Phony Sincerity Could Actually Be a Password Too

"You bastard, we all dropped out because of you, and you went fishing?!" Uchiha Chuan had just returned to his doorstep with a fishing rod when he found a group of Uchiha children blocking the entrance. Obito was the first to rush forward, glaring at him furiously, his voice full of indignation.

"You all dropped out?" Uchiha Chuan froze for a moment, surprise appearing on his face.

"Of course!" Uchiha Mion planted her hands on her hips, sounding rather proud. "My dad said that since you dropped out, we definitely had to support you! Because you're the hope of the Uchiha, the future leader of the Uchiha!"

"..." A whole stampede of absurdity surged through Uchiha Chuan's mind as he inwardly grumbled, Damn it, I was touched for nothing last night! These Uchiha bastards have no sense of fair play. They actually ambushed and deceived a young comrade like me. How shameless!

But he could not say that aloud. No matter what, these children had dropped out because of him. So, pretending to be composed, he said, "Fine, you dropped out. It's no big deal. There isn't much to learn at the Konoha Ninja Academy anyway. If you really want to learn, go teach yourselves at the Konoha Library, or practice ninjutsu at our Uchiha training grounds. You could even do odd jobs for the Police Force and let its members teach you. If that still doesn't work, study under Elder Mengxue. That's far better than going to the Ninja Academy. All you do there is date and fall in love. You're a bunch of little brats—what do you know about love?"

"Damn it, what's wrong with dating and falling in love? It doesn't affect our training, so why not?" Obito retorted stubbornly, his face full of defiance.

"But it affects your intelligence." Uchiha Chuan glanced at him, his tone teasing.

"Damn it, Uchiha Chuan, you called me an idiot!" Obito's eyes widened as he angrily pointed at Uchiha Chuan.

"I didn't call you one. You said it yourself." Uchiha Chuan shrugged innocently.

"Hahaha, Obito admitted he's an idiot! A big idiot!" The surrounding children immediately burst into laughter, their voices full of mockery.

"Hmph, Uchiha Chuan, don't get cocky! We won't lose to you! Whatever training you do, we'll do too!" Obito's face flushed red with anger as he loudly declared.

"That's right!" The other children echoed him one after another, their voices loud as though they were taking an oath.

"You can just go train yourselves. Why are you latching onto me?" Uchiha Chuan immediately sensed trouble and groaned inwardly.

"My dad said that Uchiha Chuan is a genius of our Uchiha, and that he works so hard he gets up at four in the morning. So he told us to train with you. Whatever you do, we'll do; however you train, we'll train the same way. At the very least, we have to reach half your standard!" Uchiha Mion said seriously, her tone filled with admiration.

"Got it? Then hurry up and start! What's the first training exercise?" Obito rubbed his hands excitedly, his eyes full of anticipation.

"..." Uchiha Chuan was speechless. Luckily, he had developed the Smart Clone Technique earlier. Otherwise, he really would not have been able to slack off anymore. But now, he was not afraid.

"Fine. Come back tomorrow morning at nine. I need to prepare." Uchiha Chuan said mysteriously.

"Training needs preparation?" Obito looked utterly confused, clearly not expecting training to require advance preparation.

"Of course it does! If you could become stronger by training casually, why would you need to train with me?" Uchiha Chuan raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"Uh... all right, then we'll come back tomorrow." Obito scratched his head, found it reasonable, and nodded.

"Tch, what a pain." Uchiha Chuan rolled his eyes helplessly.

After the children left, Uchiha Chuan let out a long breath and secretly rejoiced. Good thing I have the Smart Clone Technique, or these little brats really would've ruined my path to slacking off.

"Still, the Smart Clone Technique from before isn't enough anymore. I need to upgrade it." Uchiha Chuan said helplessly.

"I just hope it won't take too long, or they'll deduct more of my slacking-off days." Uchiha Chuan shook his head and went home, depressed and helpless.

"Hiruzen, we need to make new plans." Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura hurried back to the Hokage's Office, their faces grave. They had just returned from the Root base, their hearts filled with concern over the Uchiha Clan's next move.

"I know. I've already sent someone to summon Danzo." The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, looking weary and weathered. He slowly turned his head, a complicated look in his eyes.

"Hiruzen, you..." Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were both stunned when they saw the Third Hokage's appearance. They had never seen him so exhausted, as though he had aged many years overnight.

"We underestimated Uchiha Chuan." The Third Hokage murmured softly, his voice carrying helplessness. "We thought he dropped out only to protect himself. The Uchiha had always done things that way before, but we never imagined that one day they would take the initiative to attack us. After all, Fugaku Uchiha couldn't do such a thing, and no one in the Uchiha could do such a thing. But now, Uchiha Chuan can. We need to change our attitude toward Uchiha Chuan, and toward the entire Uchiha Clan."

"Hiruzen, have you thought this through?" Mitokado Homura asked solemnly, concern in his voice. "Once we enter into a full-scale confrontation with the Uchiha, none of us can predict what will happen."

"Who said we're going to confront the Uchiha head-on?" The Third Hokage shook his head, his tone firm. "What I mean is that we've been too arrogant toward the Uchiha. Konoha was founded jointly by the Uchiha and Senju. We must give the Uchiha the respect they deserve instead of excluding and isolating them. We must apologize for what happened before."

"What?" Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were both stunned by the Third Hokage's words. They had not expected him to suggest such a thing.

"A delaying tactic?" Utatane Koharu asked tentatively, doubt in her voice.

"Koharu, it isn't a delaying tactic, nor is it some conspiracy." The Third Hokage spoke seriously, leaving no room for doubt. "It is sincerely accepting them. It is thoroughly putting the Will of Fire into practice."

"Huh?" Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were dumbfounded again. They had not expected the Third Hokage to suggest such a "sunny" idea. That meant they would have to give up even more benefits.

"Hiruzen, have you gone mad?" Utatane Koharu could not help asking, disbelief in her voice.

"The situation in the Shinobi World is becoming increasingly tense. The Third Shinobi World War could erupt at any time." The Third Hokage spoke quietly, his tone heavy.

"So we lower our stance to stabilize the Uchiha first, then use the war to kill with a borrowed blade?" Mitokado Homura caught on, his tone probing.

"..." The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "Homura, Koharu, can't your thoughts be a little sunnier?"

"Everything is for Konoha." Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a look and immediately understood the Third Hokage's meaning. They got it. The Third Hokage would be "sunny," while the darker parts would naturally be left to Danzo.

"Hmph, Hiruzen, you're far too weak. Something so trivial has forced you to lower your stance and show weakness to the enemy." At that moment, Danzo's cold voice came from the doorway. He pushed the door open and walked in, his face full of disdain.

"Danzo, do you have a better idea?" Utatane Koharu asked at once, expectation in her voice. If possible, why would they want to bow their heads to the "evil Uchiha"?

"With Hiruzen's endorsement, it was perfectly justified for me to seek out Uchiha Chuan. The procedure may have been improper, but it was only a minor mistake. In the end, we were merely cherishing talent. And Hiruzen already apologized, so this matter should be over." Danzo said coldly, his voice laced with sarcasm. "But the Uchiha actually withdrew from school en masse. That is an open split from the village. Now it is our turn to ask whether the Uchiha intends to create division and stage a coup."

Danzo's words made the Third Hokage, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura all realize something.

"That's right, the Uchiha's actions this time really can be considered divisive." Mitokado Homura's eyes lit up, excitement in his voice.

"Besides, tomorrow is the Jonin Meeting. Uchiha Chuan won't be attending it, and Fugaku Uchiha and the Uchiha's First Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder are nothing but old fossils. We can mold them however we please—round or flat, it's all up to us." Utatane Koharu's eyes lit up as well, pride in her voice.

"Hmph, I still think we should open our arms to the Uchiha." The Third Hokage snorted coldly, persistence in his voice.

"Hmph, Hiruzen, you'll regret this." Danzo said coldly, sarcasm in his tone.

"Danzo, I am the Hokage." The Third Hokage glared at him, warning in his eyes.

The password had been exchanged. Konoha F4 instantly understood one another.