"Big Brother, who are the people you were referring to?"
Uchiha Daishi asked curiously.
"As for those naïve fools," Uchiha Yuan replied calmly, glancing at him, "you do not need to know who they are. If you meet them in the future and fail to control your emotions, you might reveal hostility and create unnecessary ripples."
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"Daishi, after I leave, you must conduct yourselves even more low-key than before."
"Big Brother, should we continue the daily straight-punch training in the grove?"
Daishi asked.
Yuan paused briefly before answering.
"Continue."
"Because of me, the clan is already aware of your existence. In the eyes of outsiders, you are merely a group of youths lacking ninja talent who refuse to accept fate and are trying to gain strength through taijutsu."
"If you suddenly stop, it will attract attention."
"However—"
His gaze sharpened.
"You must never reveal your true strength. Externally, your displayed power must not exceed that of an ordinary genin."
"I understand, Big Brother."
Daishi nodded solemnly.
Yuan then turned toward Uchiha Kawa and the others.
"Although I have been exiled by the village, the Clan Head has not removed me from my position as captain of the Third Squad."
"Uchiha Inabi will temporarily act in my place. You may remain in the Police Force."
Relief spread across their faces.
The Police Force was the pride of every Uchiha. They had feared that Yuan's departure would force them out as well.
"But you are different from Daishi and the others," Yuan continued seriously.
"You may appropriately reveal part of your true strength. Within the Police Force, strength is your foundation."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"You remain there for a reason."
"You will use the Police Force to closely monitor both the clan and the village. If there is any change—any at all—you will immediately report to me through this summoning communication array."
He waved his hand.
A scroll flew through the air and landed in Kawa's hands.
"Even though I leave the village, I must know the moment anything happens between the clan and the village."
"Yes. We will closely monitor all developments."
Yuan nodded faintly.
Then, surprisingly, he smiled.
"Truthfully, I am quite satisfied with the village's punishment."
"Exiling me from the village for three years… fits my intentions perfectly."
Daishi scratched his head.
"I don't understand."
Yuan's expression turned grave.
"The clan has always kept its eyes fixed on the power within Konoha."
"But it has never realized that Konoha itself is, for the clan… a massive cage."
"In that cage, countless watchful eyes observe us every moment. The clan is like a body stuck in a swamp—unable to advance."
"If we wish to expand our power, we must develop influence beyond the village."
His voice deepened.
"Remember this."
"Controlling Konoha is not our goal."
"That is only our beginning."
"Our true goal…"
His eyes blazed with cold ambition.
"…is to make the entire shinobi world kneel at our feet."
For a heartbeat, the youths were stunned.
Then—
Their hearts ignited.
Excitement. Reverence. Fierce ambition.
They looked up at him as if gazing upon a blazing sun rising from the darkness.
In that underground chamber—
A future far greater than Konoha had just been declared.
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