What was an Uchiha like?
Arrogant, domineering, eyes filled with disdain—an embodiment of pride and audacity.
At that moment, Uchiha Yuan's demeanor perfectly matched everyone's image of what an Uchiha should be.
Under his sharp, cutting gaze, the onlookers instinctively averted their eyes, not daring to meet his.
"Hmph."
Uchiha Yuan let out a cold snort and strode out of the training field.
When he passed through the gathered crowd, people automatically parted to make way, and Yuan walked through them with proud, unhurried steps.
Among the spectators, Hyūga Kyō's eyes never left Yuan's retreating back. His fists tightened involuntarily.
He was angry—furious, in fact—that he had actually been intimidated by that man's aura just now.
Such a thing was intolerable for a proud member of the Hyūga Clan.
He wanted to call out, to challenge him right then and there—but reason told him otherwise. Judging by Uchiha Yuan's display of skill, Kyō knew he wasn't his match, at least not yet.
On the other side of the crowd, Senju Gen was also watching Yuan's back with a complex expression.
Uchiha Yuan… you didn't even use your full strength, did you?
Gen had keenly sensed that Yuan had been holding back—several of his strikes had been deliberately softened. By his estimate, Yuan could have ended the match within twenty exchanges.
As expected of the only Uchiha the clan acknowledges as a true rival, Gen thought, recalling those beautifully precise taijutsu combinations, his own fighting spirit burning brighter.
Uchiha Compound.
Yuan walked alone down a quiet alley on his way home.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned toward the mouth of the alley. "I wonder which of my clan has been following me this whole way."
From the moment he left the Ninja Academy, Yuan had sensed a presence tailing him.
At first, he'd been cautious—thinking perhaps he'd drawn the village's attention—so he pretended not to notice. But even after entering the Uchiha district, that same presence lingered behind him.
That realization made him relax a little. No ninja from the village could possibly infiltrate the Uchiha compound unnoticed.
Curiosity replaced concern. Who could it be?
Surely another Uchiha.
Whoosh!
Yuan's vision blurred, and a young man appeared before him out of nowhere.
When he saw the newcomer, Yuan's expression flickered with surprise.
"So it's you—Shisui-senpai."
Uchiha Shisui smiled warmly at him.
"Yuan-kun, you've got impressive perception. When did you notice me?"
"At the academy gate," Yuan replied.
Shisui chuckled softly. "Ha ha, I should've known—you're sharper than you look."
"Senpai," Yuan said seriously, "you're a genius admired by both the clan and the village. Why were you following me in secret?"
Shisui's smile remained mild and humble. "I happened to pass by the training field earlier. The taijutsu you displayed—it was beautiful. So clean and fluid.
I grew curious, that's all, and decided to follow."
He paused briefly before asking, "Yuan-kun, your taijutsu style—it's quite different from the usual Uchiha techniques. Who did you learn it from?"
"I came up with it myself," Yuan replied calmly.
Shisui's eyes widened slightly. "You developed those moves on your own?"
Then he laughed. "You and I should spar sometime. I might even pick up a few tricks from you."
Yuan's eyes flickered. "I'd be honored, Senpai. I'm sure fighting you would help me find my own weaknesses."
At that, Shisui's smile faded, replaced by a serious look. "Yuan-kun, truth be told, I followed you because there's something I wanted to talk about."
"Please, go ahead."
"Our Uchiha clan… we're too proud for our own good. Because of that, our relationship with the other clans in the village has grown distant.
Lately, rumors have been spreading—malicious ones—and they've stirred resentment toward us among the villagers. That's not good for the clan."
"You're hoping to ease tensions between the Uchiha and the rest of the village," Yuan said.
"Yes. Ever since the Senju clan's decline, our people have grown increasingly arrogant. It's worrying. That arrogance breeds hostility in others… and I fear for what it might lead to."
"You're afraid the clan will come into conflict with the village," Yuan said flatly.
Shisui blinked, surprised that Yuan had so easily guessed his thoughts.
"Yes," he admitted.
Yuan shrugged. "But why tell me this, Senpai? I'm not like you—someone valued by both the clan and the Hokage. I'm just a student at the academy, a nobody within the family."
Shisui shook his head. "If change is to come, it has to start with us.
At the academy, your classmates come from all kinds of backgrounds—different clans, even civilian families.
Make friends with them. Build bonds. In time, those bonds can bridge the gap between our clan and the rest of the village."
"I understand what you mean, Senpai," Yuan said, nodding slowly. Then he added, "But surely I'm not the only one you've told this to?"
Shisui gave a wry, helpless smile. "You're right. But the others… they just don't understand me."
He looked at Yuan earnestly. "What about you, Yuan-kun? What do you think?"
Yuan was silent for a long moment before asking suddenly, "Senpai, do you remember the White Fang incident a few years ago? What's your take on it?"
Shisui blinked. "White Fang?"
He sighed regretfully. "Ah… you mean Hatake Sakumo. Such a tragedy.
Even our proud clansmen respected him deeply. I never understood why he took his own life. He made a mistake—sure—but if he'd sincerely sought forgiveness, the Third Hokage would've pardoned him.
If only he hadn't violated village protocol… that tragedy could've been avoided."
Hearing that, Yuan sighed inwardly.
So Shisui really is that naïve.
In that moment, Yuan realized Shisui could be a dangerous person to get close to—not out of malice, but because of his unwavering loyalty to the village.
If Yuan shone too brightly, Shisui's attention might draw the village's eyes to him.
He would need to keep his distance.
"Why bring up the White Fang, Yuan-kun?" Shisui asked, puzzled.
"Nothing special," Yuan replied. "It's just that the rumors about our clan lately reminded me of how White Fang once suffered from slander too."
Then, with a serious look, Yuan added, "What you fear, Senpai, could never happen. Konoha was built by both the Uchiha and the Senju. The Uchiha's love for the village is no less than anyone else's.
As for making friends at the academy… I don't believe just anyone is worthy of being a friend to the Uchiha. The strong only acknowledge the strong."
Shisui fell silent, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
"Yuan-kun… I think you should let go of that pride. Every classmate could one day be a comrade you can trust your life with on the battlefield."
With that, he vanished in a blur, leaping onto a nearby wall. His figure flickered a few times and disappeared into the distance.
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