Uchiha Yuan returned home and started planning what supplies to buy once the compensation money arrived, to prepare for the upcoming war.
Before Uchiha clan members went to the battlefield, the clan would distribute some common ninja tools and auxiliary equipment.
But these things were limited in quantity and would be quickly used up once on the battlefield, so they definitely needed to replenish on their own.
The items to buy were basically similar to what the Uchiha clan distributed.
Various ninja tools had to be fully stocked, and auxiliary tools like ration pills and explosive tags also needed to be bought in larger amounts.
To store these supplies, sealing scrolls also had to be prepared.
The other items were not so expensive, but sealing scrolls were not cheap; after this calculation, 2 million ryō probably wouldn't leave much money left.
Thinking of this, Uchiha Yuan sighed. He wondered if Konoha's timing for distributing compensation money was actually to make the next batch of soldiers spend that money on buying supplies?
If that was the case, Konoha was really rotten to the core!
In fact, Uchiha Yuan thought a bit too much. Konoha indeed was dispatching the next batch of ninja to the battlefield, but it was mostly unrelated to those receiving compensation money.
This money was mostly given to ninja families, many of whom had no ninja talent.
At this stage, apart from the forces needed to guarantee village safety, how many normal ninjas could still remain in the village?
Therefore, after the compensation money was distributed this time, only a small portion of people would use their family's compensation money to buy war supplies and go back to the battlefield.
The next day, Uchiha Yuan came to school. The atmosphere in class felt a bit off; the students were gathering in groups discussing something.
"Uchiha Yuan, we will graduate early at the end of this semester," Yamanaka Teruzuki said, noticing the confused expression on Uchiha Yuan's face.
Uchiha Yuan suddenly understood. No wonder the class atmosphere was strange today — the village had announced this news.
About the early graduation, Uchiha Yuan had heard from Hyuga Asana a month ago.
There was still a month left before graduation, and the village's timing of this announcement was just right.
A month's time was enough for these kids to mentally prepare to go to the battlefield.
However, Uchiha Yuan felt that few students actually needed such psychological preparation.
Most of these students had already been brainwashed by the Will of Fire; when they heard they were going to fight for the village's protection, many were eager.
Uchiha Yuan glanced at his classmates. Their eyes rarely showed fear; instead, many showed a pathological fanaticism.
"Yamanaka Teruzuki, are you afraid to go to the battlefield?" Uchiha Yuan asked.
Yamanaka Teruzuki looked around at the others in class and whispered in Uchiha Yuan's ear, "I'm scared, I'm terrified. But I don't know why none of the other students seem afraid. Are you scared?"
"I'm scared too," said Uchiha Yuan, then ignored Teruzuki and returned to his seat.
Today, Hyuga Asana and the main family young lady Hyuga Sen had not yet arrived.
They came into the classroom one after another following the bell.
This lesson was about some techniques for throwing ninja tools, something Uchiha Yuan was very familiar with already. He rested his head on the desk, looking out the window, his mind full of thoughts.
"Plop~" A soft sound on the desk interrupted Uchiha Yuan's thoughts. He looked up and saw a small paper ball had landed on his desk.
Uchiha Yuan opened the paper ball; the handwriting was familiar — it was Hyuga Asana's.
"Yuan, today our Hyuga clan held a meeting. There are 103 ninjas to be dispatched next time, including those from branch families and myself. Half of them were just sent back from the battlefield with injuries, barely healed, while the main family only sent one genin who graduated several years ago and has hardly done missions."
"You feel unfair?" Uchiha Yuan replied, tossing the paper ball back to Hyuga Asana's desk when the teacher wasn't looking.
"I just don't understand. When the main family announced this, not a single branch family member opposed it. They all seemed to think it was natural."
"So, what do you think?"
"I don't know. I'm very confused inside. It feels uncomfortable."
"After school, I'll wait for you by the river. We can talk."
...
After school, Uchiha Yuan came alone to the river. This time his mind did not sense anyone spying on him.
He breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Then Uchiha Yuan trained while waiting for Hyuga Asana to arrive.
He waited for an hour before Hyuga Asana finally showed up.
Uchiha Yuan glanced at the sweat-soaked bandages on Hyuga Asana's forehead and asked, "Why are you sweating so much? Did you run here?"
"Today the clan had us guards from the main family do some sparring. My opponent was a newly promoted chunin who had been injured on the battlefield and not fully recovered. I fought him with all my strength, and it ended in a draw," Hyuga Asana said with an unwilling expression.
Uchiha Yuan found it strange. For someone not even graduated from ninja academy, to draw with an injured chunin was already impressive.
So why did Hyuga Asana look so dissatisfied?
"Asana, maybe you're too strict with yourself? Drawing with a chunin is already very strong," Uchiha Yuan said.
"That level is nothing. What's the use of being strong? We are branch family; no matter how talented, we won't get attention from the main family or the village," Hyuga Asana said sadly.
"The main and branch family system shouldn't exist at all," Uchiha Yuan said.
"I think so too. Maybe to others, being a branch family member of the Hyuga clan means accepting your status, branded with the curse of the 'caged bird.'
This has lasted in the Hyuga clan for countless years — an inescapable fate.
But I never think that way. We are all family members; we all have white eyes. Why should I be stepped on by others? Why should I bow to someone worse than me in every way? Why should my life and death depend on another's whim?
Main family, branch family — just because of birth, one must be a slave to the main family. Can such a family still be called a family?"
Hyuga Asana had never expressed her emotions to Uchiha Yuan like this before.
This was also the first time Uchiha Yuan learned what was in Hyuga Asana's heart.
"Yuan, do you know? I actually envy you. I envy your Uchiha clan. As another dojutsu clan, you don't have to bear the 'caged bird' curse, nor do you have to bow to your own clan members.
Even your clan's women can marry outside, to pursue their own happiness.
But for us Hyuga branch family, forget marrying outside, even our future spouses are decided by the main family."
(To Be Continued...)