"Stir up trouble ourselves? Since when has the Uchiha ever needed to go looking for trouble? If that were the case, would our clan have been pushed all the way out here in the first place?"
Of course, "remote" was only in comparison to where they had once stood at the heart of the village.
Uchiha Setsuna's expression was laced with undisguised mockery as he shot the question back at Muneyoshi. In his view, it was precisely because of overly cautious doves like him that the Uchiha clan's position had eroded bit by bit over the years.
"Hmph. And do you understand that if we don't restrain ourselves, the clan will only draw even more scrutiny from Konoha's higher-ups?"
Uchiha Muneyoshi replied without hesitation, his tone firm and unyielding. The two of them were like flint and steel—one spark away from igniting another heated clash.
"Scrutiny? Haven't we been watched closely enough already?" Setsuna's voice sharpened, his beard practically bristling with anger. "We've already been driven out of Konoha's central district. If we retreat any further, we might not even be able to hold onto this compound!"
As he spoke, his gaze flicked toward the six-year-old Zoro, and a trace of irritation flashed through his eyes. He simply could not understand how this stubborn old fool had been fortunate enough to have such a gifted grandson.
If that boy were his, Setsuna would have molded him into the unquestioned leader of the younger generation. When the ti ca, contending for—no, outright claiming—the position of future clan head would not be beyond reach.
Once the hawkish faction seized control, the Uchiha would never again endure such suffocating restraint and humiliation.
"So you do understand," Muneyoshi said coldly. "If the clan followed your thods, we wouldn't even have this place left. Konoha is already wary of us, yet you still insist on making waves?"
His stance was unwavering. Maintain the status quo. Avoid unnecessary conflict. Do not bring further trouble upon the clan.
Just as Setsuna was about to fire back again, a calm yet authoritative voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough. The clan eting just ended. If you have disagreents, bring them up next ti. Have you forgotten why we ca here?"
Uchiha Fugaku spoke, his tone carrying a quiet authority that left no room for argunt, bringing their confrontation to an imdiate halt.
Clan etings were held once a month, and every single ti, the two factions would argue until the atmosphere grew dangerously heated. As clan head, Fugaku stood between them, maintaining a careful balance. As long as things did not spiral out of control, he would remain neutral.
"Mm. The clan head is right. We ca here to discuss Zoro's future."
Uchiha Muneyoshi cast Setsuna a pointed glance, placing deliberate emphasis on Zoro's na.
"Hmph."
Setsuna snorted, suppressing any further retort. But behind that silence, his mind was already turning—calculating how to draw Zoro over to his side.
One day, he would make this stubborn old man regret everything.
The Uchiha clan was not ant to stagnate.
And he was certain that a talent like Zoro would co to understand that truth soon enough.
"Zoro, you're six this year. That ans you're eligible to enroll in the Ninja Academy, correct?"
Fugaku's tone softened noticeably as he addressed the boy. After witnessing Zoro's display of swordsmanship, even he could not help but adjust his attitude.
"Why should Zoro attend the Ninja Academy?" Setsuna cut in before Zoro could respond, a faint sneer tugging at his lips. "Is the Uchiha clan incapable of nurturing its own genius?"
He understood all too well what the so-called Ninja Academy represented. In his eyes, it was nothing more than a tool used by the old man Sarutobi to spread his ideology.
The so-called Will of Fire.
A doctrine that could be upheld one mont and discarded the next—just as it had been with Hatake Sakumo, once hailed as a hero who bore half a Hokage's prestige, only to be abandoned in the end.
Setsuna had long suspected that Sakumo's suicide had not been entirely his own doing, but sothing quietly pushed along by Konoha's upper ranks.
The mission over a comrade's life?
Was that not the very definition of hypocrisy?
In the end, it ca down to one simple truth—Sakumo's reputation during the Second Shinobi World War had grown too great, even surpassing that of Hiruzen Sarutobi's three disciples. He had beco a legitimate contender for the position of Fourth Hokage.
"That may be so, but without enrolling in the Ninja Academy and graduating from it, it will be difficult for him to be officially recognized as a ninja by Konoha. He might not even qualify as a registered genin."
Fugaku responded evenly, laying out the practical reality.
The Ninja Academy had been established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Without passing through that system and accepting its frawork, gaining formal recognition would be extrely difficult.
After hearing this, Setsuna's gaze shifted toward Zoro. He chose not to press further, deciding instead to leave the final decision to the boy himself. After all, no one would willingly choose to remain an unrecognized ninja, regardless of their strength.
"Clan Head… is it possible for to apply for early graduation?"
After a brief mont of thought, Uchiha Zoro spoke calmly. In his mory, such an option existed.
"Early graduation?" Fugaku's brows lifted slightly. "The minimum requirent is to possess strength equivalent to defeating a chūnin."
There was a trace of doubt in his voice.
Even a prodigy like Hatake Kakashi had only reached chūnin-level strength when he graduated early at the age of six.
Yet as Fugaku's gaze drifted toward the clean, horizontal cut across the rockery, that doubt began to fade.
A chūnin's body was not harder than stone.
"A chūnin…"
Uchiha Zoro's eyes shifted almost instinctively toward the chūnin guard standing beside Uchiha Tekka. The man stiffened slightly under the attention, his expression turning awkward.
His assignnt was the sa as Tekka's—to ensure Zoro's safety.
But the difference in attitude was obvious.
He had not even bothered to follow Zoro during the clan tournant, nor had he expected this quiet boy to draw the attention of the clan head himself.
From what he had just heard… this child was a swordsmanship genius?
"Do you truly not wish to study at the Ninja Academy?"
Fugaku asked again, his tone more asured this ti.
Those years in the academy were often the most peaceful period in a shinobi's life. Once one graduated, missions would follow one after another—and beyond that, the battlefield.
Standing nearby, Uchiha Muneyoshi felt a flicker of conflict. He wanted to speak, to persuade his grandson otherwise—but when he saw the unwavering resolve in Zoro's eyes, he forced himself to remain silent.
"Mm. I've already made my decision."
Zoro's voice was calm, but firm.
What the Ninja Academy offered was largely foundational combat training and the propagation of Sarutobi's Will of Fire. As for ninjutsu, the Uchiha clan itself possessed abundant techniques—though admittedly, his own aptitude in that area was not particularly strong.
The things that truly mattered to him were few.
First: awakening the Sharingan.
Second: senjutsu.
Third: fūinjutsu.
As for combat techniques, the higher his synchronization with Zoro beca, the less he lacked in that regard.
Ninjutsu? It was unnecessary.
Senjutsu? The academy could not teach it.
Fūinjutsu? Only the most basic forms would be covered—hardly worth diverting his focus.
There was also genjutsu.
But once he awakened the Sharingan—and eventually mastered Haki—such threats would no longer pose a real danger.
So his current objective was simple.
Awaken the Sharingan.
After all, the true reason the Uchiha clan inspired such wariness in Konoha lay in those eyes—their limitless potential.
With that, Zoro's path beca clear.
He only had four years.
There was no room to indulge in a so-called peaceful academy life.
"Then… Uncle Isshin, please guide ."
Uchiha Zoro rested one hand lightly on the wooden sword at his waist and gave a respectful gesture toward the chūnin guard beside him.
His path would not be that of a conventional ninja bound by the Will of Fire.
It would be the path of a wandering swordsman.
And one day—
The na of a great swordsman would resound across the entire shinobi world.
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