Chapter 50: The Meeting of the Three Clans
"As you said, that blind - eyed kid is really an abnormal Uchiha."
"Right?" Nara Shikakazu changed his posture. "Just the fact that he can talk to the Senju people properly doesn't fit in with normal Uchihas at all."
"And his perception ability is so good that it doesn't seem like an Uchiha's," the blond - haired man raised his hand to pinch the corner of his eye, with a slight smile on his lips. "Those last words were clearly meant for me."
"Oh?" A tall and burly man sitting beside him sat up straighter, his eyes full of interest. "Did that kid finally notice you?"
"Yes, his perception ability is quite excellent. But more importantly, it's that kid's chakra," the blond - haired man chuckled. "Maybe because he lost his eyes, his chakra doesn't have the coldness of an ordinary Uchiha. You know, it's actually quite appealing."
"Hey, it's really rare to hear you, Bowen, with your fussy personality, say such things," the burly man laughed out loud. "Hey, Shikakazu, although our three clans do gather from time to time to discuss things, you rarely use the meeting room as a place to talk. What's up this time?"
The blond - haired man nodded slightly. "Yukiyasu is right. Is there a sign of another big war, and we need to tell our clan members to gather their forces?"
"No, I called you here this time because of that Uchiha Ling - that blind - eyed little Uchiha kid," Nara Shikakazu sat up more straightly. "How should I put it... Although that kid knows when to advance and retreat, and he's polite. Even more, the fact that he can communicate compared to other Uchihas is really commendable. After you go back, tell your clan members to stay away from that kid as soon as they encounter him on a mission. No matter their age, they should always give way."
Yamanaka Bowen frowned. "I can understand giving way to the Uchiha, but that kid doesn't even have the most feared Sharingan of the Uchiha, and he can talk properly. This is much better than meeting other Uchihas. Is it really necessary to be so vigilant?"
"Hehe, it's because you, Bowen, didn't see the scene when the two clans met today.
Nara Shikakazu shook his head. "Rather, from my perspective, among the people from the Senju and Uchiha clans here today, only this kid deserves our vigilance.
First of all, from the moment we met, that Uchiha Ling has been trying to provoke the Senju clan members into taking action through his words. Although the Senju were quite vigilant and didn't fall for it, when a physical conflict was about to break out and both sides intervened to stop it, the Uchiha members put away their swords almost immediately without the slightest hesitation. On the other hand, the Senju were rather reluctant. In fact, they only put away their swords and continued with verbal provocation after Uchiha Ling pointed out that this was a trading area and they thought it over.
If this shows the difference in the ability to control their clan members between the two sides; then the subsequent conversation between Uchiha Ling and Senju Chokei highlighted his control over the enemy. Although the Senju clan didn't seem to be at a disadvantage on the surface, they gradually fell into a passive position under Uchiha Ling's deliberate guidance. This can be seen from the fact that one clan left quickly at the end while the other stayed to choose souvenirs.
However, these are not the fundamental reasons for my vigilance against him. After all, Uchiha Ling was once groomed as the next heir, and these are just the basic skills of a good clan leader. The fundamental reason for my vigilance is that he is just too calm."
Yamanaka Bowen and Akimichi Yukiyasu exchanged a glance. They looked even more puzzled.
Seeing his two old friends like this, Nara Shikakazu heaved a big sigh. "Let me ask you, what's his name?"
"Uchiha? Oh... right, it's Uchiha," Yamanaka Bowen frowned again and unconsciously stroked the stubble on his chin. "But not all Uchiha are crazy, are they?"
"What I'm afraid of is not the crazy ones, but the calm and calculating ones," Nara Shikakazu said, rubbing his temples. "Based on the information I've gathered, that Uchiha Ling is a calm madman.
You all know about the dispute between the Senju and the Uchiha half a year ago, right? That young Uchiha Ling dared to go deep alone to disrupt the Senju's supply line. Moreover, as the heir of the clan, he didn't hesitate to destroy the most important eyes for the Uchiha clan - the Sharingan. Do you think such a person is as reasonable as he appears?
Even if they seem normal, they will become extreme after obtaining the Kekkei Genkai. I once faced the Uchiha head - on to gather intelligence. How can I put it? They are a bunch of madmen who are blinded by the Kekkei Genkai and are full of arrogance and constantly in pursuit of power.
No matter how strong and reliable the Uchiha's combat power is, it's only for their own clan members. If I have to choose a side between the Senju and the Uchiha, I'll definitely choose the Senju without hesitation. At least, we can infer the Senju's next move based on their actions. But the Uchiha?
Not even the Uchiha themselves can guarantee that they can accurately predict what their clan members will do next, let alone others."
Hearing this, Akimichi Yukiyasu scratched the back of his head. He looked rather simple - minded. "Well - but doesn't the fact that he no longer has the Sharingan just mean that he has broken free from the shackles of the clan?"
And Nara Shikakazu, you also said that the personalities of the Uchiha are influenced by their Kekkei Genkai. It's normal to be calm without the Sharingan...
"Ai— Why can't you guys understand? After losing his eyes, he can still maintain his influence in the Uchiha ninja clan, where they're so obsessed with strength that it's distorted. Can this Korega Uchiha be an easy one to deal with? Of course not!"
Nara Shikakazu put down his hand, looking a bit irritated. "Anyway, listen to me first. Let the clan members who are going on missions later avoid this Uchiha Ling. As for the other Uchihas, it's business as usual. The most important thing is not to believe a single word he says. Otherwise, I'm afraid they'll be deceived by just a few words and even help him count the money... I'll think about how to explain it better later and tell you more specifically."
Akimichi Yukiyasu shrugged, having no objections. "Okay, I'll listen to you. Anyway, it's just a casual mention."
Yamanaka Bowen still seemed to have objections, but he nodded in agreement with Nara Shikakazu's words. After all, Nara Shikakazu had more than once detected a crisis in advance and led the three clans to avoid it. "Well, I'll convey your request. However, I still think that kid is different from other sinister and crazy Uchihas. There's surely some danger, but it's not as serious as you put it... I'll find some opportunities to observe him secretly later."
"Then you must keep your eyes peeled," Nara Shikakazu propped his chin up helplessly. "Don't be deceived by the Uchiha's harmless appearance— After all, when you start to have a good impression of someone, it means your heart has already leaned. Once your heart leans, you won't see people clearly."