"Impudent! What does a six-year-old brat like you know?!"
Fugaku was both shocked and enraged, reprimanding him sharply, while secretly feeling relieved: Fortunately, the future of the Uchiha would not fall into the hands of such a radical, or else, in a few years, they would be doomed!
Just as the other elders were about to scold him, a light tap of a cane on the wooden floor echoed from a corner.
"Dong."
Everyone fell silent, their gazes uniformly directed towards that corner.
Sitting there was Uchiha Setsuna!
A ruthless man who dared to assassinate even the Second Hokage! Even though he was now suffering from old ailments and was a fading hero, no one dared to underestimate his authority!
Uchiha Setsuna coldly scanned the elders, who were as silent as cicadas in winter, and let out a disdainful snort.
Seeing everyone lower their heads, he then turned his gaze to Qian Ren, who was about to leave, and slowly spoke:
"Kid, interesting. You remind me of your grandfather!"
Qian Ren turned his head at the sound, carefully sizing up this legendary figure.
Uchiha Setsuna, if he hadn't failed in his assassination attempt on Senju Tobirama back then and been imprisoned for a full ten years, the position of Uchiha Clan Head would undoubtedly have been his.
If he were to rally, the hawk-eyed talents of the clan would surely gather and respond.
Alas, even heroes have their twilight.
At this moment, Uchiha Setsuna needed to rely on his cane just to stand up.
Leaning on his cane, he shakily rose, not even glancing at the current Clan Head, and said directly:
"Since this young fellow doesn't want to join Fugaku's team, it's no problem for this old man to help out an old friend's descendant, is it?"
Uchiha Cangyue dared not utter a single word of dissent, quickly bowing and saying, "I'll follow Senior Setsuna's arrangements entirely."
Uchiha Setsuna no longer paid him any mind, slowly walking towards the main door, and as he passed Qian Ren, he only left three words: "Follow me."
Qian Ren was full of curiosity about the "grandfather" mentioned earlier, so he silently followed.
The two arrived at a small courtyard, pitifully small, with hardly any extra space apart from a reception hall.
The two guards standing at the entrance, on the other hand, seemed somewhat "luxurious" and out of place.
It was hard to imagine that the residence of a Great Elder could be so simple.
The two sat down in the courtyard, and after the attendant served tea and the guards withdrew, Uchiha Setsuna slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of vicissitudes of life :
"There are some things I no longer wished to speak of. But seeing your performance today, I am very gratified. I had thought that the backbone of our Uchiha had long been broken by those people."
Qian Ren already admired this senior's courage, and now seeing his humble abode, his goodwill increased even more.
A Great Elder who was not greedy for power and dared to fight and strive was truly a rarity in the Uchiha Clan.
"Senior just mentioned my grandfather, could you tell me more specifically?" Qian Ren asked.
A glint flashed in Uchiha Setsuna's cloudy eyes, as if he had returned to those turbulent years:
"You know I ambushed Senju Tobirama back then, right?" Seeing Qian Ren nod, he continued, "When the ambush failed, I should have been executed. But it was your grandfather, my best brother, who stepped forward and took full responsibility, saying that he was the mastermind. That's how I escaped death and was only sentenced to imprisonment."
Qian Ren's heart stirred; he hadn't expected such hidden circumstances.
Recalling this matter, Uchiha Setsuna's face was filled with anger, and his voice began to tremble:
"Do you think that hypocrite Senju Tobirama just let it go? During the more than ten years I was imprisoned, my son and daughter all perished in so-called 'missions'! My only grandson was also bitten to death by a venomous snake for no apparent reason!"
He slammed the table, his final words echoing like thunder in Qian Ren's mind: "Not a single person involved in that operation survived! Including your parents, they all died in a damned 'accidental mission'!"
The amount of information was overwhelming. Even though Qian Ren had a vague impression of his parents in this world, it took him a long time to digest this shocking secret.
But he quickly grasped the key point: Could all of this just be a coincidence?
After all, it was common for Ninja to die during missions.
He tentatively asked, "Senior, how can you be sure... that all of this is true?"
Uchiha Setsuna picked up his teacup, forcibly suppressing his anger:
"At first, I also thought it was a coincidence. But when that brat Hiruzen Sarutobi released me, he actually hypocritically told me, 'I'm truly sorry for all that's happened.' Isn't that a confession without being prompted?"
He put down his teacup, his eyes full of self-mockery and sorrow: "Moreover, the fact that they dared to release me is the best evidence. Because they believe that this old man can no longer... threaten them."
Qian Ren fell silent.
Considering Senju Tobirama's hatred for the Uchiha, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's political maneuvering to win over support when he first took office, it was highly likely that all of this was true.
"Then..."
Uchiha Setsuna saw Qian Ren's solemn expression, interrupted him, and patted him on the shoulder: "It's all in the past. Don't carry all the pressure yourself; it will crush you."
Qian Ren's face was solemn, as his goal was indeed a bit complicated:
"Then should I find a time to dig up Senju Tobirama and whip his corpse?"
"Pfft— *cough cough*!"
Uchiha Setsuna spat out a mouthful of tea, and the hand patting Qian Ren's shoulder froze in mid-air.
After a few seconds, he burst into thunderous laughter:
"Hahahahaha! Good boy! You really dare to say that!"
After laughing, he shook his head with satisfaction: "I don't expect you to actually do it. However, since you are the descendant of an old friend, if you need anything in your training, this old man can still help you."
After all, the other party was only six years old, and so-called 'school geniuses' were merely like carps crossing a river—
Many were fleeting, but how many truly transformed into dragons?
Qian Ren didn't know the other party's thoughts and immediately took advantage of the situation: "What I lack most right now is Ninjutsu. The clan's Ninjutsu scrolls are too expensive. I've saved for so long and only learned one Great Fireball Jutsu.
Also, I want to find a strong person to spar with to gain actual combat experience."
This was his true purpose, to find someone else to fight and earn system rewards!
After Uchiha Setsuna heard him, he didn't even think, simply unfastened a token from his waist and casually tossed it onto the table.
He then called out to the door, and a guard immediately walked in.
"This is my guard, Uchiha Yan. He's considered a good hand in the clan. If you need to spar in the future, come to him anytime."
Qian Ren looked at the ancient token on the table, his heart burning. This was the Great Elder's token!
With it, let alone learning a few Ninjutsu, even if you said you wanted to burn down the Hokage's office, others would pause and consider it.
Looking at Uchiha Yan, who was only about thirty, his gaze was as steady as a blade, and he wore a crisp Military Police Force uniform. To be the Great Elder's personal guard, his strength was definitely not to be underestimated.
"You two, spar a bit for me to see." Uchiha Setsuna became interested.
Qian Ren knew this was a test for him and showed no fear, walking into the courtyard with Uchiha Yan.
Uchiha Yan took a stance and said in a calm tone: "When you're ready, we'll begin. It's just a test, don't worry about winning or losing."
In his opinion, this was merely a sparring session. The opponent was just a six-year-old student, barely reaching his waist in height. How strong could he be?
At this moment, Qian Ren nodded. This was not the time to play the pig to eat the tiger.
"Boom!"
Chakra suddenly erupted from his feet, and he shot out like a cannonball, leaving a shallow pit in the sand!
Uchiha Yan raised an eyebrow. This speed was already comparable to that of an average Genin!
However, what surprised him even more was yet to come.
Qian Ren's punches were powerful and heavy, each strike carrying a fist wind that tore through the air. When he occasionally took a punch head-on, his entire arm would be numb from the impact.
How much Chakra and stamina did this kid have to sustain such a furious barrage?
Qian Ren was also feeling frustrated.
He relied on his abundant Chakra, using a large amount with every attack, which had always been his unfailing method against others. But now, looking at Uchiha Yan, his attacks seemed to be easily neutralized, like a mud ox entering the sea.
It seemed he could only take a risky move.