The Uchiha clan grounds, the clan leader's residence.
Clan leader Uchiha Tajima sat kneeling on a cushion. Two cups of hot tea were placed before him, and a faint tea fragrance filled the room.
Uchiha Izuna's figure appeared at the doorway. He bowed respectfully toward Tajima.
"Father."
Uchiha Tajima did not raise his head. He merely blew gently on the hot tea in his cup and gave a quiet "Mm" as a response.
Izuna came to the cushion opposite Tajima and knelt down, reporting in a low voice.
"Father, during today's border patrol, we discovered that members of the Third Squad... ran into an ambush by the Senju clan. Five of them went out, and not one survived."
"Crack."
A fine fracture appeared on the teacup in Uchiha Tajima's hand.
After a moment of silence, he slowly set the cup down. His voice revealed no joy or anger.
"I understand. I will handle this personally. Madara is currently entangled with Senju Hashirama on the eastern battlefield. The situation is not optimistic. Tomorrow morning, you will set out to support him."
"Yes, Father." Uchiha Izuna accepted without hesitation. Sharing his elder brother's burden was his duty.
If he hadn't been injured in battle some time ago and returned to the clan to recuperate, he would have followed his brother to the battlefield long ago.
After reporting the war situation, Izuna paused slightly, as if choosing his words, and then continued.
"Father, there is one more matter. On the way to the border today, I met someone... an Uchiha clansman who claimed to be traveling around the ninja world."
The originally calm expression on Uchiha Tajima's face finally showed a clear ripple.
"An Uchiha clansman who's been wandering outside? How strong is he?"
What he cared about most was this person's strength. If he was strong, he could serve the clan.
If he was weak, then he could only engage in production or do some trading.
However, he did not think that clansman would be weak. Someone who could travel around the ninja world in the current era certainly had some real skills.
"Father, I couldn't see through his strength," Uchiha Izuna said.
Along the way, he had secretly observed Renya quite a bit, yet he still couldn't tell how strong he was.
That was precisely why he came to inform his father in person!
Uchiha Tajima's fingers unconsciously tapped the table a few times, and a look of interest appeared on his face.
"Even you couldn't see through his strength?"
Sometimes, not being able to see through someone was itself proof of the other party's power.
Perhaps, for the clan, this could be a decent fighting force.
"Yes, Father. Do you want to meet him personally?" Uchiha Izuna asked. "I believe you can see his depth."
Although his father had been injured in battle against Senju Butsuma, his discernment had not vanished because of it.
He believed his father would be able to see Renya's true strength!
In fact, Izuna could have attacked Renya to test his strength.
He simply chose not to.
Not only because Renya was an Uchiha clansman, but also because Izuna did not want to offend a powerful Uchiha.
Smart people often do not make rash decisions.
Uchiha Tajima pondered. A "clansman" of unknown identity, whose depth even Izuna couldn't gauge, appearing at such a sensitive time—was this an opportunity, or a trap?
Was that person a clansman who had been lost outside the clan, or a plot by the Senju, or even other forces, aimed at the Uchiha?
After a brief weighing of the options, Uchiha Tajima made his decision.
"Bring him to see me."
...
"Thank you, Renya-kun, for sharing. You let me see many things I'd never heard of before," Uchiha Tanaka said gratefully to Renya. "I still have things to do, so I won't trouble you any further."
With that, he left the courtyard.
From Renya's account, his claim of being a traveler touring the ninja world did not seem to have any problems.
Not long after Uchiha Tanaka left, another person appeared in the courtyard.
"Renya, the clan leader summons you."
Uchiha Izuna looked at Renya, who was sweeping the courtyard, and said.
"Alright, I'll be right there." Renya put down the broom and said with a smile to Danzō. "Good friend, it's not that I don't want to clean. It's just that the Uchiha clan leader has summoned me. I'll leave the rest to you."
Shimura Danzō: "..."
This guy just wants to slack off and still makes it sound so high-minded.
On the way, Uchiha Izuna asked curiously, "Renya-kun, are you and your friend very close?"
He had observed that the relationship between Renya and Shimura Danzō went far beyond that of ordinary friends, so he asked out of curiosity.
"Yeah. Danzō and I have known each other since we were kids. Our relationship is really good," Renya said seriously, not denying it.
In the village, his relationship with Danzō was closer than with Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others. Even though everyone had known each other since childhood, the only one he was truly closest to was Danzō.
The others could only be called close friends, while Danzō was a true good friend!
Hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Uchiha Izuna's eyes. It seemed Renya and Danzō had gone through some past experiences he didn't know about.
They were probably comrades who had faced life and death together; otherwise, their relationship wouldn't be so close.
When Uchiha Tajima saw Renya walk in, he felt the aura around him, and a trace of shock flashed across his eyes.
This person's strength was probably above his!
No wonder Izuna couldn't see through his strength. It wasn't that he couldn't see it—he just couldn't be sure.
"Please, sit."
Uchiha Tajima quickly came back to his senses and pointed to the cushion opposite.
Renya didn't stand on ceremony. He casually knelt on the cushion, picked up the hot tea in front of him, and took small sips.
"May I ask why the clan leader has summoned me?"
"I heard from Izuna that he met a clansman who had been wandering outside, so I was curious and called you over to take a look," Uchiha Tajima said with a smile. "I didn't expect our Uchiha clan to have such a formidable clansman."
He had no intention of beating around the bush and directly spoke of Renya's strength.
Renya didn't react much, only silently drinking his tea.
Although he had deliberately concealed his aura, he couldn't completely hide it in front of a powerhouse like Uchiha Tajima.
"Renya-kun, I wonder if you're willing to help the clan fight against external enemies?" Uchiha Tajima asked tentatively.
If Renya was unwilling, he wouldn't force him. But if he was willing, the clan would gain another fighting force not inferior to himself.
When that time came, that guy Senju Butsuma would definitely be dumbfounded.
Just thinking about his old rival's ugly expression, he almost couldn't help but laugh!
Of course, all of this depended on whether Renya would agree.
Under Uchiha Tajima's expectant gaze, Renya slowly set down his teacup.
"Clan leader, I can go to the battlefield and take a look."
"No problem!" Uchiha Tajima was overjoyed.
Although Renya didn't state it outright, he knew the other party would aid the clansmen at critical moments!