You don't get to set the terms for taking a disciple

At the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Yan Uchiha sprawled crookedly across a lounge chair in his courtyard, holding a purple clay teapot in his left hand. A bunch of grapes sat on the small table to his right.

Life was almost too comfortable.

Basking in the sun, he mulled things over.

Now this is what living should be like.

What's the point of working yourself to death every day?

It's been so long since that business with the Hyuga, and they're still running around like headless chickens. Looks like I've managed to pull the wool over their eyes.

That makes Aya Hyuga practically half an ally now.

Whatever happens down the line, she won't sell me out unless she has absolutely no choice.

Not bad.

The Third Shinobi World War had little to do with him. Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't send him to the front lines.

Counting it out on his fingers, he figured he could laze around at home in peace until the whole Nine-Tails affair kicked off.

He relaxed completely.

For the next few years, whatever happened outside had nothing to do with him. He could stay home and build up his strength. Just thinking about it made him feel good all over.

This was exactly the quiet little life he wanted.

And the business with Aya Hyuga had been wrapped up neatly, without exposing his involvement at any point.

Beautiful.

As for the village, that went without saying.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would love to keep him down, preferably leaving him to spend the rest of his life in retirement at home.

That was essentially how things stood.

Hadn't he been back all this time without Hiruzen Sarutobi summoning him even once?

At that thought, the corners of his mouth crept upward.

Retirement?

For someone else, that might really have left