"A gold drop!"
Squinting, Uchiha Hui felt his heart pound as though he had returned to the night he confessed to the person he loved. That fluttering sensation felt as if someone had grabbed his heart.
As the light faded, Uchiha Hui finally saw what had come out of the chest.
-- Kekkei Genkai · Shikotsumyaku (x1) --
"Oh?"
Uchiha Hui was surprised that such an unremarkable-looking chest could yield a kekkei genkai. Moreover, it seemed that he only had to claim it for it to merge directly into his body.
Of course, claiming it did not mean instantly receiving a bloodline ability developed to its utmost potential. It was probably equivalent to "awakening" the Sharingan—meeting only the minimum requirements.
Uchiha Hui could hardly say he was dissatisfied. It might have been worlds apart from the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan he had imagined receiving outright, but it did not seem too bad.
It gave him another option.
His strength would grow a little as well.
There was still a long time before the so-called "night of the massacre," anyway. He had plenty of time to grow stronger and make plans.
-- Merge (Yes/No) --
A prompt appeared on the panel.
Uchiha Hui instinctively moved to merge with it. His reputation was below a thousand, which meant his strength probably ranked at the bottom compared with ordinary Chunin. He would never pass up anything that could make him stronger.
However, another prompt soon appeared on the panel: "The merging process involves intense pain and will also cause a brief period of weakness..."
All right.
Uchiha Hui knew this was not the time to merge with it. After all, he had a clan meeting to attend.
It'll have to wait until the clan meeting is over.
After some thought, Uchiha Hui made his decision. With enough willpower to kick an addiction, he tore his gaze away from "Merge," then quickened his pace toward the meeting venue.
This was not a formal meeting, so it was not being held at the familiar Naka Shrine, but at an indoor dojo in the center of the clan compound. Along the way, Uchiha Hui encountered quite a few clan shinobi likewise leaping across the rooftops. He greeted none of them, and none seemed inclined to approach him either.
Uchiha Hui noticed this too.
Combining that with the lingering memories in his mind, he more or less understood the situation. His body's original owner had been weak, yet always liked to voice his opinions within the clan. Were it not for his status, most clan members would not have been willing to sit and listen for even another second. As a result, his relationships with the clan's shinobi had grown distant.
Over time, Uchiha Hui had become increasingly withdrawn, turning into the "Uchiha" of the Uchiha Clan. Almost no one wanted much to do with him.
Fine by me. That'll make running away easier. No one will care about me!
Uchiha Hui took it in stride.
Maintaining the expression his body's original owner wore in his memories, he soon arrived at the dojo. Following his vague recollections, he found a corner and sat down without another word.
More shinobi trickled in after Uchiha Hui arrived, though very few were Jonin. By his rough estimate, even allowing for some absent Jonin, the entire Uchiha Clan probably had no more than thirty, perhaps even fewer.
As for Chunin, there were quite a few at that rank—probably fifty or sixty.
Genin were not yet qualified to attend clan meetings. Their strength also amounted to very little in the Shinobi World as a whole. Even Uchiha Clan Genin would be nothing more than cannon fodder on the battlefield, a bunch of Teletubbies.
Uchiha Hui was still studying his panel.
After sitting down, he kept scanning his surroundings, essentially using the Detection Technique on every shinobi present in one sweeping Grand Detection Technique. He now had a fairly clear understanding of the Uchiha Clan's overall strength.
At the same time, his body's original owner's relationships within the clan left him speechless.
I knew your relationships were bad, but I didn't know they were this bad!
There were nearly a hundred shinobi seated there.
Yet Uchiha Hui could not find a single clan member whose relationship with him was "Close." Even those listed as "Distant" numbered no more than ten.
Incredible!
Uchiha Hui had nothing else to say. He could only mentally congratulate "himself." To pull this off within the Uchiha Clan—now that was a true Uchiha!
Clack, clack, clack!
Just as Uchiha Hui was inwardly grumbling about his relationships, the clacking of wooden sandals came from the entrance. He looked up to see two men walking into the room.
The man in front looked about thirty, with a stern expression. Particularly striking was the sharp glint that kept flashing in his eyes, giving him a fierce air. Behind him was a little old man who looked roughly the Third's age, his face dark and silent, as though everyone present owed him an unpaid loan at exorbitant interest.
Uchiha Fugaku?
Uchiha Hui recognized the newcomer at once. According to his memories, the other man was Uchiha Setsuna, a clan elder with real authority and considerable influence throughout the Uchiha Clan.
-- Name: Uchiha Fugaku Identity: Jonin of Konohagakure, Land of Fire, and head of the Uchiha Clan Reputation: 59,780 points Relationship: Close --
Holy shit!
Uchiha Hui's eyes widened. He had not expected Uchiha Fugaku's reputation to exceed fifty thousand. Even more absurdly, the man's relationship with him was actually "Close"?!
What?!
According to his fragmented memories, Uchiha Hui and Uchiha Fugaku did not get along. Their views differed, and they had constantly argued from a very young age. His body's original owner had even entertained the idea of assassinating Uchiha Fugaku.
And yet...
His elder brother could still maintain a "Close" relationship with him?
Were all Uchiha obsessed with their little brothers, after all?
Uchiha Hui gazed intently at Uchiha Fugaku. As though sensing it, Uchiha Fugaku looked in his direction, then shifted his gaze elsewhere as if unconcerned. Finally, he walked to a seat in the middle and sat down without a word.
More hidden affection?
Uchiha Hui noticed that Uchiha Fugaku still maintained a cold exterior, hardly looking as "Close" as the panel claimed, and felt a flicker of surprise.
-- Name: Uchiha Setsuna Identity: Jonin of Konohagakure, Land of Fire Reputation: 24,960 points Relationship: Distant --
Whoa!
Another one with over ten thousand reputation?!
Judging by his observations of the other Jonin, a reputation above ten thousand was essentially the threshold for that rank. Fifty thousand probably marked another threshold, though he did not know whether it meant elite Jonin or the so-called Kage Level.
"Since everyone is here, let us begin, Fugaku!"
Uchiha Setsuna sat down beside Uchiha Fugaku, looked around, and spoke directly. His gaze continued to sweep the room, and everyone who met it silently lowered their head in respect.
"I'm sure everyone knows why I called you all here."
Uchiha Fugaku gave a slight nod and began to speak.
In an instant, everyone's expression turned serious. Several Jonin who knew more of the situation instinctively frowned, seemingly troubled by the subject of this clan meeting.
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