After Uchiha Yang returned to the Konoha Police Force, he spent two weeks observing the situation. While the civilians and some ninja had witnessed Uchiha's strength firsthand during the Ninja Sword Tournament, admiration did not necessarily translate to acceptance. Resentment still lingered.
The Police Force itself was an insidious creation of the Second Hokage, a strategy designed to alienate the Uchiha. By confining them to law enforcement duties, it bred arrogance within the clan while simultaneously fostering resentment among the villagers. Over time, the superiority complex of some Uchiha turned into outright disdain for others. Yang noticed that some of his clansmen had started acting unreasonably, using their authority to intimidate.
"This can't continue," Yang thought grimly. "If we keep going down this path, we'll be destroyed. A clan that separates itself from the masses is like a tree without roots—it will inevitably fall."
However, changing the mindset of an entire clan wasn't something that could be done overnight. He had to be careful. If he acted too aggressively, the elders would see him as a threat. He was still too weak, both in the clan's hierarchy and in Konoha's overall power structure. If he wanted to enact change, he had to win over the elders first.
Yang sighed. In every world, status and seniority always matter.
Since he had identified the problem, he decided to start by fixing himself first. He gathered two close friends and proposed a journey outside the village to assess Uchiha's operations in the Land of Fire. With approval from Uchiha Nobunaga, he set off with Uchiha Kuzan and Uchiha Starry Night, reuniting with a five-person team. They traveled as part of a caravan, escorting a shipment to the Fire Capital.
When Yang arrived in the capital, excitement bubbled within him. He had wanted to visit the city for years, but circumstances had always prevented him. Now, he finally had the chance to see it for himself.
The team first visited Uchiha's estate in the capital, a grand residence befitting Konoha's most prestigious clan. Inside, they were greeted by the Second Elder, an influential but reserved figure within the Uchiha. The elder welcomed them warmly and ordered a lavish meal to be prepared.
During lunch, the conversation drifted toward the Ninja Sword Tournament and Uchiha's reputation. Yang, always eloquent, entertained the group with his storytelling, painting an exaggerated yet captivating picture of the tournament's highlights. Kuzan and Starry Night played along, turning the meal into an engaging back-and-forth performance.
Midway through, a steward entered and whispered something to the Second Elder before handing him a letter. The elder chuckled and turned to Yang.
"The daimyō is hosting a banquet tonight," he announced. "He specifically requested to meet the young champion of the Ninja Sword Tournament." He gave Yang an amused smile.
"You should prepare yourselves," the elder continued. "You'll be meeting some of the most powerful nobles in the Land of Fire. The daimyō's court is divided into factions. Minister Zuo leads the conservative faction that supports maintaining Konoha's autonomy and grooming the eldest prince as heir. Minister You and the Minister of Internal Affairs, on the other hand, advocate for restoring full military control to the daimyō. They back the third prince, believing the country should not rely on the village for security."
"Then there are the neutral nobles," the elder added. "They care about wealth more than politics. Among them, our key allies are the Higashino family, which dominates the food trade, and the Pingyuan family, which controls the meat industry. These relationships are valuable to us."
The elder smirked. "We are shinobi, but we are also Uchiha. People here still remember the glory of our ancestors. Unlike in Konoha, where they see us as a threat, the nobles here still respect our name."
Yang studied the old man carefully as he left the room. It was clear why the elder had chosen to remain in the capital. Here, Uchiha was still treated as the legendary clan it once was.
Leaning toward Kuzan, Yang whispered, "This is an opportunity. If we play this right, we can turn the Fire Capital into Uchiha's backyard—at the very least, we can use it to generate funds for our people."
Kuzan nodded but hesitated. "I get what you're saying, but we're a ninja clan, not merchants. Investing too much here might not be worth it."
Yang resisted the urge to sigh. The shinobi of this era had a narrow mindset. They saw themselves only as mercenaries, not realizing that true power came from controlling resources. Money wasn't just important—it was everything. With wealth, they could gain influence, hire allies, and strengthen their clan.
That evening, they dressed in their standard Uchiha attire rather than the noble robes prepared for them. It was a deliberate statement—they were shinobi first.
Upon arriving at the daimyō's palace, they took their places behind the Second Elder. Several nobles greeted the elder, engaging in polite conversation. Before long, a palace attendant entered and whispered something to the gathered guests. People quickly returned to their seats.
The daimyō is coming, Yang thought.
From what Yang had read in the original accounts, the daimyō had always seemed weak-willed and foolish. But now that he had the chance to see the man in person, he was genuinely curious.
The daimyō entered, and the room stood in respect. After a formal greeting, the banquet commenced. Dancers and musicians performed, but nothing particularly exciting. The Second Elder leaned toward Yang and murmured, "After this dance, the daimyō will address the guests. He'll call you forward, so be ready."
As predicted, once the performance concluded, the daimyō spoke quietly with his attendant, who then stepped forward.
"Tonight's banquet is held in honor of recent accomplishments. His Excellency has also heard of the young talents from the Uchiha clan and wishes to meet them—especially the champion of the Ninja Sword Tournament, a warrior said to be the finest swordsman of his generation."
The Second Elder stood and nodded. "Go forward," he instructed. "Make sure you uphold the pride of our clan."
With that, Yang and his companions stepped into the center of the hall, all eyes turning toward them. Yang took the lead, his voice steady as he addressed the daimyō.
"Your Excellency," he said, bowing slightly. "I am Uchiha Yang. As for the title of 'first swordsman of the young generation'—if no one can defeat my brother Uchiha Kuzan, then I suppose the title is mine to claim."
A hushed murmur spread through the hall. The game had begun.