Yan about other things.

As for Yun Yan?

He had seen Fugaku's sincerity and his wholehearted efforts for the clan. More importantly, unlike the other Uchiha, Fugaku was not muddleheaded or unable to see the bigger picture.

Having seen all that, Yun Yan had a fairly favorable impression of the clan head before him and was willing to chat with him for a while.

And so, Yun Yan and Fugaku continued talking in the reception room.

As they chatted, roughly an hour passed before they knew it.

Yun Yan glanced at the sunlight outside and realized it was nearly noon.

If he stayed any longer, it would likely be time for their lunch. Whether he stayed to eat or not, it would cause a disturbance and be somewhat impolite.

Yun Yan did not wish to trouble Fugaku either. Besides, they had discussed everything that needed discussing and talked enough for the day. It was about time.

Finding an excuse, Yun Yan rose to his feet and took the opportunity to bid Fugaku farewell.

Fugaku also sensed that the time was about right. He had no intention of keeping Yun Yan for lunch, so after making a few perfunctory attempts to persuade him to stay, he agreed.

Just as Fugaku escorted Yun Yan to the door, and just as Yun Yan had finished putting on his shoes, Fugaku suddenly saw his eldest son, Itachi Uchiha, hurrying back from outside in ninja attire.

Had he just returned after finishing some business outside?

Perfect. To show how much he valued Yun Yan, Fugaku called out to his son.

"Itachi, see Yun Yan off for me."

Hearing that and seeing the situation, Itachi immediately understood. As his father's eldest son, he indeed had the responsibility of seeing guests off.

However...

With that thought in mind, Itachi carefully sized Yun Yan up and formed a new impression of him.

When he had opened the door for Yun Yan and received him before taking him to meet his father, Itachi had not paid Yun Yan much attention.

In Itachi's view, he was simply an ordinary jonin of the clan paying his father a routine visit after returning from a long-term mission. There was nothing unusual about it.

But after Itachi had introduced the guest and gone out to take care of some business, he returned just in time to see the guest preparing to leave.

His errand outside had taken about an hour.

In other words, during that time, his father had been receiving this guest the entire time.

That was unusual.

Itachi knew his father well. He knew Fugaku had high standards, and those he valued were no ordinary people.

And now, this guest had come to visit his father, only for his father to speak with him for an entire hour and even ask Itachi, his eldest son, to see the guest off when he left!

Itachi immediately realized that this jonin who had come to visit his father... was no ordinary person!

Sure enough, just as he paused and nodded, preparing to see the guest off, his father gave him another instruction.

Fugaku looked seriously at Itachi and said:

"This Uchiha Yunyan is your senior.

"He is no ordinary jonin. His strength has already reached the level of an elite jonin. He is a rare young talent of our Uchiha Clan."

Hearing this, a flash of shock crossed Itachi's eyes.

An elite jonin? At such a young age? He looked only a few years older than Brother Shisui, yet he possessed strength comparable to Brother Shisui's!

Sure enough, this man was not simple. He was probably the Uchiha Clan's most gifted genius after Brother Shisui!

It was just... Uchiha Yunyan? Why had he never heard that name within the clan before? A genius like this should not have remained unknown.

Amid his surprise, Itachi also felt somewhat puzzled.