"Fang Yuan, you know your aunt's temper. Women can be quite short-sighted, so don't bother with her."
Uchiha Dongtu rose slightly from his master's chair, looking at Fang Yuan with satisfaction. He nodded and said, "You've calmed down quite a bit after being away for a few days. Now that you're six years old, as an elder, I respect your choices."
"So, what brings you back today?"
Uchiha Dongtu, a high-ranking figure in the clan, spoke in a measured tone. Although he didn't openly criticize Fang Yuan, his words were laced with subtle alienation. Fang Yuan watched quietly, aware of how this duplicitous couple had misappropriated his parents' pension.
"Uncle, I'm here for one thing."
Fang Yuan smiled, his expression unreadable.
"During the Third Shinobi World War, the clan established a rule that children who are six years old and older are considered adults and can act independently. Are you aware of this clan rule?"
"Uh…" Uchiha Dongtu hesitated, understanding Fang Yuan's intent.
"This sly white-haired wolf! He's here for his sister's inheritance!" Dongtu thought.
"Uncle, don't you know? Do you need me to fetch the clan law from the ancestral hall?" Fang Yuan asked indifferently.
"You little brat! What clan law? What regulations? Who are you trying to scare? Haven't I provided for you both over the years? And now you have the audacity to come back and demand money from my family?"
"Bah!" Uchiha Dongtu spat in frustration.
His aunt, panicked and flushed, glared at Fang Yuan with anger. She flung the hot tea from her bowl, intending to splash it on Fang Yuan's face. Fang Yuan moved aside coldly, narrowly avoiding the scalding liquid.
Fang Zheng was the one who bore the brunt of the spill, screaming as he fell to the ground, clutching his head.
"Ah, Zheng'er, I didn't mean it!" The aunt rushed forward, her face showing shame as she helped Fang Zheng up.
Despite her unstable temperament, the aunt was more concerned about Fang Zheng, who, despite being somewhat naive, was now recognized as a talented member of the family.
Just as the situation was on the verge of chaos, Uchiha Dongtu, who had been silent, slammed his hand on the table in frustration.
"Enough!"
The room fell silent at his command. Seeing everyone stunned, Dongtu continued with authority, "Fang Yuan has grown up now. Next year, Fang Zheng and Shu Li will start at the Ninja Academy."
"Since you want to separate from the family, I, your uncle, will not hold you back. I know you came here today for your parents' inheritance, but the situation is special, and you might not be aware."
Uchiha Dongtu glanced at Fang Yuan with a conflicted expression, as though concealing something.
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow, feigning interest in Dongtu's explanation, then asked, "Uncle, do you know anything about it?"
"Due to the urgency of the war, the clan planned for the coming of age of its members to send children to the battlefield and alleviate manpower shortages," Dongtu explained.
"But war is brutal, and many of the clan's top ninjas died in battle, including your parents. To inspire the younger generation, the clan established a rule that the heir must complete the clan's trials to inherit the estate. This ensures that the new Uchiha won't be affected by the war and that there will be successors."
"So, do you understand?" Uchiha Dongtu's expression was serious, and he looked at Fang Yuan intently.
The heartfelt words seemed filled with concern and dedication to the Uchiha clan, which might impress some. But Fang Yuan wasn't swayed and quickly saw through the loopholes in Dongtu's argument.
"Uncle, your dedication to the family is admirable. However, this law was established during the war and should have been abolished by now, right? If not, it would leave orphans without support, wouldn't it undermine the sacrifice of those war heroes?"
Uchiha Dongtu's expression hardened as he faced Fang Yuan's persistent questioning. "Are you suggesting that I intend to seize all of your parents' inheritance?"
Fang Yuan remained calm, closing his eyes briefly before replying, "Of course not."
"What do you mean then?"
Uchiha Dongtu, growing angry, waved his hand dismissively. "I fought for both of you back then, but it was Uchiha Huo-sama from the Law Enforcement Hall who refused. That's all I have to say. If you want the inheritance, you must complete the clan's trial on your own."
"But be warned. Going through the trial to become a Chunin is very dangerous. Think carefully before proceeding."
With that, Uchiha Dongtu threw off his robe and walked toward the backyard, ignoring his aunt and the commotion in the hall.
Annoyed by his nephew's persistence, Fang Yuan watched Dongtu leave and then pushed aside his aunt, who was lying on the ground, and walked away.
Behind him, the aunt's loud scolding and Fang Zheng's resentful calls were ignored as Fang Yuan walked away calmly.
"Today, we've completely severed ties," Fang Yuan thought as he walked along the road, his heart steady.
To him, relatives were merely tools for gaining benefits. In reality, he was no different from the duplicitous couple—only the naive Fang Zheng remained in the dark.
"I need more ninjutsu scrolls, but first, I must focus on refining chakra."
Fang Yuan planned his next steps. With limited understanding of this world, he needed to explore outside the village to find poisonous insects or other familiar elements to aid his development.
It was evening before he realized it. Fang Yuan enjoyed a bowl of ramen by the roadside, savoring its taste despite its high cost—60 Liang per bowl. With little money left, he fumbled through his pockets but came up short.
At that moment, a black-haired boy with a crew cut, dressed in a gray training robe and taller than Fang Yuan, patted him on the shoulder.
"Hey, Fang Yuan! Did you forget your money? Let me cover your meal."
The visitor, cheerful and friendly, had a smile that resembled a helpful older brother.
Fang Yuan looked at him, puzzled, before finally recalling a name. "Yes... Brother Shisui?"
"You really are forgetful, aren't you? We practiced shuriken last week, and now you act like you don't know me. It's really chilling!" Shisui said with a smile, though he feigned a hint of resentment.