Following Uchiha Shinsuke's thought, the system's cold and mechanical notification tone rang out again in his mind.
[The Clan Growth System is designed to assist the host in elevating personal strength and reviving the Uchiha Clan, reforging the clan's glory.]
[The system's core functions are as follows:]
A translucent, deep-blue light screen slowly unfurled before Uchiha Shinsuke's eyes.
At the very top of the interface was the striking Uchiha clan fan crest, radiating a faint glow, and below the crest were several main module options.
Uchiha Shinsuke focused his attention and first directed it to the opening module: [Clan Overview].
[Clan Overview]
[Clan Name: Uchiha Clan]
[Clan Honor: 50 Points]
[Overall Clan Prestige Rating: Genin Level]
[(The Uchiha Clan is currently being suppressed by Konoha's leadership, riven by internal conflict, its morale scattered, and its overall cohesion at a historical low.)]
Seeing that glaring "Genin Level" rating, Uchiha Shinsuke's mood grew considerably heavier all at once.
He knew the Uchiha's situation was dire, but he had not expected things to have rotted to this degree.
The illustrious first clan of Konoha, once a pinnacle clan of the ninja world standing as equals with the Senju, had now fallen to such a state.
Uchiha Shinsuke drew a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and let his consciousness sweep through the void as he opened the detailed entries beneath [Clan Overview].
The light screen shifted and more thorough information poured forth.
[Internal Faction Analysis]
[Hawk Faction: Led by the Elder Council, advocates a hardline stance against Konoha to reclaim power. Key figure: Uchiha Hachidai. Risk Assessment: Extremely high, easily exploited and likely to become Konoha's pretext for taking action.]
[Dove Faction: Advocates reconciliation with Konoha and seeks peaceful coexistence. Key figure: Uchiha Shisui. Risk Assessment: Extremely high, their naivety and willingness to compromise will directly lead the clan toward annihilation.]
Uchiha Shinsuke looked at the system's blunt assessments and the corner of his mouth twitched.
The words were harsh, but every one of them was the plain truth.
The Hawks were too reckless and the Doves were too soft, and neither side could accomplish anything.
After finishing the dispiriting clan overview, Uchiha Shinsuke shifted his gaze to the second module: [Member List].
When he opened it, a long, densely packed list of names appeared, covering nearly every still-living member of the Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Fugaku (Clan Head), Strength: Kage Level, Loyalty: 75% (to the clan), 0% (to the host).
Uchiha Shisui, Strength: Kage Level, Loyalty: 85% (to the clan, inclined toward peace with Konoha), 0% (to the host).
Uchiha Shinsuke's gaze swept across these thunderously famous names one by one, and a tangle of emotions stirred within him.
Clan Head Fugaku, a tragic figure with ability to spare but irresolute to the last.
Shisui and Itachi, two geniuses who, in the name of so-called righteousness and "peace," pushed the clan into the abyss with their own hands.
'Loyalty can even be tracked separately? Toward the clan and toward me... this feature is rather interesting.'
Uchiha Shinsuke noticed that nearly every clan member's name was followed by a strength level and two loyalty values.
Most clan members' loyalty toward the clan was reasonably decent, nearly all above 70%, but their loyalty toward him as the host was pitifully low, almost universally zero, with some even in the negatives.
That was hardly surprising, given that the original host had been a completely invisible figure within the clan, and an invisible figure who wore the label of "trash" at that.
Uchiha Shinsuke found his own name in the list.
[Host: Uchiha Shinsuke]
[Strength: Early Chunin]
[Clan Standing: Ordinary Genin]
[System Notice: The host has received the Beginner's Gift Pack. The next standing promotion reward can only be claimed after the host is formally admitted as a member of the Uchiha Military Police Force.]
"A member of the Uchiha Military Police Force?" A glint flashed through Uchiha Shinsuke's eyes.
The Uchiha Military Police Force was the organization through which the Uchiha Clan exercised its policing authority and maintained order within Konoha Village, nominally Konoha's law enforcement body, but in reality the core seat of Uchiha power.
Joining the Military Police Force would not only elevate his standing within the clan and earn him the system's rewards, it was also the crucial first step in gaining access to the clan's upper echelons, learning the situation from the inside, and then step by step seizing control of the entire clan.
Uchiha Shinsuke then opened the [System Shop / Exchange] module.
A dazzling list of items instantly popped up, so extensive it nearly overwhelmed him.
From basic jutsu scrolls to cultivation insights on chakra nature transformation, from Sharingan evolution elixirs to various dojutsu options for the Mangekyō, and even the Senju Clan's Wood Style bloodline limit, everything was there without exception.
But without a single exception, every one of these absurdly powerful items was followed by a long string of zeroes in honor cost.
His current measly 50 honor points could not even buy the most basic soldier pill.
'Right, looks like the only path is to raise my standing, build prestige, and earn honor points.' Uchiha Shinsuke understood clearly.
Finally, his gaze came to rest on the [Clan Skill Tree] module.
It was an enormous, intricately branching tree diagram.
At the base of the trunk was "Uchiha Bloodline," from which countless branches extended upward with individual skill nodes hanging from them.
"Sharingan Awakening Rate Increase," "Chakra Refinement Efficiency Increase," "Fire Style Power Amplification," "Clan Member Training Speed Bonus," "Clan Business Revenue Increase"...
But at this moment, nearly all of these skill nodes were gray and displayed as "Unactivated."
Uchiha Shinsuke's heart began pounding uncontrollably.
This system was outrageously overpowered.
This was not merely making him personally stronger, this was going to forge the entire Uchiha Clan into a war machine.
If he could light up this entire skill tree...
Uchiha Shinsuke did not dare imagine what level of strength the Uchiha Clan would reach at that point.
Unifying the ninja world? That would be over in a flash, surely.
Going to the moon to have tea with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya? Not entirely out of the question, either.
With his exploration of the system's functions complete, Uchiha Shinsuke exited the system interface and let out a long, slow breath.
After the excitement came clear-headed thinking.
Meals are eaten one bite at a time, and roads are walked one step at a time.
Uchiha Shinsuke understood perfectly that his current level of strength still made him no better than cannon fodder in front of any truly powerful figure.
And the predicament facing the Uchiha Clan was like a mountain pressing down on their heads that could collapse at any moment.
The suspicion and suppression from Konoha's leadership, and especially that figure lurking in the shadows who would stop at nothing for power, Shimura Danzō, was like a venomous snake that could deliver a fatal strike to the Uchiha at any time.
"Since I have come to this world and become Uchiha Shinsuke, I will absolutely never allow the tragedy of clan annihilation to happen again!"
"The fate of the Uchiha will be rewritten by my hand!"