"It's Shisui," Shinji greeted with a wave. "What brings you here?"
"The Clan Head wishes to see you. My apologies, senior. I should have come to find you a couple of days ago, but I was assigned a mission at the last minute, so it got delayed until today."
Shisui scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
Fortunately, the Clan Head hadn't pressed the matter, or he wouldn't have known how to explain himself.
Shinji was momentarily taken aback, but not surprised.
Whether it was Fugaku or the elders, their seeking him out was within expectations.
Just like Shisui before him, the clan's geniuses were always key targets for recruitment and support.
Although his own reputation wasn't as great as Shisui's, the merits he had earned on the front lines this time were enough to bring glory to the Uchiha, and the achievements would naturally be credited to the clan.
However, recalling his last conversation with Fugaku, the atmosphere hadn't been pleasant.
Shinji frowned slightly.
He casually slung an arm around Shisui's neck and lowered his voice. "Shisui, do you know specifically why the Clan Head wants to see me?"
Shisui didn't hide anything, briefly summarizing the key points from the clan meeting that day: granting him the qualification to participate in clan meetings, discussing the disposal of the Sharingan in Kakashi's possession, and some matters regarding the clan's future arrangements.
It sounded like Fugaku was most likely going to promote him this time, formally pulling him into the clan's inner circle.
But when the words "Naka Shrine" reached his ears, a faint glint flashed in Shinji's eyes.
That place—he cared about it far too much.
"Once this funeral is over, let's go see the Clan Head."
Shinji paused, as if asking casually, "By the way, Shisui, can you tell me in detail what the inside of the Naka Shrine is like?"
He had a strong intuition that what he needed most right now was hidden there.
Shisui simply assumed his senior was curious about the clan's important site and didn't think much of it. After all, Shinji now had the qualification to enter the shrine.
The Naka Shrine was the Uchiha Clan's sacred place for rituals and their most important secret location. It was usually used for ceremonies and important gatherings, and many legacies and secret treasures were also stored there.
When Shisui mentioned that the shrine's underground housed the Clan History Archive, the Secret Scroll Archive, and the Sealing Chamber, a light quietly gleamed in Shinji's eyes.
Secret Scrolls, Sealing Chamber! Each word precisely struck his needs.
He kept his expression unchanged, merely nodding lightly. "I see. It sounds like there are many important areas inside."
...
The Memorial Stone plaza grew increasingly crowded.
In the crowd, Shinji immediately spotted Kakashi and Asuma. Almost all the ninjas from his generation were present, with Might Guy, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma standing solemnly to the side.
Everyone wore grave expressions, gazing at the rows of cold tombstones ahead.
On the high platform, Konohagakure's highest leadership was fully assembled.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the two elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, and Danzo, shrouded in shadows.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the entire gathering as his low, solemn eulogy slowly spread.
A sorrowful atmosphere instantly enveloped the entire square, with sobs and sniffles rising and falling.
"The battlefield is cruel. We have lost countless comrades. But they are all heroes of Konohagakure, who exchanged their lives for the village's peace."
...
"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire will burn eternally. Their light will continue to illuminate the village, allowing new leaves to sprout."
Before the massive Memorial Stone, every name engraved represented a fallen shinobi.
Uchiha Obito's name was prominently listed among them.
Kakashi and Nohara Rin stood quietly before the stone, gazing silently.
They had long accepted the fact of Obito's death in battle, yet the emptiness in their hearts remained difficult to conceal.
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only the two of them still in place, unwilling to leave for a long time.
At that moment, Shinji slowly walked forward, clearing his throat softly to catch their attention.
He looked at the stone monument before Rin and asked quietly:
"Is this Obito's grave marker?"
Rin nodded gently, her voice tinged with weariness:
"Kakashi, Minato-sensei, and I erected a cenotaph for him."
She pressed her lips together. "At the very least, we had to bring Obito back to Konoha."
Shinji gave a slight nod, looking at her as he offered comfort: "We will inherit Obito's will."
Kakashi raised a hand, pulling his forehead protector down slightly, with a hint of self-mocking frustration:
"That dead-last Obito... this time he actually ran ahead so fast."
"So fast that I couldn't even catch up."
...
Uchiha Clan District, Fugaku's Residence.
It was the same guest room, the same seated positions facing each other, yet Shinji's state of mind was completely different from the last time.
Fugaku observed the boy before him impassively, a trace of indescribable surprise flickering in his heart.
Shinji's change was simply too great.
This conversation had been initiated by him. After discussing with several elders, the clan had decided to focus resources and support on Shinji.
"Shinji, what do you think of the proposal I just made?"
He had just proposed having Shinji gain experience in the Police Force.
That was the aspiration most young clansmen dreamed of; Uchiha children all took pride in joining the Police Force.
Moreover, with him as the head of the Police Force, training under his direct supervision would allow Shinji to be developed most comprehensively.
Shinji was a genius who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in a short time, with potential no less than Shisui's. Given time, he would surely become a pillar of the Uchiha, worthy of Fugaku's personal cultivation.
Shinji picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said:
"I don't want to join the Police Force."
Fugaku's eyes snapped open wide, almost thinking he had misheard. "What did you say?"
"I don't want to go to the Police Force. I plan to study Medical Ninjutsu. If the clan is willing to support me, you could prepare some Medical Ninjutsu scrolls for me."
Shinji stated his intention.
What's so good about the Police Force?
Once you step into it, your reputation is likely to be affected, and you might even lose charm points—unless they let him directly take the position of Police Force Chief.
But Fugaku and the elders certainly wouldn't agree to that!
Fugaku's brow furrowed tightly, the tear troughs under his eyes squeezing together.
A fine Uchiha genius, instead of honing his power and tempering his Sharingan, wants to go learn Medical Ninjutsu?
"Can you explain your reasons, Shinji? I want to know why you wish to take this path."
He raised a hand to press against his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
Reasons?
This was part of changing Rin's fate.
However, this reason could not be explicitly stated to Fugaku.
Shinji thought for a moment and temporarily came up with an excuse, lowering his voice to make it sound more compelling.
"This war has claimed too many comrades. No matter how strong an individual is, they cannot bring back those who have been lost."
"But if I learn Medical Ninjutsu, perhaps I can reduce casualties. I don't want to watch comrades die before my eyes anymore."
Fugaku was taken aback and softly repeated, "Comrades?"
He lowered his head, his expression complicated, thinking of his own Sharingan.
After a long silence, Fugaku finally spoke again:
"For now, let it be. I will discuss this further with the elders."
Shinji nodded, stood up, and prepared to take his leave.
Just as he was about to step out of the reception room, Fugaku suddenly called out to him.
"Shinji, wait."
Fugaku crossed his arms, his expression turning serious once more:
"I am the head of the Uchiha Clan. I will not apologize for sending you to the front lines."
"But if I had known you would awaken your Sharingan because of it, I might not have done so."
With those words, he said no more.
Shinji's face remained calm, but a hint of complexity stirred within him.
"In that case, I will take my leave, Clan Head."