Uchiha Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly at those words.
The boy's tone was clearly one of doubt—an open challenge to his authority.
Yuan's lips curved faintly. A vast surge of chakra erupted from his body, blazing around him like a living flame.
In that instant, the entire warehouse was engulfed in a crushing pressure—brilliant as the sun, and heavy as a mountain.
The air grew thick and oppressive; everyone felt their chests tighten, as if they'd been plunged deep underwater.
Uchiha Kawa and the other two boys stared in stunned disbelief. When Yuan had first appeared, they hadn't sensed the faintest hint of chakra from him.
But now—this overwhelming, terrifying power burst forth in a single breath.
This… this is the strength we've been seeking.
Their fear turned to awe and excitement, their hearts pounding.
Then Yuan's voice echoed through the silence.
"You desire power—and I can grant it to you. But in exchange, you must offer me one thing: your loyalty."
He stepped forward, eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light.
"Tell me—can I receive your complete, unwavering loyalty?"
As his gaze locked with theirs, a subtle ripple of energy stirred deep within his pupils.
To the three boys, it felt as though those eyes were twin whirlpools—silent, deep, irresistible. Without realizing it, their consciousness began to sink into the vortex.
Yuan had invoked spiritual inducement and psychic suggestion.
If any of them harbored deceit—or if they'd been sent to test him—the truth would surface instantly.
And if so, Yuan would erase the relevant memories without hesitation.
"We will serve you with absolute loyalty, Leader," the three boys said in unison, dropping to one knee, heads bowed in submission.
The glow in Yuan's eyes faded. He turned toward Uchiha Daishi.
"Daishi, you'll be in charge of their training."
"Yes, big brother," Daishi replied immediately.
The three new recruits had no idea they'd just been subjected to mental intrusion.
Then one of them raised his head curiously. "Leader… what is the name of our organization?"
At that, Daishi and the others turned to Yuan expectantly.
He hesitated a moment. Until now, he had never given their group a formal name.
After a brief silence, he said slowly, "We shall be called the Illuminati—the fellowship of light. We will drive away the darkness and bring illumination to all living beings of the shinobi world."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"The leader's codename shall be King of Light."
A certain other organization's leader claims to be a god, he thought wryly. Then I can't afford to appear any lesser.
Turning back to Daishi, Yuan continued, "From this day forth, you'll serve as Captain of the First Squad of the Divine Guard Thirteen Division, protectors of the Illuminati."
"Yes, big brother!" Daishi's voice trembled with excitement.
Yuan then appointed another boy, Uchiha Takuno, as captain of the Second Squad.
Given their current numbers, two divisions were all they could manage for now.
The Standing Posture Technique he'd created consisted of three stages:
the first tempered flesh and muscle,
the second strengthened internal organs,
and the third refined bone and blood.
Only Daishi and Takuno had managed to reach the second stage, thus qualifying as squad leaders.
Before leaving, Yuan cast one last glance at the three newcomers—then his form flickered and vanished from the warehouse.
Every great ninja clan had members who failed to awaken their inherited kekkei genkai due to bloodline degradation.
As generations passed, such weakened bloodlines eventually produced ordinary people with little or no chakra at all.
Daishi and the others came from such civilian families—the sons of merchants or craftsmen.
By contrast, Kawa and his two companions were born into shinobi households.
They were two grades below Yuan at the Ninja Academy.
Their talents were mediocre—middling to weak among their peers—and they were often ostracized by both students from other clans and their own Uchiha classmates.
Daishi's group had been observing them for some time before finally extending an invitation.
It was all part of Yuan's plan—to quietly recruit and evaluate potential allies, expanding his influence in secret.
And with these new members from shinobi families, he could now access whispers of what went on inside the Uchiha Clan itself.
At the Ninja Academy.
Uchiha Yuan leaned lazily against the window, half-listening as Instructor Sarutobi Retsu lectured about reconnaissance and intelligence analysis.
Lately, the lessons had focused on battlefield strategy.
But for Yuan—who'd already studied under Hatake Sakumo—such material was elementary.
The only thing that still interested him at school was the outdoor sparring classes.
When class ended, Yuan was chatting with Hatake Harusora, exchanging insights on the Hatake sword style, when a figure stepped up to them.
Yuan paused and looked up. "Hyūga Kagami. What is it?"
Kagami met his gaze squarely.
"Uchiha Yuan, during this afternoon's sparring class—I want you as my opponent."
His eyes blazed with determination.
Meeting his stare, Yuan detected an undercurrent of resentment within that intensity—though it didn't seem directed at him personally.
Then his eyes drifted briefly to Kagami's forehead, where a white headband covered something.
"Very well," Yuan said with a faint nod. "I look forward to experiencing the Hyūga Clan's Gentle Fist."
Kagami's challenge was accepted.
He had vanished from school for about a week not long ago, reappearing only three days earlier—looking pale and frail, as though recently recovered from an illness.
His demeanor had also changed.
Once proud, like any child of a great clan, he was now withdrawn and silent.
Yuan knew what lay beneath that white headband—the Caged Bird Seal unique to the Hyūga Branch Family, the cruel mark that bound their lives to the Main House.
Noticing Yuan's gaze on his forehead, Kagami's face went cold. He turned sharply and walked away.
Watching him go, Hatake Harusora frowned.
"Yuan-kun… Hyūga Kagami's been acting strange lately."
Yuan sighed softly. "He's just facing the fate that all Branch Family members of the Hyūga must bear."
"What fate?" Harusora asked.
Yuan's eyes followed Kagami across the classroom.
"His pride is gone," he said quietly. "There's no light left in his eyes. It seems he's finally accepted his fate—
the fate of being nothing more than a servant to the Hyūga Main House."
Harusora fell silent at that.
Yuan continued, voice low but firm,
"The Hyūga's traditions are dark and cruel… and yet, the Will of Fire that our Third Hokage so proudly preaches—
it never seems to shine upon those of the Branch Family."
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