The genius Uchiha Jin mentioned had to be Uchiha Fugaku.
He still had not gone to the front?
Senya did not care who came to the Guard Tower.
Once they finished tidying up, he waited with Jin on the first floor for this so-called clan prodigy.
Before long, footsteps sounded outside.
The wooden door slid open.
Fugaku, stern beyond his years, entered with several patrol shinobi.
It was him.
Senya's expression did not change.
A rare guest indeed.
No outsiders had visited the Guard Tower in a long time.
What brought Fugaku here?
"Hello, everyone. Thank you for your work."
A mild smile touched Fugaku's face.
He was all but confirmed as young clan head, yet he still handled people with care.
Whether civilians or shinobi, he showed warmth instead of arrogance.
It would help him one day reach the clan leader's seat.
"I apologize for the disturbance. This is a routine inspection. Please bear with us."
After greeting Jin, his gaze shifted to the impassive Senya.
Ever since that night he was felled in one move, a thought had haunted him.
He felt he had seen the intruder's eyes somewhere before.
After much turning it over, he had asked the Great Elder for leave to conduct a quiet inquiry before heading to the front.
He already had a few guesses.
The elder had not wanted to agree.
But to clear Fugaku's mind for the war, he consented and assigned two patrol shinobi to assist.
The patrol began searching the tower.
Senya did not mind. There was nothing of value here anyway.
What unnerved him was Fugaku's heated stare.
Was this guy a rainbow boy?
Would the second son be in danger now?
The goosebumps were almost visible.
"Uh, is there something on my face?"
Senya asked lightly.
It was their first conversation in public.
At the academy, they had barely intersected.
One was a village-recognized prodigy. The other was an ordinary student with poor ninjutsu talent.
The gap had been wide.
"No. I drifted off for a moment."
Catching the tone, Fugaku drew his gaze back, a hint of embarrassment touching his steady features.
"Your eyes are similar to someone I met. But on a closer look, they are different."
He compared Senya's present gaze with the intruder from that night and found the former sharper.
Senya's bearing was also more distinct.
"Perhaps it is only my imagination."
In truth, it was the Mangekyo now sleeping in Senya's eyes.
But Fugaku would never imagine that the boy his age before him already held such terrifying power.
"What a coincidence."
"I have a common face. Looking familiar is normal."
Senya brushed it off.
He had not expected Fugaku to still be hung up on that night.
Now that he stood at Kage level and his Mangekyo carried a space-time art, tracking him would be nearly impossible.
He could jump between shrine and tower with Summon Flash.
Hearing the explanation, Fugaku nodded without expression.
It made sense.
The intruder had three tomoe, while this unremarkable tower guard was his schoolmate.
A three-tomoe user would not be this young.
Even a genius like Fugaku had only recently reached two tomoe.
How could someone that monstrous exist?
It must have been a senior hiding within the clan.
As for that senior's purpose in entering the shrine, he could not guess.
Fugaku let it go.
He would report his analysis to the Great Elder, then drop the matter.
The front was his true task.
As a key talent, he would not be sent on reckless missions.
He would hone his strength and polish his reputation for the future contest for clan head.
The elder would likely assign protection for him as well.
"Inspection complete. Nothing unusual."
While he spoke with the two guards, the patrol had finished.
They had found nothing.
Fugaku nodded and prepared to take his leave.
Just then, Jin called out to him.
"Fugaku, I want to go to the front with you."
He seemed to have struggled with the choice, but at last he spoke.
"That traitor fled to the Rain Country after killing the others."
"I will end him myself."
Calm features hardened with killing intent.
The hatred had not faded over the years.
It had deepened.
His mind held only revenge.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed at the tone.
He knew a bit of Jin's past.
He was not surprised that Jin wanted to follow him to the Rain Country for vengeance.
He thought for a moment. "I will speak to the Great Elder. He should agree. Make sure the Guard Tower is handed over properly."
With that, Fugaku and his party turned and left.
Watching their backs, Senya let out a quiet breath.
War was about to begin.
Hearing Fugaku's reply, a spark of excitement lit Jin's eyes.
...