The two elder Uchiha fell to their knees, gasping for air with agonizing effort as they struggled to reclaim their breath. Deep terror and profound dread remained etched upon their weary, weathered faces; the fear of certain death they had felt moments ago was still vivid in their eyes.
However, the youth standing behind them, Hiroshi Uchiha, remained upright. He fought with every ounce of his strength, refusing to drop to his knees despite the visible exhaustion and staggering fatigue. He trembled, yet he stood. He was afraid, yet he did not surrender. He was weak, yet he remained unbroken.
Leon erupted into a loud laugh, one brimming with genuine admiration. "Hahaha! I truly like you, kid! You said your name is Hiroshi Uchiha, correct? Yes! Hahahaha! It has been a very long time since I have been in such a fantastic and excited mood!"
Leon was clearly delighted, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of a child who had discovered a fascinating new toy. From the side, Sato watched with a look of quiet resignation, his calm face betraying his helplessness regarding his elder brother's typical battle-crazed behavior. This brother... always the same.
Suddenly, Sato heard a direct message from his father in his ear. He smiled slightly upon hearing the contents, viewing the unfolding situation with newfound understanding. It seemed his father was observing everything as usual; nothing escaped his notice.
At that exact moment, Leon also received a similar message from Dan directly in his mind. Their father had monitored every detail within the royal hall with perfect precision and told Leon simply: "Act as you see fit, Leon. You are free to make your own decision."
This explicit permission and total trust from his father surged Leon's happiness and zeal. He looked at the youth before him with a wide grin and spoke with clear appreciation. "Kid, you have the gaze and the face of a truly strong man and a brave warrior, even though you are still incredibly weak by any real standard of power."
Hiroshi answered with a slightly trembling voice, struggling to regain his habitual composure and pride while standing firm despite his shivers. "I am Hiroshi Uchiha! Heir to the great and ancient Uchiha Clan! I will show weakness to no one, no matter who they are—even if you are thousands of times stronger than me! At least... not now!"
Leon responded immediately with a joyful, broad smile, captivated by the boy's fighting spirit. "Yes! That is exactly how a real man should be! Pride and courage even in the face of certain death!"
Suddenly, Leon's expression shifted to total gravity in a single heartbeat. His tone turned sharp. "However, despite all that, and even if you possess the traits of a future powerhouse, you are still very, very weak right now. Weak as an ant before a lion. This is a reality you must accept."
Sato finally spoke in a calm, cold voice, bringing the meeting to a close. "Since this is all you have to say, you may depart now and return to your clan. The negotiations are over, and the answer is clear: the mine is not for sale."
The two Uchiha elders, having barely regained their physical stability, looked at the calmly standing Sato. They offered a forced salute with slightly bowed heads, then retreated slowly toward the grand exit with Hiroshi. Their steps were heavy, tired, and defeated.
Just before they finally exited the opulent hall, Leon's voice rang out, loud and clear for all to hear, directed straight at the youth. "I am very eager to see you again in the near future, you brave child! Do not disappoint me!"
Hiroshi Uchiha turned immediately, his face flushing with annoyance and anger at the insulting word "child." He cast a sharp, silent look of challenge toward Leon, then continued his walk with his pride intact, leaving the hall with steady steps despite his exhaustion.
Once they had left, Sato immediately deployed a small, concentrated field of Chakra around them to isolate the sound and prevent any potential eavesdropping. He let out an audible sigh and gave his elder brother a look of mild reproach, speaking in a tone of slight complaint. "You were a bit troublesome, big brother Leon. You nearly ruined the entire diplomatic atmosphere."
Leon laughed loudly, devoid of any guilt. "Hahaha! Sorry, sorry! But there is something truly different and strange about that kid's gaze that made me a bit excited in a way I haven't felt in years! I couldn't resist the curiosity!"
Sato sighed deeply again but decided to explain the matter in detail. Their father had granted him clear permission to share the important secrets regarding the Uchiha Clan with Leon. Sato began to explain everything calmly: the clan's history, their potential future power, the secrets of the Sharingan, the old debt their father owed to their ancestor, and the true reason for not antagonizing them directly despite their irritating behavior. Every vital detail was laid out.
Leon fell silent for a moment, displaying an uncharacteristic seriousness as he absorbed the vital new information. In truth, Leon was highly intelligent despite his boisterous and reckless exterior. Most of Dan's children were brilliant strategists; their father had cultivated this in them since childhood through intensive education. Their differing temperaments did not diminish their sharp intellects. Leon loved combat, yes, but he was also capable of deep strategic planning when necessary.
Suddenly, he broke into a wide, enthusiastic grin, his voice full of genuine happiness. "So that means I've finally found someone who can actually ignite my blood a little and make my heart pound with excitement! Hahaha! Someone worth waiting for!" He laughed loudly, happy as a child who had received a priceless gift.
Sato smiled warmly. He was glad for his elder brother, whom he loved and respected despite their different natures. In recent years, Leon had suffered from clear frustration and boredom because there was no one strong enough to truly match him in a serious, life-or-death fight. While his siblings and family members were powerful, what Leon craved was a different kind of combat—a true battle with actual killing intent and the risk of death, something that would make his blood boil and his heart race with genuine zeal. A fight without family constraints, without forced mercy, and without safe limits. Until now, he had never found that sought-after opponent.
Sato spoke with a realistic and honest tone, trying to temper his brother's expectations slightly. "In truth, big brother, do not raise your expectations too high. With your current gargantuan level of power, even if that boy Hiroshi reaches the highest level of strength our father described, he won't truly be able to match or challenge you. The gap will still be far too vast."
Leon replied instantly with a broad smile, untroubled. "That doesn't matter at all! At the very least, I'll feel a bit of the excitement and thrill I've been missing! That is enough for me!" He paused, then added with a mischievous smirk, "Besides, I already have a great idea to increase the difficulty and the challenge a bit, just to make things more interesting! Hahaha!"
Sato looked at him with clear curiosity. What was the idea?
( Leon walt pic is available to everyone on my Patreon page even if u r not member)
-------------
If you are enjoying this work and would like to read the upcoming chapters , you can access the advanced chapters on Patreon.
Patreon :Aaron4dicard
I publish several chapters there before they are released here, you can join through the link partreon/Aaron4dicard Thank you to everyone who reads and supports the work.