Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

Seeing Naruto's intense reaction, Sogen burst out laughing.

"Kid, don't be so reserved. I'm not a bad person. I'm happy you're willing to be friends with Teng Hua. She's ten years younger than me, the youngest in her family, and a girl at that. Grandpa, Father, and I all spoiled her since she was little, which resulted in her having such an unruly temper..."

Zongxian's smile faded, and he said rather seriously, "I was worried that she wouldn't make any friends at the ninja academy, that she would be isolated, or that she would encounter some kind of passive-aggressive behavior... I'm truly relieved that you can tolerate Fujika's temper and be friends with her! Naruto, thank you so much!"

"...Brother Teng Hua, I should be the one thanking you!"

As Naruto walked, kicking at the pebbles under his feet, he said in a very soft voice, "I'm really happy today. I made my first friend at the Ninja Academy, was invited to a friend's house for the first time, and had such delicious fried chicken tonight... I should be the one saying thank you!"

Zongxian glanced at Naruto, who had his head hanging low, with surprise.

Is this really the future protagonist who's a single-minded, hot-blooded idiot? Even Fujika, a girl, can't compare to his thoughtfulness!

"Also, I'm sorry, um... Teng Hua really considers me a friend! Most of the other classmates run away when they see me... It's my fault that Teng Hua can't make other friends, I..."

“You are Teng Hua’s friend, and it was Teng Hua who invited you to my house. You should talk to Teng Hua yourself. Why are you telling me? Listen carefully! I hate the trouble of relaying messages. If you have something to say, say it yourself. Don’t always ask others to relay your messages.”

"...Brother of Wisteria, do you mind if I become friends with Wisteria?"

Naruto looked at Sogen with an incredulous expression.

He has played with many children of similar age in the park near his home so far, but most of the time it was just a fleeting encounter. Whenever a parent saw him, they would immediately take their child away and never appear in that park again.

"I've already said, what does your business with Teng Hua have to do with me? It's not like you're making friends with me. But, kid... Teng Hua is my precious little sister, so don't get any funny ideas!" Zong Xian warned, but for some reason, the warning didn't seem to have much effect.

Naruto had no idea what a crooked idea was. He wasn't yet the lecherous brat who later invented the Sexy Jutsu to attract attention.

At this age,

Five-year-old children can sleep on the same mat regardless of gender!

Naruto didn't understand the second half of Zongxian's words, but he understood the first half. It didn't forbid him from being friends with Fujika. As a child who grew up under strange gazes, Naruto could vaguely sense the malice others were directed at him.

He didn't sense the disgust and disdain that the parents had shown towards Zongxian.

Even before, the reason I feared Zongxian was due to another instinct—the instinct to sense danger, much like when I encountered a water python by a forest stream last summer. Of course, it was only similar; the two feelings were not exactly the same.

From beginning to end,

Naruto did not sense the kind of frustrating and despairing malice from Fujika's family.

"Thank you, brother of wisteria!!"

"What are you thanking me for? You're just a kid, why are you acting like an adult? A kid should act like a kid." Zongxian punched Naruto on the head without any politeness. Naruto, who was hit, was not angry. Instead, he scratched his head and chuckled.

"Um, Fujika's brother, Fujika said you're a really, really powerful ninja, is that true?"

"Of course it's true."

Zongxian stood tall and proud.

"Did you really kill six mosquitoes with a single stroke?"

Is it true that knives can catch fire? Don't they get hot to the touch?

"Um, um..."

Zongxian's temples were throbbing with excitement. This little rascal was really talkative, his little mouth chattering away like a machine gun.

And what exactly did that girl Fujika say to Naruto? They've only known each other for less than a day, right? How come it feels like she's revealed all of his secrets as his older brother?

that's it,

They chatted idly as they traveled, and soon left the Uchiha clan's territory.

Proceeding along the deserted road where not a third person could be seen, the land where the Uchiha clan had moved to was quite remote. Apart from the Uchiha clan members, there were no other residents nearby. After leaving the clan's territory, there was a long stretch of uninhabited forest between them and any other populated area.

Zongxian looked around, then slowly narrowed his eyes.

Here,

But it's a good place for accidents to happen.

[8. Chapter Eight: Dancing Under the Moonlight]

An accident is an accident because it is completely unexpected. So if you had a premonition of a possibility, it shouldn't be considered an accident, right?

It's almost nine o'clock now. In April, you can still feel a slight chill seeping into your skin. The night wind howls through the forest, creating a somewhat frightening melody that masks the faint, unnatural rustling of the branches.

but,

"You didn't hide your murderous intent well!"

Zongxian stopped and turned his gaze to the dark forest to his left.

"Brother Zongxian?"

Even Sogen didn't notice when Naruto changed his way of addressing him. It felt like he had changed from "Fujika's brother" to "Sougen-nii" without anyone noticing. The change was so smooth and natural that it didn't attract any attention or resentment from Sogen.

Naruto looked at Sogen, who had suddenly stopped, and blinked his sapphire-like eyes in confusion.

"Naruto, you're now a student at the Ninja Academy, which means you're a reserve ninja. From now on... keep quiet! Don't be afraid of anything you see. If you're really scared, just close your eyes."

"Huh?"

Zongxian grabbed Naruto, who was looking completely bewildered, and leaped into the air, sprinting towards the center of the village.

The next moment,

Shuriken flew in from the nearby forest like a torrential rain.

"Fight Naruto too? Is it Root or...?"

Zongxian snorted, drawing his longsword from its sheath at his waist. The hazy, ethereal light of the blade wove a defensive line as solid as an impenetrable wall. Sparks flew from the friction in mid-air, deflecting every shuriken. However, this also slowed his pace. Listening to the no longer deliberately controlled footsteps echoing through the surrounding forest, the encirclement seemed to be taking shape…

"Tch, looks like there's no other way but to have a match."

"good······"

Naruto was about to shout "Wow, that's amazing!" when he remembered Sogen's earlier instructions and immediately covered his mouth with his hand!

He's quite brave; he doesn't seem afraid at all.

Perhaps he's not old enough to be afraid yet? In any case, he stared at the long sword in Zongxian's hand with shining eyes. If the occasion weren't inappropriate, he probably would have dared to reach out and touch it.

"Naruto, don't shout or move."

Zongxian gave Naruto a few instructions, then leaped onto a sturdy treetop next to him. With Naruto in his left arm and a long sword in his right, he looked around with his scarlet eyes, three black tomoe slowly rotating in his eyes, monitoring the surroundings.

He didn't rush to make a move.

If he were alone, he could act freely, but now that he has a burden he can't afford to bump into or hurt, he has to be more conservative.

Naruto obediently remained still and silent, like a wooden doll. Only his darting eyes proved just how excited the little guy was. So far, this bloodless battle had not frightened him at all; on the contrary, it had made him extremely excited.

but,

I probably won't be so happy once I see blood.

Zongxian abruptly plunged his long sword into the tree trunk beside him, reached into the ninja tool pouch hanging at his waist with his right hand, and pulled out three shuriken. Chakra silently invaded them, activating the power called 'Knights Never Die Barehanded'. In that instant, the three ordinary shuriken possessed properties equivalent to D-rank Noble Phantasms.

"go with!"

He flicked his wrist and threw the shuriken.

Faint rustling sounds could be heard coming from the dark forest; the attackers were moving.

"A bunch of idiots! Underestimating the Uchiha will get you in trouble!"

Zongxian's face revealed a malicious smile.

The three shuriken collided suddenly after flying into the forest. The crisp, loud metallic clang echoed in the night wind. Sparks flashed by, and the shuriken flew in completely different trajectories. The next second, three distinct voices came from the darkness.

The buzzing of chopping wood.

The dull thud of chopping meat.

The noise of water falling.

"Wow? That's pretty impressive! You only took down one."

Zongxian narrowed his eyes.

The elite status of these attackers exceeded his initial expectations. They truly lived up to their reputation as elites of the Anbu or Root. The Uchiha-style throwing technique was no ordinary skill; it was a unique throwing technique of the Uchiha clan that could only be used in conjunction with the Sharingan.

Anyone who can dodge this move is definitely not weak.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Jade".

in the dark,

Someone was the first to use ninjutsu.

Bullet-like blasts were fired incessantly, the dense firepower making them resemble human Maxim guns.

Fortunately,

The ninja was also a humanoid walking Gundam. Zongxian saw the chakra concentration suddenly increase in the darkness. Holding Naruto, he reached out and pulled the long sword stuck in the tree trunk. Like a cat, he leaped from treetop to treetop with extremely fast yet gentle movements. The fierce attack left no trace of the battle except for destroying several old trees.

"Secret technique, the art of mind transference."

Among the attackers were members of the Yamanaka clan.

"idiot."

Zongxian decisively sidestepped, and Naruto, tucked under his left arm, became a human shield, blocking the impact of the spiritual energy.

Ordinary people cannot see the spiritual energy released when the mountain clan uses secret techniques, but the Uchiha clan with Sharingan are also good at manipulating spiritual energy. Sogen's three-tomoe Sharingan can vaguely feel the fluctuations when the spiritual energy bursts out.

For a powerhouse like Zongxian, even the slightest clue is enough for him to see the whole picture from a small part.

Before 'Naruto' could make any move, Zongxuan lowered his head and met 'Naruto's' gaze.

"Magic Shiranui."

This is a genjutsu (illusion technique) of the eye type, which the Uchiha clan excels at.

Within the illusion, flames raged fiercely, the direct impact on the soul instantly shattering the Mind Transfer Technique. At almost the same time, the masked attacker, perched on a treetop not far away, let out a piercing scream of agony. The pain of being burned alive was unbearable for most.

Strictly speaking, pain that directly affects the soul is even more unbearable than pain in reality.

"Clang!"

Amidst the ear-piercing crash, the impact from behind caused Zongxian's body to sway.

behind,