The Uchiha Guard headquarters stood as an imposing structure at the heart of the clan's territory, its black fan emblem solemn and dignified beneath the sunlight.
Uchiha Shinsuke climbed the stone steps and walked through the main entrance.
The hall was brightly lit, with clan members in Guard uniforms moving in and out.
A young receptionist on duty glanced up when he saw Uchiha Shinsuke.
"What do you want, kid?"
"My name is Uchiha Shinsuke, and I'm here to submit an application to join the Guard."
Uchiha Shinsuke pulled a prepared application form from inside his robe and placed it on the desk.
"Uchiha Shinsuke?"
The receptionist paused, as though he had heard that name somewhere before.
It suddenly came to him: this was the "failure" who had recently crippled both Uchiha Shigeru and Uchiha Yuu!
He looked the boy in front of him over again, his gaze sharpening with scrutiny and curiosity.
He took the application form and skimmed it briefly.
"According to regulations, applicants must have the strength of at least an elite genin."
"I know the rules," Uchiha Shinsuke replied calmly.
"I'm confident in my abilities, and I hope to be given a chance at an assessment."
The receptionist hesitated for a moment.
"Applying for an early assessment requires a recommendation from someone of squad leader rank or above, or you must demonstrate sufficient potential in a strength test."
"I'll take the strength test," Uchiha Shinsuke answered without a second thought.
Uchiha Shinsuke had already learned the entire process thoroughly before coming.
The so-called preliminary test was merely a formality to gauge chakra volume and basic ninjutsu proficiency.
For his current level of ability, it was child's play.
"...Fine, follow me."
The receptionist stood up and led Uchiha Shinsuke across the hall and into a small training ground on the side designated for testing.
Inside the training ground, a lean and sturdy middle-aged man was resting against the wall with his eyes closed.
He wore the uniform of a Guard squad leader, his arms crossed and his presence steady and composed.
"Squad Leader Tekka, this kid named Uchiha Shinsuke wants to apply for an early assessment," the receptionist said respectfully.
Uchiha Tekka slowly opened his eyes.
"Uchiha Shinsuke?"
Uchiha Tekka murmured the name quietly, one brow lifting slightly.
"The kid who's been stirring up quite a bit of commotion in the clan lately?"
"Yes, Squad Leader."
Uchiha Shinsuke's expression was composed as he met Uchiha Tekka's gaze steadily, without any sign of retreat.
[Uchiha Tekka, Strength: Jonin (High-tier), Loyalty: 70% (to the clan), 3% (to the host).]
"Kid, an assessment is no child's game," Uchiha Tekka said, his voice carrying a note of pressure.
"If you only beat a couple of failures through some cheap tricks and dumb luck, I'd advise you to go home and play in the mud, the Guard isn't a place for just anyone."
"Whether it was luck or not, wouldn't a test settle that?"
Uchiha Shinsuke was full of confidence.
"Ha! Gutsy!" Uchiha Tekka laughed instead of getting angry, as he appreciated this kind of spirited young person.
"Then show me what gives you the right to say that!"
He pointed toward a half-man-height chakra testing crystal at the center of the training ground.
"Channel your chakra into it."
Uchiha Shinsuke stepped forward as instructed, pressed his right hand against the cool crystal, and slowly began flowing his chakra into it.
Hmmm!
The next instant, the crystal erupted with a blinding blue radiance!
The intensity and range of the light far surpassed that of an ordinary genin, and was even stronger than many seasoned chunin!
"What?!"
Uchiha Tekka's gaze sharpened and an expression of astonishment crossed his face.
That chakra volume was absolutely at the level of an elite chunin!
Even among the talent-rich Uchiha Clan, that kind of ability was enough to be called outstanding!
"Not bad."
Uchiha Tekka nodded, his tone noticeably more serious.
"Now show me the fire-style ninjutsu you're most skilled with."
Uchiha Shinsuke quietly drew a breath, his hands moving like phantom shadows as he completed the hand seals in an instant.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
ROAR!
A ferocious fire dragon made of raging flames came roaring out of Uchiha Shinsuke's mouth!
The dragon spiraled nimbly through the air, and with scorching heat trailing behind it, struck the metal target in the distance with pinpoint precision!
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion rang out!
The target, forged from hardened steel, was blown to pieces, its broken edges glowing red and still hissing with thin wisps of smoke!
In terms of power, form, and the effortless precision of its control, that fire-style technique was nothing short of flawless!
Uchiha Tekka's pupils contracted sharply.
He himself was accomplished in fire-style techniques, so he could clearly see just how impressive Uchiha Shinsuke's move truly was.
This was absolutely not a level that an ordinary chunin could achieve!
Uchiha Shinsuke's understanding and mastery of fire-style techniques had surpassed the vast majority of ninja at the same rank!
The receptionist standing nearby was now staring with his mouth hanging open.
He had assumed Uchiha Shinsuke was just an ignorant little brat, but it turned out the boy was a monster hiding his true depth!
That level of strength was a large cut above even his own as a full member of the Guard!
And the power of that ninjutsu was overwhelming!
"Very well."
"Your strength qualifies you for the formal assessment, your application is approved, the assessment is in three days, and you'll be notified of the specific arrangements."
"Thank you, Squad Leader Tekka," Uchiha Shinsuke said with a slight bow.
"Don't thank me, the Guard only looks at strength," Uchiha Tekka said with a wave of his hand.
"I'm actually looking forward to seeing what kind of surprise you bring me in the formal assessment."
A glint of genuine appreciation and anticipation entered Uchiha Tekka's eyes.
For a clan to grow strong, it needed a constant stream of fresh blood, especially blood as gifted as Uchiha Shinsuke's!
Uchiha Shinsuke gave a nod, said nothing more, and turned to leave the testing area.
The preliminary trial was passed.
What came next was the real main event: the formal entry assessment for the Guard!
As he walked, Uchiha Shinsuke quietly ran through his thoughts.
The performance just now had been impressive enough, but it was still far from his true limit.
'Should I hold back a little during the formal assessment?'
The moment that thought surfaced, he crushed it himself.
'Hold back? Why would I hold back?'
'To avoid drawing the attention of Konoha's higher-ups, especially that old dog Danzō?'
Uchiha Shinsuke's stride paused for a moment, and a flash of self-mockery crossed his eyes.
'What a joke.'
The survival instincts of a corporate drone from his past life were still acting up, always pushing him toward playing it safe and growing in obscurity.
But this was the brutal shinobi world!
The blade of clan annihilation was already hanging over the entire Uchiha Clan's neck, ready to fall at any moment!
And in a situation like this, he still wanted to keep a low profile?
The consequence of keeping a low profile was ending up like countless other clan members on the night of the massacre: a cold corpse, nothing more than a tally mark in Uchiha Itachi's book of achievements!
He did not want to die!
And even more, he refused to die uselessly like a failure, worthless and forgotten!
Uchiha Shinsuke's thoughts snapped into piercing clarity.
Keeping a low profile meant mediocrity, meant having no voice and no standing, and what could a nameless nobody do to change the fate of the clan, what could he do to stand against Konoha's higher-ups?
Talk his way through it?
Don't make him laugh.
Only by letting his brilliance shine without restraint!
Only by displaying unmatched talent and strength and becoming the most dazzling new star of the entire clan could he gain status and influence in the shortest time possible!
Only by holding power in his hands could he unite the clan's strength, influence the decisions of Clan Leader Fugaku, and stand against the foolishness of the hawks and the naivety of the doves!
As for Danzō's assassination attempts...
So what?
Being targeted for assassination was still better than waiting to be slaughtered alongside the entire clan!
The former was a slim chance at survival, the latter was certain death with no way out!
Did he even need to think about which to choose?
'From this day on, I, Uchiha Shinsuke, will be the brightest star there is!'
'I will make every clan member see that the future of the Uchiha does not lie with Itachi or Shisui, it lies with me!'
Of course, shining without restraint did not mean holding nothing back.
Keeping some of his true strength and cards hidden was still necessary.
The role he intended to play was that of an Uchiha prodigy with unparalleled natural talent and combat power, enough to leave all peers in despair.
That was enough.
'Danzō, the Third...'
A flash of bone-deep cold light crossed Uchiha Shinsuke's eyes.
'Just wait, this game of shogi is mine to play now!'