"Become the head of the Uchiha Clan?" Tianyuan smiled faintly as he processed Uchiha Fugaku's offer. "I've never really entertained the thought of joining any family, let alone leading one."
"Furthermore, Fugaku Jonin, I doubt a matter of this magnitude is entirely up to you, is it?" Tianyuan looked directly at Uchiha Fugaku.
"Tianyuan Jonin, I can convince the rest of the clan. You possess the supreme power of the Uchiha; there would be no issue," Fugaku insisted.
"Actually, that is where the biggest issue lies, Fugaku Jonin." Tianyuan took a sip of his tea. "I am well aware of the current state of the Uchiha Clan."
"I have no desire to get mixed up in that. I simply hope you can lead the Uchiha Clan toward a prosperous future." Tianyuan offered a polite smile.
The idea of a stranger leading them would never sit well with the other Uchiha Jonin. At most, they only wanted Tianyuan to join to bolster the Uchiha Clan's overall military might.
In truth, Tianyuan's guess was spot on. The Uchiha were far too proudto a point that often defied logic. Fugaku had initiated this conversation today primarily to see if there was any hope of tethering Tianyuan to the clan.
Because Tianyuan possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, the claim that he "belonged" to the Uchiha was hard to maintain. By that same logic, he could just as easily belong to the Senju Clan.
Many within the Uchiha Clan were set in their ways, believing that no matter how strong a single individual was, they couldn't possibly change everything. However, those who had seen Tianyuan up close knew the terrifying truth of his current strength. He was a man who could practically contend with an entire Shinobi Village on his own.
He stood at the level of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha in their prime.
"That truly is a regret," Fugaku said helplessly. Currently, in terms of prestige within Konoha, Fugaku was no match for Tianyuan. Even when it came to authority, Fugaku did not have the final say over the entire Uchiha Clan.
This was a sharp contrast to the Hyuga Clan. Because of the Caged Bird Seal, the fate of the Branch House was forever held in the hands of the Main House. The Uchiha, however, lacked such a rigid hierarchical system. Their influence was determined more by individual strength.
The most obvious measure of that strength could be seen in their eyes. Fugaku himself possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
"Fugaku Jonin, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave," Tianyuan said.
"One more thing, Tianyuan Jonin... do you know of Madara Uchiha?" Fugaku asked suddenly.
"Madara Uchiha?" Tianyuan chuckled. "Fugaku Jonin, of course I know of him. He is a legend within the Uchiha Clan, and he possessed the same Mangekyō Sharingan power that I do."
"Yes, a legendary power indeed." Fugaku nodded. "Tianyuan Jonin, thank you for your time today."
"I'll be going then, Fugaku Jonin." Tianyuan stepped out of the room.
As Fugaku watched him leave, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. That Madara Uchiha from that day... was it really not Tianyuan?
Outside, a small smile played on Tianyuan's lips. Fugaku's invitation had been largely driven by the desire to bring him into the Uchiha fold, but that was an impossibility. Even the offer of the clan head position wasn't enough; Tianyuan knew that Fugaku himself was currently dealing with massive headaches regarding the clan's internal affairs.
Was that last question a test? Tianyuan mused.
This time, he had revealed his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, which was distinct from the Mangekyō Sharingan he had previously shown Fugaku. As for the identity of Madara Uchiha, Tianyuan didn't know if he would ever use it again. For now, he would leave it in the shadows and let the Uchiha Clan wallow in their own suspicions. If the day ever came where that persona was needed, so be it.
As his strength grew, Tianyuan found himself preferring an Open Conspiracya plan so straightforward and powerful that even if the enemy knew it was a trap, they would have no choice but to walk into it.
"Tianyuan!" A voice called out from nearby as two familiar figures ran toward him.
"Guy, Shisui," Tianyuan greeted them with a smile.
"I didn't expect you to be so incredible! I've heard all about your recent exploits," Might Guy said, his face beaming. "When are we going to have another Taijutsu match?"
"Don't worry, there will be a chance," Tianyuan replied.
"Tianyuan, I can't believe that in just two short years, you've grown to this level. When I first met you, you weren't even a match for me," Shisui recalled. He remembered meeting Tianyuan at the Naka Shrine, the Uchiha Clan's secret gathering place.
In the blink of an eye, two years had passed, and Tianyuan had become the hero of Konoha.
"Shisui, how is Itachi doing?" Tianyuan asked.
"Him? He's quite frustrated that he can't keep up with you, so he's been working harder than ever." Shisui smiled at the thought of Itachi.
"Haha, that kid? Catching up to me is going to be impossible," Tianyuan joked. "Let's walk and talk."
Tianyuan chatted with Shisui and Might Guy for a while, sharing stories about life in Konoha and their various experiences on the battlefield. After some time, he bid them farewell and returned to his own tent.
He hadn't had a chance to check the video signal he had received earlier today. It was supposed to be something high-quality.
Tianyuan looked at the player interface. "This is a Naruto Ultra-Clear video."
"A Naruto video." Tianyuan smiled. Although he hadn't obtained an Ultra-HD video from another world, the Naruto World signals were still excellent. Being an Ultra-Clear video, it was guaranteed to yield something good.
"Let's see what I can get this time." Tianyuan felt a surge of anticipation. This was always the most exciting moment.
Regarding the System, it seemed to intentionally avoid giving him duplicate rewards. He wondered what "Ultra-Clear" items were left to find within the Naruto World.
"Begin the draw," Tianyuan commanded the System.
"Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained..."
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