The Uchiha’s Love for the Village - Naruto: The Uchiha Manifesto

The sunset bathed the small room in a soft golden hue.

Uchiha Ye and Uchiha Mikoto stood facing each other.

"Mikoto-senpai—"

Before he could continue, Mikoto gave him a gentle, understanding smile.

"Ye-kun, this is the fastest way for you to enter the clan's upper circle."

Her tone was calm, but Ye could sense the care hidden beneath it. Warmth stirred in his chest — he knew she was worried for him.

The bloodline disease.

Those three words were a nightmare among bloodline clans. He was just a young genius who had only recently awakened his Sharingan — still far from maturity — not someone the clan would normally invest so much in.

Each vial of cell-stabilizing medicine costs between ten and twenty thousand ryō, sometimes more, depending on dosage and condition. For the proud Uchiha, only the Sharingan mattered — any other bloodline was seen as secondary, inferior.

So his "dual bloodline" didn't make much of a splash within the clan at all.

Ye sighed inwardly, pushing those thoughts down before asking softly,

"Mikoto-senpai, about Kushina…"

At the mention of Uzumaki Kushina, Mikoto's expression softened into a faint, wistful smile.

"Ye-kun, I did approach her for the clan's sake — but Kushina is a kind girl, and a pitiful one. She knows I was sent to get close to her, but even so… we became true friends."

She was older than Kushina, but when she spoke of her, her voice carried a rare tenderness.

"This mission — don't take it too seriously. It's only for show. I've already spoken with Kushina; we've agreed on how to handle it."

Listening to her, Ye realized just how much Mikoto had done behind the scenes for his sake.

Because of his bloodline condition, she didn't want him taking unnecessary risks — so she'd planned everything out in advance, turning a dangerous assignment into a formality.

Seeing his gaze soften, Mikoto smirked playfully.

"Ye-kun, don't look so touched. I'm not doing this only for you. I have my reasons too. When the old man's gone, I'll need help keeping the hawks in line."

Given five or six more years, she was confident she could fully inherit Elder Setsuna's faction.

The Uchiha valued blood, yes — but strength even more.

Ye chuckled. "Then, Mikoto-senpai, one day the clan will depend on the two of us."

Their laughter lightened the air, washing away the tension.

As she left, Mikoto glanced back, her eyes flashing scarlet with twin tomoe.

"Train well, Ye-kun. I'm preparing for my special jōnin exam."

Ye was momentarily speechless. Even when leaving, she had to get the last word.

When she was gone, silence filled the house.

"Uchiha…"

Rubbing his temples, Ye let out a small smile. This clan — proud, radical, passionate — was exactly the kind of place he belonged to.

In a world where strength meant everything, their philosophy made sense. It was far more honest than the Hyūga's stale tradition.

"As the saying goes," he murmured, smirking, "when you don't have the power to change the system, you learn to become part of it."

He loved this clan — loved the ambition, the contradictions, the fire.

Senju Compound.

"Brat, what are you doing here at this hour?"

Tsunade's tone was cool and detached — to outsiders, she was still the grieving sister who had just lost her only brother.

Ye bowed deeply.

"Captain Tsunade, the clan knows I've awakened the Sharingan — and about the dual bloodlines. Today, both the clan head and Elder Setsuna met me at the Naka Shrine.

From what I observed… the so-called division between the elder and the clan head seems to be a façade."

Tsunade's lips twitched in a wry smirk. Of course, she knew that — any sharp-eyed observer could tell. The rivalry between the 'hawks' and the 'doves' was half political theater, meant to prevent open conflict.

Still, the boy's efficiency surprised her — she had assigned him as a contact only this morning, and he was already reporting by nightfall.

Typical Uchiha, she thought, eyeing the fan crest on his back. So obsessive.

"Captain Tsunade," Ye continued, "the elder and clan head have instructed me to approach Uzumaki Kushina in secret, calling it a bridge between the clan and the village. They believe it could be the key to entering the upper ranks of power."

Tsunade's expression darkened.

"They want you to approach Kushina in secret!?"

Anger flared in her eyes. But thinking it over, she realized — yes, this did sound like something the Uchiha would try. Their hunger for recognition and inclusion in Konoha's inner circle was insatiable.

"However," Ye added quickly, "Mikoto-senpai already spoke to me. She'll inform Kushina beforehand — it's only for show."

He didn't hold anything back. There was no reason to lie — and besides, earning Tsunade's trust was essential.

Based on what he knew of the future, Mikoto's bond with Kushina had been genuine. But in the end, it was the Third Hokage's faction — not the Senju or Uchiha — that reaped the rewards.

In other words, the struggle for control of the Nine-Tails had already been decided long ago.

The Hokage won. The Senju lost.

Because in the end, the only safe Jinchūriki was the one directly under the Hokage's hand.

Tsunade's voice cut through his thoughts. "Brat, you speak so easily of your clan's secrets. Doesn't that make your heart ache?"

Ye straightened his back and met her gaze squarely.

"Captain Tsunade, I haven't betrayed my clan! The Senju and the Uchiha built Konoha together — that truth is carved into my heart. Everything I do is for the clan and the village!

The Uchiha's love for Konoha is no less than that of the Senju — or anyone else in this village!"

His voice rose with conviction, his eyes gleaming red.

"Look around us — what kind of world are we living in? War! Shinobi with power, yet living in poverty! Veterans are left to die forgotten, while the young are sent to bleed again!

The Uchiha have always fought to end the war! Our fire-style users march to the frontlines of the Rain battlefield without hesitation!"

His voice grew more impassioned by the second; Tsunade felt her scalp prickle. This boy was really fired up.

"We Uchiha are not madmen! We shed blood to protect the village — we fight for peace!"

The tomoe in his Sharingan spun faster with his rising emotions, and Tsunade found herself wondering if he was about to evolve it to two tomoe on the spot.

"Captain Tsunade! The enemies of the Uchiha are those who sow division — those who seek to tear this village apart!"

Ye's impassioned declaration filled the room. For a long moment, Tsunade simply stared at him — then her expression softened.

"…I understand. I take back what I said earlier. I apologize."

Tsunade had apologized.

Ye blinked in surprise, then nodded slowly. It made sense — for all her temper, Tsunade was someone who owned her words and stood by her convictions.

And, he realized, in Infinite Tsukuyomi's world, she had envisioned the Uchiha still alive — proof enough of her respect for them.

Her golden-brown eyes gleamed with clarity and pride.

"Captain Tsunade…"

Ye drew a deep breath. The Sharingan faded from his eyes, and his expression grew serious.

Chapter 14 - The Uchiha’s Love for the Village