"Ah? Hahaha, Grandpa… I thought you'd say the number one genius was Clan Head Yuto, didn't expect it to be yourself!"
Uchiha Tajima immediately couldn't help but laugh out loud, his small hand lightly patting Arisu's sleeve.
In his young heart, his grandfather had always been a learned elder, full of knowledge and understanding countless principles.
The elders in the clan all showed great respect to Grandpa too.
Even the clan head had to respectfully address him as an elder.
But when it came to strength, he had truly never seen his grandfather actually make a move.
In his memory, the most impressive thing Grandpa ever did was in spring, when picking fruit from high branches.
He would lightly attach chakra to his feet and make a gentle leap to reach the treetop. Other than that, there was never the slightest display of ninjutsu.
Nothing like the other ninjas in the clan, who trained with kunai and ninjutsu all day, their bodies carrying a constant aura of killing intent.
Arisu looked at Tajima's expression and only shook his head lightly, offering no explanation.
He already stood at the peak of power in the ninja world. To him, strength and weakness were nothing more than fleeting clouds.
"Talk with Grandpa about what happened today…"
"Wait, Grandpa, I still want to hear you tell those ancient stories!"
Cherry blossoms fluttered down, landing on their shoulders.
In the courtyard, aside from the soft sound of wind brushing through the cherry trees, there was only the quiet chatter between the old and the young.
From school lessons, to the daily training of clan ninjas, to scattered rumors about other clans in the ninja world.
The two talked for a long time. The originally relaxed atmosphere was gradually pulled into a heavier direction by the undercurrents of the ninja world.
"Grandpa, do you think Clan Head Yuto will attack the Senju clan?"
Uchiha Tajima clutched the corner of his clothes, his small brows slightly furrowed, the smile on his little face fading into seriousness.
Arisu lowered his gaze toward Tajima and nodded gently. "He will. He definitely will."
"The Uchiha and Senju are rooted in the Land of Fire. Territory, resources, missions, there are conflicts of interest everywhere. Disputes between clans are unavoidable."
"What's more, the daimyo of the Land of Fire will definitely interfere, using the two clans' conflict to seek personal gain and reap the benefits without lifting a finger."
Arisu understood clearly in his heart that all of this was a framework he had personally laid down.
Back then, he enfeoffed the daimyos of various countries, making secular royal power and ninja clans restrain each other.
It was all to keep the reincarnations of Indra and Asura trapped in the vortex of clan opposition, unable to escape their destined clash.
The rules of this ninja world were built by his own hands from the very root. The current situation was merely progressing along the path he had set.
So Arisu knew clearly whether the mines he buried would explode.
Hearing this, Tajima's small face instantly filled with indignation.
"Ugh! Those damn daimyos! Why do those ordinary people with no ninjutsu get to ride over us ninjas and act tyrannical?"
"We ninjas have such powerful strength. We can split mountains and shatter stones, carry out dangerous missions. Yet we're restricted everywhere by the daimyos."
"Even the food our clan depends on and the materials to forge weapons have to rely on trade with the outside world, and we have to act according to the daimyos' moods…"
Tajima clenched his small fists, his cheeks puffing slightly as he complained in dissatisfaction.
Although Tajima was still young, under Arisu's careful teaching over the years, he was already far more mature than children his age.
He understood the foundation of how the clan operated and knew that although ninjas seemed powerful, they were actually restricted everywhere under the constraints of secular authority.
He couldn't understand why ninjas, who possessed power, instead had to be manipulated by daimyos who couldn't even truss a chicken.
"Heh…"
Arisu chuckled. 'Tajima, if you're asking this, then you've asked the right person.'
'The legitimacy of the daimyos comes from me!'
"The daimyos were appointed by the Sage of Six Paths. After the Sage pacified demons, the ninja world had no ruler, and someone was needed to maintain order."
"At that time, some incorruptible officials were chosen by the Sage of Six Paths, and then lands were granted to them."
Arisu explained to Tajima.
Uchiha Tajima nodded, letting out a soft sigh, "Sigh, the Sage of Six Paths…"
At that moment, a knocking sound came from the door.
Arisu had just started to stand up...
Uchiha Tajima had already taken the lead, running over on his short legs. "Grandpa, I'll go!"
He pulled open the wooden sliding door in one motion. The figure standing outside made Tajima instantly straighten his small body.
The visitor wore the Uchiha clan's signature high-collared dark blue attire, the fabric embroidered with the clan crest in subtle patterns.
His posture was upright, and there was a sharpness between his brows and eyes unique to the Uchiha.
It was the current Uchiha clan head... Uchiha Yuto.
"Greetings, Clan Head Yuto!"
Tajima bowed properly and looked up at the visitor with his small face raised.
Then he turned his head and called inside, "Grandpa, the clan head is here!"
Arisu walked over slowly, his gaze falling on Uchiha Yuto. "So it's little Yuto. What brings you to this old man?"
He naturally knew the identity of the person before him.
Uchiha Yuto was the reincarnation of Indra in this generation, and also the Uchiha clan head.
After watching the rise and fall of reincarnations for a thousand years, he no longer felt the slightest ripple toward this fate.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yuto immediately bowed deeply to Arisu. "Elder, sorry to disturb your rest."
"I came this time to ask you to help me think things over and give me some advice."
"Then come in."
Arisu gave a slight nod and turned to walk into the inner room first.
The inner room was extremely simple. A low table, and on it only a few oranges.
The two sat facing each other.
"Elder, I want to make a move against the Senju. What do you think?" Uchiha Yuto asked impatiently.
"Since you've already decided, then there's no need to say more. Just fight. Why ask this old man?", Arisu said.
These words froze the urgency on Uchiha Yuto's face.
He showed a troubled expression, his brows tightly knitted, hesitation filling his voice. "Elder, you know, I've only just taken the position. I've never experienced large-scale clan warfare."
"I'm afraid that if I send troops rashly, things will go badly and the clan's younger generation will suffer losses… Tell me, should I conserve strength for a few years and act after the foundation is stable?"
"Or strike immediately and seize the initiative?"
As soon as Yuto finished speaking, Arisu raised his eyes to look at him and spoke slowly, "You've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Uchiha Yuto's whole body shook. His face instantly turned pale, his pupils shrinking sharply, a deep shock flashing in his eyes.
He had kept the awakening of his Mangekyo Sharingan extremely secret, telling no one. Even the elders closest to him in the clan had not noticed.
Yet this clan elder saw through it with a single glance and revealed it in one sentence. The shock in his heart surged endlessly.
"Elder, your insight is truly sharp."
Uchiha Yuto steadied himself. The shock in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a trace of pride that couldn't be hidden.
Yuto slowly raised his right hand, lightly brushing the corner of his eye with his fingertips. The crimson Sharingan suddenly opened...
It was a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan with intricate patterns. The design at the center resembled a spinning windmill, with sharp arcs entwining at the edges.
"This is the confidence I have to make a move against the Senju."
Uchiha Yuto clenched his fist, his tone firm. The power of the Mangekyo surged within him, filling his gaze with a sharp determination to win.
At the side, Tajima stood at the doorway, tilting his small head as he watched curiously.