Naruto: Trash Station

Ren's face turned thoughtful. "Grandpa... did Madara Uchiha leave behind only this much?"

Grandpa sighed again and said in a somewhat aged voice, "That's right... these are all that Madara Uchiha left behind. When the Uchiha Clan betrayed him back then, Madara Uchiha took away everything that belonged to him. He entrusted all these things to your grandfather, but after his battle with Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha took the Nine-Tails' summoning scroll and his own weapons with him. The scrolls left behind contain some ninjutsu recorded by Madara Uchiha, as well as the Uchiha Clan's inheritance. And the inheritance here is absolutely different. Perhaps even the Uchiha Clan's current inheritance is not as complete as this one.

Your grandfather once said that some of the Uchiha Clan's special inheritances could only be mastered by the clan head. In his anger, Madara Uchiha took all those things away. It could be said that the Uchiha Clan's inheritance was now fundamentally incomplete. The inheritances exclusive to the clan head had vanished and ended up here."

At this point, Grandpa revealed a trace of mockery.

Perhaps he was mocking the current Uchiha Clan. After all, Grandpa had once been a member of the Uchiha Clan. Though he had only been a servant, someone who had lived through the Sengoku period was no ordinary person.

Ren's eyes shone. These were things Madara Uchiha had left behind. Especially the inheritances exclusive to the Uchiha clan head—they were definitely extraordinary.

Grandpa looked at Ren and continued, "Ren... since you've decided to walk the path of a ninja, I'll give these things to you. There is also a secret passage in this chamber. It leads to a valley ten miles outside the village. Inside that valley are the money and resources Grandpa painstakingly gathered. If something happens in the future, you can escape through that passage. You must remember this!"

At this point, Ren's grandfather seemed to be delivering his final instructions.

Ren fell silent. "Grandpa... I understand. I'll remember this place well!"

"Mm... good, as long as you remember... Grandpa has lived from the Sengoku period until now and experienced far too much. I should have died long ago, but because of you, my grandson, I kept holding on. Now that you're going to become a ninja, you must work hard and grow strong. A ninja who isn't strong will find it difficult to survive!" Grandpa sighed deeply.

Ren remained silent. He knew this was an old man's sorrow. His daughter had died, his son-in-law had died, and the master he had served had also died. The only meaning left in his life was Ren. Now that Ren was becoming a ninja, he was stepping onto a path between life and death. Naturally, Grandpa was reluctant and unwilling to let him go.

Ren said nothing, but Grandpa raised his hand and pointed to a bottle in the distance. He said wistfully, "Those two eyes are Sharingan, left behind by your grandfather! Though they look like Three-Tomoe Sharingan now, they were originally Mangekyō Sharingan. Your grandfather awakened those eyes when your grandmother passed away. After he died, he left them behind because he wanted to make your father strong. Unfortunately, your father chose not to inherit them. When your father died, he even told me to destroy his Sharingan. You should know that your father also had Mangekyō Sharingan. He awakened them when your mother passed away. Sigh... these sorrowful eyes are awakened through death. The price is too heavy. I hope you never awaken such eyes in the future!"

As he spoke, Grandpa slowly took several steps back. Having seemingly finished his final instructions, he appeared much older.

Ren nodded silently. Watching Grandpa slowly walk outside, he did not look at the things Madara Uchiha had left behind. Instead, he chose to follow Grandpa out.

Perhaps because he had inherited the Uchiha Bloodline, he had a deep yearning for familial affection. Toward the grandfather who had cared for him since childhood, Ren truly could not bear to part with him.

In the silent passageway, Ren chose to remain quiet.

After they left the passage and entered the quiet bedroom, Grandpa said, "Get some rest early! The things in the secret chamber won't run away, so you can look through them slowly when you have time. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask Grandpa. After all, Grandpa came from the Sengoku period. Though I don't possess great combat power, I can still guide you. Also, once you enter the Ninja Academy, learn to make use of your own abilities in class!"

Ren was startled. "My own abilities? Do you mean the Sharingan? But I haven't awakened the Sharingan yet!"

"Not the Sharingan, but your sensory abilities. Do you know why no one dared set their sights on Grandpa's wealth despite how rich we are in Konoha?" Grandpa seemed to have emerged from his sorrow as he spoke with a hint of pride.

Hearing that, Ren smiled slightly. "I've wondered about that sometimes. Our family is so rich that, logically speaking, we should be a juicy target in the eyes of the major clans. Yet none of them have shown us any disrespect!"

Grandfather's Ability

"Hehe... I didn't expect Ren to think so much. You really are like your mother. She was this smart from a young age too."

Grandpa chuckled with a kind smile, then continued, "There are two reasons no one dares touch our family's wealth.

First, the protection of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage. Many of our family's businesses were secretly established by Madara Uchiha. Few people knew about them, but the First Hokage knew. After Madara Uchiha was killed by the First Hokage, perhaps because he remembered his relationship with Madara Uchiha, or perhaps because he felt guilty toward him, he deliberately looked after those businesses. He even visited your grandfather once. At the time, your grandfather had already faked his death and hidden himself under this identity, but the First Hokage still found him and said some special things. That was why the major clans did not dare provoke us.

Second, Grandpa's ability. You should know that Grandpa was also a ninja, and one who came from the Sengoku period. Naturally, I possess unusual abilities. In truth, this ability has been passed down through our clan—Grandpa's clan. Grandpa's clan was not large and was especially weak during the Sengoku period. However, our clan possessed special abilities: powerful sensory abilities and concealment abilities. It could be said that Grandpa's clan were natural intelligence agents. Unfortunately, we had little combat power. Yet the reason we survived so long during the Sengoku period was mainly because our clan could sense a person's potential!

Ren was curious. The ninjas of the Sengoku period had all been divided according to clans, and every clan was different. Could his grandfather possess some kind of Kekkei Genkai?

Grandpa continued, "My clan has no real combat ability. But through spiritual power, we can sense a person's physique, spiritual power, coordination... It could be said that through our unique sensory abilities, we can determine a person's overall qualities, then use that information to estimate that person's future growth potential and strength.

Therefore, during each year's ninja recruitment, I use this ability to sense the students' potential. Then I choose some with better talent and sponsor them. Over time, many of those students enter Konoha's middle ranks. With such a layer of people, no one in Konoha's middle or lower ranks dares provoke us. As for the upper ranks, there is also the First Hokage's warning, especially with Jiraiya around these recent years.

The reason Jiraiya became so strong was not only because of Grandpa's support. Grandpa also gave him some of Madara Uchiha's ninja combat notes, and those notes greatly helped a ninja's growth. That was why Jiraiya was able to grow so quickly. Of course, Jiraiya's true rise came from Mount Myoboku. Still, that was enough. With Jiraiya being a disciple of the Third Hokage, combined with his strength, the clan ninjas did not dare provoke us. After all, the Third Hokage's greatest contribution since taking office was eliminating the conflicts between the various clans."

Ren swallowed and looked at Grandpa with admiration. He had never expected his grandfather to possess such an ability, nor to wield such influence in Konoha. Konoha's middle ranks might not appear impressive, but while the King of Hell was easy to deal with, his underlings were hard to handle. The middle ranks of Konoha might not seem powerful, but they handled many of the village's affairs. Especially the disciples of major clans—most of them were in the upper ranks or ANBU. Few clan disciples took part in the middle ranks.

It could be said that the upper ranks were monopolized by the clans, while the middle ranks were monopolized by civilian ninjas. And among those middle-ranking ninjas, many had been sponsored by Ren's grandfather. Because of that, many of Ren's family businesses could be protected.

Grandpa smiled kindly and said, "Ren... your talent is very high. You are also the person with the strongest spiritual power Grandpa has sensed in my entire life. Of course, that is only among people your age. As you grow, your spiritual power will continue to increase. As for your physique, there is nothing to criticize. It could be said that your overall qualities even surpass those of the Third Hokage in his youth.

Your spiritual power is so vast that it makes people think you are not a child. Perhaps you inherited your mother's talent. Your mother was born with powerful spiritual power, but her physique was too weak. My clan's abilities are mainly reflected through spiritual power. In a few days, Grandpa will teach you how to use spiritual sensing. Then you can assess the students in your class, choose a few with better talent, and see whether you can cultivate some good future teammates or subordinates for yourself!"

Ren was somewhat speechless. The grandfather before him was already thinking about his future team assignments. It had to be said that with age came wisdom, and Ren's grandfather was exactly like that.

It was late at night, and Grandpa had already left.

Ren's heart was still full of shock. He truly had not expected such secrets to exist.

Ren looked out the window and said, "This is unbelievable. The secrets I searched for countless times were actually right inside my bedroom. Is this what they mean by the safest place being the most dangerous place? Hehe... Grandpa truly is shrewd with age. And beyond that, today's news was like a thunderbolt to me. The Uchiha Clan identity, Grandfather's origins... even Grandpa knew whether Madara Uchiha was alive or dead. It seems the Naruto World is a complete world. What was told in the manga was merely one side of this world!"

As he muttered to himself, his gaze kept drifting toward the corner of the wall. That was where the entrance to the secret chamber was, and he also knew how to undo its seal.

Ren let out a breath. "I should sleep first. Tomorrow, I'll settle the school matters, then come back and examine these things. Besides, Grandpa said that among the scrolls Madara Uchiha left behind, apart from powerful ninjutsu, there were no ordinary techniques. Perhaps Madara Uchiha simply did not think much of ordinary ninjutsu."

Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about such matters and slowly drifted into sleep.

Complaints

The next day, the silence was broken.

Ren smiled bitterly. "I didn't sleep well at all last night. It seems yesterday's news really did excite me!"

He looked toward the corner of the wall. It appeared ordinary, yet hid something extraordinary.

"Phew... I won't think about it. I'll take another look when I return tonight. For now, I should head to school. I wonder whether Kushina Uzumaki is waiting for me!" Ren said with a faint smile.

Speaking of which, after accompanying Kushina Uzumaki yesterday, he had become her first friend in Konoha. And not just an ordinary friend.

After he left his bedroom, the maid who had been waiting for a long time said, "Master has already gone out to manage the businesses. Young Master, are you heading to the Ninja Academy now?"

Ren nodded. "I'm going now. You don't need to follow me!"

After speaking, he washed up, casually ate a few bites of food, and headed toward the Ninja Academy with a tired expression.

The first time was unfamiliar, but the second time was easy. He had come here yesterday, so he quickly arrived again today.

The moment he saw the school, he felt an arm land on his shoulder. Then he saw a familiar face. "Ren... you got up pretty early today, but you look very tired!"

Seeing him, Ren said, "I couldn't sleep last night. But Nawaki, have you seen Sister Tsunade?"

The newcomer was Nawaki, someone Ren had met at the Ninja Academy, and also Ren's senior. After all, Nawaki was already a third-year student, while even after enrolling, Ren would only be a first-year student.

Nawaki shook his head. "I saw her last night, and she looked very happy. She went out early this morning, apparently to carry out a mission. Jonin are like that. After all, my sister is a medical ninja, not an ordinary Jonin."

Hearing that, a flash of anger appeared in Ren's eyes. "Yes... there are very few people in Konoha who can become Jonin as medical ninjas. Sister Tsunade is very strong, but her character really leaves much to be desired!"

His words carried resentment. Ren was still thinking about his Qilin Resin. That was Qilin Resin, yet Tsunade had simply stolen it.

Nawaki's mouth twitched as he looked at Ren. "No way! Yesterday, my sister told me to take good care of you at school. She even told me to teach you some ninjutsu unique to the Senju Clan. I thought my sister valued you, but now it seems she must have done something!"