Stilt Football

"Heh, as long as the clan head and the three elders are happy." Uchiha Chuan smiled faintly, his tone calm and confident. "There will be plenty more happy days like this in the future. After all, this is only the beginning."

Fugaku Uchiha's smile deepened at his words. He patted Uchiha Chuan on the shoulder, his tone full of praise. "Little Chuan, you're right! Today's victory is only the beginning. The future of our Uchiha Clan will definitely be even brighter!"

The First Elder nodded as well, a trace of emotion flashing through his eyes. "That's right. We were always suppressed by the Konoha Leadership before. Who would have thought we could make them suffer such a huge loss today? Little Chuan, you really are the lucky star of our Uchiha!"

The Second and Third Elders also chimed in, their faces full of excitement and anticipation.

Fugaku Uchiha suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "Right, Little Chuan, we didn't bring up what you mentioned before—selling Ninjutsu and forcing them to compromise. They don't dare make trouble for us now, but we plan to raise it when they try to trouble us again. After all, we can't keep using the same method to suppress them."

Uchiha Chuan nodded, his tone calm but meaningful. "Clan Head, you made the right choice. When we hold the advantage, there's no need to play every card in our hand. Unless we can crush them in one blow, but clearly, this alone isn't enough to shake their foundation."

The First Elder could not help sighing, his tone somewhat wistful. "Little Chuan is right. The Hokage is still the Hokage. We can gain the upper hand in our struggle against them, but bringing down the Hokage is impossible with the Uchiha Clan alone."

As Uchiha Chuan turned the situation around with a wave of his hand, completely reversing the Uchiha Clan's fortunes against the village through just two small measures, the First Elder gradually came to understand. He realized just how foolish they had been before, always letting the Konoha Leadership lead them around by the nose.

Uchiha Chuan smiled faintly, his tone carrying a reminder. "It's good that you understand, First Elder. However, we can't let the village leadership relax too much. If they get too comfortable, they'll start reaching out again. So we must keep them on edge at all times. Only then will they have no time to come looking for trouble with us."

"Oh? What do we do next?" Fugaku Uchiha and the three elders were immediately intrigued. They stared intently at Uchiha Chuan, as though expecting him to produce another astonishing strategy.

The corners of Uchiha Chuan's mouth curled up, a sly glint flashing through his eyes. "I designed a game that can be used for both training and fun. I'll teach Obito and the others later. Once they've had fun playing today and tomorrow, have them form teams at the Ninja Academy and compete the day after tomorrow. The winners will receive C-rank Ninjutsu. Once the competition gets going, we can sell tickets, snacks, and vendor spaces, increasing the Uchiha Clan's income. Of course, you'll have to handle the planning yourselves."

Fugaku Uchiha and the three elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise and anticipation. Trusting Uchiha Chuan, they agreed without hesitation. "Good! If we can get it running, we'll make the plans properly!"

Uchiha Chuan nodded, his tone relaxed. "Then that settles it. You should leave first. Obito and the others will be back soon. Children don't feel comfortable with adults around, so it's better for you to go."

After all, children did not feel comfortable with adults around, so it was better for them to leave. Besides, they would observe from the shadows. Soon afterward, Fugaku and the other three took their leave.

Not long after Fugaku Uchiha and the three elders left, Obito and the others ran back excitedly. They held the stilts they had made themselves, their faces full of excitement and anticipation.

"Uchiha Chuan, we're done! What do we do next?" Obito asked impatiently, his eyes shining with eagerness.

"Come on, take me to the field you built." Uchiha Chuan waved a hand, anticipation in his voice.

"Okay!" Obito and the others answered excitedly, then grandly led Uchiha Chuan to the Uchiha Clan's training grounds. A simple soccer field had already been set up there. Though it looked somewhat rough, it was more than enough to excite this group of kids.

"Where's the ball?" Uchiha Chuan looked around and asked.

"Here!" Uchiha Mion immediately pulled out a ball from behind her back, a smug smile on her face.

"Watch closely." Uchiha Chuan smiled faintly, then stepped onto the stilts. His movements were light and practiced, as though he had long been used to this strange equipment. Then, with a smack, he lifted his foot and knocked the ball from Mion's hands.

After the ball hit the ground, Uchiha Chuan actually began dribbling it steadily while standing on stilts. His movements were smooth and natural, as though the stilts and ball were part of his body. Then he suddenly lifted a foot and, with a bang, kicked the ball flying with his stilts.

In an instant, the ball traced a beautiful arc through the air and flew precisely into the goal.

"See that? This is called Stilt Football." Uchiha Chuan jumped down from the stilts, sounding rather pleased with himself. "Next, you'll split into teams of eleven and compete. Each match lasts ninety minutes. Whoever scores more goals wins."

"Other than the goalkeeper, you can't use your hands. You can only touch the ball with your feet, head, or chest. Those are the rules. Take them and read them carefully." As Uchiha Chuan spoke, he handed the prepared Stilt Football rules to Obito.

Obito took the rules, but his face was still blank with confusion. "Wait, weren't we supposed to train? Why are we playing a game?"

"Idiot Obito!" Mion could not help rolling her eyes, her tone full of disdain. "Walking on stilts is already hard enough, and now you have to kick a ball and compete against each other. If you can play well, then your training must be incredible! Even I understand that, yet you can't see it? Shame, shame, shame!"

"I... I just didn't react right away! Who said I couldn't see it?" Obito immediately widened his eyes in protest, his face flushing red.

"Alright, Obito." Uchiha Chuan waved a hand, his tone teasing. "Whether you see it or not, it's fun, it helps you train, and it lets you show off. When the time comes, invite the person you like to join in. You can become a hero. Don't you like that?"

"Huh? What do you mean, show off?" Obito still did not understand and scratched his head.

Uchiha Chuan smiled faintly, temptation in his tone. "Heh, when you kick the ball into the goal on stilts while eleven opponents try to stop you, you'll be like a hero turning the tide. Tell me, would that be showing off or not?"

Obito's eyes instantly lit up, as though he had thought of something. He said excitedly, "Uchiha Chuan, are you saying we can invite other people to join this training?"

"Of course." Uchiha Chuan nodded, his tone meaningful. "If you practice hard these next two days, you'll master it first. Then you'll be the ones who stand out the most. You'll stand out even more than Kakashi."

"Alright! Just watch me! I'll definitely be the one who stands out the most!" Obito immediately waved his fists excitedly, as though he could already see himself showing off on the field.

"Alright, read the rules first," Uchiha Chuan reminded him.

At once, the group of kids hurriedly gathered together and began studying the rules seriously.

"Forwards are responsible for scoring? I want to score!"

"No, I want to score!"

"The attacking center is the commander of the front line? I want to be the commander!"

"I want to command the back line!"

"Who'll be a defender? Whoever's the worst can be a defender!"

"Who'll be the goalkeeper?"

"I think Obito is best suited to be goalkeeper!"

"Damn it, I want to be a forward!"

"No, Obito, you're an idiot. You can't be a forward!"

In an instant, the Uchiha kids erupted into an argument, everyone fighting to take the most important position. Obito was so angry that he jumped up and down, desperately protesting, "I'm not an idiot! I want to be a forward!"

Uchiha Chuan stood to the side, watching them bicker. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, amusement flashing through his eyes. He did not intervene, simply waiting quietly for them to divide themselves into teams.

"Let them argue. The fiercer they argue, the more intense the match will be." Uchiha Chuan murmured softly. Then he walked aside, found a comfortable spot, and sat down to wait leisurely.

On the training grounds, the Uchiha kids were still arguing fiercely, as though none of them were willing to give an inch.