After a series of setbacks, Tsukiki finally returned home from the Uchiha clan's library—though soon, it wouldn't be his home anymore. He was moving out.
The thought dampened his mood. He rubbed his eyes, which had been sore and uncomfortable lately, perhaps due to allergies.
In truth, every Uchiha descendant knew what this meant. Despite everything, the Uchiha had a millennia-long history and had branched off several ninja clans—though none could inherit the Uchiha name.
These offshoot clans struggled—the Uchiha had too many enemies. So, having their children awaken the Sharingan and return to the Uchiha became crucial.
The clan took awakening seriously and kept detailed records. They weren't as arrogant as people thought—otherwise, they wouldn't have survived a thousand years.
Most records were about awakening—often triggered by extreme emotional trauma. At one point, the Uchiha even turned on each other, hoping to gain stronger Sharingan by killing loved ones.
But history proved this wrong—though these facts were suppressed within the clan. Ordinary members rarely learned them; the leadership downplayed it all.
Some awakened under stress, others naturally. Those who awakened naturally often had symptoms like eye pain beforehand—no visible changes, just discomfort until one day it faded, and they had a chance to awaken the Sharingan.
Key word: a chance. The clan's records were full of accounts—success rates, failure rates—all meticulously documented.
Tsukiki had stumbled upon these records in the clan library. Once, Uchiha Fuhei mentioned them to motivate trainees, giving them hope to train harder.
So Tsukiki dug through countless notes and found the records on natural awakening—detailed analyses of each case, including their backgrounds and outcomes.
These were old, unclassified documents. Any Uchiha could access them— clan history was for all to know.
So Tsukiki didn't get overly excited. He stayed calm, taking everything in stride. Recent events had shown him: the Uchiha clan had changed.
The once-dominant Uchiha of the shinobi world were gone. Now they were just another Konoha clan—a family fighting to survive would unite against threats, but a powerful clan would endlessly feud internally.
He could imagine what the Uchiha would become. After awakening, Uchiha ninjas often changed—but they shared one goal: ensuring the clan's survival, at any cost.
In Konoha, that sense of danger was gone. Sheltered by the village, they no longer faced the chaos of the Warring States era. That unity was no longer necessary.
A few days later, someone knocked on Tsukiki's door. Opening it, he found Konoha ANBU agents—several of them, likely on a large-scale mission.
"Are you Uchiha Tsukiki? Ah, right—you're no longer an Uchiha. Do you plan to choose a new surname? You'll need to register it at the Hokage's office."
"Yes. What can I do for you?"
"By the Third Hokage's order, we're assisting former Uchiha branch members with relocation. My task is to move you to your new home. Don't worry—it's just as good as this one."
"Oh… alright. But I have quite a few things."
Tsukiki was reluctant, but he knew better than to refuse the Hokage's direct order. Agreement was the only option.
"No problem. We're prepared."
He didn't have much—his parents' belongings were gone except for some valuables and keepsakes. He'd already packed money and important items. The rest was just daily utensils, furniture, and books.
Once everything was ready, Tsukiki followed the ANBU agent out, solemnly closed the door, locked it, and handed the key to the agent—as required by the Hokage's mission file.
Valuables weren't entrusted to the ANBU. Every Uchiha descendant learned sealing jutsu—they had to be able to use storage scrolls proficiently.
So he'd secured his important items himself. Trust no one—cases of theft were common, and ANBU agents could easily pull it off unnoticed.
Walking out of the Uchiha compound, he realized many were moving at the same time—quite a large number. The Third Hokage had invested significant effort.
Tsukiki's new home was on the other edge of Konoha, relatively remote with few neighbors. The property was spacious with a small yard, including a Japanese-style pond fed by bamboo pipes to keep the water fresh.
Along the way, he noticed several newly built houses of similar style—much nicer than the surrounding ones. The treatment was fairly good.
But it frustrated Tsukiki: the scattered Uchiha branch families were dismantled by the Third Hokage and placed all over Konoha. likely surrounded by other small clans—none of whom he knew.
What sharp political maneuvering. And the Uchiha clan didn't even react.Tsukiki shook his head inwardly. He signed the mission form and took a new surname: Amahara. Full name: Amahara Tsukiki.
He'd considered "Takamagahara" but found it too flashy. Though the shinobi world lacked rich myths, people still knew what it represented.
So he settled for this ambiguous surname—it sounded lofty, but in Konoha, it clearly marked him as a civilian, and an obscure one at that.
After receiving all the keys from the ANBU, they left his belongings in the yard and departed without offering help—without another word.
Thankfully, Amahara Tsukiki was used to handling things alone. With chakra, heavy items were no issue—he wasn't some feeble amateur.
As Sarutobi Tetsusuke said, most students in their class were already qualified to be genin. They just awaited the Hokage's order.
The new house was well-furnished—the rooms were larger than his old ones, with water and electricity already connected. Konoha had modern utilities, available to every household.
After half a day of work, he finally settled in. Looking around, he sighed. Who knew how long he'd live here? As cannon fodder on the battlefield, survival rates were terrifyingly low.
"Pity… such a nice house. Did the Third Hokage plan this all along? If I die, Konoha reclaims the house without compensation—a masterstroke."
When the new semester began, Amahara Tsukiki returned to class. After the Senju, the Uchiha had fully integrated into Konoha—though only the diluted branch families, publicly framed as "responding to the Hokage's call."
He'd expected to graduate within six months and head to the battlefield, but the second semester started with no news. Even rumors didn't mention the academy.
"Long time no see, Tsukiki-kun! I missed you so much over the break."
"Likewise."
Now a civilian ninja, Tsukiki didn't want to provoke clan-born students. Though he shared their background, his support was gone.
"My, Tsukiki-kun, what's wrong? You seem different—like you're under a genjutsu? Tsk tsk."
"You have the Byakugan—take a look. Maybe you can even see what underwear I'm wearing."
Initially avoiding trouble, Tsukiki grew annoyed by Hyuga Rin's teasing. He knew if he didn't shut her down, she'd pester him all day.
"So cold! And here I was worried about you."
Rin put on a pitiful act, giving Tsukiki a headache. He wanted to teach her a lesson, but Sarutobi Tetsusuke entered the classroom, forcing him to sit down and behave.