Chapter 21: The Intervention of the Patriarch
Uchiha Yan's expression was ugly.
After all, facing such blatant provocation from a mere five- or six-year-old child, his patience was already hanging by a thread.
Even so, his anger hadn't completely robbed him of his senses. While Konoha's rules had been broken, he and his security team members didn't dare use ninjutsu against Liumu within the village. A fistfight might earn them a few days in a detention cell and a stern lecture.
But releasing ninjutsu inside the village…
Uchiha Yan couldn't shoulder that responsibility.
Yet, whether Liumu genuinely had something to rely on or was simply young and reckless, he dared to provoke dozens of Uchiha Military Police officers to their faces.
Could Jiraiya's influence behind Liumu have cowed the Uchiha clan to this extent?
No. Definitely not.
The clan head was Uchiha Fugaku, whose seniority far surpassed Jiraiya's. There was no need to tolerate Liumu's rampant behavior for the sake of some superficial 'face.'
But at that moment, Liumu spoke again.
"Does your Sharingan only teach you how to be patient?"
The Sharingan was the symbol and pride of the Uchiha clan. The disdain on Liumu's face now thoroughly enraged everyone present.
Almost before Uchiha Yan could give an order, several clansmen, their faces murderous, took aggressive steps forward.
"That's it, that's more like it." Liumu noted their movement and beckoned them on. "Come on then. Don't make me look down on you."
"You little brat! You'll pay for your arrogance today!"
On the steps, a sharp-eyed member of the security team began rapidly weaving hand signs…
"Li, stop!"
A massive chakra fluctuation instantly rippled through the crowd. By the time Uchiha Yan reacted, the very air began to hum with vibration.
"Fire Release: Fire—"
"Fire your uncle!"
SMACK!
A crisp sound rang out. Liumu, who had been standing outside the door moments before, had somehow appeared right in front of the steps. Before the man's ninjutsu could fully form, Liumu's slap dispersed the gathering chakra.
The ninja who'd been about to unleash his technique flew into the arms of a comrade behind him, his cheek swelling rapidly before everyone's eyes.
"Get him! Take him down, all of you!" Uchiha Yan roared. "I'll take responsibility for today! Bring him to me. I'll handle the interrogation myself."
The purpose of the Military Police was to maintain village order. If Liumu was taken in by them, the 'results' of any interrogation would be whatever they decided. Liumu had destroyed the stone statue of Uchiha Madara. They could claim he was an agent from another village, sent to sow discord between Konoha and the Uchiha. Liumu had injured Uchiha clansmen. They could brand him a traitor, claiming the injuries occurred when the security team discovered his treasonous activities. Even if Liumu did nothing, they could frame him—forge a secret letter from an enemy village and pin it on him.
Once Liumu entered the Security Office, a giant black mark would already be stamped on his record. By then, not even Jiraiya might be able to prove his innocence.
As for the Third Hokage… the Uchiha clan within Konoha was like a separate government within the village. They were under Konoha's jurisdiction, yet privately, they governed themselves. The Third could investigate or suggest, but the Uchiha could choose to ignore him.
Liumu understood this logic, but he wasn't one to be easily manipulated. Watching the Uchiha clansmen swarming toward him, he shifted his stance, palms becoming fists. He crouched slightly, and in that instant, an overwhelming, bone-chilling killing intent erupted, enveloping everyone around him.
The wind howled. Dust swirled…
[Serious Series: Consecutive Serious—]
"HALT!"
Just as Liumu was about to unleash that devastating punch, a pair of deep, crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan eyes materialized in everyone's consciousness with a roar that seemed to shake space itself.
BOOM!
A cloud of white smoke suddenly burst between Liumu and the mass of Uchiha clansmen. From within it, a tall figure slowly emerged.
"Captain!"
"Captain!"
"Captain!"
...
Seeing the newcomer, all the Uchiha immediately snapped to attention, voicing their greetings.
Uchiha… Fugaku.
Liumu looked at the man, his brow furrowing slightly as he recognized him. Watching the man's steady approach, Liumu slowly straightened up, reining in his murderous aura.
"You are Liumu."
Uchiha Fugaku offered a kindly, almost paternal smile, bending slightly to address the boy. "I've read your file. But I must say, in just a year, you've attained such skill."
Uchiha Fugaku chuckled, glancing at his subordinates. "Did you all see that? I keep telling you to train harder. Now a junior has made you look so incompetent. Do you understand how shameful that is?"
A shinobi's life was harsh. No one knew where they'd be when they next awoke. Even sleeping carried the risk of never opening one's eyes again. The saying 'life and death are preordained' didn't apply to them. On the contrary, life and death depended not on fate, but on the supreme power attained through relentless day-and-night training.
Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu—mastering even one to its peak could add a brilliant, defining stroke to a shinobi's life.
Uchiha Fugaku's own abilities were a mystery to most. Even Liumu, with his meta-knowledge, had only read fan theories and speculation online.
Standing before this enigmatic man now, Liumu felt an indescribable emotion stirring within him…
What was it?
He couldn't pinpoint it immediately.
But Uchiha Fugaku's appearance meant the confrontation was over. Moreover, under his personal assurance, not only was Liumu not held accountable for destroying the Madara statue, but he was even escorted respectfully back to the main village.
"Captain! Why? Could it be that we…"
Inside the Security Office.
Uchiha Yan questioned his captain with a bewildered expression, but before he could finish, the other's sharp gaze cut him off, silencing his next words.
Fugaku stood up, walking to the window to observe the clansmen training in the yard below. He spoke calmly, "At age five, he exceptionally graduated from the Ninja Academy under Jiraiya's personal assessment. After just one year of travel, he returns to directly participate in this year's Chunin Exams. If all goes smoothly, he will make history."
Fugaku glanced at Yan beside him and sighed deeply.
"His strength is not limited to what you've witnessed."
As Uchiha Fugaku said this, he slowly closed his eyes, recalling the aura that had emanated from Liumu just before he'd intervened…
It was bone-chilling. Soul-shaking. That was…
Killing intent.
A six-year-old child. How could someone of such an innocent age possess an aura like that?
(End of Chapter)
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