Year-End Bonuses and Settling Firmly as Acting Patriarch

Uchiha Yuan slept, yet many in the Uchiha Clan Grounds remained awake. They worried not because of misfortune, but because they were far too happy and excited to sleep.

"The acting patriarch is truly wonderful to us. Had such a patriarch appeared earlier, we of the Uchiha would have already united the Land of Fire."

"Indeed. To think they call him a genius; as expected of our Uchiha bloodline, every child of Lord Tajima is so dazzling."

"Right, we must hurry up and finish our missions as well."

"...You're annoying~"

Before long, unspeakable sounds echoed from within the rooms.

Scenes like this unfolded everywhere across the Uchiha Clan Grounds. On this year-end day, everyone gathered at the shrine of the Uchiha Clan Grounds to hold the annual bonuses.

Originally, the clansmen had grown accustomed to the routine, yet when Uchiha Yuan stepped forward holding a list, everything changed.

As the names on the list were read aloud, everyone gradually realized these clansmen were all those who usually performed exceptionally, though none knew what the acting patriarch intended to do.

"The clansmen whose names I call will receive a fivefold bonus this year!"

Whoosh!

The moment those words fell, they instantly sparked a chorus of gasps. A fivefold increase! What an enormous sum of money that was!

"Brilliant, acting patriarch! Long live the acting patriarch!"

"Long live the acting patriarch!"

Uchiha Yuan raised a hand to press downward, and once the crowd quieted, he continued reading the names.

Those who had established special combat merits and those injured and unable to fight again likewise received doubled year-end bonuses.

And after the final list was read, just when everyone thought the commendation meeting had concluded, Uchiha Yuan's words sparked yet another wave of gasps.

"Finally, besides thanking the contributions of the aforementioned clansmen, we cannot do without the remaining clansmen. For a better tomorrow ahead, the bonuses of everyone in the entire clan will be increased by one fold!"

"Wow!"

"Am I dreaming?"

"Really?"

"Brilliant, acting patriarch!"

Originally, the year-end bonus for Uchiha clansmen was only a few thousand ryō. It did not seem like much, but in this Warring States era, it was enough for an ordinary person's expenses for a year, and that was the kind where every meal included meat.

Yet for ninja, this bit of money was truly a bit scarce; perhaps renovating a set of ninja tools would spend it all.

Now Uchiha Yuan had directly doubled it for them, while those with military exploits and substantial contributions directly received several times over. At this, even ninja from a major clan like the Uchiha had to take it seriously.

Currently, the number of ninja in the Uchiha Clan Grounds had exceeded two thousand. Usually, bonuses would consume two million ryō, and this immediate doubling used up over ten million ryō more.

Yet Uchiha Yuan had the confidence to give out this money. Not only were the industries within the clan flourishing under his leadership, but those ten of his tool humans could easily produce this sum; twenty million ryō was merely half a month's profit for the tool humans.

The clan assembly successfully concluded amidst lively and joyous sounds. Afterward, he conveniently agreed with his two cheap older brothers to head to the training ground together tomorrow. Because he had been away from the battlefield for a long time, Madara worried Uchiha Yuan's training had grown lax, and intended to test him.

The next day, just as dawn broke.

Uchiha Madara wore a set of linen trousers and a short shirt, warming up at the training ground, alongside Izuna who was eating breakfast.

"Nom nom... Big brother, what strength do you think Yuan has reached now?"

Madara thought for a moment and replied:

"He should be a bit inferior to Senju Tobirama, but not by much."

"Oh? That dog Tobirama? If you'll excuse my bluntness, Third Brother is much stronger than him."

Madara furrowed his brow. Ever since acquiring the Mangekyō Sharingan, how come Izuna seemed to look at everyone as if they were mere corpses waiting to be slaughtered?

"Izuna, that fellow Tobirama is hardly low in intelligence. He handles family affairs just like Yuan, yet can still entangle you for so long. We cannot lower our guard."

"Understood, understood."

Although hearing his big brother say so, Izuna did not take it to heart. Could it be that only Tobirama grew stronger? He himself had never slackened in his training.

Time slowly passed second by second, and Izuna finished eating and also began warming up. On a freezing day, if one did not exercise the body, having chakra alone would still leave one feeling the chill.

The great fireball hanging in the sky, putting on a bold front, climbed ever higher, yet the warmth it brought was far too stingy.

Madara and Izuna just waited like this, and waited...

Gurgle~

"Big brother! Your stomach is growling."

"Shut up!"

In a certain dwelling in the central area of the Uchiha Clan Grounds, Uchiha Yuan was sleeping soundly. Curling up in the bedding in the dead of winter was truly such a wonderful thing.

"Lord Yuan! Wake up quickly!"

Before the voice arrived, a pair of hands had already begun tugging at the blankets.

"Who is it? Don't snatch! How dare you snatch my blanket!"

Uchiha Yuan kept his eyes tightly shut. Feeling a trace of chilliness, he hastily gripped the bedding tightly and refused to let go.

Uchiha Haru watched his appearance and was instantly left between laughter and tears, yet the patriarch and young patriarch were still waiting right outside.

"Get up quickly! Did Lord Yuan forget something?! Wake up now."

"Ah? Sleep a little longer, just a little!"

The two tugged at the blanket, locked in a stalemate, but ultimately a cold breeze sneaked in through the gap to launch a surprise attack on Uchiha Yuan, making him shiver violently.

"Fine, I'll give it to you."

Thump...

Uchiha Haru clutched the blanket and fell backward onto her bottom, half-closing deadpan eyes in utter speechlessness.

"Ah~ ha. Right, what did you say I forgot just now?"

Uchiha Yuan yawned, his head still aching slightly from the hangover, unable to recall for a moment what had happened yesterday.

Haru said with little cordiality:

"Lord Yuan, Patriarch Madara and Young Patriarch Izuna are waiting for you in the living room."

"Oh, then I..."

Uchiha Yuan's eyes suddenly widened. He remembered; it seemed they had agreed to go to the training ground together today.

Thump thump thump!

Wearing pajamas and stepping upon the smooth flooring, he rushed toward the living room. Uchiha Yuan felt a bit flustered; this was the first time he had stood someone up, and he felt somewhat guilty.

"Big brother! Second brother!"

Uchiha Yuan panted lightly, looking at the two neatly dressed figures in the living room sipping hot tea, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yo, isn't this my cute and endearing little brother? It seems you were terribly busy last night, waking up only now."

The corner of Uchiha Madara's mouth hitched, his tone full of grievances, resembling a bullied young wife.

"Big brother, you know how I am. After finishing the remaining official business, I didn't fall asleep until past twelve last night."

Izuna took a sip of hot tea, his complexion looking very cheerful instead.

"Third Brother, you don't know. Today I suggested letting big brother finish breakfast before heading to the training ground, but who knew he wouldn't listen? He just waited until noon without seeing a shadow of you. I even heard..."

"Shut up, Izuna!"

Hearing those words from Izuna, Uchiha Yuan smiled sheepishly, scratched his head, and said:

"Well, you two older brothers wait a moment. I'll go wash up and prepare a grand feast for you to eat. Rest assured, it'll be very fast."

Once Uchiha Yuan finished speaking, he spun around and bolted. Madara wanted to speak and yet hesitated; he wanted to say, By the time you finish cooking, I've already eaten my fill outside. Yet he found it hard to voice those words, because this was the third brother's first time treating him to a meal.

"We're in for a treat now. Third Brother is cooking personally, that flavor... tsk tsk."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Ah? Big brother, have you never eaten it? I thought you had eaten it before. After all, since you even deliberately left room in your stomach, you clearly don't realize that Third Brother's cooking is truly absolute!"