Standing atop the training platform, Uchiha Yuan crossed his arms over his chest, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group below. His tone was icy.
"How disappointing. You're even weaker than I expected."
Uchiha Daishi rubbed at the sore spots on his body and gave a helpless smile. "Big Brother, I don't think we're weak—it's just that you're too strong."
The others nodded one after another, all wearing embarrassed, frustrated looks.
They trained hard every day and could feel themselves getting stronger by leaps and bounds.
They had even secretly sparred against other clansmen—and easily crushed them.
But facing Uchiha Yuan, even when all twelve of them attacked together, they didn't stand a chance.
Yuan's sharp eyes scanned across the group once more. Then, forming a hand seal, two shadow clones appeared beside him.
"From today onward," he said evenly, "my shadow clones will remain here. They'll accept challenges from any of you. I wonder who among you will be the first to defeat one."
All eyes turned toward the two clones, sparks of fighting spirit flickering in their gazes.
If they couldn't beat the real thing, surely they could manage a clone, right?
When Yuan leapt down from the platform and signaled for training to begin, someone immediately jumped up onto one of the stone stages—issuing a challenge to one of the shadow clones.
It was Uchiha Feng again.
Yuan's clone smiled. "Feng, I like your spirit. Let's begin."
Feng flipped his right hand, three kunai glinting between his fingers.
Shh, shh, shh!
With a sharp whistle through the air, the three kunai flew straight at the clone.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
A wall of packed earth rose swiftly in front of the clone, blocking the kunai.
But at that instant, a wave of scorching heat surged from the side—flames roaring toward him.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Feng's hands blurred through seals, unleashing a powerful stream of fire.
The clone's right hand lit up with chakra. With a flash, he charged straight into the blaze, cutting through it with a knife-like sweep of his palm, scattering the flames apart.
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Feng.
Bang!
The clone struck Feng squarely in the chest, sending him flying off the stage in an ungainly arc before crashing to the ground.
Yuan walked over and looked down at him. "Not bad. You're starting to think before you strike."
The rest of the group continued their sparring, and several tried challenging the shadow clones—each defeated within a few short exchanges.
After some time, as the day's training ended, Yuan pulled a scroll from his robe.
"This," he said, holding it up, "is a Summoning Technique formula you'll all need to master. From now on, it's the only way to enter and leave the base."
A sly, playful smile crossed his lips. "Those who can't learn it… I'm afraid you'll just have to starve down here."
This summoning formula was the product of Yuan's research into summoning jutsu. Though summoning was common across the shinobi world, he believed its potential went far beyond what most realized.
The Flying Thunder God Technique developed by Senju Tobirama, he suspected, had its roots in advanced summoning theory.
Yuan also had another hypothesis—that summoning techniques might predate ninjutsu itself, belonging to an older, native power system of the world.
After learning summoning under his teacher Hatake Sakumo, he had begun deconstructing and analyzing its intricate sigils.
By rearranging and simplifying the formulas, he eventually discovered a pattern—creating what he called the Directional Anchor Seal.
He had placed these anchors within the hidden base; using the formula, one could teleport directly into the base, like a reverse summoning.
And beyond that, the technique sparked another idea in his mind—perhaps he could use it to create something like a "return scroll" from the games of his previous life.
The anchor seal was much simpler than a full summoning technique, and after carefully memorizing the symbols, the others began to practice.
Moments later—
With a surprised cry, Uchiha Kawa suddenly vanished from sight.
He'd succeeded.
Yuan had placed several anchor points in secluded corners of the clan compound; activating the seal would randomly send a person to one of these locations.
Before long, another poof sounded, and someone else disappeared.
Finally, when the last of them successfully activated the seal and vanished, only Yuan remained in the underground base.
He looked toward his two clones. "I'll leave this place in your hands from now on."
"Don't worry, main body," one clone replied confidently. "As long as we're here, no one will ever discover the base."
A few days later—
Yuan walked through the Uchiha compound, carrying a box of freshly made tri-colored dango.
As he passed a small courtyard, he spotted his younger sister, Izumi.
She was giggling as she teased a baby, tapping at his cheeks with her finger. The little one's mouth twitched in annoyance, his face scrunching up as if he were about to cry—until a gentle voice soothed him, and he began laughing again.
When Yuan saw the baby in Uchiha Itachi's arms, he immediately realized—it was Sasuke.
"Izumi," Yuan called as he approached.
She looked up, eyes lighting up with joy. She ran over and hugged his arm tightly. "Big Brother!"
Then she pointed to the baby in Itachi's arms. "Look, Brother! This is Itachi-kun's little brother, Sasuke! Isn't he adorable?"
Yuan smiled at Itachi. "It's been a while, Itachi. Your brother is very cute. I'm sure he'll grow up to be just as much of a genius as you."
Itachi's lips curved into a faint smile. "It's good to see you again, Yuan. Thank you. I believe Sasuke will surpass me one day."
Yuan stepped closer, studying the pink-cheeked infant with amusement. "We're both older brothers, Itachi. And like any good brother, we'll do everything we can to protect our younger siblings."
Itachi looked down at Sasuke, his expression softening with warmth. "Yes… we will."
Yuan raised the paper bag in his hand with a fond grin. "Izumi, these are fresh dango—still warm."
"Yay!" Izumi cheered, taking the bag eagerly. She pulled out a skewer of tri-colored dango and offered it to Itachi.
Itachi waved his hands quickly. "Ah, no, I couldn't—"
Izumi's smile vanished into a pout, her eyes narrowing in playful annoyance.
Yuan chuckled. "Just take it, Itachi. Otherwise, Izumi will sulk all day."
"…Thank you."
After a moment's hesitation, Itachi accepted the dango. Izumi's smile bloomed again, sweet and bright. She handed another skewer to Yuan before taking one for herself and taking a small bite.
Just then, little Sasuke began to fuss—perhaps noticing that his brother's attention had drifted elsewhere.
Itachi immediately began rocking him gently, murmuring soft words to soothe him, before excusing himself and heading home.
Watching Itachi's departing back, Yuan said softly, "Itachi will make a fine big brother."
Izumi leaned against his arm, smiling up at him. "But in my eyes, my brother is the best brother in the whole world."
Yuan stroked her hair tenderly, his eyes gleaming with quiet determination as he looked in the direction Itachi had gone.
"Izumi," he said softly, "your brother will always protect you. I'll never let anyone hurt you."
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