"Recruit them?"
Uchiha Setsuna nearly choked on his tea.
He coughed several times, forcing down the burning sensation in his throat before finally steadying himself. When he looked up again, disbelief was written plainly across his face.
"All that confidence just now… were you bluffing?"
"That's not bluffing at all."
Uchiha Ren stepped forward quickly, gently patting his grandfather's back as he explained.
"Think about it. Each class at the Academy has around twenty Uchiha children. Across six grades, that's just over a hundred."
"We establish clan classes. Assign two jōnin instructors per grade. From there, we select the top six."
"Then have two three-tomoe elites provide comprehensive guidance."
His voice was steady and clear.
"At the same time, we implement elimination at the bottom. Let regular students challenge the elite class for their spots."
"Under that level of resource allocation and competition—if a civilian student still rises above every Uchiha…"
"Then that only proves they're worth recruiting."
Setsuna studied him for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Twelve jōnin. Twelve three-tomoe elites. Twenty-four in total…"
He tapped the table lightly, pride surfacing in his eyes.
"That alone could wipe out any small nation outside the Five Great Countries."
"You're right. Only the Uchiha could assemble something like that."
He lifted his teacup again, the steam softening the lines on his face.
"With that level of cultivation, there's no reason for our children to lose."
"And if someone still surpasses them—then they're a genius on the level of Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, or Kakashi Hatake."
"Someone like that… is indeed worth bringing in."
The teacup touched the table with a soft sound.
A faint smile tugged at Setsuna's lips.
"Good. Most of the clan's people have nothing to do anyway. This gives them something worthwhile."
The Uchiha were wealthy.
Since the Warring States era, they had accumulated vast estates and mines across the Land of Fire.
Unlike the Senju—who had donated everything to Konoha, only for it to vanish into unknown hands—
The Uchiha kept their holdings.
Managed largely by ninja cats, requiring little direct involvement.
Yet within Konoha, jōnin positions were limited. The Police Force was already full.
Combined with their caution toward the village leadership—
The clan had a surplus of elite Uchiha.
Highly capable… and largely idle.
Men who walked around with expressions that practically said don't provoke me, as if they might draw blades at the slightest signal.
Now, they finally had a proper role.
"Handle the personnel arrangements yourselves," Setsuna said. "I will support it fully."
Ren's smile deepened slightly.
His grandfather had already handed him control of the hawkish faction, spending his days drinking tea and meeting with the clan head and Elder Hokaku.
"Even the Hokage personally serves as headmaster of the Academy," Ren said lightly. "Our clan school may be smaller—but its faculty will be unmatched in the shinobi world."
"For something this important… it should be led by a highly respected elder."
A glint of mischief flickered in his eyes as he reached out and took his grandfather's arm.
"Wouldn't you agree?"
Setsuna's eyes widened.
He had been planning a quiet day—perhaps a drink with Hokaku.
Now this…
He looked at Ren, who wore a confident, knowing smile.
The refusal reached his lips—
And stopped.
He had just said he would fully support the plan.
Rejecting it now would make him look ridiculous.
Besides…
"Highly respected" sounded rather good.
Still, agreeing too easily would be unbecoming.
He cleared his throat, pretending to think.
"The clan head or Hokaku would also be suitable. You should ask them first."
"How could they compare to you?"
Ren shook his arm lightly, his tone filled with sincere admiration.
"You are the pillar of the clan. The backbone resisting the Hokage's faction. Without your guidance all these years, the Uchiha might have already been eroded by Konoha's leadership."
Setsuna's hand paused slightly against his chin.
He sighed, feigning reluctance—
But the satisfaction in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Ren leaned forward, pressing his advantage.
"The Hokage serving as headmaster is just a title."
"But if you lead the clan school—you'll personally shape a generation that surpasses all of Konoha."
His voice grew more fervent.
"When Uchiha students dominate every exam… every match…"
"This won't just be a victory for the clan—it will be your answer to the Hokage's entire system of education."
"When the Uchiha crest stands at the top of every ranking—"
"Konoha will understand who truly holds its future."
Setsuna's fingers tapped unconsciously against his knee.
In his mind, he could already see it—
Uchiha children overwhelming their peers.
Standing above all.
Ren noticed the subtle movement and lowered his voice.
"When that happens, everyone will say—these are the students personally trained by Elder Setsuna."
"Isn't that worth taking up the role yourself?"
At last, the old man couldn't suppress his smile.
The sharpness in his gaze returned.
"Hmph. This isn't about glory."
"It's about contributing to the clan."
"I'll take the position," he said righteously. "The clan members will have purpose, the children will benefit…"
"And everyone will have a bright future."
Ren nearly laughed but kept a straight face, bowing slightly.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Grandfather. I have other matters to attend."
He turned and left.
Watching his grandson's retreating figure, the smile on Setsuna's face faded, as if it had never been there.
He took a sip of his now-cooling tea and let out a quiet chuckle.
"That brat… where did he learn to flatter like that?"
"Practicing on Mikoto, perhaps?"
The tea's aroma lingered.
His gaze grew deeper.
Even if Ren hadn't asked—
He would have taken this position anyway.
Because those children—
They were the true foundation of the Uchiha.
By the time they matured, Ren would be in his prime.
And the generation raised by his own hand—
Would become the clan head's strongest support.
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