[Chapter Size: 2600 Words.]
Konoha, 44.
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Obito opened his eyes in the morning to the sound of birds coming from outside. He rubbed them for a moment before remaining there, staring at the ceiling of his room for several minutes.
He couldn't say it was the best sight to start the day with, but he stayed there, thinking about what that date meant to him.
After all, he was off duty.
After months of nonstop training, Minato-Sensei had finally given everyone a day off so they could relax a little.
Obito couldn't deny that he needed it, after everything he had been through. He had spent quite a long time training every day without interruption, all because his sensei demanded that they be ready for the war.
And he wasn't wrong. But Obito also hadn't expected the beginning of his ninja career to be so turbulent.
Well, he couldn't complain. Compared to his current power, everything had been more than worth it.
Proud of his strength, Obito finally decided to get out of bed.
He headed to the kitchen and began preparing something to eat. He made some eggs and had them with milk.
He even touched the bread sitting on the table, but it had already been three days since he had eaten anything like that.
Ever since he had started avoiding bread, he ended up setting it aside and put some flour on the side to go with the eggs. After that, he ate in silence.
Obito couldn't help but take a look around his house while he ate... Until six months ago, he had lived in a rather small residence. However, ever since he joined Namikaze's Team Seven, the clan had granted him a larger house, and there was nothing he could do about it at the time.
He had even mentioned it to Minato-sensei once. The blond immediately seemed concerned and gave him some very serious advice. Obito should be careful with the clan elders.
They never missed an opportunity. There were many ambitious elders who were always seeking to exert as much control as possible and find the best young people to take under their wings.
Afterward, they tried to use them as convenient heirs or even as guards, informants, and loyal subordinates.
And Obito and his connections were attractive to every clan elder at the moment. Since he was a direct link to Minato and his family.
Minato always said that he needed to maintain his autonomy. If Obito intended to choose an elder and become involved in clan politics, he wouldn't interfere, but he strongly recommended that he be careful. He preferred that Obito not tie himself to any faction; it was the best path toward strength, and Minato would provide resources and support far greater than any other elder could dream of.
His Mangekyō, Mokuton cells, and mastery over those areas were proof that no one else in the world could give him that, with the exception of Madara himself, but Minato had done it far better than Madara ever could.
At the time, Obito hadn't paid much attention, but he nodded and said he wouldn't get involved with the clan. And he barely had any time during his travels on their first missions; the problem came when they returned from Rōran.
However, after the political studies he had been forced to do with Lady Kushina and Hanabi alongside the companions from the Uzumaki clan, he began to develop a critical sense regarding clan affairs.
He had never been highly valued. And perhaps now he could understand why. The people of the clan had always looked down on him while he lived with his grandmother in the old house. He had never shown much talent for the clan, nor did he have a powerful living family member capable of supporting him.
Suddenly, those same people who ignored him, laughed at him for being a joke at the Academy, and even despised him, started acting like flatterers.
Obito sighed as he thought about all of that... Then he stood up. He thought it would be a good idea to take a walk around the village today.
He cleaned up the kitchen, put on simple clothes, and left the house. As he walked through the Uchiha Clan district, he found the place already waking up for another day.
Uchiha housewives, civilians who had never become ninjas, and even retired kunoichi carried clothes to wash. Some people fetched water from the wells. Children were beginning to get ready to go to the Academy alongside their parents.
Obito moved along the clan's main road with his hands in his pockets, deep in thought, more than the old Obito could ever have been, more than a child who wasn't even eleven years old should be capable of thinking...
"Lord Obito!" someone greeted him as he passed, making him merely nod with a small smile, though never bowing too much. It was just someone who had never even looked at Obito before his graduation, and now always greeted him.
"Obito-kun!" an older woman said shortly afterward while taking her son to the Academy...
"Well, well, if it isn't our rising star!" Obito heard another person greet him as he crossed the clan's streets.
Everyone did that now. How strange. No one had even looked at his face not long ago. People openly insulted him when they didn't simply ignore him.
'Should you really even be an Uchiha? You're so clumsy.'
'Why are you so open with everyone? You should be colder.'
'He isn't worthy of carrying the Uchiha name...'
Today, however, people treated him very differently.
But there were always those looks of contempt and silent questions, no matter how subtle, coming from guards, police force members heading to work, ninjas leaving for missions, and other people within the clan.
Obito didn't know why, but today he was trapped in these thoughts.
What else could he do about it? He wasn't the type to hold grudges, but he also wouldn't forget everyone who had once looked down on him.
Obito was leaving through the clan gates when several Uchiha appeared at that moment and blocked his path.
The men stopped in front of him, all dressed in black clothes bearing the clan's symbol. Obito raised his gaze to look at them.
"Lord Obito, we would like to speak with you," he began.
"Yes?" Obito asked, showing nothing more than a raised eyebrow.
"Elder Morzan wishes to see you. He would like your company for his first meal of the day and a conversation," the ninja said.
Obito was surprised and was about to refuse. The ninja noticed.
"Sorry, but we insist," one of the Uchiha spoke again while staring at him.
Obito immediately felt a bit irritated. What was this? Were they forcing him to go see the elder? Obito looked at those ninjas; he was certain they were nothing compared to his current strength. He could defeat them.
But if he acted, they wouldn't stop—not until he resolved the matter himself or brought the situation to Minato-Sensei or even Mikoto-Sama. No elder would dare try to go against them.
So he decided to handle it himself. He didn't want to depend solely on his superiors. He disliked the way they were trying to pressure him, but he chose to accept because he intended to face the elder directly.
"Fine. If he wants to see me, so be it. Lead the way," Obito said with a certain irony.
"Follow us," one of the ninjas said, though his eyes narrowed at Obito.
The Uchiha began moving along one of the clan's inner paths, and Obito followed them. After some time, they arrived at an extremely wealthy residence.
It was one of the largest properties in the Uchiha Clan, just like those owned by all the elders, who had accumulated prestige and wealth throughout their lives. With a high position in the Uchiha Clan, one could attain such status. Many of them were war heroes, although not all of the clan's elderly members were elders.
Obito observed the mansion before him. It was exactly the type of place Minato had mentioned and very similar to the clan leader's residence, which Obito had already been summoned to after joining Minato's team. A residence belonging to someone with immense power, influence, and resources within the clan.
"Go in, he'll be waiting for you inside," the Uchiha ninja informed him.
Obito stepped forward and pushed open the doors. Upon entering, he found an elderly man sitting alone. However, Obito could easily tell that the place was full of hidden guards. He could have sworn he was in Sakumo-Sama's living room at that moment.
Ninjas and police officers who were off duty. All of them worked to provide security for the clan elders, with the elders themselves paying for their services or collecting favors.
Obito immediately grimaced inwardly. He had never wished to become the kind of ninja who spent his time guarding an old man inside his own house, in the middle of the clan district.
Was there really a need for that? To him, it served only as a display of status.
Obito didn't want to ask too many questions. He remained by the entrance while the elder raised his eyes and looked at him.
"Ah, young Obito. You've finally arrived. Please, come closer. It's not every day that I receive the greatest prodigy of the younger generation in my home..." he said. To Obito, it was false modesty. After all, no one in the clan had any real knowledge of his current abilities. To them, he was only a connection and a future prospect under Minato's wing. No one had any idea what he had already achieved over these past months.
Obito continued approaching.
"Come, have a seat."
The elder pointed to the table. Obito removed his sandals and stepped into the room, kneeling on the futon before the table, where tea and a few biscuits had been set out.
"Well, I can't eat much these days, but come here, Suzuki," he said.
The door opened behind him, and a well-dressed, beautiful young woman appeared. She looked to be around fifteen years old.
"Please, meet my granddaughter." The elder smiled. "She can prepare anything you'd like to eat. I know young people need to keep themselves well fed."
Obito shook his head.
"Thank you, Elder, but I've already eaten before leaving home."
"Ah, I see." He smiled and began to laugh.
"Well then, keep this old man company." The elder turned his gaze toward his granddaughter. "Suzuki, please join us."
The girl nodded. Obito noticed that she had been watching him the entire time. There wasn't the slightest trace of shyness in her eyes.
Obito had the impression that he had seen her several times before. Always during important gatherings, while the clan's more privileged members occupied the places of honor and the less important members sat as far away as possible. Obito usually found himself among the latter.
And her gaze was quite intense.
But for someone who had passed through life and death over the last few months, Obito had undergone a true metamorphosis.
His mood was more stable. He was no longer so volatile, impulsive, or prone to shouting and emotional outbursts.
Perhaps it was the Mokuton cells that had caused this change. Perhaps it was the Mangekyō itself. He didn't know. But he was certain that he needed a different personality to bear that kind of power.
And that ended up being reflected in the way he acted. So his eyes simply met those of the young woman in front of him, without the slightest trace of embarrassment.
She sat down and continued looking at him.
The elder let out a small chuckle.
"Ah, you young people..." He was clearly implying something.
Obito narrowed his eyes.
"Elder, what is this?" he asked calmly.
"What do you mean, young Obito?" The old man smiled innocently. "I simply wished to speak with one of the clan's most promising members."
The elder continued speaking while Obito shook his head.
He knew very well what was happening here.
"Then please, I'd like you to get straight to the point."
Obito replied in a polite tone, though not a friendly one.
The girl was surprised by that, while the elder appeared thoughtful.
"Well, straight to the point, is it?" He let out a laugh, though there was far less humor in it this time.
"I remember you being quite a funny boy, but it seems you've changed a lot." Even the elder recognized that.
Obito's voice was clear and firm. That surprised him. The elder had never met Obito before. Another elder had been responsible for the old Obito, but Morzan had always heard that he was an extremely troublesome boy who only knew how to cause problems, was lazy, and a waste of resources. He had never been attached to any elder because of that. The boy would become extremely embarrassed and nervous in front of the elders whenever they demanded his presence or expressed dissatisfaction with his abilities as an Uchiha.
Of course, after he became Minato's pupil, everyone started taking an interest in him.
Many questioned why, out of all the Uchiha, he had been selected. They said it was Minato himself who had personally chosen his team.
Mazu, the clan leader, had confirmed it. And it wasn't as if anyone could question Minato Namikaze. Some had even tried to suggest other names, but Minato had been inflexible, choosing only Obito among all the clan's young members who possessed natural talent.
Perhaps that was why Minato had chosen him, because Obito had no ties to any force or faction within the clan. He was free to become his student without altering the political landscape. After all, any other young Uchiha would have been an advantage to that faction.
Even so, he couldn't deny that there had been a great change in the current Obito. The naive young boy was gone. He hadn't trembled for even a moment in front of the elder. Nor had he shown any sign of feeling pressured by being in that room.
Not even the gaze of an older girl, who had practically been staring daggers at him, seemed to affect him. It was hard to believe that there was only an eleven-year-old boy sitting in front of them.
The elder sighed.
"Very well. Suzuki, please leave us."
His granddaughter looked somewhat surprised. She glanced at Obito and then at her grandfather before nodding and beginning to rise.
"I'll do that, Grandpa."
She then turned her gaze toward Obito.
"Lord Obito."
Obito heard the doors slide shut behind her before turning his attention back to the man in front of him.
"I see you were looking at my granddaughter's butt," the elder said.
Obito almost choked on the tea he was drinking at that moment. An irritated expression immediately appeared on his face.
"Of course not." He answered without hesitation. "I was just looking at the door closing."
"It's alright. I know she's beautiful." The old man said it with complete naturalness.
Obito looked at him as if he were a complete idiot.
"If you're trying to push your granddaughter onto me, get straight to the point, Elder." He set the tea down on the table. "I've already said that I'd like to know why we're here."
The elder remained silent for a few seconds before sighing.
Then his expression grew more serious.
"Very well." He folded his hands on the table. "It seems you're not as naive as I thought."
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