After listening to Ryun's account, Uchiha Second Elder fell silent for a moment.
If this was the case, then it truly wasn't something he could resolve. After all, he was aware that a small portion of the clan members were highly exclusionary, and the clan itself couldn't completely prevent such incidents from happening.
Moreover, Asuka was originally from the old Senju clan. Some of the older generation within the clan still remembered the bloody feud between the two clans...
"Ryun-kun, you could move to live near us. The people here are very easy to get along with," Uchiha Mikoto suddenly suggested sincerely.
"Mikoto's suggestion is a good one. I can arrange a nice residence for you and your mother in this area. If you're interested, I can have it settled within three days."
Uchiha Second Elder also tried to persuade Ryun to stay within the clan grounds. After all, having such a talented individual close by, or even working for him, would be extremely beneficial.
His words made his intention to recruit Ryun very clear.
"..."
Ryun chuckled faintly at this, then simply shook his head.
"I'm not interested in living within the Uchiha clan grounds. Besides, my mother and I are quite satisfied with our little home outside the clan territory. I appreciate the Second Elder's kindness, but I traveled back to the village last night and am quite exhausted, so I'll take my leave now and return home to rest..."
As he spoke, Ryun stood up from the floor. It was getting late, and he was ready to leave.
"Very well. Since Ryun-kun insists, we'll set this matter aside for now. If you ever wish to return to the clan grounds, you can come to me anytime..."
Uchiha Second Elder spoke regretfully. He wanted to recruit someone like Ryun but didn't know what he desired or preferred.
Forcing the issue might only lead to resentment, which would be counterproductive. Thus, the Second Elder had no choice but to reluctantly let him leave.
"Ryun-kun, are you still planning to visit the Third Elder?" Uchiha Mikoto stood up, intending to see Ryun off, and so she asked proactively.
Hearing her words, the Second Elder beside her visibly froze for a moment.
"No. That old man invited me over once before but then kicked me out of his residence. Even if you hadn't come earlier, I wouldn't have gone with that woman to see him."
Ryun spoke bluntly, his unrestrained words making Uchiha Mikoto subconsciously laugh.
This was the first time she had seen a clan member openly disrespect an elder so boldly, without even bothering to hide it in front of her grandfather.
"Did you have a disagreement with Elder Toyoichi?"
Uchiha Second Elder couldn't help but ask. He had nothing else to do at the moment and followed behind the two, clearly intending to escort Ryun out of the residence as a gesture of respect.
"Ah... it wasn't exactly a disagreement. Over half a year ago, he approached me and asked if I wanted to work under him. He promised to train me and offered all sorts of benefits, along with a bright future..."
"At the time, I took him at his word and made a few small requests. But then he accused me of being greedy and immediately had someone throw me out of his residence..."
Ryun revealed what had happened back then.
The two of them were momentarily stunned, and Uchiha Second Elder couldn't help but ask, "What exactly did you ask for at the time?"
"Nothing much. Just a few high-level Fire Release jutsu or Sharingan genjutsu..."
"!!!"
Ryun's words left Uchiha Second Elder utterly speechless.
Over half a year ago, Ryun hadn't even graduated from the academy yet—he was just an elementary student. Asking for high-level jutsu right off the bat was something Uchiha Toyoichi, with his short-sightedness, might have found unreasonable.
But inviting someone over only to kick them out... the Second Elder felt that the Third Elder's approach was somewhat disrespectful.
That fool Toyoichi was blind and narrow-minded, turning away a future elite jonin capable of fighting a demigod... The Second Elder almost laughed out loud at the thought.
Now, Toyoichi was probably trying to mend relations, but Ryun clearly had no intention of giving him the chance.
A few high-level jutsu? If Uchiha Second Elder had been prepared earlier, he might have handed them over on the spot.
But now that he knew what Ryun wanted, he had a way to recruit him.
"Child, the high-level jutsu you need—I have a few stored in my collection. Tomorrow, I'll have someone deliver them to you. If they're not enough, you can let me know. Our clan's treasury should have plenty more..."
Uchiha Second Elder spoke with overwhelming generosity.
"Ah... I can't accept such kindness without merit..."
Ryun suppressed the corners of his lips from curling up, forcing himself to appear flustered.
"Silly child... you've already accomplished a monumental achievement on the battlefield in the Land of Rain. How can you say you haven't earned it? Otherwise, why would the clan hold a celebration for you tonight?"
"Besides, since you don't need land or property for now, we can reward you with jutsu instead... The clan is generally fair in rewarding and punishing. There's no need to refuse or feel embarrassed."
Hearing the Second Elder's words, Ryun had "no choice" but to accept.
"Alright then... I'll gratefully accept the Second Elder's kindness!"
Ryun bowed respectfully to Uchiha Second Elder Kawakami.
These words filled the Second Elder with delight, and he was extremely satisfied.
Ryun had thanked him personally, not the clan. That subtle distinction was very telling and exactly why the Second Elder was so pleased.
"Ryun-kun, take care on your way back!"
"Child, feel free to visit me whenever you have time. You can keep an old man like me company for a chat or two..."
The grandfather and granddaughter saw Ryun to the gate.
"Alright, I'll visit the Second Elder again when I have the chance. No need to see me off further!"
Ryun smiled and then turned to leave the Uchiha clan grounds.
Watching the graceful young man's retreating figure, Uchiha Mikoto couldn't help but stare blankly.
"It's a shame you and Fugaku-kun were betrothed since childhood. If I had discovered this young hero earlier, I might not have agreed to the First Elder's arranged marriage. This boy might have been a better match for you than Fugaku..."
Seeing the undisguised admiration in his granddaughter's eyes as she gazed at the young man, the Second Elder didn't need to guess to know the girl was smitten.
Women, or girls, always admired the strong. Someone like Ryun was devastatingly attractive to young girls...
Handsome, famous, powerful, capable in battle, charismatic, and eloquent—it was hard to imagine any girl not liking him.
"Grandfather, what nonsense are you saying..."
Uchiha Mikoto's face flushed red with embarrassment.
"Ryun-kun and Kushina are publicly recognized as a couple, and their relationship is very strong. You mustn't say such things in the future..."
As she spoke, Mikoto's tone carried a hint of melancholy.
"Kushina? That red-haired girl who came to visit you before? The last survivor of the Uzumaki clan, right?" The Second Elder asked in surprise.
"Yes, her!"
"Ryun-kun dotes on Kushina immensely. He once even threw himself in front of her to block a kunai without hesitation..."
Uchiha Mikoto nodded, her words dripping with unmistakable envy.
"That incident where Uchiha Kazuyo recklessly used a kunai to harm a classmate..."
The Second Elder had heard about that scandalous incident before.
"Exactly! That guy attacked an unarmed girl with a kunai—utterly despicable. I don't know what Fugaku-kun was thinking, actually taking someone like that under his wing..."
Mikoto grew angrier the more she spoke.
"..."
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━