Bloodline Limit Deduction: Choose Two of Five

"Ah... I'm getting old. Young people really do know how to act fast."

Uchiha Shimei glared over his shoulder. "What are you brats muttering about? You dare disobey the clan leader's orders?!"

"Come with me!"

Uchiha Shimei swept out an arm. Uchiha Huo Xuan, Uchiha Xuanming, and the others led a crowd of younger relatives over to the right.

Uchiha Yashiro rose and joined them.

Uchiha Tekka and Inabi joined them too.

A few younger relatives helped the trembling Uchiha Genshiki to the right as well. "Shisui, you've got a good eye! That boy Kagami can rest easy in the Underworld now!"

Shisui scratched his head. "Senior Genshiki, I..."

To be honest.

Shisui still hadn't figured out what Big Brother Shinji had been talking about.

After all, he knew Big Brother Shinji better than anyone. He had expected that battle maniac to be leading the clan out with sword in hand by now!

He had even been ready to stop him.

But instead...

Shinji had blocked that path himself?

"You did the right thing. Big Brother Shinji's restraint surprised me. He hardly seems like a seventeen-year-old boy! But you must get your eye back, no matter what it takes. The Uchiha Clan's eyes cannot be left in outsiders' hands, least of all in the hands of a disciple of that detestable Tobirama Senju!"

Shisui came back to himself, his gaze firm. "Yes!!!"

At last, under the eyes of dozens of staunch supporters, Uchiha Fugaku drew a deep breath and walked, step by step, to Big Brother Shinji's side.

Fugaku's supporters finally gave up hope.

One by one, they joined him.

Only one person remained standing alone.

His eyes met Big Brother Shinji's.

"Big Brother Shinji," Uchiha Itachi said softly.

"Itachi, what's your choice?" Big Brother Shinji sized Uchiha Itachi up with an aggressive stare, making no effort to hide his intense killing intent.

Uchiha Itachi did not hesitate. He dropped to one knee. "Clan leader!"

The contest for clan leader was settled.

Whatever thoughts anyone still harbored, they could no longer voice them.

The crowd streamed out of the Naka Shrine.

Shinji Uchiha asked Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Tekka, Inabi, Shisui, and his six companions to stay behind.

Of course.

Uchiha Itachi stayed of his own accord.

"Uncle Fugaku, I need you to write a resignation letter and a report naming the next head of the Konoha Military Police Force, then submit them."

Fugaku frowned. "So soon?"

"Yes. But this isn't aimed at you. I'm worried the village will use this opportunity to take back control of the police force. We can't give them an opening during the transfer of power!"

Before Fugaku could ask anything else, Shinji turned to Shisui. "Shisui, you'll take the position of police chief!"

"...Huh?! Me?!"

Shisui, who had looked content to stay out of it all, stared wide-eyed. "I—I can't! I've fought on battlefields, but I've never worked in an office. I..."

"It's you! If you don't know how, learn. You'll have Uncle Yashiro at the police force, and you can ask Uncle Fugaku when you get home. Even a pig could learn with that much help!"

Big Brother Shinji ignored the flustered Shisui.

He settled the matter firmly, then looked at Uchiha Yashiro. "Uncle Yashiro, sorry for the trouble. Your position won't change. Help Shisui get familiar with every aspect of the police force as quickly as possible. And Kei! Follow Shisui and advise him!"

"I'll say just one thing! The police force must enforce the law fairly, but as the village's armed law-enforcement body, it can do much more—for villagers, ninja, and clans alike. Your task with Shisui is to overhaul the police force. Don't be too rigid! Understood?"

Something flickered in Kei's eyes. "I understand!"

Big Brother Shinji had considerable faith in Uchiha Kei. If he had to assign Kei a role from an ancient government, it would be military strategist.

He was one of the few Uchiha who were highly intelligent and liked using their heads.

Like those sharp minds of the Nara Clan.

"Ryuka, Chiba! You'll follow Brother Tekka and Brother Inabi, respectively. Watch closely, learn well, and don't cause trouble for me!"

The two brats, Chiba and Liuguang, had been disappointed that their turn had yet to come. Now their faces lit up.

"Yes! We won't let you down, clan leader!"

Big Brother Shinji turned his head. "Brother Tekka, Brother Inabi, sorry for the trouble!"

"It's fine. We're all family. We won't turn our backs on our own."

As he spoke, Inabi's narrow, brooding eyes drifted, seemingly by chance, toward Uchiha Itachi.

Big Brother Shinji ignored the pointed remark. "One more important thing. Aside from the chief and squad leaders, every member of the police force must be selected from those with Two Tomoe. Get them moving instead of letting them shut themselves away in the clan training grounds all day. As for those with Three Tomoe, Uncle Fugaku, I have another important task for you!"

Fugaku had been pondering something with his head lowered. He looked up with a start. "Me? But I..."

"That's enough!"

Big Brother Shinji cut him off. "However I became clan leader, I'm still your junior. The uncles and brothers of this clan are all family. If someone can serve, we should put them to work! If a new leader had to replace everyone who served the old one, wouldn't Uncle Yashiro, Brother Tekka, and the others all have to die?"

Yashiro and the others looked uncomfortable.

Fugaku straightened. "Tell me."

"Recall everyone in the clan with Three Tomoe, including those guarding the borders! Select the strongest two hundred and form the Uchiha Self-Defense Force. Divide them into four companies of fifty, then squads of five, with a leader for each squad. During training, you'll be the overall commander. Uncle Fugaku, I need you to use every method you have to train them until they're stronger than ANBU and Root!"

"Can you do it?"

Fugaku clenched his fists. "I can!"

"Good!"

Big Brother Shinji paused. His gaze fell on Uchiha Itachi, then quickly moved away. "Shigetsu, Shusui, Kika, you three..."

"Hey, Big Brother Shinji! What are you hesitating for?"

Quick-tempered Kika slapped her unremarkable chest. "We may be girls, but don't underestimate us!"

Uchiha Shusui was gentle, with a temperament somewhat like Mikoto's.

Her figure was like Mikoto's too.

She clasped her hands before her chest. Her lovely face held an almost sacred devotion. "Big Brother Shinji, trust us! We can do it. Whatever you need, we'll do it!"

Shigetsu was expressionless and cool, a girl of few words. "Mm!"

Big Brother Shinji nodded.

"Good. Uncle Fugaku, I'm counting on you. The three of them will serve as acting company commanders. But choose on merit! Keep the best and replace the rest! If they can't do the job, replace them immediately. No favoritism!"

Fugaku glanced at the three girls, each eighteen or nineteen, and sighed. "Understood, clan leader."

Big Brother Shinji smiled. "Uncle Fugaku, don't hold such a grudge! You're still young. Keep giving your all for the clan and working to make the Uchiha Clan better."

"That's everything!"

Big Brother Shinji clapped his hands. "Shisui, get to work! The sooner, the better!"

"Yes!"

Everyone left with their assignments, faces bright with excitement and ready to show what they could do.

Only Shinji Uchiha and Itachi remained in the hidden chamber.

Big Brother Shinji had no intention of speaking with him just yet. He sat down beneath the Stone Tablet.

In his mind, he commanded the purple chest to open.

"Congratulations! Bloodline Limit Deduction unlocked! Obtained 1,000 Gold Coins! Obtained an SS Instant Upgrade Card for release techniques and talent skills!"

"Obtained a purple-item reward—choose two of five: Flying Thunder God Technique, Uzumaki Clan bloodline, complete guide to Uzumaki Sealing Techniques, one-tenth of the Nine-Tails' Chakra (juvenile Nine-Tails form; can grow by devouring Tailed Beast Chakra), or summoned beast: Lava Behemoth (Shinobi World revised edition)!"

?

Big Brother Shinji stared at the words before him, bewildered.

Bloodline Limit Deduction?

He froze for a moment, then his expression shifted. Could it be?

"Open the panel!"

Current Kekkei Genkai available for deduction: Mangekyō Sharingan.

Requirements: Three-Tomoe Sharingan (current: Three Tomoe), Yin Release SS (current: S), spiritual energy 5,000 (current: 5,300).

Gold Coins required: 5,000 (current: 2,651).

"How much?!"

Big Brother Shinji frowned at the panel. He could meet every other requirement. The Instant Upgrade Card he had just obtained would raise his Yin Release to SS.

But...

Wasn't 5,000 Gold Coins a little too much?

After all, upgrading an SS-rank talent or SS-rank mastery of a five-element ninjutsu cost only 2,500 Gold Coins!

That's a terrible deal. I'll wait, I'll wait... Maybe once I've developed Yin Release to its limit and built up more spiritual energy, it'll unlock on its own?

Reluctantly, Big Brother Shinji set the matter aside and looked at the other rewards. Of course... the main reason was that he didn't have enough Gold Coins right now.

Otherwise, he doubted he could have restrained himself.

Choose one of five... Sealing Jutsu?

"Itachi, how much do you know about the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu?"

Itachi had been looking down, lost in thought. Big Brother Shinji's sudden question startled him. "Nothing. I've never studied Sealing Jutsu."

Tap, tap, tap.

Shinji Uchiha tapped the stone slab with his index finger. He stared at the options for Nine-Tails Chakra and the Uzumaki Clan bloodline, sinking into thought.