Konoha F4 Can't Stand Seeing the Uchiha Do Well

"Have you heard? The Uchiha are holding a Youth Stilt Football League!"

"Hahaha, I've seen Stilt Football before. It's amazing to watch, and now they're holding an official competition with generous prizes. It'll definitely be even livelier! I wonder how much tickets cost."

"Tickets are cheap, just the price of a bowl of ramen."

"Good, good, good! I'll definitely go watch when the time comes! Maybe I can get my son to learn it too. He was rejected by the Ninja Academy last time because getting him to train hard is harder than climbing to heaven. But this Uchiha Stilt Football is both fun and good exercise—maybe it can help him meet the enrollment requirements."

"Damn, that's right! We only thought about how this could strengthen Ninja Academy students and Genin. We forgot that it could also make the kids who didn't get into the Ninja Academy train hard! Once they enter the Ninja Academy, they'll become ninja!"

In an instant, the civilians became excited as well. The Uchiha's Youth Stilt Football League not only attracted Ninja Academy students and Genin, but also gave ordinary civilians' children new hope. This activity, which was both enjoyable and physically demanding, rekindled hope in many families that had once considered the Ninja Academy beyond their reach.

"Evil Uchiha, damn Uchiha! Is this their backup plan?" At the same time, the Konoha F3, who had just learned of this matter, were furious beyond measure. They had never imagined that the Uchiha would cause such a huge stir again.

Ever since Uchiha Chuan appeared, major Uchiha developments had come one after another. Every move seemed like a carefully designed link in a chain, leaving others unable to guard against them.

"Uchiha Chuan, Uchiha Chuan, damn Uchiha Chuan! How did he even grow up? He can put out such seamlessly interlocking plans one after another." Mitokado Homura was stunned, feeling both admiration and fear.

"Sigh, have people start revising next semester's history textbooks immediately." The Third Hokage spoke helplessly, a trace of exhaustion in his voice. He could only move forward work that had originally been scheduled to begin two months later, hoping to ease his anxiety.

"Uchiha Chuan, damn Uchiha Chuan... Could you really be our nemesis?" Danzo had also received word of Konoha's drastic changes, and he was in no state to take it well. Sitting in the room where he was confined, his face was dark and his eyes burned with fury.

Meanwhile, many civilian ninja could not help sighing.

"Who would have thought that the ones who cared most about us civilian ninja, the ones most willing to give us a way forward, would be the Uchiha we used to despise?"

"Yeah. First, they proposed establishing Konoha Second Ninja Academy to spread ninjutsu. After being rejected, they're now using this method to spread ninjutsu among us civilian ninja. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage, who keeps claiming he acts for our sake, is completely unmoved when it comes to making us stronger. He even suppresses us."

"Heh, what's even sadder is that if Uchiha Chuan hadn't exposed his true face before, we would have accepted him without question and hated the Uchiha."

"Hahaha, the Third Hokage is really hypocritical."

"I finally understand the suffering the Uchiha went through before. Fortunately, the Uchiha produced someone like Uchiha Chuan."

"The Uchiha are pitiful people just like us."

In secret, the Uchiha Clan's reputation gradually began to turn around amid the quiet approval of the civilians. The Third Hokage's prestige began to decline unnoticed. Yet those lofty figures were still completely unaware of it.

"Enter the competition. As long as we win the championship, we can at least stay one step ahead of the Uchiha." The Third Hokage took a deep drag of his pipe and finally made up his mind. If he could not beat them, then he would join them. His tone carried helplessness and exhaustion; clearly, he could find no better way to deal with the Uchiha's rise.

"Sigh, then we'll enter. To ensure victory, the team we form will be called the Hokage Team, and the three of us will serve as its coaches. Every player must be at least fifteen years old. We'll use the age gap to suppress everyone else." Utatane Koharu proposed, a chill flashing through her eyes.

"Fine. We'll choose players from our three clans. I'll go back and pick some people, and you two should do the same. Also, make sure to familiarize yourselves with the rules and football strategies." The Third Hokage nodded, a trace of resolve in his voice.

"Mm, we'll do that." Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement, his eyes full of solemnity.

Just as Uchiha Chuan had said, with the Uchiha making one major move after another, they no longer had the leisure to scheme against the Uchiha today and scheme against them again tomorrow. The Uchiha's rise had left them scrambling to cope, forcing them to confront it head-on.

As a result, the Uchiha Clan had been rather comfortable and relaxed lately. This only made them admire Uchiha Chuan even more. Their past days were still vivid in their minds, and in comparison, anyone could clearly feel how much the Uchiha had changed.

That evening, after returning home, the Third Hokage carefully sought advice from his son, Asuma.

"Asuma, how much do you know about Stilt Football?" the Third Hokage asked, a hint of expectation in his voice.

Asuma immediately began explaining enthusiastically to the Third Hokage, his love for Stilt Football practically overflowing.

"Stilt Football is so much fun! It not only trains your sense of balance, but also improves chakra control! And the matches are especially thrilling. Obito might be clumsy, but he actually looks pretty decent when he plays!" Asuma said excitedly, his eyes shining.

This left the Third Hokage both helpless and furious, and he wished he could tear the Uchiha apart immediately. He had not expected his own son to be so obsessed with an Uchiha game.

"Alright, go get some rest." Worn out, the Third Hokage waved his hand and sent Asuma away.

At the same time, countless Stilt Football fields sprang up throughout the village. Yet even so, disputes over the fields continued to emerge throughout the week.

"This field is ours! We got here first!"

"You think this field appeared out of thin air? We built it!"

"Hmph, so what if you built it? This was originally a public training ground!"

"Alright, stop arguing. Play a match. Whoever wins gets to use it first!"

"Fine, let's play!"

That week, countless fields saw fierce matches as people trained. Obito and Asuma were no exception.

"Obito, you're late again!" Ebisu said unhappily, reproach in his voice.

"Hehe, I went to eavesdrop on Uchiha Chuan's training session for them." Obito said proudly, his face full of smugness.

"Ebisu has drifted through half his life, lamenting only that he had never met a wise lord. If you do not reject me, I, Ebisu, am willing to acknowledge you as my godfather..." Ebisu immediately changed his tune, his voice dripping with flattery.

"Asuma, what are you doing eavesdropping? You're not on the same team as us!" Obito immediately pointed at the eavesdropping Asuma, his tone full of vigilance.

"Tch, cheapskate. Isn't it just Uchiha Chuan? I'll beat him too!" Asuma said irritably, his tone full of disdain.

"Hmph, we'll beat you first!" Obito said even more proudly, battle intent blazing in his eyes.

And so, the week flew by, and at last the opening match of the Youth Stilt Football League arrived.