Glancing around, Masaki noticed two unfamiliar men in the yard, both wearing standard Uchiha high-collared outfits, and clearly older—likely in their twenties. He nodded respectfully toward them. “Masaki, these men are from the clan’s guard. They said they wanted to speak with you,” Ayame explained.

“Alright, Baa-san. You can go inside—I’ll handle it.”

Once she was safely indoors, Masaki turned back to the two men, who regarded him with curiosity. “So, you’re Masaki Uchiha?” one of them asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes, sir,” Masaki replied, keeping his tone respectful.

The man gave a slight nod. “Shisui has mentioned you before.”

“What did he say?” Masaki asked, curious.

“He spoke of your talent.”

Masaki chuckled, trying to downplay it. “Talent? If you’ve seen my school performance, you’ll know it’s nothing special.”

The man shook his head with a knowing smile. “On the contrary, your shuriken technique today was exceptional—enough to get the clan talking.”

Masaki raised an eyebrow, surprised. “I didn’t expect it to spread so quickly.”

The man leaned in slightly. “Shisui has talked about you before, but today’s display convinced us to come see for ourselves.”

“So…what exactly do you need from me?” Masaki asked, intrigued.

The man gestured toward himself and his quiet companion. “We’re part of the Uchiha Police Force, and we wanted to meet you in person.”

As the man clarified, they represented Uchiha, not Konoha. Masaki immediately understood—Uchiha was already preparing, and the clan’s hate for Konoha has progressed further than he had expected.

“You should know why we’re here,” the man said, his gaze intense. “Join us! For Uchiha!”

Masaki kept his face neutral. “But I still don’t know your names, sir.”

The man relaxed, realizing they’d come on a bit strong. “I’m Setsuna Uchiha, and this is my teammate, Rinka Uchiha.” He smiled, adding, “Joining us is not only for the family but will also help you grow stronger. At school, you’re not getting real guidance from real shinobis.”

This perk piqued Masaki’s interest. ‘Real training? Finally,’ he thought. He had been restless with his slow progress lately, and the lack of expert guidance was holding him back.

“I’d be honored to serve the family,” Masaki replied confidently. He was already set on aligning with the Uchiha; the alternative, siding with Konoha and possibly becoming an outcast like Itachi, held no appeal. Better to stand with his kin than isolate himself without support.

Setsuna’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction. “Welcome!”

Rinka nodded with a smile. The Uchiha Police Force members took pride in bringing new blood into the fold, especially someone as promising as Masaki. “Do you think you could apply for early graduation?” Setsuna asked, still gauging Masaki’s potential. “We could use you in the Police force sooner.”

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“If the Police Force needs me that soon, I can apply next semester,” Masaki answered without hesitation. There was no point hiding his abilities now.

Setsuna nodded approvingly. “Good. Shisui will also be applying next semester, so you can go through the process together.”

After a few more words of encouragement, the two guards stood and took their leave, their purpose fulfilled. “See you in the Police Force soon,” Masaki said, walking them to the door.

As he closed the door, Masaki reflected on everything that had just happened. Joining the Uchiha Police Force would fast-track his growth. Instead of slowly waiting to graduate, join a team, and find a capable mentor, he’d now have direct access to skilled Uchiha shinobi who could help him refine his abilities. This was exactly what he needed.

Suddenly, the door to Ayame’s room creaked open, and she stepped out, looking at him thoughtfully. “Masaki, I know you’ve always been mature and have your own way of seeing things. I won’t interfere with your choices,” she said gently. “Just make sure you won’t regret anything you do.”

Masaki nodded, feeling her quiet support. “Don’t worry, Baa-san. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Good.” She smiled warmly. “Now, let’s get to dinner. We still have some chicken left from earlier—how about I whip up something simple with vegetables?”

“Sounds perfect, Ayame-baa-san,” Masaki said. After the day’s events, a quiet meal sounded just right.

Later that evening, after dinner, Masaki went to the third floor and sat cross-legged on the tatami, contemplating the scrolls his parents had left him. These scrolls, mostly fire-style techniques and a few throwing techniques, were among the Uchiha’s classic signatures. While not every Uchiha awakened the Sharingan, nearly all became skilled in fire jutsu and shuriken techniques.

One scroll contained the commonly taught Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu, a C-rank technique where chakra is gathered at the throat and expelled as a large, blazing fireball. Another scroll taught a B-rank technique, Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu, where multiple small fireballs are launched in rapid succession.

Then, there was the Genjutsu: Binding Tree Technique, a powerful illusion that intrigued Masaki. Once caught in it, the target would become aware they were in a genjutsu, yet they’d be completely immobilized, like the heavy feeling of being pinned down in a nightmare. It reminded him a bit of Jiraiya’s Sage Art: Toad Confrontation Chant, though this technique wasn’t as strong in its hold.

Reflecting on these skills, Masaki felt a deep curiosity about his parents’ past. These weren’t beginner techniques—they held real strength. He was a bit surprised that his family had left the scrolls with him instead of keeping them secure. Setting the scrolls aside, he lay back on the tatami mat, gazing up at the ceiling.

With the decisions he’d made today, his path was clear: he would stand with the Uchiha. If he couldn’t align himself with Hiruzen’s or Danzo’s choices, then he’d follow the path of his clan and carve out his own future. His loyalty to Konoha was tied solely to the Uchiha; his true connections here were people like Ayame and Shisui.

As for the village’s treatment of his clan, Masaki couldn’t help but feel frustrated. Though the Uchiha and Senju founded Konoha, real power always seemed to lie with the Senju’s successors. The Uchiha were pushed to the side, given the police force role but excluded from key decisions, especially under the Third Hokage’s administration, which continued the legacy of the Second Hokage’s mistrust toward the clan. With Danzo openly targeting them, the Uchiha were effectively seen as threats.

In such an environment, many Uchiha felt little loyalty to Konoha. They’d been excluded, sidelined, and vilified, and eventually, it all led to the tragic coup attempt that resulted in the clan’s near-total massacre. Now, Masaki had chosen his side, fully aware of the risks. It was all or nothing—a chance for greatness or the risk of downfall.

The final exam approached, and Masaki spotted Shisui, back from several months of intense training, looking sharper and more mature. “Masaki.” Shisui’s voice brought him out of his thoughts. They stood outside the academy, watching each other.

“Have you really decided?” Shisui asked, his young face marked by an unusual seriousness.