Uchiha Yu
"Hey…"
Uchiha Mingjing frowned slightly, his thoughts heavy.
First, the pension that should have gone to him had been mysteriously siphoned away. And now, judging from Uchiha Fugaku's recent actions, he seemed ready to take advantage of the situation once again. Mingjing feared he'd be dragged into the clan's power struggles.
Whether it was a contest for leadership or the tense political dance between the Uchiha and Konoha's higher-ups, such matters were far beyond what a mere Genin like him could handle.
Unless... he found a powerful backer.
While still deep in thought, Mingjing noticed his path blocked by a tall figure.
"Excuse me…"
"The clan head said he had urgent matters and mistakenly took the wrong token. He asked you to exchange it for this one."
The man handed over a more refined-looking token, its texture finer and engraved with three magatama—symbols deeply tied to the Sharingan.
"He also said, as clan leader, he will protect every outstanding genius of the Uchiha."
The older Uchiha gave Mingjing a meaningful look.
The message was clear.
Uchiha Fugaku was trying to win him over.
To be recruited by the clan leader himself was no small matter. Mingjing had awakened his Sharingan at the age of ten—a rare feat even in the proud Uchiha clan. That alone made him an ideal candidate for Fugaku's inner circle.
Taking the "wrong" token was just a pretense. The real meaning lay in the one he held now. Accepting it was a declaration: he was siding with Fugaku.
Mingjing grasped the token tightly.
"I will always remember the clan leader's kindness. As a loyal member of the Uchiha, I will stand with him."
The messenger nodded in satisfaction.
"With this token, you'll be placed in the squad directly under the command of the Konoha Military Police Force."
Then, leaning closer, the older Uchiha whispered:
"Elder Uchiha Yu, who oversees the clan treasury, is a loyalist of the previous clan head and a staunch supporter of Fugaku. Show him this token—he'll help you."
He patted Mingjing on the shoulder and slowly walked away.
Holding the ornate token in his hand, Mingjing pondered.
"So this is the weight of allegiance... From now on, I'm one of Fugaku's people."
He understood the consequences. While Fugaku might hold the reins of leadership for now, Mingjing couldn't ignore his shortcomings. Despite awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku in the original timeline lacked the decisiveness of someone like Madara. His conservative nature and low public presence were reasons the Uchiha's prestige declined under his rule.
A good ally for now—but not someone to depend on forever.
The ninja world was brutal. Power was everything.
Within the Uchiha clan, strength determined worth. A Jonin earned respect; a Kage-level shinobi earned fear—and even admiration. And if he ever reached the level of Madara, why stop at being a clan member or even Hokage? He could forge his own path, reshape the shinobi world itself.
But that was still far off.
For now, Fugaku's support offered immediate benefits—and Mingjing wasn't foolish enough to reject such a chance.
He soon arrived at a sturdy, modest-looking building adorned with the red-and-white Uchiha fan.
The Uchiha clan treasury.
This building held not only countless scrolls of ninjutsu passed down through the clan, but also rare chakra-forged weapons, medicinal herbs, and even contracts and tools acquired from allies like the Ninneko (Ninja Cat) Clan.
Guarding this treasure trove was Uchiha Yu—a Jonin-ranked elder, deceptively resting in his chair, but mentally scanning every movement inside the compound with sharp perception.
"Huh? Someone's coming... Not much chakra, but impressive mental energy for someone so young."
He opened his eyes.
A boy in a light blue Uchiha shirt walked toward the gate.
"Elder Yu, I'm Uchiha Mingjing. I've come to receive ninjutsu under the orders of the clan head."
He respectfully handed over the magatama-inscribed token.
Yu raised an eyebrow and inspected the boy.
"Mingjing… Ah. You're Qianzhi's son."
He tapped the boy's shoulder approvingly.
"You've surpassed your father by opening the Sharingan at ten. I hope you carry the name of Uchiha with pride."
Then, Yu's tone turned solemn.
"To die on the battlefield, protecting the honor of the clan—that is the final glory of a true Uchiha."
His sharp gaze bore into Mingjing.
"Did you awaken your eyes recently?"
Mingjing nodded.
"Your age?"
"Ten."
Yu's eyes narrowed with quiet understanding.
"Ten, huh… Was it triggered by the loss of your parents?"
He sighed deeply. He could sense it—not just the chakra, but a rich, unusually developed mental force. This boy… was exceptional.
Yu's long career—spanning four generations from Tajima to Madara, through the Warring States period to the Hidden Village system—had given him a unique eye for talent. And Mingjing, with his early Sharingan awakening and mental strength, showed promise.
"If I'm not mistaken, your parents should've left you a few entry-level jutsu scrolls."
Mingjing nodded.
"I've also learned the Fireball Jutsu on my own, Elder Yu."
Yu smiled slightly.
"Well done. The Fireball, Phoenix Fire, and Dragon Fire Techniques are the core of our Fire Style. Master those three, and you'll have the foundation for our more advanced jutsu."
"For example, with the right manipulation of chakra form and nature, the Fireball can evolve into Great Fire Annihilation. Dragon Fire, when altered, becomes Great Dragon Fire. Even the Phoenix Flower Claw is a refinement of Phoenix Fire."
"You're not ready for the advanced forms yet, but I'll show you the deeper aspects of the basics."
He stood and beckoned Mingjing to follow.
Mingjing's eyes lit up.
A direct lesson from an elder of Yu's caliber? This was beyond generous.
But it wasn't just Fugaku's favor that earned him this opportunity. Yu, at over seventy, had seen the clan rise and wane. He recognized Mingjing's potential and wanted to invest in the next generation.
They stopped by a wide lake fed by the Naka River—used for fire jutsu practice due to the natural containment.
"Let's start with Dragon Fire. It's straightforward—only four hand seals: Snake, Dragon, Hare, and Tiger."
Yu demonstrated slowly, allowing Mingjing's Sharingan to trace his chakra flow.
"Don't blast it like Fireball. Focus it—concentrate the flames into a narrow beam. Like this."
He exhaled, and a fiery lance surged across the lake.
Mingjing nodded.
"I've memorized it with my eyes."
Yu smiled.
"For beginners, use kunai and ninja wire. It helps focus the flame's path."
He handed over a kunai attached to wire.
"Later, try adding oil to the wire—it increases fire spread. It's an old trick."
Mingjing nodded, stepped forward, and launched the kunai. It embedded itself in a rock mid-lake.
"Snake. Dragon. Hare. Tiger! Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A searing flame traveled along the wire and struck the rock, its heat warping the air.
Yu nodded, pleased.
They moved on to Phoenix Fire.
…
That day, Mingjing had graduated in the morning, received his forehead protector from Kurono Ohno by noon, and by evening, was being personally taught advanced Fire Style techniques by a veteran of the Uchiha clan.
And Yu didn't stop with just two jutsu.
No, he had plans for the boy.