The mission in which Uchiha Shinsuke led his squad to eliminate the wandering samurai group had been completed with nothing short of perfection.
Not only had every last enemy who had put up resistance been wiped out with overwhelming force, but all the stolen goods and villagers had been brought back without a single scratch on any squad member.
Within the Guard, all manner of discussion about Uchiha Shinsuke's squad had begun to spread.
In particular, those Guard members who had joined at the same time as Uchiha Shinsuke, or who had more seniority than him, now felt a deeply conflicted mix of emotions.
Many of them had not held back from mocking Uchiha Shinsuke as a "dead last" behind his back not long ago.
Who could have imagined that in just a few short months, Uchiha Shinsuke would have grown to a point that left them eating his dust!
What they found even more unbelievable was the pace at which the members of Uchiha Shinsuke's squad were improving.
Uchiha Min in particular had seen her strength surge dramatically in just over ten days since joining Uchiha Shinsuke's squad.
And Tetsu and Kai had also made no small amount of progress.
This rate of improvement drew the sideways glances of many.
At the Nangakawa Shrine, the moonlight fell cold and clear.
Two figures stood side by side.
"The atmosphere in the clan lately has been growing more and more oppressive."
Uchiha Shisui spoke, his brow heavy with worry.
Uchiha Itachi, standing beside him, said nothing and remained silent.
"By the way, have you heard about that Uchiha Shinsuke?" Shisui shifted the topic.
A flicker of thought crossed Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
"Mm, I've heard something of it."
"Perhaps he will become yet another rising genius of the Uchiha after the two of us."
Uchiha Shisui said softly with a sigh.
The clan and the village being locked in an irreconcilable standoff had worn Shisui down to his core, and in his eyes this genius who had appeared out of nowhere might perhaps join him as someone working toward peace.
As for the attention and rumors reaching him from every corner of the clan, Uchiha Shinsuke himself felt not the slightest bit of complacency, and was in fact more on guard than ever.
'A tree that stands taller than the forest will be felled by the wind first.'
Uchiha Shinsuke sat cross-legged in his room, his expression composed and calm.
Exposing too much of his strength too early was not necessarily a good thing.
Especially during this sensitive period when the Uchiha Clan was beset by troubles from within and without, and kept under constant watch by Konoha's higher-ups.
Any genius who shone too brightly was liable to become a thorn in the eye of that old dog Danzō.
However, the rumors were not entirely without benefit.
At the very least, they had greatly elevated Uchiha Shinsuke's standing and reputation within the clan.
And at a deeper level, the image of a genius also helped Uchiha Shinsuke acquire higher positions and greater resources.
Uchiha Shinsuke's consciousness sank inward.
[Ding! The host's prestige has been detected to have risen substantially, clan influence has strengthened!]
[Clan Honor Points +140!]
[Current Clan Honor Points: 1025!]
Looking at the steadily growing Clan Honor Points on his system panel, Uchiha Shinsuke gave a satisfied nod.
Then Uchiha Shinsuke opened his own attribute panel.
[Uchiha Shinsuke]
[Strength: Near-Jonin (Peak, breakthrough imminent)]
[Mastered Skills: Complete Fire Style Ninjutsu Mastery, Lightning Style Chakra Nature Mastery (all lightning style ninjutsu B-rank and below mastered, early grasp of some A-rank techniques), Sharingan (Two-Tomoe, perception, copying, and genjutsu abilities greatly enhanced), Chidori (A-rank ninjutsu, initial mastery achieved, power approaching full version), Lightning Flame Bullet (B-rank combination ninjutsu, power approaching A-rank)] (some basic ninjutsu hidden)
[Clan Standing: Uchiha Guard Squad Leader (squad designation held, clan prestige greatly elevated)]
[Clan Honor Points: 1025]
[Overall Clan Prestige Assessment: Genin Level (Extremely High) (clan influence significantly strengthened due to host's rise in standing, strengthened core team, and elevated clan prestige, though a qualitative shift at the overall level has not yet been reached)]
At the Uchiha Guard headquarters, in the clan head's office, Uchiha Fugaku sat in the seat of authority with a compiled report on recent Guard missions in his hand.
In recent times, the suspicion and suppression directed at the Uchiha Clan by Konoha's higher-ups had grown increasingly blatant, casting a shadow of gloom over the entire Uchiha.
As clan head, the pressure he bore was heavier than anyone's.
His gaze moved slowly across the report, and when it landed on the name "Uchiha Shinsuke's Squad," his fingers paused for just a moment.
"Uchiha Shinsuke..."
Fugaku murmured the name quietly.
He had heard something of this young clan member.
Having shown unremarkable performance at the ninja academy and even earned the label of "dead last," in just a few short months he had become a rising Uchiha genius whose name was on everyone's lips, and the speed of his rise was nothing short of extraordinary.
Fugaku set down the report in his hand and spoke in a measured voice toward the door.
"Tekka."
Before long, Uchiha Tekka's figure appeared in the doorway.
"Clan Head."
Tekka bowed respectfully.
Fugaku looked at Tekka and asked.
"This Uchiha Shinsuke, what is your assessment of him?"
Uchiha Tekka, upon hearing this, thought for a moment.
"In reply to the Clan Head."
"His composure is steady, his decisions are decisive: he is a talent of rare quality."
Tekka's evaluation was exceptionally high.
"In this subordinate's view, the heights he will reach in the future are without limit."
"Oh?"
Tekka's remarkably high assessment did not come as a surprise to Uchiha Fugaku.
"His rise has indeed been fast."
Fugaku said slowly.
"But growth that is too fast is not necessarily a good thing."
"Especially during this sensitive period."
Uchiha Tekka felt a chill in his heart upon hearing those words.
He understood the Clan Head's concern.
The Uchiha Clan's situation at present was like walking on thin ice.
The slightest disturbance could invite suspicion and suppression from Konoha's higher-ups.
Uchiha Shinsuke's forceful rise could uplift the morale of the clan members, but it could also make him a new target for Konoha's higher-ups and become yet another excuse for those people to suppress the Uchiha.
"This subordinate understands the Clan Head's concern."
Tekka lowered his head.
"However, this subordinate believes that what the Uchiha Clan needs most right now is precisely young people of ability and resolve like Uchiha Shinsuke!"
"Endless endurance and retreat will only make those people push further and further!"
"We Uchiha need to make our voice heard and show our strength!"
Tekka had always advocated that the Uchiha should take a more assertive stance to defend their own interests and dignity, and he was one of the hawk faction's leading voices within the clan.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku fell into a long silence.
How could he not know that what Tekka said was the truth?
But as the head of the clan, what he needed to consider went far beyond what Tekka had to weigh.
The future of the Uchiha Clan and the lives of thousands of clan members all rested on his shoulders, and he could not take risks lightly.
A single wrong decision could push the entire clan into an abyss from which there was no return.
"This Uchiha Shinsuke, I will continue to keep watch over him."
After a long while, Uchiha Fugaku finally spoke in a slow, measured voice.
"You are also to pay close attention to his movements, and report anything unusual to me promptly."
"Yes, Clan Head!"
Tekka bowed to receive the order, then slowly withdrew from Uchiha Fugaku's office.
The office returned to silence once more.
Only Uchiha Fugaku remained, sitting alone in the shadow, his expression unreadable and indistinct.