"Fugaku-kun, that's the situation. Chunin Sakuma was also at fault, but I still hope everyone can treat the people of the village as family. If something like this happens again, you can come to me directly. I will personally speak up for Yoichi-kun."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke gently to Uchiha Fugaku. Hearing this, Fugaku's expression darkened slightly as he nodded.
"Hokage-sama, this time it was Yoichi who acted rashly. After I return, I will discipline him properly. As for Sakuma-kun's medical expenses, the Uchiha clan will cover them."
"You have good intentions, Fugaku. However, Sakuma was also in the wrong. He shouldn't have spoken ill of Uchiha Yoichi in public."
The Third Hokage's tone became a bit more solemn.
"I've emphasized many times that everyone in Konoha is part of one family. So this time, I won't overlook Sakuma's mistake just because he was injured."
"Third Hokage-sama, your breadth of heart is truly admirable!"
Uchiha Fugaku felt genuinely moved. His thinking hadn't been wrong—the Third Hokage truly was someone who could eliminate the rift between the Uchiha and Konoha.
If I have children in the future… perhaps I should name them after the Third Hokage's father.
After the meeting ended, Uchiha Fugaku returned to the Police Force and still arranged for Sakuma's medical fees to be delivered to Konoha Hospital.
Only then did he summon Uchiha Mabayashi.
Mabayashi was a squad captain in the Police Force and a key supporter of Fugaku within the clan.
"Clan Head, you called for me?"
"Mabayashi-senpai, have you seen Uchiha Yoichi recently?"
Mabayashi nodded.
"Of course. Although he stayed outside longer than expected this time, it was understandable. Clan Head, you might not know—he obtained a piece of chakra metal about the size of half a fist while he was away. He just came to see me earlier, hoping to forge a ninja sword."
"Half a fist's worth? That really is rare."
Fugaku paused, then his tone shifted.
"However, Mabayashi-senpai, as soon as Yoichi returned, he attacked a Mission Office ninja inside the Hokage Building and sent him to the hospital."
"Because of this, the Hokage-sama just summoned me. Although he didn't blame Yoichi and even let us handle the matter internally, Yoichi was far too impulsive this time—injuring a fellow Konoha ninja inside the Hokage Building is hard to justify."
Mabayashi asked in disbelief,
"Clan Head… Yoichi isn't an impulsive person. Why would he attack someone from the Mission Office? Did they mess up a mission assignment again?"
"No. According to the Third Hokage, a Mission Office ninja was spreading rumors about Yoichi behind his back. Yoichi overheard it and immediately acted, sending that ninja to the hospital."
After hearing this explanation, Mabayashi felt he could understand it, but he still asked,
"Clan Head, how do you plan to handle this?"
"We'll summon Yoichi. At the very least, he must receive some form of punishment. If we don't show any response at all, it would be difficult to explain things to the Third Hokage."
"Didn't the Hokage-sama say you could handle it internally? How about just giving Yoichi a verbal reprimand?"
Seeing that Fugaku wasn't very convinced, Mabayashi continued,
"Clan Head, the previous incident already wronged Yoichi badly. After that, he didn't accept any compensation from the clan. If we punish him again over this matter, it could truly provoke resentment and dissatisfaction."
After all, Uchiha Yoichi was already a fairly well-known genius within the Uchiha clan.
Chunin were rare in Konoha, and in several missions where entire teams were wiped out, Yoichi either escaped from Jonin squads—or outright killed a Jonin.
With that level of strength, Mabayashi firmly believed Yoichi already possessed Jonin-level combat ability; he simply hadn't gone through the formal examination yet.
In a few more years, Uchiha Yoichi could very well become a pillar of strength representing the Uchiha clan. Punishing him over such a minor matter felt excessive to Mabayashi.
"Mabayashi-senpai, what you're saying makes sense," Fugaku said gravely."But while the Uchiha are strong, Konoha has many clans and many powerful individuals. We already control the Police Force—if we try to extend our reach further, the other clans will inevitably become dissatisfied."
"There are many people in the village watching the Uchiha closely. At a time like this, it's best not to give them any leverage."
"Although Yoichi was justified in principle, injuring a fellow Konoha ninja in front of the Hokage-sama is still hard to excuse."
"Have him go apologize to Chunin Sakuma. Just show an attitude of admitting fault. As long as the Third Hokage sees that, it will be enough."
"Just apologizing isn't much of a punishment. I'll go persuade Yoichi-kun."
Mabayashi sighed in relief inwardly.
However, both he and Fugaku overlooked one thing.
Convincing a dovish Uchiha to bow his head and apologize wouldn't be difficult.
But making someone with hawkish tendencies lower his head was harder than stabbing him and controlling him with the Sharingan.
Uchiha Yoichi wasn't a hawk—but he also wouldn't do something that disgusted himself just to benefit others.
He trained desperately in order to live with dignity.
Otherwise, with Uchiha Yoichi's looks alone, becoming a daimyō's son-in-law would've been more than easy. Why endure such harsh training every day?
Fugaku spoke again,
"Tomorrow happens to be the clan assembly. Mabayashi-senpai, have Yoichi attend as well. We'll bring it up during the meeting."
The last time Fugaku spoke to Yoichi privately, he could already tell that Yoichi was extremely independent—and had even refused the clan's compensation.
Fugaku worried Yoichi would respond the same way again, but at the clan assembly, with his supporters taking turns persuading him, Yoichi should agree to apologize.
——————————————
"Ninja-sama, the weighted gear you want is quite complicated. The total cost will be one hundred fifty thousand ryō. The materials themselves aren't expensive, but weights that perfectly fit your body require a professional ninja-tool craftsman."
"That's fine. Notify me when it's finished. Here's the money."
Uchiha Yoichi took out a storage scroll, unsealed it, and handed over one hundred fifty thousand ryō to the shop owner, then left his address.
Weighted equipment was something he had planned for a long time.
Taijutsu training was inseparable from weights—especially when training Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
However, the weights Yoichi wanted had many additional functions, which drove up the cost.
Unlike Rock Lee's simple metal blocks, his design included arm guards, leg weights, and integration with ninja clothing, defensive capability, and easy removal—hence the price.
Konoha Year 43 was approaching.
Not long after Uchiha Yoichi returned, he heard that Konoha's number one prodigy, Hatake Kakashi, planned to take the Chunin Exams solo.
"For now, I'll train for a while," Yoichi thought."The coordination between Lightning Release Chakra Mode and swordsmanship… if only my Sharingan could advance a bit more. One tomoe is starting to feel insufficient."
Uchiha Yoichi knew very well that the Sharingan evolved through stimulation.
But right now, there didn't seem to be anything capable of stimulating him.