A new life

Summer, Year 6 of Konoha.

On the day he moved into Uchiha Gen's residence, the sky hung heavy and overcast, clouds pressing low overhead, yet no rain fell. Yinglang had few belongings; a small cloth bundle held them all-two old garments washed soft, new cloth socks his mother had stayed up late to finish, and the wooden box containing the "forbidden technique" scroll, carefully tucked at the very bottom.

Elder Xuan's residence stood near the center of the clan grounds, not far from the Naka Shrine. Its courtyard was three or four times larger than the one at Yinglang's home, paved in bluestone, with a gnarled old pine growing in a corner and a stone table and stools beneath it. The house was a traditional Japanese-style building, white walls beneath black tiles. Two unlit paper lanterns hung under the eaves of the veranda. It was quiet, with an air of desolation.

Uchiha Ning accompanied him to the gate but went no farther. She crouched and straightened her son's collar, her fingers trembling slightly. "Langlang, behave yourself here and study hard under Elder Xuan... Mommy will come see you in a couple of days." Her eyes reddened, but she held back her tears.

"Yes. Don't worry, Mom." Yinglang nodded, his voice steady.

Elder Xuan stood beneath the main house's eaves, still wearing that dark gray kimono, his back ramrod straight. A young woman stood beside him.

That was Uchiha Ruri.

Yinglang looked up at her.

She was about sixteen or seventeen, tall and slender, with a pale blue-green haori over her dark blue clan uniform. Her skin had the pallor of someone who rarely saw sunlight. A wooden hairpin held her black hair in a loose knot, with a few stray strands beside her ears. Her features had the Uchiha's refined beauty, though her lips were pale. Stillest of all were her eyes, dark and deep, showing little emotion.

She simply stood there without speaking, her indifferent gaze resting briefly on Yinglang.

"Ruri," Elder Xuan said, his voice quiet. "This is Yinglang. From now on, he'll live in that room in the east wing."

Uchiha Ruri gave an almost imperceptible nod by way of greeting. She said nothing.

Elder Xuan turned to Yinglang. "This is Ruri, my daughter. From now on, you'll be family." He paused. "As my pupil, you must observe three rules. First, diligence. Second, proper conduct. Third, the clan's honor comes first. Can you do that?"

"Yes," Yinglang answered without hesitation.

Elder Xuan seemed satisfied with his decisiveness. "Your room is ready. Ruri will explain the daily arrangements. Training begins in three days. Familiarize yourself with your surroundings first." With that, he turned and entered the main house, gently closing the sliding door.

Only Yinglang and Ruri remained beneath the eaves.

Wind passed through the courtyard, rustling the old pine. Ruri watched Yinglang in silence for a while before speaking. "Follow me." Like her eyes, her voice held little variation, clear and cool.

The room in the east wing was small but clean and tidy. The tatami was new, carrying the fresh scent of woven grass. A small writing desk and a low cabinet stood against the wall. Its south-facing window looked directly onto the old pine.

"The bedding is in the cabinet. To wash up, turn left at the end of the corridor. I'll call you at mealtimes." Ruri stood in the doorway, explaining at an even pace. "Father likes quiet. Unless you have business there, don't make noise near the main house. There's a training ground in the back courtyard. Don't use it without permission."

"Thank you, big sister Ruri." Yinglang set down his bundle and thanked her politely.

Ruri seemed momentarily taken aback, perhaps not expecting the child to be so "composed." The corner of her mouth moved ever so slightly, like a smile that never quite formed, then quickly subsided. "Mm," she acknowledged. She turned to leave, then stopped and looked back. "You're... still young. If there's anything you have trouble getting used to, you can tell me."

"All right."

She left with light footsteps that were almost inaudible.

Yinglang sat on the tatami and surveyed his surroundings. A new environment, a new identity, a new life. Everything was moving in the direction he had anticipated, even faster than expected. Elder Xuan's approval was both solid protection and a brand-new platform rich in resources.

But the risks had grown along with it. Here, he was no longer the overlooked child in a forgotten corner. Every pair of eyes would scrutinize him more closely.

He drew a deep breath, then slowly released it. Within him, the dragon essence seed circulated silently, gently nourishing his meridians. Outside the window, the overcast light stretched the old pine's shadow long across the paper door, where it swayed faintly.

The first two days passed uneventfully.

Yinglang was very "well-behaved." He spent most of his time in his room, occasionally sitting beneath the eaves and staring absently into the courtyard. At meals, Elder Xuan took the head seat, Ruri served the dishes, and Yinglang ate quietly, chewing without a sound and taking food only from directly in front of him. Elder Xuan occasionally asked a question or two, such as "Are you settling in?" or "How is your mother's health?" Yinglang answered briefly and respectfully. The atmosphere was hardly warm, but neither was it stiff or cold. There was a restrained, well-regulated order to it.

What truly gave Yinglang a glimpse of another side to this "new home," and even the Uchiha Clan itself, came on the third morning.

He was in his room when he heard voices from the front courtyard. Muffled by the sliding door and courtyard between them, the voices were indistinct, but he could recognize Elder Xuan and another, somewhat agitated male voice.

"...Elder Xuan, you can't keep avoiding the subject! Tobirama's reach is growing longer and longer! The police force's authority has been cut back again and again, mission assignments are blatantly unfair, and wasn't the targeting of our people in the last Chunin Ninja Exams obvious enough?"

Elder Xuan remained silent.

The man's voice rose. "Yes! I know Lord Madara's departure back then... was impulsive. But if the Senju hadn't pushed us so far, would Lord Madara have come to that? And now look! Lord Madara is gone, and they're even more brazen! What have we gained from constantly giving way? Some spineless fools in the clan, especially that Yuanguang Uchiha, actually think bowing their heads will buy peace!"

"Watch your words." Elder Xuan's voice finally became clearer, carrying a chill.

"Watch my words? If we keep watching our words, the Uchiha will have no backbone left!" The voice brimmed with indignation. "You're the Disciplinary Elder. You know better than anyone how many of our younger generation still dare to stand tall and speak their minds these days! They've had every bit of spirit worn out of them! Sometimes I really think, if Lord Madara were still here..."

"He is no longer here," Elder Xuan interrupted, his tone decisive. "The Uchiha are in Konoha now. This is the path the entire clan chose together back then. Talking about this now serves no purpose. Attend to your duties and keep the clan members in line, especially the hotheaded youngsters. Don't give anyone grounds to use against us. As for the rest... I know how to handle it."

The voices outside lowered, continuing at length about other matters, apparently discussing whom to assign to a particular mission. Before long, footsteps sounded, and the man took his leave.

Yinglang sat by the window, holding an old booklet on basic chakra theory borrowed from Elder Xuan's study, but his gaze rested on the swaying pine branches outside.

Madara Uchiha.

That name remained etched deep in the clan's memory. Some hated him for leaving so decisively, costing the clan its strongest spearhead and prestige and forcing it onto the defensive; others, after years of systemic suppression and cold treatment under Tobirama Senju, could not help longing for that overbearing strength and defiance that had rivaled Hashirama Senju.

Rejection coexisted with secret admiration. This was probably the Uchiha Clan's truest, unspoken tangle of feelings after Madara Uchiha's departure. Elder Xuan's stance was clear-do not look back, do not discuss it, and do everything possible within the present framework to preserve the clan's stability and interests. Yet this undercurrent was clearly still surging beneath the surface.

At lunch, Elder Xuan looked no different than usual, as though the slightly heated conversation that morning had never happened. Ruri, however, said softly while serving Yinglang soup, "This afternoon, Father wants me to take you to test your chakra affinities. After that, you can begin trying to extract chakra."

Something stirred in Yinglang's mind. Time for another performance.

"Yes, big sister Ruri."

That afternoon's training ground was in the back courtyard, a level stretch of dirt surrounded by wooden posts and targets. A weapons rack stood to one side, though it held few weapons. Elder Xuan was already waiting there, with a lean, sharp-featured Uchiha clansman in a chunin vest beside him, roughly thirty years old.

"Yinglang, this is Uchiha Shinichi, a chunin of our clan skilled in Fire Release and shurikenjutsu. From now on, he'll instruct you in basic taijutsu and ninja tool throwing," Elder Xuan introduced him. "Today, we'll test your chakra affinities first."

Uchiha Shinichi nodded to Yinglang, his expression serious, without any unnecessary words.

The testing method was traditional, using specially made chakra paper. Elder Xuan handed Yinglang a thin sheet of seemingly ordinary white paper.

"Concentrate. Guide whatever chakra you can sense toward your fingers as best you can, and channel it into the paper." Elder Xuan's voice remained even. "Don't rush. For your first attempt, drawing out even a trace will suffice."

Yinglang took the paper and held it between his fingertips. He closed his eyes and turned his awareness inward.

At his dantian, his own gentle dragon essence seed floated quietly. Deeper within, an "interface" simulating what remained after the "old seed" was devoured, connected to this world's chakra system, glimmered faintly. He did not use dragon essence. Instead, through this "interface," he very carefully and awkwardly "squeezed" a tiny strand of non-elemental energy from his body's cells-this was the "chakra" he could show others. Thanks to his absolute control over himself, this strand of energy appeared weak and immature, entirely consistent with what one would expect of a five-year-old child just beginning to train.

He guided the strand of energy slowly toward his fingertips.

The chakra paper between his fingers began to change.

First, one corner blackened and curled-fire affinity.

Immediately afterward, another corner suddenly grew damp, then crumbled—Wind Nature.

Almost simultaneously, another corner wrinkled-lightning affinity.

Finally, the entire sheet seemed to dim for an instant, before faint, irregular shadowy patterns appeared at its center-Yin Release.

Four affinities.

Uchiha Shinichi raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. Elder Xuan's expression did not change. He merely studied the paper displaying four different reactions in silence for a moment.

"Fire, wind, lightning, yin," Elder Xuan said slowly. "A fair aptitude. Yin Release, in particular, is a common trait of our Uchiha bloodline, highly beneficial for practicing genjutsu. Fire and lightning are also highly offensive affinities. Wind Nature is less common, but combined with fire, it can increase its power."

He looked at Yinglang. "Starting today, you'll spend every morning learning basic taijutsu and shuriken and kunai throwing under Shinichi. In the afternoons, you'll practice extracting and accumulating chakra on your own. Every three days, I'll check your progress and teach you the most basic Uchiha-style Fire Release techniques. Once your chakra reserves have stabilized and your mental strength is more secure, Ruri will give you your initial guidance in genjutsu."

"Yes. Thank you, Elder Xuan. Thank you, Teacher Shinichi." Yinglang bowed.

"Begin." Elder Xuan gestured to Shinichi, then turned and left the training ground.

Uchiha Shinichi was a strict teacher, a man of few words who demanded precision. From the most basic standing posture and breathing adjustments to shuriken grips and the techniques for applying force when throwing, he corrected everything one by one. Yinglang studied very "earnestly," trying hard to imitate him, but occasionally made "clumsy" mistakes or failed to control his strength steadily. He perfectly played the role of a five-year-old beginner with a little talent, but nothing out of the ordinary.

By the end of the afternoon's basic training, sweat beaded at Yinglang's temples, his small face was slightly flushed, and his breathing was a little quick-all deliberately controlled displays, of course. Uchiha Shinichi seemed reasonably satisfied with his patience and "earnest" attitude. Before leaving, he curtly said, "Same time tomorrow. Once home, you may move your limbs a little, but don't overdo it and affect tomorrow's practice."

"Yes, Teacher Shinichi."

At dinner, Elder Xuan asked how the afternoon's training had felt. Yinglang answered "honestly," "Teacher Shinichi is very strict. Shuriken are so heavy. I can't throw them far or accurately. But... I'll practice hard."

Elder Xuan gave a hum of acknowledgment. "When building your foundations, never seek shortcuts. The weight is a good thing. It trains your wrist strength and control. Tomorrow, I'll have Ruri find you a lighter set of beginner's shuriken."

Ruri nodded lightly. "All right."

"Also," Elder Xuan set down his chopsticks and looked at Yinglang, "since you possess Yin Release, your mental perception may be somewhat keener than most people's. If you ever feel unsettled or your thoughts become confused, you can sit quietly in a quiet room and try to focus on your breathing, clearing away distracting thoughts. This will benefit your future chakra extraction and even your genjutsu training."

It sounded like guidance from an elder, but Yinglang heard another layer of meaning—perhaps Elder Xuan was reminding him, or perhaps observing whether the sudden change in environment and certain invisible pressures within the clan had disturbed his state of mind.

"Yes, I'll remember." Yinglang answered, showing just the right trace of childish "receptiveness" and "effort to understand."

That night, lying on unfamiliar tatami with its faint scent of camphorwood, Yinglang kept his eyes open and stared at the dark ceiling.

His new life had begun. On the fringes of the Uchiha's center of power, beneath Elder Xuan's cool, scrutinizing gaze, beside the undercurrents of the clan's tangled feelings over the issues Madara had left behind.

Here, he needed to "grow" like a real Uchiha child, talented but required to work hard. Extract "chakra," learn Fire Release, explore genjutsu, and build solid foundations in taijutsu and ninja tools. All of these would become legitimate sources of his publicly displayed strength in the future.

In secret, he could not slacken in practicing the Dragon-Slaying Breathing Technique in the slightest. That old pine might provide good cover for late-night training. Once he had earned more trust, Elder Xuan's training ground could also offer more convenient conditions.

And then there was Uchiha Ruri... his "fiancée" in name, his "big sister" in practice. She seemed cool and taciturn, but when training ended that afternoon, Yinglang had noticed her standing in the shadows of the corridor, watching the training ground for a while. Her gaze was calm, her thoughts unknown.

Outside the window, the moon revealed a small portion of its face from behind the clouds. Its cool light spilled into the courtyard, distorting the old pine's shadow into something like a silent beast lying in wait.

Yinglang rolled over and closed his eyes.

His breathing gradually lengthened and deepened. Within him, dragon essence circulated as usual, soundless and imperceptible. Meanwhile, under his precise control, another, much weaker and clumsier process of sensing and extracting "chakra" began slowly and steadily within this five-year-old child's body, like a newly kindled flame, simulating the gradual trajectory of growth expected of a genius.

The road was still long. But this first step had, at last, landed firmly on a square of the new chessboard.