Uchiha Kairen stood proudly in the center of the training ground, his stance defiant and commanding—like a young king challenging the world, daring anyone who still refused to submit.
"Enough," came a calm yet firm voice. "Kairen—no one here can withstand even a single strike from your sword."
The speaker was Uchiha Ankoku, Kairen's former instructor. His words alone affirmed what everyone already felt in their bones: Uchiha Kairen's sword had just crushed an entire generation.
"I thought you weren't the competitive type," Uchiha Ze said with a laugh, stepping forward. "Didn't expect you to still have that fiery spirit of youth! Hahaha, and you two—sparring is fine, but must you make such a spectacle? Seems like I'll have to discipline you both properly."
He laughed and scolded good-naturedly, but his eyes shone with pride. Having both his disciples shine so brightly—it was a master's greatest honor.
The older generation of Uchiha had long since arrived, but none had intervened. It was, after all, a contest among the young—strength decided everything, and such open duels were common.
Still, if it went on any longer, it might reflect poorly. They were all family—too much arrogance would only leave a bad impression on the rest of the clan. That was why the two instructors finally stepped in, offering both discipline and protection for their students.
Uchiha Ankoku had framed Kairen as the foremost of his generation—a title that gave weight to his display. Uchiha Ze, on the other hand, softened the arrogance, calling it the spirited passion of youth. After all, what young man wasn't a little brash?
Winning was one thing—but one still had to save face for one's brothers.
Kairen, of course, wasn't foolish. This entire display was intentional—a calculated act of dominance meant to make his return unforgettable. He wanted to make a name for himself, to lay the groundwork for his future. In essence, it was all about momentum.
To gain influence later, one had to first make people remember your power.
"Everyone's crowded here—no one left on the streets," a deep voice interjected. "Young people these days really love a spectacle, forgetting their duties entirely. Aside from Fourth Division, everyone else disperse!"
It was Uchiha Sa who spoke, another senior from the clan. Since Ankoku and Ze had already said their piece, all that remained was to dismiss the crowd.
Uchiha Danten sighed softly. At that moment, Uchiha Ankoku retrieved a scroll, from which he drew a beautifully crafted blade.
"You've chosen your path well," Ankoku said. "Everyone walks their own way. Kairen walks the way of the samurai's sword. You and I, we walk the path of the shinobi sword.
"Your current sword no longer matches your skill. This one is called Breeze. It was forged by the same master who made Kairen's weapon. Consider it my gift to a promising junior."
He pressed the sword into Danten's hands.
Uchiha Ze smiled. "I'd prepared a sword for you as well, but compared to Ankoku's, mine pales in comparison. A gift from a senior shouldn't be refused—take it."
Danten bowed deeply, accepting the sword with both hands. After a few polite farewells, he tucked Breeze at his waist, cradling his old sword in his arms as he left—perhaps to give it a proper burial.
Ankoku then turned back to Kairen. "You've barely returned, and already caused such a stir. A simple appointment as squad captain, yet you turned it into a full-blown martial tournament. What's next—when you become a unit commander, will you try to overturn Konoha itself? What exactly are you planning?"
Before Kairen could respond, Uchiha Retsu and Uchiha Honō arrived. Retsu clapped a hand on his shoulder, while Honō, already understanding Kairen's intent, chuckled inwardly. Overturn Konoha, huh? Maybe that's not so far from the truth…
The three exchanged knowing looks. Their understanding ran deep—Kairen had already confided his ambitions to them before. Seeing their friends' support and encouragement, Kairen decided to stop hiding and lay his cards on the table.
He needed powerful backers for his plans to take root. His uncle, as the clan head, would never indulge such "reckless" schemes. And that "handsome uncle" of his—well, he'd already started showing signs of Shisui's idealistic mindset. Talking to him would be pointless.
So Kairen smiled faintly and said, "It's been years since I've seen my three teachers. Now that you're all here, we'd like to invite you to the old place for lunch. Honō's cooking, I assure you, won't disappoint—and Retsu has already prepared everything. We just waited for this moment to finish our spar and invite you all personally."
He looked around, gauging their reactions.
"Hahaha! Retsu, tell me you've brought sake!" Uchiha Sa laughed, throwing an arm around Retsu's shoulder as they headed toward the old training ground.
"Honō," Ze said as he followed, "I'm sure you and Kairen have already had a match or two. You're still young—don't hesitate to ask questions when you don't understand something. You've only visited me four times in all these years! Retsu practically lived at my place for months. You haven't forgotten my taste, have you? Come on then, hurry and make me something good!"
"The Fourth Division is off-duty today," Ankoku said, nodding at Kairen. "Assemble tomorrow morning sharp—there's a new mission assignment. Dismissed."
He gave a small nod, signaling Kairen to follow.
———
After lunch, the atmosphere softened. The old bond between student and teacher began to rekindle.
Kairen prepared tea for his three mentors—brewed with skill he'd learned from his grandfather during his years in the mountains. The fragrance was rich and calming.
Once they'd had a cup, Kairen spoke slowly, his tone thoughtful.
"Sensei, I haven't been in Konoha these past few years. Aside from Honō and Retsu, I have few friends here. Now that I've been promoted to mid-level command, it's inevitable that some of the clan's younger members will feel resentment or refuse to cooperate. So I can only break through by force.
"If someone doubts my strength, we duel. If they doubt my capability, I'll challenge them with their whole squad. I've proven my strength—now it's time to prove my competence.
"I plan to carry out a large-scale sweep across our patrol sector—rooting out spies and suspicious individuals from the surrounding villages. A new officer should make some noise upon taking office, don't you think?"
Uchiha Ankoku narrowed his eyes, considering. "So, duels, cleanups, achievements… Your real goal isn't just performance, is it? You're after reputation."
Kairen smiled. "Sensei, you give me too much credit. I'm not scheming that far ahead. I just want results—to pave the way upward.
"These past years have taught me something: if you're not in a position of responsibility, you can't influence the outcome.
"To change the relationship between our clan and the village, first we must earn the right to speak for the clan. And to do that, one must have both a voice and the power to back it up.
"Relying on the elders' protection won't gain recognition. The only true way to earn it is through strength and achievement. That's all I'm after—nothing complicated."
Uchiha Ankoku stood, nodding. "A good mindset. Then I'll look forward to seeing what you accomplish."
With that, he turned and left.
The other two teachers expressed their support as well, then also departed.
Once they were gone, Uchiha Honō smirked. "You're planning to 'clean out spies'—but really, you're trying to stir up Konoha's upper ranks, aren't you? Give the elders a little trouble?"
Kairen grinned, glancing sideways. "Trouble? How could that be? We're just performing our duties."
He kicked one leg of the chair, breaking it cleanly, and smiled playfully at Honō.