"Recruit them?"
Uchiha Setsuna nearly choked on his tea at the suggestion.
He hurriedly suppressed the burning sensation in his throat, coughing several times before finally steadying himself.
Then he raised his head, eyes filled with disbelief.
"You were speaking so confidently just now," he said. "And it turns out you were just bragging?"
"How is that bragging?"
Anlan quickly walked over and gently patted the old man's back.
"Think about it. Each year there are nearly twenty Uchiha students in the Ninja Academy. Across six grades, that's just a little over a hundred."
"We establish clan classes. For each grade, we assign two jōnin instructors."
"From them, we select the best six students."
"Then two clan members with three-tomoe Sharingan provide elite, comprehensive training."
The young man's voice was calm and steady.
"At the same time, we implement an elimination system."
"Students from the regular class can challenge those in the elite group."
"With this level of resource investment and competition, if a civilian student still manages to surpass every Uchiha…"
"Then that proves their talent is worth recruiting into the clan."
Setsuna studied the calm smile on Anlan's face.
After a moment of contemplation, he nodded slowly.
"Twelve jōnin instructors and twelve three-tomoe elite jōnin."
"A full lineup of twenty-four people."
"With that kind of force alone, we could easily crush any small country outside the Five Great Nations."
The old man tapped the table lightly.
Pride flickered in his eyes.
"You're right."
"Only the Uchiha clan could afford such an undertaking."
He lifted his teacup, the rising steam softening the wrinkles on his face.
"With that level of cultivation, there's no reason for the clan's children to lose."
"And if someone truly surpasses them…"
"They must be geniuses like Orochimaru, Namikaze Minato, or Hatake Kakashi."
"People like that are certainly worth recruiting."
The teacup touched the table with a soft sound.
Setsuna smiled faintly.
"Good timing, actually. Most people in the clan are idle anyway."
"Now they'll finally have something useful to do."
The Uchiha clan possessed immense wealth.
Since the Warring States era, they had purchased vast farmland throughout the Land of Fire.
Their holdings included not only sprawling estates but also several profitable mines.
The Senju clan had once been the same.
Unfortunately, they donated all their assets to Konoha.
And who those resources ultimately ended up with… was anyone's guess.
Most Uchiha businesses were managed by the ninja cat clan.
The Uchiha themselves only needed to appear occasionally to intimidate rivals and eliminate troublesome factions.
Afterward, they returned to the village to enjoy the profits.
However, Konoha had limited jōnin positions.
The Konoha Police Force was already full.
And because they remained wary of Konoha's leadership, the clan had accumulated a large number of unused Uchiha jōnin.
These elite fighters wandered around every day looking idle.
Their expressions practically said:
Don't mess with me.
It was as if they were ready to pull out watermelon knives and start a gang fight the moment a signal arrow appeared.
Setsuna and the other elders had discussed this issue before.
Now that these people finally had something meaningful to do—
Naturally they welcomed the idea.
"You can decide the personnel arrangements yourselves," Setsuna said.
"I will fully support it."
Looking at his grandfather—who had handed over all real authority of the hawk faction to him and now spent most days drinking tea with the old clan head and Elder Hokage—
Anlan's smile grew even brighter.
"The Ninja Academy has the Hokage himself as principal."
"Our Uchiha clan academy may be smaller in scale…"
"But our teaching staff will be the strongest in the ninja world."
"For such an important institution," Anlan continued smoothly,
"It would naturally require a highly respected elder to serve as its Headmaster."
A mischievous glint flashed in the young man's eyes as he grabbed his grandfather's arm at just the right moment.
"Don't you think so?"
Setsuna—who had planned to spend the day drinking tea and playing chess with Hokage—suddenly widened his eyes.
He stared at Anlan, who wore an expression clearly saying I've got you now.
The refusal he had been about to speak was swallowed.
He had just promised his full support.
If he rejected the idea now, wouldn't that be slapping his own face?
Besides…
The phrase "highly respected elder" sounded rather pleasant.
Still, agreeing too quickly would look undignified.
The old man coughed lightly and pretended to consider.
"The clan head and Hokage are also suitable candidates."
"Perhaps you should ask them first."
"How could they compare to you?"
Anlan shook Setsuna's arm while speaking loudly with genuine admiration.
"You are the pillar of the clan!"
"The cornerstone resisting the Hokage faction!"
"If not for your careful planning over the years, the clan would have already been swallowed by Konoha's leadership!"
Setsuna's hand paused slightly as he stroked his chin.
A trace of hesitation appeared on his face.
But the pride hidden in the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes was impossible to hide.
He sighed solemnly, though his expression clearly showed how pleased he was.
Seeing the opportunity, Anlan pressed forward.
"Grandfather, think about it."
"The Hokage acting as principal of the Ninja Academy is merely symbolic."
"But if you become the Headmaster of the Uchiha Academy, you will personally train elites who can crush Konoha's entire younger generation."
His voice gradually grew more passionate.
"When Uchiha students dominate every exam…"
"When they overwhelm every competition…"
"This will not only be a victory for the Uchiha."
"It will also be the most powerful response to the Hokage's educational philosophy!"
"When the Uchiha crest shines at the top of every ranking…"
"The whole of Konoha will understand who truly controls the future of this village!"
Setsuna's fingers unconsciously tapped against his knee.
He could already imagine Uchiha children dominating the training grounds—
Beating the Hyūga, defeating the Sarutobi, and standing proudly above all others.
Anlan noticed the subtle movement and secretly smiled.
He lowered his voice slightly.
"At that time, everyone will say—"
"Of course they are so outstanding."
"They were personally trained by Elder Setsuna."
"Isn't that honor worth holding the teaching staff yourself?"
At last, the old man could no longer suppress his smile.
The sharp light in his eyes grew brighter.
"Hmph. Honor or not, it's all for contributing to the clan."
Setsuna declared righteously.
"If I become the Headmaster, the clan members will have work to do, and the children will benefit."
"Everyone will have a bright future."
Watching the tsundere old man, Anlan almost burst out laughing.
Instead he forced himself to remain serious.
"Then I leave everything in your hands, Grandfather."
"I still have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
After Anlan departed, Setsuna watched his grandson's retreating figure.
The proud smile on his face faded instantly.
As if the earlier excitement had never existed.
He took a sip of the now-cooling tea and laughed to himself.
"That brat…"
"Where did he learn such shameless flattery?"
"Did he practice it while courting that girl Mikoto?"
The tea's fragrance lingered on his tongue.
But the old man's gaze slowly grew deeper.
Even if Anlan had not invited him—
He would have seized the position of Headmaster anyway.
Because the youths about to enter the clan academy…
Were the true foundation of the Uchiha clan.
When they grew strong—
It would coincide with the time when Anlan stood at the peak of his power.
And those disciples personally nurtured by Setsuna—
Would become the clan leader's most reliable arms.