Chapter 3: Chapter 3 : Uchiha Clan
In a matter of seconds, Uchiha Shin stood exactly where Tsunade had been just moments ago.
Taking in the lush greenery surrounding him, Shin inhaled deeply, the fresh air filling his lungs as a satisfied smile spread across his face.
"This feeling—it's incredible!"
Looking down at the stunned Tsunade below, he leaped down effortlessly, landing beside her without making a single sound—a testament to his refined chakra control, now on par with hers.
"How the hell did you do that?!"
Tsunade pointed at him, then at the tree trunk, disbelief etched all over her face. She could tell from his initial struggle that he had absolutely no prior training in chakra control.
Yet, in a span of mere moments, he had not only improved but had reached a level that took even talented shinobi years to achieve. It was beyond comprehension.
Scratching his cheek nonchalantly, Shin grinned and declared, "I'm just naturally gifted!"
"…"
Tsunade fell silent.
She had heard stories about Shin, about how he had always been painfully average. Never the worst, never the best. Just another Uchiha among many. And now, here he was, boasting about extraordinary talent. It was almost laughable.
Yet, she couldn't deny what she had just witnessed.
Unwilling to accept such a ridiculous explanation, she dragged him to a nearby stream to test him further. If this was some kind of fluke, it wouldn't hold up under scrutiny.
But as she watched him not just walk on water but somersault across the river surface with effortless ease, her expression grew even more complicated. Her gaze held a mix of awe and horror, as though she were looking at some unnatural phenomenon.
"Did I just discover a genius in medical ninjutsu?"
Even as she returned to Konoha, a sense of disbelief still lingered in her mind.
Determined to humble him, Tsunade decided to teach him the Mystical Palm Technique—a technique that only elite medical-nin could master. Surely, this would stump him. When he inevitably failed, she would guide him properly.
After explaining the basics, she left in a hurry, seemingly lost in thought.
Shin, however, absorbed the information instantly and, without wasting time, made his way back to the Uchiha compound.
Since Uchiha Madara's departure, the Uchiha clan had splintered into two factions: the Hawks, who wanted to rebel against Konoha, refusing to be subjugated, and the Doves, who sought to integrate peacefully into the village, rejecting the life of war and shadows.
The Hawks, once led by Uchiha Setsuna, had been steadily losing influence after he was imprisoned by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, for conspiring against the village. Since then, the clan's situation had only worsened.
Despite having control over the Konoha Police Force, the Uchiha remained widely distrusted. Their natural arrogance and superior attitude only deepened the wedge between them and the rest of the village.
Following Tobirama's death, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, took office, and the Uchiha's position became even more precarious. The clan had been forcibly relocated to the outskirts of Konoha, isolated from the village's center.
Now, with his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, Shin could feel the constant surveillance on him. From the moment he entered the village, someone had been watching him. Only when he crossed into Uchiha territory did the oppressive gaze finally recede.
"Even if the Uchiha haven't been wiped out yet, the Third Hokage and Danzo won't show any mercy when the time comes."
The year was Konoha Year 35, and the Second Shinobi World War had already begun.
Though the war had not yet escalated into a full-scale conflict, the signs were clear. The shinobi academy had started forcing early graduations, and the atmosphere in the village grew heavier by the day. True war was imminent.
Once the battles began, Shin was certain of one thing—the Uchiha would be used as expendable pawns.
"I need to get stronger. Fast."
Setting a one-year goal, Shin resolved to reach jōnin-level strength at the very least. Anything less, and he would be nothing more than battlefield fodder.
He had no intention of dying young.
Power. Women. Absolute Strength.
The most primal of desires drove Shin forward.
Upon returning to the Uchiha compound, he immediately sought out the Elders' Hall.
With both Madara and Setsuna gone, the Uchiha had yet to elect a new clan leader. The hawks and doves remained at odds, neither side willing to submit to the other.
For now, the elders held authority, managing internal affairs and distributing resources.
Shin needed to make himself stand out—to prove his worth and claim a larger share of the clan's training resources.
As he approached the Elders' Hall, he caught the attention of three figures leaving the building. The young man at the front, mature beyond his years, narrowed his eyes in mild irritation upon seeing him.
Shin met his gaze but quickly dismissed him, looking away as if he wasn't worth his time.
That man was Uchiha Fugaku, a few years older than Shin. Having already graduated from the academy, Fugaku was deeply involved in the clan's internal politics.
His father, a high-ranking elder of the Doves, had great influence, making Fugaku a well-respected figure despite his age.
The two had little interaction, but Uchiha Mikoto changed that.
Mikoto, the granddaughter of the Hawk faction's elder, was a beauty well-loved within the clan. Fugaku had once proposed a political marriage to unite the Hawks and Doves through her, but the idea was fiercely opposed by the Hawks, not to mention Mikoto herself.
Since then, Fugaku had harbored a personal grudge, frequently sending his lackeys to trouble Shin whenever possible.
Before regaining his past memories, Shin had usually avoided conflict, opting to escape rather than engage in pointless fights.
But today was different.
This time, he didn't slow down. He didn't hesitate. He walked straight past Fugaku and his men, heading directly for the Elders' Hall.
Seeing Shin's complete disregard, Fugaku's eyes darkened with irritation. This was new. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
In the past, low-ranking Uchiha like Shin would have treaded carefully around him, yet this guy was acting like he owned the place.
"Go."
With just a glance, Fugaku sent a silent signal.
The two shinobi flanking him, Uchiha Yao and Uchiha Inahiro, understood immediately.
Though the Uchiha forbade killing among their own, teaching someone a lesson was an entirely different matter.
Both Yao and Inahiro were already genin, and they moved quickly, sneers on their faces as they closed in on Shin.
They didn't expect resistance.
But what they didn't know was that Shin had changed.