Naruto’s Dump Station

Chapter 18: Terrifying Inheritance

In the silent secret room, an unbelievable revelation emerged faintly.

Grandpa spoke, his voice solemn. “Ruofeng… do you feel strange now? Do you wonder why your grandfather pledged allegiance to Uchiha Zan?”

Ruofeng chuckled. “It is normal for a man of such stature to have followers. It would be abnormal if no one followed him.”

Grandpa smiled bitterly and shook his head. “Yes… it would be abnormal for such a great man to be without followers. In truth, I was originally just an ordinary ninja. During the Warring States Period, my Zan was destroyed. In the end, it was your grandfather who saved me. That was how I joined the Uchiha Zan and became his servant. When your grandfather died, your father married my daughter, and eventually, you were born.”

A deep sorrow flickered in his aged eyes. “Unfortunately, your mother was born with a weak constitution. You showed extraordinary vitality even in the womb and required an immense amount of nourishment. As a result, she did not survive your birth. Your father, consumed by grief, was unable to reconcile his emotions. The joy of having you was overshadowed by his despair. Unable to bear the pain, he chose to end his own life.”

Grandpa’s voice trembled. “I was devastated by their loss. But your existence gave me hope again. I took care of you and gave you everything I could. Yet, I never wanted you to become a ninja. That was your father’s last wish. He did not want you to endure the suffering of the shinobi path, nor did he want you to serve under Uchiha Zan. He knew that man would return one day, and when he did, you would be faced with a choice.”

A long silence followed before Grandpa sighed. “Since you have chosen this path, I will make an exception. These things were originally prepared by your grandfather for your father. Now, they belong to you.”

Ruofeng gazed at the items in the secret chamber—scrolls, weapons, armor. The collection was meager but held immense significance.

“Grandpa… is this all that Uchiha Zan left behind?” Ruofeng asked, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

Grandpa sighed again, his features lined with exhaustion. “Yes… this is all that remains. When the Uchiha Zan betrayed Zan, he took everything that belonged to him. Your grandfather safeguarded these remnants, but in his battle with Senju Hashirama, Zan reclaimed the Nine-Tails’ summoning scroll and his weapons. The scrolls left behind contain ninjutsu recorded by Zan and are a part of the Uchiha Zan’s true inheritance. This is a legacy unlike any other. The inheritance now held by the Uchiha Zan is incomplete. Some secrets could only be passed down to the Zan’s leader, but Zan took them with him in his rage. What remains here is a fragment of what was lost.”

A faint trace of ridicule surfaced on Grandpa’s face, as though he was mocking the current state of the Uchiha Zan. Though merely a servant, he had lived through the Warring States Period. He was no ordinary man.

Ruofeng’s eyes gleamed. This was Uchiha Zan’s legacy, an inheritance meant for the head of the Uchiha Zan. It was bound to be extraordinary.

Grandpa regarded Ruofeng with grave seriousness. “Since you have chosen to walk this path, these things are now yours. There is also a hidden passage in this chamber. It leads to a valley ten miles beyond the village. There, you will find wealth and resources I have painstakingly gathered. If danger ever befalls you, use this route to escape. You must remember this.”

His words carried the weight of a final instruction, almost like a last will.

Ruofeng was silent. “Grandpa… I understand. I will remember this place.”

A deep sigh escaped Grandpa’s lips. “Good… that is good… I have lived from the Warring States Period to the present and have seen too much bloodshed. I should have perished long ago, but for you, my grandson, I endured. Now that you have chosen the ninja path, you must grow strong. A weak ninja will not survive.”

Ruofeng said nothing. He understood his grandfather’s sorrow. His daughter was gone. His son-in-law was gone. The master he had once sworn loyalty to was also gone. The only reason he had continued living was Ruofeng. Now, seeing Ruofeng step onto the battlefield of life and death, his heart ached with reluctance.

Grandpa raised a trembling hand and gestured toward a distant bottle. His voice was heavy with nostalgia. “These two eyes… they are the Sharingan, left behind by your grandfather. Though they appear as mere three-tomoe now, they were once Mangekyō Sharingan. Your grandfather awakened them when your grandmother died. After his passing, he left them behind for your father. But your father refused to inherit them. Even on his deathbed, he asked me to destroy his own Mangekyō. He awakened them when your mother died…”

A deep sorrow clouded Grandpa’s expression. “These eyes… they are born of grief. The price is far too steep. I pray you will never need to awaken such power.”

Stepping back, Grandpa suddenly seemed much older, as though he had finally finished speaking all the burdens that weighed on his soul. Ruofeng nodded silently, choosing not to examine Zan’s relics just yet. Instead, he followed his grandfather, drawn by an undeniable longing for family. The bonds of blood ran deep, even for those born of the Uchiha.

In the silent corridor, Ruofeng remained quiet.

When they emerged into the dimly lit bedroom, Grandpa spoke once more. “Rest early. The things in the secret room are not going anywhere. Take your time examining them when you are ready. If you have any questions, come to me. I may not be a warrior, but I have lived through many battles and can still guide you. When you enter the ninja academy, remember to use your abilities wisely.”

Ruofeng frowned slightly. “My ability? Do you mean the Sharingan? But I have not awakened it yet.”

Grandpa chuckled, shaking his head. “Not the Sharingan. Your perception ability. Do you think a man as wealthy as I am, living in Kiba, could exist unchallenged if I did not have a way to protect myself?” A rare glint of pride shone in his eyes.

Ruofeng blinked, then smiled. “I have often wondered about that. Our family is incredibly wealthy. By all logic, we should be prime targets for the great Zans. And yet, no one dares lay a hand on us…”

Grandpa’s faint smile remained as silence settled over the room once more.