Konoha Year 44, Autumn.
Above Naka Shrine, within the Uchiha clan compound.
Rain fell endlessly from the gray sky. Thin strands of drizzle tapped softly against the wall beside the street, the one engraved with the Uchiha clan's flame fan crest, leaving behind a faint layer of moisture.
Last month, something big happened within the Uchiha clan.
While carrying out a mission, they discovered an Uchiha who had not been born in Konoha.
As the saying goes, once you find one cockroach, there's probably a whole nest hiding somewhere.
No one knew whether there were still other scattered Uchiha bloodlines in the ninja world, just like Seiji.
To prevent the Uchiha bloodline from being lost—or worse, coveted by other ninja clans—the Uchiha members who discovered him immediately brought him back.
"But why has he awakened only one Sharingan?"
"Yeah… has anyone in the clan ever had a situation like this?"
Members of the Uchiha clan whispered among themselves. Such a phenomenon had never happened before, and the commotion it caused was obvious.
From time to time, gazes were directed toward the boy sitting at the very back.
Seiji, however, acted as if he noticed none of them.
"When you were in the Land of Lightning, did you ever meet anyone else with eyes like yours? We are all from the same clan. If you know someone like that, you can tell me. I will have our clan members bring them back."
At the front of the hall, Uchiha Fugaku spoke in a probing tone.
After all, Seiji had lived in the Land of Lightning for several years. What exactly had happened during those years was difficult to investigate.
After a month of investigation, only one thing had been confirmed:
Seiji's background appeared clean.
He had learned a rough method of chakra extraction, but there were no traces of formal training on his body.
However, the power struggles between ninja villages had always been ruthless.
As the newly appointed clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku could not afford to be careless.
"I've never seen anyone with eyes like mine, Lord Fugaku."
Seiji replied calmly as he raised his head.
He was a transmigrator—and had been one for several years.
From the moment he was born, he had already broken through the mystery of infancy and awakened his past-life memories.
His mother died while giving birth to him.
As for his father…
He was nowhere to be seen after Seiji was born.
It wasn't until Seiji was two years old and able to take care of himself that he finally met the man.
Unfortunately, not long after that, his father died on the battlefield.
But that wasn't unusual.
In the ninja world, having both parents dead was practically the default starting point.
Naruto.
Sasuke.
Konan.
Itachi.
Orochimaru.
Which one of them didn't lose their parents?
Before coming here, his name had been Yozuki Seiji. He was a distant relative of the Yozuki clan who had been living outside the main family in a remote town.
That continued until the day he awakened the Sharingan, coincidentally encountering Uchiha Yakumi, who was passing through the area on a mission.
And so, he was brought to Konoha.
"I see. No matter what, as long as the blood of the Uchiha flows in your veins, you are one of us."
Fugaku's scarlet eyes stared at Seiji for a long time.
"Later, I will arrange for someone to enroll you in the Ninja Academy."
Historical records of the Uchiha clan did mention that some Uchiha once traveled to the Land of Lightning. It was even possible that Uchiha had lived there long ago.
It was said this happened in a time even earlier than the era when Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara fought their fierce battles.
In the territory that is now the Land of Lightning, there was once a lord whose wife hired the Uchiha clan to eliminate the Chinoike Clan.
But later, due to wars with the Senju, much historical information had been lost.
Even Fugaku couldn't learn the exact truth.
He didn't release any ocular power—he simply stared.
Yet the air itself seemed to grow thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
Seiji remained completely calm.
He knew exactly what Fugaku was thinking.
Nothing more than questioning whether his identity had a legitimate origin.
Fortunately, the Uchiha truly had historical connections with the Land of Lightning.
This was even recorded in the official novel
"Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise."
Finally, Fugaku withdrew his gaze.
After all, this was just a child of only a few years old.
Under the pressure of the Sharingan, how could a child possibly maintain composure?
If that were the case…
Wouldn't that be far too terrifying?
Even the recently rising genius son of Hatake Sakumo might not possess such mental fortitude.
"Lord Fugaku… discovering that I belong to the Uchiha clan… I—I'm truly happy. From now on, I will never bring shame to the name of the Uchiha!"
Seiji spoke with seemingly sincere emotion.
At that moment, a cold mechanical female voice sounded in his mind.
"You have obtained the trait: [The Art of Speaking (White)]."
Trait: The Art of Speaking (White)
Requirement:
Tell false statements in front of a person of high status without changing your expression 5 times.
Progress: Completed
Effect:
Your words will be more convincing to others, and those of lower status than you will be even more easily influenced.
Note:
This trait can be further upgraded.
"Finally."
A faint smile appeared on the corner of Seiji's lips.
If one didn't want to end up as a beggar in the ninja world, then strength was essential.
As everyone knew, in the Naruto world, true power was usually passed down through only three things:
Bloodline.
Mentorship.
Or inheritance of connections.
Either you had a powerful lineage…
Or you had an exceptional teacher who passed down both techniques and influence.
If neither worked, then like blood itself, you needed very close contact—your "Will of Fire" had to run deep enough to learn even a couple of jutsu.
But Seiji happened to possess something beyond all three.
His own effort.
And a simple Trait System.
The system recorded the traits he obtained, the conditions to unlock them, and their effects.
However, none of them were given for free.
Seiji had to complete the required conditions.
Just like [The Art of Speaking].
To unlock it, he had told at least five insincere statements in front of Uchiha Fugaku.
Happy to be born into the Uchiha clan?
Happy?
How could he possibly be happy?
Inside, Seiji felt nothing but pressure.
The Night of the Uchiha Massacre.
The coming two Ninja World Wars.
His life had practically already begun its countdown timer.
Not to mention the distant future.
In just over ten years…
Your dear son, Uchiha Itachi, will wipe out the entire clan.
"Not bad."
Fugaku nodded.
Hearing Seiji's heartfelt words made him feel somewhat satisfied.
This was a promising child.
Such pure words allowed one to feel the emotions hidden within them.
Seiji's sense of awareness even seemed higher than that of some ordinary Uchiha clan members.
Fugaku then gestured for him to leave.
After Seiji walked out, Uchiha Yashiro spoke while looking at the expressionless yet imposing Fugaku.
"Seiji was brought back from the Land of Lightning by Yakumi and the others. They say he even has some characteristics of the Yozuki clan. Could he be a spy planted among us?"
"That still requires further investigation."
Fugaku shook his head.
"But his bloodline is undoubtedly from the Uchiha clan."
"If an outsider transplanted a Sharingan, they wouldn't be able to close it, and it would place a tremendous burden on the body."
He continued:
"Tsunade will come later to examine the condition of his Sharingan."
"Fugaku, I'll go arrange things for the child."
Inside the Naka Shrine, Mikoto stood up from the tatami.
(End of Chapter)