At the Uchiha clan compound.
Inside the training ground.
Tobirama held a ninja sword in his hand and casually flicked it into a flourish.
His opponent was the long-famous three-tomoe jōnin, Uchiha Yashiro.
Tobirama had already entered the Uchiha clan compound for two months.
During these two months.
With his appearance and terrifying talent, Tobirama had rapidly made a name for himself within the Uchiha clan.
He had won the favor of many clan members.
Looking like Izuna, possessing formidable talent, proud yet respectful to the elderly and caring toward the young...
He was always gentle and pleasant with the children who kept pestering him, never growing impatient.
From time to time, he would even bring milk and grain and cooking oil to visit the elderly, all so he could hear them tell stories about the Uchiha of the Warring States era, and every time he listened with deep fascination.
Many young Uchiha were not interested in stories from the Warring States era, after all, there was a generational gap.
But Tobirama listened with extreme focus, and often even asked the elders to tell him more.
The elderly Uchiha could tell that "Seisui" was not doing this out of any desire to comfort them.
This young man was truly fascinated by Uchiha history!
And in truth, that was indeed the case.
Tobirama had always been curious about what Madara's real image within the Uchiha had been like.
And what his way of getting along with Izuna had been like.
Would it have been a lot like the way he and his elder brother were?
Tobirama had also casually asked a few private questions.
For example, why was it that Uchiha Izuna's lovers were all women from outside the clan?
The answer was that, back then, he really had nearly been dragged into a mutual explosion by a crazy Uchiha woman, leaving him with psychological trauma...
This sort of gossip story, passed down by word of mouth among the older Uchiha generation, was something you simply could not hear elsewhere unless you went deep into the clan compound!
Tobirama listened very happily...
And in the eyes of the other Uchiha, this was a sign that "Seisui," this young Uchiha, was deeply acknowledging the clan and returning to his roots!
"Seisui, show your limits openly and without reservation!"
Yashiro said boldly: "Sparring with those little brats at the ninja academy is far too dull for you... If Clan Head Isshin hadn't said that doing so would help you earn the village's trust, I would've planned to have you come straight to the Police Force for a post!"
"The Police Force is our own turf. The pay and benefits are very good now, and the village just happens to have expanded the patrol units, so there's a vacancy in the staffing right now..."
"If you come fill it, I believe no one else will have any objections!"
Tobirama nodded, then frowned, as if he wanted to say something.
At the side, Isshin shot Yashiro a displeased glance.
In his view, although the Police Force's pay had risen, it had become even more of a slow-boiling trap...
If the clan members all accepted this sugar-coated bullet, then they really would rot away in the Konoha Police Force!
Drinking tea and reading the paper every day, how could even the finest bloodline ever be brought into full play?
"Although there are some things I want to say to you, Yashiro-niisan, we Uchiha are a clan that reveres strength."
"Before reasoning things out, it's still better to first show your own ability, right?"
Tobirama said with a smiling expression: "But let me say this first, Yashiro-niisan... the style I use isn't easy to deal with."
"You should be prepared..."
Yashiro laughed loudly: "Seisui, brat, didn't I already say it? Clan Head Isshin called us here precisely to force out your limits! When trading moves with us, if you're still thinking about holding back, that's being overly arrogant..."
Tobirama said nothing more and nodded.
A flicker of emotion stirred in Yashiro's heart. Seeing "Seisui's" unconcerned expression, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
'It's good for young people to have pride, but if they don't know their place, sooner or later they'll pay for it.'
'Seisui may appear modest, but in truth, his arrogance as an Uchiha is soaked into his bones. I've already warned him, yet he still carries himself like this?'
'Then I'll teach you a lesson, brat!'
Three pitch-black tomoe appeared in Yashiro's eyes.
Chakra gathered beneath the soles of his feet, and in an instant he was already in front of Tobirama, swinging the ninja sword in his hand!
Uchiha-style swordsmanship—One-Slash!
In Tobirama's two-tomoe vision, Yashiro's ferocious charge seemed to slow down.
Although this new body had not yet fully developed, it had integrated Tobirama's neural reaction speed with Izuna's Body Flicker talent very well.
It could be said that the starting point was already extremely high...
'What a classic opening stance...' such a thought crossed Senju Tobirama's mind.
He had seen similar sword techniques countless times.
As if he possessed foresight, Tobirama raised his blade and, a moment earlier, placed its edge at the point where Yashiro would exert force, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
The two blades collided, and Yashiro—unable to fully exert his strength—felt extremely uncomfortable throughout his body...
He had a stifled feeling like wanting to sneeze but being unable to.
But Tobirama's blade momentum did not stop; the blade light flowed and rippled, tightly coiling around Yashiro like a python.
Yashiro was startled and hurriedly retreated, while his other hand rapidly formed hand seals.
"Too late..." Tobirama curled his lips in satisfaction.
He was going to use Uchiha Izuna's fighting style.
Why had Tobirama once called Uchiha Izuna a "mad red-eyed dog"?
It was precisely because Uchiha Izuna's Body Flicker Technique was extremely formidable, and his neural reaction speed was no weaker than Tobirama's; combined with the Sharingan's ability to disrupt the enemy's combat rhythm...
Once battle began, he would engage in a frenzied close-quarters mauling, not even giving the enemy time to form hand seals...
Until the opponent, flustered and scrambling, revealed an opening—at which point the blade would tear open the opponent's throat like a bloody maw.
This was Uchiha Izuna's favorite way to fight.
The former Tobirama had also suffered greatly from this, and so had been forced to continuously simplify his hand-seal methods and seek seal-less ninjutsu such as the Flying Thunder God Technique to counter it...
But this time, he was the one doing it!
With a sweep of Tobirama's long blade, the cold edge instantly disrupted Yashiro's hand seals.
'Damn, that fast?'
Yashiro could not help but curse inwardly: 'Who taught Seisui this fighting style? He's like a mad dog!'
"Too slow, Yashiro-niisan!"
Tobirama laughed loudly as he spoke, yet the blade in his hand did not slow in the slightest: "In close combat, four hand seals at most is the limit for releasing ninjutsu..."
"So you haven't read the close-quarters combat manuals written by Izuna-sama!"
Yashiro's heart trembled.
How could he not have read them?
But the Young Clan Leader's style required extremely high neural reaction speed and Body Flicker Technique...
It looked like chaotic, unstructured mauling, yet in truth it was extreme confidence in one's own real-time reactions.
Because Uchiha Izuna believed that he could respond to any decision the enemy made—he was faster than anyone.
If someone else tried it, this kind of oppressive assault would instead expose their own openings first.
Yashiro gritted his teeth. He had no time to respond and focused completely on exchanging blade strikes.
"Now!"
After several exchanges, Yashiro finally found an opportunity.
Following the line of the blades, his eyes and "Seisui's" would inevitably meet.
And the moment their gazes crossed would also be the moment when ocular power clashed.
No matter what, a two-tomoe Sharingan could not shake a three-tomoe Sharingan...
This was a qualitative gap!
But when Yashiro gathered his ocular power and met Tobirama's gaze... he discovered that the young man before him was not affected by his Sharingan at all, and there was even a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
What Yashiro did not know was... even before Tobirama possessed the Sharingan, he had already acquired techniques and resistance against ocular power through various special training.
His mental strength was unusually resilient.
An ordinary three-tomoe would not cause much interference to Tobirama...
Only someone approaching Izuna's level would make Tobirama avoid meeting their gaze.
And now, Tobirama had the Sharingan...
Even if it was only a pair of two-tomoe.
When he did not have the Sharingan, avoiding eye contact was still understandable...
But having it and still doing that—wouldn't that make becoming an Uchiha meaningless?
Tobirama's two tomoe spun sharply, and with his ocular power he actually froze Yashiro for an instant.
"Got you!" Tobirama seized the opening.
The tip of the blade in his hand flicked upward, knocking the ninja sword from Yashiro's grasp. It spun through the air in a spiral.
"My apologies, Yashiro-niisan."
Looking at the stunned Yashiro, Tobirama took the initiative to pick up the ninja sword for him.
He walked over and handed it back to Yashiro, making the gesture of reconciliation: "You were going easy on me because I'm young. You weren't very serious, and you didn't use your ocular power at full strength just now..."
Yashiro scratched his head.
When the sword had been knocked from his hand, a trace of unwillingness to accept defeat had actually risen in his heart.
After all, so many clan members were watching.
He had even made bold remarks earlier, and to be disarmed like this was truly embarrassing.
He had wanted to go another round...
But looking at the refreshing smile of the boy before him and hearing his proper words, that trace of anger also vanished.
"Seisui, don't say that!"
"A loss is a loss. I only just realized—this is the legendary Young Clan Leader's fighting style, isn't it?"
Yashiro raised a thumbs-up: "I've wanted to learn it for a long time. Many in our clan have tried to replicate it, but only you have reproduced the spirit of the Young Clan Leader described in the manuals!"
Tobirama pretended to scratch his head awkwardly: "I've only learned a little of the surface. You're praising me too much, Yashiro-niisan..."
Yet in Tobirama's mind, he burst into hearty laughter.
After changing identities, he discovered that getting along with the Uchiha clan was not difficult.
Of course, first you had to be strong enough, and after that you just had to go along with their temper...
If you could also display a certain level of intelligence, then that would complete the package—you could even run for opinion leader within the Uchiha.
'The policy I established to create the Police Force has indeed removed the Uchiha's fierceness...'
'The level of the Uchiha three-tomoe now cannot compare with the Warring States era at all. Fighting Kusagakure is one thing, but when facing other major hidden villages, they will not have a clear advantage.'
'This cannot continue. So much combat strength is being wasted. I need to find a way to reorganize the Konoha Police Force, and this will also be an opportunity for me to gain prestige within the clan...'
Yashiro's level left Tobirama quite dissatisfied.
Although this was exactly the effect he had once wanted to achieve...
But the problem was that times had changed.
How could things be the same now as before!
Back then, Tobirama had no way to monitor the Uchiha in real time and discover who had problems...
But now he was right inside the Uchiha clan compound!
If someone had a problem, he could just go to their door and deal with it...
It was not an exaggeration from Tobirama—his eyes were the measure.
Which Uchiha had a problem in their heart could not escape his Sharingan...
"Brother, you're amazing!"
Shisui cheered wildly for Tobirama from the side: "Ahhh!"
Letting out a shout like a battle cry.
And Obito was no less enthusiastic, excitedly waving his arms and shouting with the others: "Did you see that? That's my brother—Seisui-nii is amazing!"
To the point that Shisui glanced at Obito once again, as if wanting to speak but stopping himself.
What do you mean your brother?
I'm the little brother personally appointed by the Hokage—who are you?
But on second thought, since he was cheering for his brother too, Shisui let it go.
Isshin, who had read quite a few books and could be considered a cultured man, looked at "Seisui" with a grin he could not close: "Good, good, good! This is wonderful!"
It was not that he lacked words, but in this situation, the simplest words expressed the feelings most accurately...
Tobirama's bearing was almost exactly the same as Uchiha Izuna in his memory, as if they had been carved from the same mold!
'The power of the ancestors' blessing is indeed as powerful as the records say!'
'Young Clan Leader Izuna, you truly watch over us from heaven—your will has responded to the cries of us incompetent descendants!'
Thinking this, Isshin could not help touching the corner of his slightly moist eyes.
He had waited for too many years...
At last, the Uchiha clan had a hope for change!
And at the other end of the shinobi world, Madara, a loyal viewer of the Uchiha segment, also became excited.
This is good!
He didn't even know how much better this was compared to that stupid spiky-haired brat...
Wearing those goggles every day—was he afraid the Sharingan might get scratched? Madara could not understand.
Moreover, judging from the fighting style Tobirama displayed...
Madara was even momentarily dazzled, thinking that Izuna had truly been reborn in the Uchiha clan!
Looking carefully, he came back to his senses.
This young man called Seisui did not look exactly the same as Izuna...
And his temperament was not as flamboyant either.
Overall, he was more restrained and steady.
"After all, he isn't the same person, and this boy hasn't had it easy..."
"Clearly an Uchiha, yet because of his birth he was trapped in Kusagakure for so many years..."
"He's still young, yet he has suffered so much. Being a bit more mature is only natural."
Madara let out a long sigh.
Such a good Uchiha seedling had nearly sunk into that doghole of Kusagakure!
Fortunately, Konoha had rescued him...
Even Madara, the former clan head, could not help feeling somewhat moved.
If he had been there, something like this would never have happened.
It also reminded him of Izuna's final request before his death...
"Do not trust the Senju clan, and take good care of the Uchiha clan."
He had accomplished neither of those things...
First he trusted Hashirama, and then he left Konoha, no longer looking after the clansmen...
Even though Madara believed that the Eye of the Moon Plan should be able to make up for this mistake.
After all, once ultimate peace arrived, everyone would thank the Uchiha clan...
But no matter how it was put, this still violated the promise he had made to Izuna.
When it came to his younger brother, Madara could not deceive himself.
...
"None of you step up. Even if you do, you'll just be offering yourselves up to Seisui..."
"Drinking tea every day, reading newspapers, chatting about gossip—what's the use of having a pair of Sharingan? Your bodies have all grown slack!"
"If this keeps up, I'm afraid the Uchiha clan's reputation will fall in our generation!"
Fugaku leapt into the field. "I'll do it!"
Although Fugaku had just given the surrounding Uchiha a sharp tongue-lashing, no one said anything in response. Some of the three-tomoe even lowered their heads in shame.
The Uchiha clan had always been like this...
If your fists were big enough, everyone would listen to you. Besides, Fugaku usually had good relations with people.
In the current Uchiha clan, Fugaku was tacitly recognized as the strongest one.
"I'm not the same as them, Seisui..."
"In order to properly raise my son, I train every single day!"
"Seisui, the style you learned is the Young Clan Leader's fighting style, right? Then I'll try facing you using the Great Clan Leader's style!"
Fugaku rubbed his hands together, clearly very interested in this sparring match.
When the spectator Uchiha Madara heard this, his eyes narrowed, his gaze turning dangerous.
Imitating his fighting style?
Do you even understand it!
Tobirama's heart stirred, and he said something that surprised everyone present:
"Fugaku-nii, you also admire the Great Clan Leader? So do I. I especially admire his spirit!"
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