Class Division
But in Mingjing's eyes, Uchiha Qing was still fiercely clashing with Uchiha Fugaku, and the battle remained at a standstill.
Sensing Mingjing's confusion, Uchiha Yu calmly explained:
"For an Uchiha, the primary methods of combat are Fire Release and the Sharingan. Most duels between members of our clan are settled by these two factors. In terms of the Sharingan, both Fugaku and Qing have fully matured three-tomoe eyes, so there's no qualitative difference there. But in Fire Release—Fugaku has mastered both nature transformation and form manipulation, which is no small feat. That alone places him among elite jōnin."
"Qing, on the other hand, while experienced, is aging. His chakra reserves have declined, and his control isn't what it once was. Statistically, Fugaku should win. This deadlock is only because Qing is fighting with the desperation of someone who knows he's doomed—a cornered beast lashing out in its final moments."
Mingjing nodded slowly, half-understanding, half-distracted.
His instincts told him that Fugaku's decision to publicly defeat Uchiha Qing was meant to establish his authority—but the results might not be as effective as expected.
Yes, Fugaku was strong for a jōnin, and his youth brought promise of future leadership. That might have stabilized the clan in the short term. But…
To become clan head of the Uchiha—the strongest family in the Hidden Leaf and one that revered pure strength above all—mere talent wasn't enough. Especially when Konoha's top brass had long viewed the Uchiha with suspicion and had systematically marginalized them.
Without awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan—or possessing power on par with a Kage—Fugaku would never be able to unify the clan. The Uchiha only submit to overwhelming strength.
Real, crushing strength.
Without it, even if you win, the proud and headstrong Uchiha will never truly yield.
Uchiha Qing eventually fell, but his last counterattack seemed to have injured Fugaku, marring what was supposed to be a display of dominance.
Fugaku also reclaimed Qing's three-tomoe Sharingan in public—a symbolic act meant to close the chapter.
But the ripple effects of the incident were far from over.
The real question now was how the power once held by Qing would be redistributed—between Fugaku and another elder, Uchiha Setsuna.
---
When Mingjing returned home after helping wash dishes at Uchiha Yu's place, he found Fugaku's old servant waiting at his doorstep.
"Excuse me..."
"Mingjing," the old man said, "this is your compensation from the village—500,000 ryō. Additionally, the clan has awarded you a subsidy of 300,000 ryō, and the clan head has personally gifted you another 100,000."
He handed over three thick envelopes.
"The clan leader couldn't come himself. He asked me to pass these along, and to tell you—he hopes you'll realize your potential soon and contribute to the clan."
Mingjing bowed respectfully. "Mingjing will never forget the clan head's generosity."
He saw the old man out, then looked at the bundles of money and muttered:
"Tch... Uchiha Fugaku is really investing in me."
He knew this wasn't just a gift—it was an investment. Fugaku saw his potential and likely wanted to showcase Mingjing as an example of a benevolent leader nurturing the next generation.
Right now, the Uchiha clan was still strong. Konoha was facing external threats, and internal tensions hadn't yet boiled over. While the Police Force's iron-fisted enforcement methods earned some resentment, public sentiment hadn't yet turned into hatred.
The biggest internal tension was between the old guard—the elders clinging to their influence—and the newly appointed leader, Fugaku.
If Fugaku wanted to solidify his rule, he needed loyal and capable shinobi to support him.
It had been many years since anyone in the clan had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Fugaku himself wouldn't awaken it until the Third Great Ninja War—and even then, he would never display it publicly before his death. The next person to awaken the Mangekyō would be Uchiha Shisui, who had just been born last month.
By comparison, Mingjing had activated his Sharingan at only ten years old—a rare accomplishment. He was still young, malleable, and promising. Fugaku was likely trying to groom him as a direct subordinate.
But in Mingjing's eyes, Fugaku might not be cut out to be the revolutionary leader the clan needed.
Though strong, Fugaku still paled in comparison to past Uchiha clan heads. More critically, his indecisiveness made him unsuitable for leadership.
He was a strategist—but lacked resolve. The type of person who performs well under normal circumstances but falters in moments of true crisis. When major decisions need to be made, he hesitates, letting situations rot from within.
And besides, the Konoha leadership would never allow an Uchiha to truly consolidate power. Not without resistance.
Still, Fugaku had been good to him. If Mingjing ever rose to power, he intended to repay that kindness.
---
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
For Mingjing, those days were filled with continued training, refining the jutsu he had already mastered. When he had time, he visited Uchiha Yu—an elder whose guidance had become invaluable.
On the third day—three days after the graduation exam—the class division for the new batch of Genin was scheduled.
Because both the fourth- and fifth-year students graduated simultaneously, their class assignments were also done together.
This meant that a single Genin team could include students from either year.
If Mingjing's guess was correct, the class division reflected performance rankings from the final exam.
Those with promise and strong backgrounds—regardless of year—would be grouped under elite jōnin for further development. They were the seeds of the next generation.
Take Naruto's class from the manga, for example. According to Kakashi, there were only 27 graduates. Yet Konoha, being the military core of the Fire Country, surely produced more than just 20 Genin annually.
It's likely that these 27 were handpicked—exceptional talents selected for direct jōnin mentorship.
Those who didn't make the cut might be placed under special jōnin, destined to become the village's sturdy backbone, even if they didn't reach the upper echelons.