A visit from the Clan Head

News that Uchiha Rìtiān had awakened his Sharingan at five spread throughout the Uchiha Clan Compound overnight.

"Did you hear? That boy from Uchiha Retsu's family awakened his Sharingan at five!" "It's absolutely true! Loads of people saw it during yesterday's match! He even beat Uchiha Shō!"

"Isn't awakening it at five a first in Uchiha history?" "Exactly! Lord Madara held the previous record at six!"

All sorts of rumors flew around. Some were envious, some jealous, and some skeptical. Whatever the case, Uchiha Rìtiān was thoroughly famous now.

Early the next morning, quite a crowd gathered outside Uchiha Rìtiān's house, all there to see the "genius."

Uchiha Rìtiān hid behind the door and peered through the crack, utterly speechless. Was this really necessary? All I did was awaken a Sharingan. They're acting like they've come to see a giant panda.

Uchiha Retsu had been so excited that he hadn't slept all night. He was practicing punches in the courtyard first thing in the morning, humming a little tune and looking immensely pleased with himself.

"Open up, open up! Let me see whether this child really awakened his Sharingan!" an elderly voice called.

Uchiha Rìtiān recognized the voice. Elder Uchiha Zen?

Retsu hurried to open the door. "Elder Zen? What brings you here?"

Uchiha Zen walked in with a cane, followed by several elders. His expression stern, the old man went straight up to Uchiha Rìtiān. "Activate your Sharingan and let me see."

Uchiha Rìtiān blinked. "Huh? Right now?"

"Of course right now! What a silly question!" Uchiha Zen bristled and glared.

Why is this old man still so fierce? Uchiha Rìtiān grumbled inwardly. Still, he obediently channeled his chakra. His eyes turned scarlet, a single black tomoe revolving slowly within them.

The elders gasped. "It really is the Sharingan!" "One tomoe... even if it's only one tomoe, he's only five!"

Uchiha Zen stared into Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes for a long while, his expression shifting. Only after some time did he snort. "Hmph. Nothing but dumb luck."

Uchiha Rìtiān snickered inwardly. You don't mean that, old man. He had clearly seen the corners of the old man's mouth trembling slightly. That was clearly excitement!

Uchiha Zen gave Uchiha Rìtiān another look, then told Retsu, "Retsu, you have a fine son. Raise him well. Don't squander his talent."

Retsu hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes, of course!"

After the elders left, another group arrived. The clan's young people and children had all come to "behold the genius."

Pestered beyond endurance, Uchiha Rìtiān simply shut the door and hid inside, refusing to come out. Now he understood the troubles of being a celebrity.

Just when Uchiha Rìtiān thought he would spend the day hiding, an unexpected visitor arrived.

"The Clan Head has arrived-"

Uchiha Rìtiān froze. The Clan Head? Fugaku? Why is he here?

Father and son hurried outside to greet him. Fugaku walked in wearing the Clan Head's coat, his expression imposing, with Itachi and Shisui following behind.

"Clan Head!" "Hello, Uncle Clan Head."

Fugaku nodded slightly, his gaze settling on Uchiha Rìtiān, his eyes deep.

"No need for formalities. I'm just here to take a look."

Take a look? See whether I'm a monster? Uchiha Rìtiān grumbled inwardly.

Fugaku sat down and said to Uchiha Rìtiān, "Uchiha Rìtiān, raise your head. Activate your Sharingan."

Uchiha Rìtiān complied.

Fugaku studied him for a while before saying slowly, "It is indeed a one-tomoe Sharingan. Awakening it at five... you're the youngest in Uchiha history."

Uchiha Rìtiān smiled shyly. "You flatter me, Uncle Clan Head. I just got lucky."

Fugaku glanced at him. "Lucky? Awakening the Sharingan takes more than luck."

Uchiha Rìtiān said nothing. But I really did rely on luck. No, on the system.

Fugaku asked another question. "When did you awaken it? How did it happen?"

Here it comes. Here's the important part. Uchiha Rìtiān had already prepared his story. "It was during yesterday's match. Uchiha Shō's fist was about to hit my face, and I was really scared. Then my eyes got hot, and... and that was it."

Fugaku nodded slightly. The explanation was perfectly reasonable. Awakening the Sharingan required intense emotional stimulation in the first place.

Fugaku asked a few more questions, and Uchiha Rìtiān answered fluently without revealing any flaws. Acting like a child was his specialty.

Once he finished questioning him, Fugaku told Retsu, "Retsu, your son is very talented. He is the hope of the Uchiha. Starting today, the clan will provide him with the best training resources. Make sure you teach him well."

Retsu's face flushed with excitement. "Yes! Rest assured, Clan Head!"

Fugaku then told Uchiha Rìtiān, "Uchiha Rìtiān, talent is no excuse for arrogance. In training, if you aren't moving forward, you're falling behind. Do you understand?"

Uchiha Rìtiān nodded obediently. "I understand! I'll train hard!"

Fugaku gave a hum of acknowledgment and rose to leave.

Just then, Uchiha Rìtiān suddenly spoke up. "Uncle Clan Head, wait!"

Fugaku turned. "Is there something else?"

Uchiha Rìtiān grinned. "Uncle Clan Head, I've developed a few new ice cream flavors. Would you like to try them?"

Fugaku said nothing, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. Beside him, Itachi and Shisui froze as well. This child actually dared to say something like that to the Clan Head?

Silence hung in the air for a few seconds. Uchiha Rìtiān began to feel a little nervous too.

Just as he was about to apologize, Fugaku suddenly spoke. "...Then I'll try some."

Everyone was stunned. The Clan Head had actually agreed?

Uchiha Rìtiān reacted first, cheering as he ran to the kitchen.

Fugaku sat back down, his face expressionless, though on closer inspection, the corners of his mouth seemed to have lifted just a fraction.

Shisui's shoulders shook as he struggled to hold back his laughter. Itachi wore a look of disbelief too.

Before long, Uchiha Rìtiān emerged carrying several cups of ice cream. "Uncle Clan Head, try this matcha one! There's strawberry too..."

Fugaku picked up the matcha ice cream and took a bite. Everyone watched him, hardly daring to breathe.

A few seconds later, Fugaku said slowly, "...Mm. Not bad."

Uchiha Rìtiān immediately beamed.

After two cups of ice cream, Fugaku's expression had noticeably softened. He stood up. "Uchiha Rìtiān, train hard, and keep... developing your ice cream."

Uchiha Rìtiān said nothing. What does that mean? Is he encouraging me to keep making ice cream?

At the door, Fugaku suddenly stopped and looked back. "Come to the Clan Head's Residence tomorrow. Bring ice cream."

"Huh?" Uchiha Rìtiān blurted. Fugaku offered no explanation and walked straight out.

Uchiha Rìtiān stood there looking bewildered. He wants me to go to the Clan Head's Residence? What for? Just to make him ice cream?

Uchiha Rìtiān rubbed his chin, a meaningful smile spreading across his face. With the Clan Head backing me, won't I be able to do whatever I want among the Uchiha?

While Uchiha Rìtiān was lost in his pleasant daydream, a figure appeared at the door-Itachi.

Itachi had returned at some point and was watching him with a complicated expression.

"Itachi? Why did you come back?"

Itachi fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Uchiha Rìtiān, you... who exactly are you?"

Uchiha Rìtiān's heart lurched. Here it comes! The great Itachi is getting suspicious!

Uchiha Rìtiān immediately put on an innocent smile. "What are you talking about, Itachi? I'm Uchiha Rìtiān! Uchiha Rìtiān!"

Itachi stared at him for so long that Uchiha Rìtiān began to feel unnerved.

Only after a long while did Itachi look away and say flatly, "It's nothing. Tomorrow... when you go to the Clan Head's Residence with your father, be careful."

With that, Itachi turned and left.

Uchiha Rìtiān watched him go, utterly bewildered. Be careful? Of what? Could there be some danger in the Clan Head's Residence?

Uchiha Rìtiān rubbed his chin, feeling a little uneasy. Forget it. I'll take things as they come. Whatever comes my way, I'll deal with it. At worst, I'll bribe him with ice cream!

What he didn't know was that tomorrow's visit to the Clan Head's Residence would bring him a major, unexpected problem.