Brother Excluded

"Yufeng, Shisui, come here!"

Uchiha Mikoto, as gentle as ever, led Uchiha Yufeng and Shisui into the living room.

"Sister Mikoto, you made so many dishes. You must be busy—let me help."

Hearing him call her Sister Mikoto, Uchiha Mikoto seemed a little dazed.

"It's fine. Your sister can handle it herself!"

Uchiha Mikoto declined Uchiha Yufeng's offer and politely returned to the kitchen.

Uchiha Yufeng took it all in.

"Mikoto can clean up on her own. You two brothers are guests today; how could we neglect our guests?"

Uchiha Fugaku sat at the head of the table with his usual smile.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Clan Head."

"We're all from the same clan. Technically, I'm your elder as well. No need to be so restrained—make yourselves at home."

The two chatted idly while Uchiha Mikoto took the opportunity to bring out the dishes prepared in the kitchen.

"Try it."

Uchiha Yufeng did not stand on ceremony. He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of food, and put it into his mouth.

"Yufeng."

Ten minutes later, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Yufeng with a smile and finally spoke.

"Clan Head."

Uchiha Yufeng set down his chopsticks and looked over in confusion.

"You must work hard. Shisui's strength is already close to surpassing a Chunin's, so you cannot slack off either."

At those words, Uchiha Shisui also looked toward Uchiha Yufeng.

After speaking, Uchiha Fugaku rose and went to his room, returning with a small box in his arms.

"These are the Uchiha Clan's ninjutsu scrolls, including Sharingan techniques. Take them all back after dinner."

"Clan Head, this..."

Uchiha Yufeng froze for a moment, looking deeply moved as he made a token attempt to refuse.

"Yufeng, I have only one request of you: cultivate diligently!

When Shisui grows stronger in the future, he will certainly need an older brother like you by his side!"

As Uchiha Fugaku spoke, he directly handed the box to Uchiha Yufeng.

Yufeng hesitated several times before finally accepting it.

"Yufeng will certainly not disappoint the Clan Head!"

Uchiha Fugaku laughed heartily, looking every bit like a kind elder placing high hopes on a junior.

For a time, the atmosphere at the table grew much livelier.

In the kitchen, Uchiha Mikoto cleaned up and washed the dishes. A trace of worry hung on her face, and she seemed distracted.

"Sister Mikoto! Thank you for the meal today. Shisui and I are heading back!"

The kitchen door opened, and Uchiha Yufeng poked his head in as he spoke to Uchiha Mikoto.

Uchiha Mikoto's delicate hand visibly trembled.

Then she turned back. Looking at the delighted Uchiha Yufeng, she forced a smile.

"Yufeng, come by when you have time. Itachi hasn't seen you for several days, and he's been making such a fuss that he barely eats dinner."

"Alright, Sister Mikoto. I'll come play with Itachi when I have time."

With that, Uchiha Yufeng turned and left with Uchiha Shisui.

"Mikoto, you lost your composure a little today."

Uchiha Fugaku's cold gaze swept toward Uchiha Mikoto.

Uchiha Mikoto said nothing and continued with the work in her hands.

"Mikoto, you know I'm doing this for our Uchiha Clan..."

Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward, looked at his wife standing so close before him, and sighed helplessly.

"For the Uchiha Clan? Sacrificing Uchiha Yufeng will accomplish that?"

Uchiha Mikoto shook her head, still unable to understand.

After all, that method existed only in legend. No one had ever succeeded in reality.

"Mikoto, I have no choice, because this is the curse within the Uchiha bloodline!

Shisui's talent rivals that of Uchiha Madara, who dominated the Ninja World during the Warring States era!

As long as he is properly nurtured, he will surely shake the entire Ninja World in the future and restore the glory of our Uchiha Clan! What is wrong with what I'm doing?"

Looking at Uchiha Fugaku, whose Sharingan had opened in his agitation, Uchiha Mikoto felt another measure of disappointment.

"Roughly when will you make your move?"

"There's no rush. We'll talk after Shisui awakens the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and stabilizes it!"

"I understand."

Hearing that Uchiha Mikoto no longer voiced any opposition, Uchiha Fugaku's face gained a trace of satisfaction.

He strode back to the table, filled his cup with wine, and drained it in one gulp.

"My Uchiha Clan is about to rise! No one can stop us!"

Watching Uchiha Fugaku's delighted appearance in the living room, Mikoto recalled how obediently Uchiha Yufeng had acted whenever he came over lately, calling "Sister Mikoto" at every turn.

She sighed and silently closed her eyes.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yufeng and Uchiha Shisui had returned home.

They each found a straw mat and lay side by side in the courtyard, gazing up at the stars.

An hour passed in silence.

Only after Uchiha Yufeng swept his gaze around and confirmed no one was spying on them did he look toward Uchiha Shisui.

"Do you remember what I told you last time?"

"You mean that I shouldn't draw too much attention to myself, right?"

Uchiha Shisui sat up from his mat, turned to Uchiha Yufeng, and nodded heavily.

"That's right. Hide your strength as much as possible and lie low until the end!"

Uchiha Shisui smiled.

"Brother, we're not making a movie. What do you mean, 'until the end'?"

Uchiha Yufeng raised his hand and flicked Uchiha Shisui on the forehead.

"Brother, go easy!"

Uchiha Shisui cried out in pain, clutching his forehead with a wronged expression.

"If you keep that attitude, someone might snatch your Sharingan someday, dump your body in the wilderness, and you won't make it to the end!"

Uchiha Yufeng spoke irritably as he opened the box they had brought back.

"Have you cultivated these ninjutsu scrolls?"

Hearing that, Uchiha Shisui got up and checked the scrolls one by one.

"I've cultivated all of them."

The sneer on Uchiha Yufeng's face deepened.

He was Shisui's older brother. Any ninjutsu Shisui had learned, Shisui would definitely teach him if he asked, given Shisui's personality.

Yet Fugaku had given him these things as a gift, making him owe a favor.

Fugaku really knew how to handle matters.

Uchiha Yufeng opened the ninjutsu scrolls one by one, then tossed them back into the box.

Shisui, standing beside him, was utterly bewildered by this.

"Brother, if you want to cultivate them, take them one at a time. Why did you unseal all the ninjutsu scrolls?"

Without another word, Uchiha Yufeng raised his hand. Uchiha Shisui immediately felt that his forehead was in danger again.

Seeing this, he used the Body Flicker Technique to leap away.

"You brat, using the Body Flicker Technique on your big brother?"

Uchiha Yufeng sneered as Chakra surged through him.

Uchiha Shisui suddenly felt as though his body had lost all control, freezing in place.

He could only watch as Uchiha Yufeng came before him and flicked his forehead.

"Brother, when did you cultivate... Genjutsu?"

Uchiha Shisui stared at Uchiha Yufeng as though he had seen a ghost.

"What? I tell you to hide your abilities, but do you think I can't do the same?"

Uchiha Yufeng shot Uchiha Shisui a glance, then returned to his mat and lay down.

"No matter how formidable ninjutsu and Kekkei Genkai may be, they cannot overcome the schemes of the human heart.

If a ninja who concealed his abilities like I do were hiding by your side,

then suddenly attacked you at a critical moment, your life would likely end right there.

Shisui, let me tell you this now. In this world, no matter where you are in the future, never trust anyone. Being more guarded never hurts..."

"Of course..."

Uchiha Yufeng turned back to glance at Shisui.

"Brother excluded."