In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

Ruthless! Absolutely ruthless! The head of the Uchiha Clan certainly knew how to play the game.

When one move failed, he moved straight to the next.

His first move was to give Liuyun a house, improving his standard of living and strengthening his sense of belonging to the Uchiha Clan.

His second was to make a solemn promise and appeal to Liuyun's emotions, naming Uchiha Yuantong the chief culprit and making him the scapegoat.

That would erase the rift between Liuyun and the Uchiha Clan.

The third move would probably be Uchiha Fuchu's trump card: announcing that Liuyun would receive every benefit reserved for the clan's top geniuses, drawing him in for good!

In his previous life, Liuyun had read countless novels and watched plenty of spectacular palace-intrigue dramas.

He knew this routine inside out.

A child his age would have fallen for Uchiha Fuchu's string of moves and been grateful beyond words.

But inwardly, Liuyun only chuckled. Go on. I'll just sit here and watch you perform.

Seeing Liuyun fall silent, Uchiha Fuchu was pleased. He felt his plan was already unfolding as he had hoped.

"Liuyun, the most important reason I came here was to tell you this: from now on, the clan will give you benefits at the highest standard!"

Uchiha Fuchu spoke with a warm smile, his tone as gentle as could be.

"The highest standard!" Uchiha Mikoto's mouth fell open.

The Uchiha Clan divided its geniuses into three tiers. Uchiha Mikoto was in the lowest, the third tier!

Uchiha Fugaku's talent had originally placed him in the second tier, but because of his father, he had been assigned to the first. He was first-tier in name only.

Even a third-tier genius received a monthly allowance far higher than an ordinary person's.

That was to say nothing of the subsidies for ninjutsu, ninja tools, and more.

With her third-tier benefits, Uchiha Mikoto could feed both herself and Liuyun for the entire month and still have money left over.

As for the Uchiha Clan's first-tier benefits, it was said no one had received them in decades!

The last recipient dated back to the Sengoku era. He had gone on to make a name for himself throughout the Shinobi World.

He was the ancestor who first awakened the Eternal Eye and founded Konoha alongside Hashirama Senju: Madara Uchiha.

The first-tier benefits spoke for themselves. When it came to money, as long as the amount did not exceed one million ryo a month, you could simply sign your name and collect it from the treasury.

Two Uchiha Clan jonin would secretly guard you whenever you went out.

In short, the clan would treat you like an ancestor.

But those generous benefits came with tremendous pressure.

Someone would assess your strength every half month. Meet the clan's expectations, and you kept the benefits. Fall short, and you were downgraded.

There was no such thing as a free lunch. You had to give something to get something.

Whatever Uchiha Mikoto could see, Liuyun could see too.

He shook his head without hesitation and said gravely,

"Thank you for your kindness, Clan Head, but I don't deserve first-tier benefits."

"Liuyun, you're being too modest!"

Uchiha Fuchu gave him a kindly smile.

Before coming here, he had already investigated Uchiha Liuyun's strength as thoroughly as he could.

Even setting everything else aside, Liuyun's defeat of Minato Namikaze today was enough to warrant second-tier benefits.

"Clan Head, please let me finish," Liuyun interrupted.

"I'm used to taking things easy. First-tier benefits would be too much for me. Just give me the same third-tier benefits as Mikoto!"

"If possible, I'd also like some notes on Genjutsu experience and some ninjutsu. A Shadow Clone Technique scroll would be great too!"

Only a fool would turn down something free, especially when Uchiha Fuchu was offering it.

"Of course! I'll have them delivered tomorrow!" Delight instantly appeared on Uchiha Fuchu's face.

He wasn't afraid of Liuyun making requests. He was afraid Liuyun wouldn't make any.

Now that Liuyun had asked for something, everything else could be worked out!

"Very well! Since you don't want first-tier benefits, I'll respect your wishes."

"It's getting late. I'll be going!"

His goal accomplished, Uchiha Fuchu had no reason to stay.

"All right! We'll see you out, Clan Head!"

Liuyun took Uchiha Mikoto by the hand and walked her to the door, deliberately making a show of how close they were.

He wanted Uchiha Fuchu to pass a message to that bastard Uchiha Fugaku.

Forget about chasing a younger girl, you brat. Uchiha Mikoto is already taken.

Only after Uchiha Fuchu had vanished completely into the night did Liuyun and Mikoto return to the hall.

"Liuyun! Why didn't you accept the first-tier benefits? The clan would have paid so much attention to you!"

Beside the table, Uchiha Mikoto tilted her little head, looking utterly puzzled.

"The benefits are good, but the pressure would be enormous. The clan would schedule every minute of my day."

"That isn't the life I want!"

Liuyun poured himself a glass of water and shook his head.

The Road to Training Them Would Be Long and Hard

"Then what kind of life do you want?" Uchiha Mikoto asked curiously, pursing her lips.

"The life I have now is great! A wife, kids, and a warm bed. Once we have a whole litter of little ones, it'll be even better!"

Liuyun gazed at Uchiha Mikoto, his eyes full of affection and heat.

"Oh, stop it! There you go again!" Uchiha Mikoto lowered her head, hardly daring to meet his burning gaze.

Then she hurried toward her room on her short legs.

"That's enough to make her shy?" Liuyun paused, drained his glass, and sighed.

"Looks like I still have a long road ahead of me with those two girls!"

"Oh, right! I haven't claimed today's check-in reward!"

Remembering it, Liuyun slapped his forehead.

"System! Check in!"

"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the adults-only wish-fulfillment novel 'Life's Long Regrets, Restless Waters.'"

Liuyun's mouth twitched. The novel was definitely adults-only, and it could certainly give its reader a thrill.

The problem was that it was no use to him at all.

Forget it. I've already gained plenty today!

Shaking his head, Liuyun washed up and lay down on his bed.

System, open my status panel.

[Uchiha Liuyun]

Physique: Chunin

Chakra: 0.2 Kaka (1 Kaka = Kakashi's chakra reserves)

Ninjutsu: Three-Body Technique (beginner), Kunai Throwing (mastered)

Taijutsu: None!

Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique (proficient)

Bloodline: Uchiha Bloodline, One-Tomoe Sharingan, Ice-Ice Fruit ability

Overall combat strength: Elite Chunin

Inventory: Secret Room Douluo Deluxe Edition (slightly worn)

His physique had increased by twice its original amount, bringing it to three times what it had been. Only then had it reached the Chunin level.

His overall combat strength had also reached elite Chunin. All in all, he had gained a great deal today.

Liuyun nodded in satisfaction, then opened the Secret Room Douluo he had been longing to read. Tonight, he planned to give it a thorough going-over.

Two hours later, Liuyun took a cold shower, his face flushed red.

His figure flickered, and he slipped quietly out of his room.

Breathing in the familiar scent, Liuyun looked at Uchiha Mikoto, who was already fast asleep.

He tiptoed over to the tatami, gently wrapped his arms around Uchiha Mikoto, and drifted peacefully to sleep.

Perhaps only that could put out the raging fire inside him.

The next morning, a ray of sunlight shone into the room, and Liuyun opened his eyes.

Uchiha Mikoto was no longer beside him.

Liuyun went to the hall and found Uchiha Mikoto humming as she made breakfast. She was clearly in a good mood today.

"You're awake! Wash up, and breakfast will be ready!"

Uchiha Mikoto gave Liuyun a bright smile and said nothing about last night.

Naturally, Liuyun wasn't foolish enough to bring it up. He merely smiled and nodded.

Inside, though, he was thrilled. Did that mean that after reading Secret Room Douluo in the future, he could always...

Once he had washed up, a figure appeared at the entrance to the hall.

Liuyun knew the man. He was Uchiha Fuchu's personal guard, Uchiha Zhongtong, an elite jonin.

"The clan head ordered me to give you this scroll!"

When Liuyun appeared, Uchiha Zhongtong took out a scroll and spoke without a trace of expression.

Without waiting for a reply, he vanished from Liuyun's sight in a flicker.

"That's so Uchiha. Cold and arrogant as ever! Still, Uchiha Fuchu works fast!"

Liuyun grumbled.

He shut the door and released the seal on the scroll in front of him.

Poof!

A cloud of smoke billowed up, and several scrolls appeared before Liuyun.

"What are those? Why did the clan head have someone bring them over so early?"

A familiar fragrance drifted over as Uchiha Mikoto approached, her bright eyes wide with curiosity.

"The Genjutsu scrolls I mentioned last night!"

"Oh!"

At that, Uchiha Mikoto's little face fell, and she lost interest.

Liuyun glanced through the scrolls and put them away. He still had school to attend, so there was no time to study them now.

Along with notes on Genjutsu experience, the scrolls contained some basic Genjutsu.

There was the Hell Viewing Technique, which he already knew, as well as the Fox Heart Decapitation Technique, the Temple of Nirvana Technique, and the Tree Binding Death that Kurenai Yuhi had used in her fight against Itachi!

There was also the Shadow Clone Technique, which Liuyun needed right now.

"Not bad! Not bad!" Liuyun was pleased with how efficiently Uchiha Fuchu handled things.

He casually tucked the scrolls beneath the tatami and headed for the dining table.

These ninjutsu were basic and widely known. Even if the scrolls were lost, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't care.

Liuyun cared even less. If he lost them, he could always ask Uchiha Fuchu for another set.