c61: Obscure Revenge
"Alright, that's all for today."
"I've said so much my throat's dry."
"Oh right, make sure you don't mention anything I said today to anyone else. Not even your parents."
Saying this, Uchiha Gen turned and looked at Uchiha Itachi with a pointed expression.
"Uh… why?" Shisui asked, puzzled.
"It's fine if the clan members haven't awakened their Sharingan yet. But those who have you know exactly what they're like, Shisui."
"If they find out, I'll be the talk of the entire district. I might as well raise my tail to the sky like a peacock."
"This kind of news would only stir up trouble." Uchiha Gen rolled his eyes with a helpless smirk.
Shisui thought about it seriously, then nodded. "I overlooked the temperament of the clan. You're right, this can't be shared lightly."
"I won't tell my father or mother either," Itachi added, his expression solemn, his youthful voice brimming with conviction.
"Ah, very good."
"You two keep practicing. I'm heading back to hydrate. I'll rejoin you later."
With that, Uchiha Gen rose from the broad tree branch and prepared to leave.
"Wait, Gen."
"Hm? Shisui, something else?"
Gen stopped mid-movement and turned with a questioning look.
"Um… could you lend me those historical records?"
Shisui's voice was hesitant, his body slightly tense. But seeing Gen's subtle change in expression, he quickly added, "Not that I doubt you. I just want to study the Uchiha's past to understand our history firsthand."
Uchiha Itachi's eyes brightened. He looked at Gen with barely concealed eagerness.
Gen's heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, his mental discipline was top-notch; his expression remained composed. He smiled and replied lightly, "Shisui, it's not that I don't trust you."
"First of all, the ownership of those records belongs to Lord Orochimaru. I'm only borrowing them under specific conditions."
"Secondly, those documents aren't a single book or scroll. We're talking about hundreds maybe thousands of fragmented texts and research notes. They wouldn't even fit into a standard archive room."
"You know how the shinobi world is. Historical preservation isn't exactly a priority. There's no such thing as a formal historical canon."
"The information I spoke of today wasn't just written out plainly. I had to extract it, cross-reference clues, and draw conclusions through inference."
"So how could I possibly lend that to you?"
At the mention of the shinobi world's lack of recorded history, Gen couldn't help grumbling inwardly. What exactly do they teach at the Academy these days?
During the Konoha Crush, when Orochimaru reanimated the First and Second Hokage, ANBU operatives didn't even recognize them!
It hadn't even been 50 years and their faces are literally carved into the Hokage Rock!
The generation of the Konoha Twelve didn't even know about the Sannin's heroic exploits, much less their origins. Utterly absurd.
And things didn't improve by Boruto's time. The newer generation barely knows anything about their predecessors or the last war.
Completely ridiculous.
If I ever take power, "History" is going into the curriculum of every ninja school non-negotiable.
How can a village thrive if its people don't even know its past?
History is a mirror; it reveals the rise and fall of nations. Reading it cultivates wisdom.
But of course, if the people are ignorant, they're easier to control. Policies of mass ignorance are nothing new just like in countless regimes of the old world.
Shisui gave an embarrassed smile. "Sorry, I was thinking too simply."
"No worries. You didn't know the full situation."
"The records are too vast, and even I haven't finished parsing them. If I dig up anything new, I'll share it with you."
"Alright then. See you tonight."
With that, Uchiha Gen vanished from view in a flicker of motion.
Left behind, Shisui and Itachi resumed their training. But their focus clearly wavered each was lost in thought, digesting everything they'd just heard.
…
As the golden sun dipped below the horizon, Shisui and Itachi returned to invite Uchiha Gen to the clan banquet.
The three of them walked side by side through the Uchiha district. Around them, ordinary clansmen and shinobi exhausted from a full day's missions and training greeted them with tired but respectful nods.
Their path eventually brought them to the stately home of Uchiha Fugaku.
At the front steps, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto stood waiting, a rare gesture of formality.
Their presence reflected both the solemnity of the occasion and the weight of what was to come.
After exchanging a few polite greetings, the group entered the mansion and settled down in the dining hall for dinner.
As was customary in large traditional shinobi families, the Uchiha upheld strict household rules. Mealtime and rest were considered sacrosanct talking during meals was discouraged, especially among younger clan members. Eating and drinking were done with focus and formality. For Shisui and Gen, both still considered youths in the eyes of the clan, this meant silence and manners above all.
Those who abstained from alcohol finished eating quickly and quietly, while those who drank could linger for hours, even the entire afternoon or evening, depending on the company and topic of discussion.
Uchiha Mikoto's cooking, as always, was exquisite. With her refined kunoichi training and household upbringing, she had mastered the art of preparing well-balanced and flavorful meals. Uchiha Gen, who had experienced all sorts of military rations and battlefield cuisine, was especially satisfied with the spread.
After the meal, the men retired to the tatami-floored sitting room to drink tea.
Itachi, still just a child in the eyes of the adults, wasn't invited to join. Instead, he quietly returned to his room, where he immediately began recording everything he'd witnessed and heard that day especially Uchiha Gen's insights and philosophies. His meticulous notes reflected the early signs of the intellectual and analytical ninja he would later become.
Mikoto, now dressed in a soft, black yukata for homewear, entered the living room barefoot, carrying a lacquered tray with a teapot and three small porcelain cups. She knelt at the low table gracefully, her posture perfectly upright, the quiet dignity of the Uchiha matriarch in every motion. With a polite smile, she poured and distributed the tea.
The Uchiha clan had a distinct aesthetic in their clothing both men and women preferred dark hues: black, steel gray, deep blue. This contrasted with the Hyuga clan, who tended toward lighter colors, especially pale whites and soft creams, reflecting their own spiritual values and traditionalism.
"Lord Fugaku," Gen said suddenly, taking a small sip of tea, "what's your opinion on bringing Setsuna-senpai out of Konoha's prison?"
Mikoto momentarily paused as she poured Shisui's tea, then resumed as if nothing had happened, her expression unchanged.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm. "And why would you bring that up now?"
"Because you've recently assumed full leadership of the clan," Gen replied, setting his teacup down. "Your base is still stabilizing. With Setsuna-senpai's influence and support, the internal foundation of your leadership could solidify much faster."
Hmph, Fugaku thought, what a conveniently noble excuse. In reality, I'd wager you're more frustrated with the elders than concerned about my political footing.
Still… having Setsuna released could certainly shift the power dynamics. It would dilute the elders' grip on internal policy.
And yes, he is Mikoto's father, after all. That connection won't be lost on anyone in the clan.
Outwardly, Fugaku nodded slowly. "Of course, I would welcome Setsuna's wisdom. But his release would be… difficult."
Konoha housed two main prisons: the Konoha Military Police prison, operated under the Uchiha's jurisdiction, and the Interrogation Division Detention Facility, more commonly referred to as the Torture & Interrogation prison. The former dealt with minor offenses and internal disciplinary actions. The latter housed war criminals, traitors, and dangerous political dissidents.
Uchiha Setsuna had once attempted to incite a coup his rhetoric and ideology dangerously close to that of Uchiha Madara. At the time, he had been detained by elite ANBU under the direct command of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. His sentence: indefinite confinement within the Torture Division.
Naturally, placing him in the Uchiha-run police prison would have been unthinkable. It would have amounted to giving him a long vacation in the presence of sympathetic jailers.
His attempted insurrection was crushed before it could properly begin, but his fate was sealed.
"Right now, the political climate makes such a request unwise," Gen acknowledged. "But the situation may shift with the coming of a new Hokage."
"It's been nearly twenty years since Setsuna-senpai's imprisonment. He's paid dearly for his actions. Is it truly necessary to punish an old man forever?"
"We, the Uchiha, gave everything during the Third Shinobi World War. We lost good men, and we upheld our duties with unwavering loyalty. But what did the village leadership give us in return? Silence. Suspicion."
"When the new Hokage takes office, the time will be ripe. You, as Clan Head, can appoint a diplomatic envoy someone loyal, but politically savvy. That envoy can remind the new leader of our contributions, highlight the clan's loyalty, and gently suggest a gesture of goodwill."
"A softened tone, deference, and tact can go a long way."
Gen's gaze swept to Shisui and Mikoto. "What do you two think?"
Shisui, who had been quietly observing, nodded. "A very sound strategy. Political patience is crucial."
Mikoto, still seated formally, offered a soft smile. "It's thoughtful of you to consider both Fugaku's leadership and my father's dignity. It can be done."
Gen returned her smile, calm and polite. "It's only proper."
Heh… he thought inwardly, if Setsuna is released, the power structure will fragment not just among the elders, but even Fugaku's own authority will be challenged.
People assume a father-in-law will naturally support his son-in-law. Maybe on small matters. But the Uchiha?
Those who've awakened the Sharingan often develop a certain intensity.paranoia, even. Their emotional imprint is deep, their principles rarely bend.
Setsuna had inherited the will of Uchiha Madara himself. Could twenty years in a prison cell erase that legacy?
Unlikely.
More likely, some of his sharp edges have been dulled. But fundamentally? That kind of conviction doesn't die. It waits.
And if the political winds shift and the hawkish faction within the clan whispers in his ear his old persona could resurface overnight.
Moreover, if Setsuna wanted to reassert himself, he would have no choice but to double down on his former ideology. That was the persona his supporters remembered the one that still had influence.
Without that edge, he'd just be an aging ex-prisoner, politically irrelevant.
And so, Gen thought with a faint smirk, this is my subtle revenge on the elders who thwarted me and on Fugaku, who surrendered when he should have resisted.
—
30+ advanced chapter on patreon....Visit patreon now to read my exclusive content... posting 5 chapters per day, Our collection is now available on PATREON
visit patreon.com/Elbertovic to view 30+ advanced chapters
Please subscribe guys