Fugaku coughed awkwardly a couple of times.
This Shinobi World War had been far too brutal. Quite a few members of the Uchiha clan had fallen as well. Although they were originally the largest clan and still had some foundations left, compensation for the dead and wounded clan members had drained their reserves.
The Uchiha did have businesses, but money came in too slowly. Most of them were long-term, steady-income ventures—hardly enough to fill such a massive financial hole.
"Fine, you can keep the money. I still have some myself."
Wen Lan waved his hand casually, then picked up a bite of rice and asked indistinctly,
"What ninjutsu did they give?"
Fugaku handed him two scrolls.
Wen Lan took a look.
Shadow Clone Technique.
Body Flicker Technique.
"Trash."
He curled his lips and tossed them straight onto the table.
The Shadow Clone Technique was created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Once struck, the clone dispersed, but its memories and perceptions were transmitted back to the original body.
Its advanced form—the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—was a forbidden technique, because the chakra consumption was enormous, and the massive influx of memories and perceptions could overload the user's mind and turn them into an idiot. Hence, it was classified as forbidden.
Only people with thick nerves and absurd chakra reserves—like the Uzumaki clan—could use it.
Uzumaki Naruto was a prime example.
As for the Body Flicker Technique, it was a very general term. Any technique that enabled high-speed movement could be called "Body Flicker."
The most basic form involved concentrating chakra in the feet to propel the body at high speed. However, this only worked for short distances. Long-distance Body Flicker required much stronger chakra control and physical conditioning.
Shisui earned the title "Shisui of the Body Flicker" because he used the Sharingan to enhance the technique, layering simple genjutsu on top of it. By moving at extreme speed and constantly switching between himself and afterimages, he created the illusion that every shadow was real.
To Wen Lan, both techniques were completely useless.
He already knew the Shadow Clone Technique—he just didn't use it. His chakra nature wasn't suited for such high-consumption techniques, and he disliked fighting that way.
As for Body Flicker, it was even more pointless. With the speed he currently had through Thunder Breathing, ordinary Body Flicker techniques couldn't meet his combat needs at all.
But when he took the ninja blade—
His eyes lit up.
As he drew it, the blade and sheath produced a sharp metallic hiss. The blade itself was pitch black, while the edge gleamed with a frosty white sheen.
"Good blade."
Wen Lan instantly fell in love with it.
"This is made entirely of chakra metal," Fugaku explained from the side.
"You can pour chakra directly into the blade to enhance its power. A weapon made completely of chakra metal like this is extremely expensive. The Third really bled this time."
Indeed, chakra metal was incredibly rare. Otherwise, even with Asuma's background, it would've been impossible for him to make chakra blades as small as knuckle-daggers.
"Oh, right—something else happened today."
Fugaku suddenly spoke up.
"Hm?" Wen Lan looked at him.
"At the Frost Country battlefield between Konoha and Iwagakure, a Hyūga main-family member was killed. When reinforcements arrived, they discovered someone stealing the Byakugan. Someone recognized him as a shinobi from Kirigakure.
But even so… one Byakugan was taken."
Ao.
Wen Lan immediately thought of the only Byakugan ever lost to the outside world.
"The Hyūga clan is furious. They're pressuring the Third, demanding that the village negotiate with Kirigakure to retrieve the Byakugan."
"Heh—if the Third were really that tough, that'd be nice."
Wen Lan sneered.
"Exactly," Fugaku nodded.
"The Third merely appeased the Hyūga verbally and issued a gold-level bounty, then stopped there."
"The Hyūga clan definitely won't swallow this," Wen Lan said, leaning back against the wall, a cup of water in his hand, eyes half-lidded.
"But there's nothing they can do," Fugaku sighed.
"Because of this war, the Hyūga also suffered severe manpower losses. Their branch family alone lost more than half."
Wen Lan fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly:
"Clan Head—tomorrow, go to the Hokage Tower and put pressure on the Third."
"What?!"
Fugaku, Mikoto, and Itachi all stared at Wen Lan in shock.
"This has nothing to do with the Uchiha," Fugaku shook his head.
"There's no need to wade into this mess."
"No—it has everything to do with us."
Wen Lan looked straight at Fugaku.
"Although the Uchiha and Hyūga have always competed for the title of strongest dōjutsu in the ninja world, at the end of the day, we are not enemies.
In the past, the two greatest clans in Konoha were the Senju and us.
Now the Senju are gone, and it's us and the Hyūga.
Because of the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyūga branch family obeys only the main family—not the Hokage. This already makes the Hokage faction unhappy.
If you want the Uchiha to live peacefully in Konoha in the future and maintain stability with the village, then we must ally with the Hyūga!
This is the perfect time to extend an olive branch.
No matter whether the outcome succeeds or fails, the Hyūga will owe us this favor!
Adding flowers to brocade is never as valuable as offering charcoal in the snow.
And more importantly—when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.
If they can target the Hyūga's Byakugan today, tomorrow they can target our Sharingan.
If we don't speak up for the Hyūga now, then when the Sharingan is stolen in the future, the Third will brush us off the same way he brushed them off!"
At that moment, Itachi clenched his teeth and spoke up:
"But that would put the Hokage in a very difficult position."
"What are you saying, Itachi?!"
Fugaku slammed the table and growled angrily.
"You are the future head of the Uchiha! Every action you take must be for the sake of the entire clan!"
Itachi, still a child who hadn't even graduated from the Academy, flinched under his father's roar.
Wen Lan quickly stopped Fugaku and turned to Itachi.
"Itachi, let me ask you something.
Whose village is this?
Yours?
Mine?
Or the Hokage's?"
Itachi froze at the question. He lowered his head, remained silent for a long time, then finally said softly:
"I… don't know."
"Then let me tell you."
Wen Lan's voice was calm but firm.
"Konoha belongs to everyone.
It's yours.
It's mine.
It's the Hyūga's.
It's the civilians'.
It's a village built jointly by ninja clans and ordinary people alike!
But it is not the Hokage's village alone.
The Hokage is merely a leader chosen by the village.
The people are like water, and the ruler is like a boat.
Water can carry the boat—but it can also overturn it.
If the Hokage strays from the will of the people, then it becomes our responsibility to correct him.
If we stay silent this time and let the Hyūga be sacrificed— who will be next?
The Uchiha?
The Yamanaka?
The Akimichi?
I don't know.
But one thing I can say with absolute certainty—
The Third will never sacrifice the Sarutobi, Mitokado, Utatane, or Shimura clans."
—------------------------------
Pat reon Advance Chapters: patreon.com/YonkoSlayer