Seeing Uchiha Yuan's calm, indifferent demeanor, the Fourth Elder's expression stiffened for a moment.
As a clan elder, even the most arrogant Uchiha would restrain themselves in his presence.
He had assumed this young clansman—barely in his early teens—would be excited or nervous that an elder personally visited his home.
But to his surprise, Yuan's face held no fluctuation at all.
Calm. Steady. As if the elder's arrival was something he had long expected.
"Yuan, among the clan's younger generation, you and Shisui stand out the most.
Shisui has joined the Hokage's ANBU, while you have already been promoted to chūnin by Orochimaru.
"You may choose to enter the clan-run Police Force, or accept placement under a village-led shinobi squad.
"If you join the Police Force, I can immediately promote you to Squad Leader."
The Police Force counted roughly three hundred members—
Under the Captain were three Unit Leaders, under each Unit were three Squad Leaders, and under each Squad Leader were three Team Leaders.
ANBU's structure was similar.
Yuan was silent for a moment before saying:
"Elder Sanga, Captain Kōkai came looking for me today as well.
He offered me the position of Vice–Unit Leader of the Police Force's Third Unit."
Uchiha Sanga let out a dry laugh.
"So Shin moved that quickly… seems my visit today was a bit late."
To him, Yuan's words initially implied he had already accepted the Second Elder's faction.
But Yuan continued:
"I refused Captain Kōkai's offer."
"What?"
Sanga stared at him in astonishment.
Yuan added calmly:
"As a member of this clan, I naturally intend to join the Police Force.
"But I will not—and do not need to—become someone else's vassal.
"With my strength, any position within the Police Force is something I can obtain by myself.
"In the shinobi world, only strength matters.
Isn't that right, Fourth Elder?"
A sharp aura surged from Yuan's body.
His gaze turned blade-like, piercing straight into Sanga's eyes.
For an instant, an instinctive fear crept into the elder's heart.
This brat…!
The reprimand rose to his lips—yet the look in Yuan's eyes extinguished his irritation like cold water over hot coals.
"…You're right," Sanga finally said with a strained smile.
"In the shinobi world, strength reigns supreme."
He had failed to recruit Yuan—but offering goodwill and support was still a viable strategy.
"Yuan, your power is unlike any other in the clan's younger generation.
I believe you will become—like Shisui—a pillar of the Uchiha."
Yuan remained unchanged, his calm expression unfaltering.
Sanga secretly sighed. Any other youth would have been ecstatic by now.
"If you ever need anything," Sanga said, "tell me. As long as it is within my power, I will provide it."
Yuan's gaze shifted.
"There is something.
I need a good weapon.
"On the battlefield, when I fought the Fourth Raikage… the kunai in my hands couldn't even scratch his defense."
Sanga's smile broadened.
Good. At least he's willing to ask.
"What kind of weapon?"
"…A short blade."
"Hah! That's simple.
I happen to possess a master-forged blade from the Land of Artisans.
It will serve you well."
After more small discussion, Sanga took his leave.
A short while later, a young man in his twenties appeared in the courtyard with a body-flicker.
He handed Yuan a wooden case.
"This is from the Fourth Elder."
He vanished before Yuan could reply.
Yuan opened the case.
Inside lay a short blade, a little over two feet in length.
Flamewind — those characters were engraved on its sheath.
Yuan slowly drew the blade.
The polished steel reflected his face like a mirror.
Leaping lightly into the courtyard, he made a casual thrust—
and then held the pose, unmoving.
A breeze swept past him.
He closed his eyes, sensing the way the blade parted the wind, the tiny shifts in airflow along the steel's edge.
Cling!
A clear hum rang out as Yuan moved.
In that instant, countless streaks of silver-white light burst from his hands like an exploding star.
A heartbeat later, the courtyard grew still again.
Yuan lowered the blade, a satisfied smile on his face.
In that single moment, he had released thirty-one strikes—each fast and smooth as flowing water.
The blade suddenly shone—
A flame-like chakra glow enveloped its surface.
Yuan had infused chakra into the steel.
With a single thought, the glow intensified—
stretching into a shimmering arc nearly a meter long.
A moment later, the light faded.
Yuan sheathed Flamewind, deeply pleased.
First the Second Elder's faction sends Kōkai… now the Fourth Elder comes personally.
The clan has begun to take me seriously after all.
He looked toward the sky in contemplation.
Suddenly—another figure flashed into the courtyard.
A middle-aged man in Police Force armor approached and handed over a small wooden box.
"I heard you were gravely injured on the battlefield.
This is a secret medicine from the Great Elder—it heals internal wounds and clears obstructed meridians."
He vanished instantly afterward.
Yuan opened the box.
Inside were three white medicine bottles.
He uncorked one and sniffed—rich herbal fragrance washed over him.
Inside were several pills.
Scraping one lightly with his fingernail, he placed it on his tongue.
A subtle warmth spread through his body.
The Great Elder too…
So both the Second and Fourth Elders made their moves, and the Great Elder is watching as well.
Yuan put the bottle away.
A Few Days Later – Uchiha Training Grounds
Yuan and Senju Gen sparred again.
Gen controlled raging water currents, firing rapid-shot water bullets.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed.
Yuan remained unmoving—his right hand sweeping Flamewind in elegant, lightning-fast arcs.
Silver light filled the air, slicing apart every water bullet with ease.
Water Style: Water Collision Wave!
A massive spiral column of water shot upward—then dropped like a collapsing river, crashing toward Yuan.
He split it cleanly with a single slash.
Riding the water's recoil, Senju Gen surged forward.
A high-pressure whirl of spinning water condensed in his right hand—
taking the shape of a spear.
Hard Whirlpool Water Blade.
He thrust.
Yuan lifted his blade to meet him.
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