From that day on, Uchiha Tsukiki never stepped foot on the Uchiha clan's exclusive training grounds again. Like most branch family members, he trained in the forests on the outskirts of Konoha.
He also stopped wearing the Uchiha fan symbol on his clothes. He had accepted reality—he simply didn't have the strength to change things.
Later, Tsukiki learned the full story: the Uchiha clan had split into two factions.
One was the conservative faction, led by older jonin who had survived the Warring States period. The other was the reform faction, composed mostly of younger ninjas born after Konoha's founding.
The conservatives had lived through the brutal era where everything was for the clan's survival. They spared no effort to strengthen the clan—whether by increasing its population or rigorously training the next generation. That was how the Uchiha had risen to the top during the Warring States.
The reformers, on the other hand, only knew of that era through clan records and the notes of past elites. They hadn't experienced it themselves.
As they grew up, these talented youngsters developed their own ideas. They believed that a powerful Uchiha clan didn't need branch family members—that they only brought shame to the Uchiha name.
The conflict began when the clan invested heavily in training branch family members. The reformers couldn't understand this, and they disagreed with the elders' views. That's how the rift started.
After proving their strength in the war, the Uchiha realized that ninjas from Konoha, Suna, and Iwa were far inferior overall.
To deal with one Uchiha, the enemy often had to send two ninjas of the same rank—and even then, defeat was likely. An Uchiha with awakened Sharingan was even more troublesome.
The battlefield was cruel. Many young Uchiha witnessed the deaths of friends and family, and in front of everyone, their Sharingan evolved or awakened. Such cases happened periodically.
Tsukiki and other branch family members were caught in the clash between the old and new factions—they were just casualties of this conflict.
It was said that every clan meeting turned into a heated debate. The reformers argued fiercely to strip branch family members of the Uchiha name.
After several meetings, the reform faction finally won. The conservatives lost their footing—after all, few Warring States survivors remained.
This was terrible news for Tsukiki. The name "Uchiha" wasn't just a surname—it was a shield, a support that let him stand firm in the shinobi world. Now that was gone.
Fortunately, the conservatives still had some influence. As part of the compromise, the reform faction had to handle the aftermath—a sort of "division of assets" to ensure those who left wouldn't be left destitute.
There was also the issue of war orphans. Their ancestors had given their lives for the Uchiha and Konoha, so proper arrangements had to be made.
Tsukiki—now just "Tsukiki"—learned all this through rumors and open sources.
In truth, the Uchiha had always been full of internal. During the Warring States, external pressure forced them to unite. After Konoha's founding, these issues resurfaced.
When Madara was around, he suppressed everything. But after his disappearance at the Valley of the End, the Uchiha kept a low profile, afraid the Second Hokage would target them.
In the First Great Ninja War, to prove loyalty and protect their home—since they'd begun integrating into Konoha—the Uchiha and Senju made huge sacrifices.
After the war, the Uchiha population plummeted. Both main and branch families suffered greatly, so the elders continued the Warring States tradition of "casting a wide net"—strengthening the clan while supporting branch families.
In the past, branch families would eventually become independent allied clans for marriage. If their descendants awakened the Sharingan, they could return to the Uchiha.
But times had changed. The new generation of the main family disliked this policy because it meant fewer resources for them.
Back then, their influence was limited, so opposition failed. Since their resources weren't reduced, the policy continued for years—until the war broke out.
Many Uchiha went to the frontlines. The Uchiha were natural combatants; they grew quickly in battle and soon became pillars of the frontline.
Those who hadn't awakened their Sharingan did so after witnessing friends die; some evolved their Sharingan under extreme stress. The battlefield was the Uchiha's biggest cheat—though at great cost.
On the battlefield, Uchiha were priority targets. They often tied down enemy forces—fame came with a price.
This war lasted years, on and off. The reform faction gained many new three-tomoe Sharingan users. In clan meetings, the conservatives were overwhelmed and exhausted.
The Third Hokage grew anxious—as did Council Elder Danzo Shimura. If the Uchiha fractured now, Konoha's defense would weaken. They had to step in as mediators.
Under the Third's negotiation, the reform faction got their wish: many branch families were cut off, leaving only the main family and a few high-purity bloodline branches. In Konoha, there was now only the Uchiha clan—no more branch families.
Those who left became civilian ninjas, no longer under Uchiha control but under the Hokage's jurisdiction—left to fend for themselves.
Thankfully, the conservatives still had some say. Assets were divided, war orphans received generous settlement funds, and Konoha provided additional compensation.
As a bonus, registered ninjas and academy students received valuable jutsu scrolls as foundation after the split.
After the division, the Third Hokage provided support to help the Uchiha with relocation—especially housing. More would be built if needed.
One crucial condition: any child who awakened the Sharingan must return to the Uchiha clan. The bloodline must not be lost outside.
This was what Tsukiki learned after receiving notice. In fact, everyone around knew—it was public news. Unhappiness was inevitable, but no one had the power to resist. Even the Hokage had issued a statement.
Soon, Tsukiki received notice from the Uchiha clan to collect his allotted scrolls from the clan library. Many of his neighbors received the same notice.
Distractedly, Tsukiki went to the library and found a long line—proof of how large the Uchiha branch family was. This had been going on for days. As one of Konoha's founding clans, their numbers were impressive.
When his turn came, he entered and saw the elder who had once overseen branch family training seated inside. Two ninjas were distributing scrolls below.
He recognized them—one was Uchiha Fuhei, his first and most dedicated teacher.
"Tsukiki, it's you. These scrolls are for you. I know you have fire, lightning, and wind affinities. Aside from the Uchiha's core fire jutsu secrets, I've prepared everything for you.
If you become a jonin, these jutsu will make you outstanding—maybe even an elite jonin. There are also some common genjutsu we collected, and all the information on summoning jutsu.
After all, you came from the Uchiha. Don't be weak in genjutsu. This is all I can do for you. Remember: each family's scrolls are different. Keep them confidential."
"Thank you, Fuhei-sensei. And thank you, Elder."
Tsukiki placed the scrolls in his pocket, hiding how many he'd received, and walked out holding only one.
"A clever decision. Even without the Sharingan, he'll become an excellent jonin—or at least a top-tier chunin," the elder remarked after Tsukiki left. His experience gave him a sharp eye for talent.
"A very hardworking boy. It's a shame. If he awakened the Sharingan, he could go far. He's more diligent than I was at his age, and a bit more talented," Fuhei added, gazing after Tsukiki.
"He'll have to survive the battlefield first. If he dies there, should we destroy the scrolls to prevent leaks? Though the Hokage has backups," the other ninja asked.
The elder just shook his head—no unnecessary actions—and called the next person in.