Pension?
"Excellent tactical design. I'm not sure if the opponent has any way to counter the Great Fireball Jutsu. My plan is to use the Substitution Jutsu at the moment the enemy plays their trump card—right before the fireball dissipates and obscures their vision. When they think they've won and let their guard down… that's when I'll strike with a surprise attack."
Kato Dan analyzed Uchiha Meijing's strategy with remarkable clarity.
After hearing his explanation, Moonlight Tornado was finally convinced.
To be honest, he had no real way of countering the technique. Even if he did, Uchiha Meijing surely had other contingencies.
"Ah..."
Moonlight Tornado sighed, then stepped forward and extended his hand for the seal of reconciliation with Uchiha Meijing.
"You..."
He shook his head in disbelief.
"I thought I was one of the most outstanding genin in my class, but I lost to a ninja academy student. My teammates are going to have a field day with this."
"I can tell that you're actually very strong," Meijing replied with a slight smile.
"To be honest, I don't have much chakra left. I could only rely on tactics—otherwise, I would've lost to you for sure."
"A loss is a loss. Ninja combat isn't just about strength—intelligence and strategy are just as important."
Moonlight Tornado patted Meijing's shoulder.
"I'll be waiting for the day you become a big shot in the village. That way, I won't feel so bad about losing to you."
Kato Dan, watching from the sidelines, nodded approvingly.
The new generation of Konoha shinobi was shaping up well.
---
The Chief Candidate
"Si... Si guoyi!"
Jingta stared at Uchiha Meijing in disbelief.
"You actually defeated a senior who's two years older than us and has already been a genin for a year! Meijing, it looks like you're the top graduate this time."
Inuzuka Claw's expression mirrored Jingta's shock.
News of Meijing's victory over an older genin spread rapidly among the other ninja candidates.
After all, he was the only one so far who had won his match in the graduation exam.
The battles were divided into ten groups. By the time Meijing and Moonlight Tornado finished, many students had already completed their fights and gathered to witness Meijing activate his Sharingan.
The students in Meijing's class had performed quite well overall—it was a key class, after all. During this wartime period, Konoha needed more combat-ready shinobi, so they weren't about to let candidates fail to graduate unless they were truly unqualified. As long as a student could use chakra and throw shuriken, they were considered ready—even if it meant they'd end up as frontline cannon fodder.
When the graduation exam concluded, their instructor, Kurono Ōfune, stood on the podium and called the students up one by one, personally tying Konoha's forehead protector around each of them.
Whenever a student stood before him, he took a long look, as if memorizing their face.
If they were to fall in battle one day, perhaps he would be the only one left to remember them.
Of course, this wasn't their last meeting with him.
Three days later, they would return for squad assignments.
"Alright, see you in three days."
Uchiha Meijing slung his backpack over his shoulder and bid farewell to his two companions.
"Meijing, you're number one now," Ita declared loudly. "But I swear, I'll be the first one to make chūnin—and eventually Hokage! You better not let me catch up too fast, or it won't be fun!"
He laughed as he parted ways with Meijing and Inuzuka Claw at the academy gates.
When Meijing returned home, a member of the Konoha Police Force arrived shortly after, summoning him to meet the Uchiha clan head.
---
The Uchiha Patriarch
The previous Uchiha clan head had passed away last year. His successor, the former young clan leader, was none other than Uchiha Fugaku. Though only in his early twenties, he was already one of the strongest Uchiha, wielding the fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan. Thanks to his father's connections, he had secured his position without opposition—at least, for now.
Meijing had expected this summons the moment he activated his Sharingan.
The Uchiha placed great importance on bloodline, and even greater importance on clan members who awakened their Sharingan. With the clan's intelligence network, it was impossible they hadn't already learned of his achievement.
After politely seeing off the chūnin who delivered the message, Meijing washed his face, tidied his clothes, and set off for the patriarch's residence.
This was basic etiquette—especially when meeting the clan head.
If luck was on his side, perhaps the patriarch would be generous and reward the new genius of the clan.
The Uchiha patriarch's mansion was a grand estate, far from the isolated district they would be forced into years later. As co-founders of Konoha alongside the Senju, the Uchiha still occupied prime real estate near the village center.
Even by Konoha's standards, land here was precious. To have such a luxurious residence in this location was proof of the Uchiha's influence.
A koi pond sat within the courtyard.
Inside, the floors were lined with exquisite carpets, and a massive painting of the Uchiha crest—a red and white fan—hung prominently in the reception hall.
"Lord Patriarch."
Meijing knelt respectfully on the tatami. Before him sat Uchiha Fugaku, a man whose face always seemed to carry a heavy burden.
"You've arrived, Meijing," Fugaku said.
Though he intended to appear welcoming, his expression remained as stern as ever.
"I remember your parents, Chiji and Rina. They would have been proud to see you awaken your Sharingan today."
He slid a cup of tea toward Meijing.
"Your father looked after me when I first joined the police force."
Meijing accepted the tea with a respectful nod.
"I am just a newly graduated genin," he said humbly. "I still have a long way to go before I can stand as a true shinobi."
For the first time, Fugaku's lips curled into a faint smile.
"You've already proven yourself by unlocking the Sharingan at such a young age. Our clan values talent, and we ensure that those who awaken their eyes receive proper support."
With that, Fugaku retrieved a sealed scroll from beneath the table.
"As per clan tradition, those who unlock the Sharingan are granted financial aid. You will receive a stipend of 500,000 ryō, in addition to your parents' war pension."
Meijing froze.
"...Pension?"
His brow furrowed. Something felt wrong.
He had never received any pension—not a single coin.
Fugaku's eyes sharpened. The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun.
"Meijing... are you saying you never received the pension?"
Meijing shook his head.
Fugaku closed his eyes, deep in thought.
He had only just taken over as clan head, and already, the elders had been up to their old tricks…
Realizing the implications, Meijing sipped his tea in silence.
Good tea. Even for someone like him, who didn't know much about tea, it was clearly high quality.
After a long pause, Fugaku opened his eyes, the tomoe receding.
"Meijing," he said, his voice low but firm.
"As the clan head, I swear—what is rightfully yours will be yours. Not even the Hokage can take it away."
He handed Meijing another scroll.
"Take this to the clan treasury and choose one ninjutsu scroll of your liking. And tonight, come to Naka Shrine for the clan meeting. All Uchiha who have awakened their Sharingan attend."
Meijing bowed and left.
As the door closed behind him, Fugaku turned to gaze at the pond.
This incident could be an opportunity.
The elders had controlled the clan for too long.
Perhaps it was time for a change.