Chapter 11

[T/N: Got sick, Covid or the flu, don't know, sent some love~!]

"Fugaku-san, the situation is like this. Although the receptionist also was at fault, I still hope everyone treats the villagers as family. If such a situation arises, feel free to come to me. I will speak up to Yoichi-kun." 

Hiruzen spoke kindly to Fugaku. Upon hearing this, Fugaku nodded slightly with a slightly solemn expression.

"Hokage-sama, this time it was Yoichi's fault. I will punish him when I return. The medical expenses for Sugimoto-kun should also be cover by the Uchiha clan."

"Fugaku, it's good that you have good intentions. However, Sugimoto also has the fault. He shouldn't have spoken ill of Yoichi in public."

Sarutobi said with a slightly solemn tone, "I have emphasized many times that everyone in Konoha is one family. So this time, I won't overlook his mistake just because Sugimoto got injured."

"Hokage-sama, your broad-mindedness is admirable!"

Fugaku felt somewhat moved. His thoughts were not wrong. Hiruzen was someone who could bridge the gap between the Uchiha and Konoha.

'If I have children in the future, I'll name them after Hiruzen.'

After finishing the conversation, Fugaku returned to the guard unit, and arrangements were made to send Sugimoto's medical expenses to Konoha Hospital.

Later, Fugaku called Kanbayashi, the captain of the guard unit, and also a supporter of the clan leader.

"Kanbayashi-senpai, did you see Yoichi?"

"Yes, of course. Although he delayed quite a bit this time, it's understandable. Clan leader, you don't know, but he obtained a piece of chakra metal the size of half a fist outside. He came to me just now, wanting to forge a ninja sword."

"Half a fist in size? That's indeed rare. However, Kanbayashi-senpai, when Yoichi returned, he attacked the ninjas from the mission department at the Hokage Tower and sent one of them to the hospital."

Fugaku's tone shifted as he continued, "Because of this, I was just summoned by Hokage-sama. Although Hokage-sama didn't blame Yoichi and even let us handle it ourselves, Yoichi was too impulsive this time, actually attacking fellow Konoha shinobi at the Hokage Tower."

Upon hearing this explanation from Fugaku, Kanbayashi was somewhat incredulous and asked, "Clan leader, Yoichi is not an impulsive person. Why would he attack the ninjas from the mission department? Did they assign the wrong mission again?"

"No, Hokage-sama told me that the ninjas from the mission department were badmouthing Yoichi. When Yoichi heard it, he attacked the ninja and sent him to the hospital."

After hearing Fugaku's explanation, Kanbayashi somewhat understood, but he still asked, "Clan leader, how do you plan to handle this?"

"Call Yoichi here. He must be given appropriate punishment. If we don't show any response, it won't be justified in front of Hokage-sama."

"Hokage-sama has let you handle it yourself, why not just give him a verbal reprimand?"

Seeing that Fugaku didn't quite agree with his suggestion, Kanbayashi continued, "Clan leader, Yoichi was wronged in the previous incident. After that, he didn't ask for any compensation from the clan. If we punish Yoichi for this matter, it might really provoke his resentment and dissatisfaction."

No matter what, Yoichi was already a somewhat famous genius of the Uchiha clan. Being a chunin at the age of thirteen in Konoha was already rare, and he had survived several life-and-death missions. Either he escaped from an elite jounin team and even killed one.

Kanbayashi completely believed that Yoichi already had the strength of a jonin, just without official recognition.

In a few more years, Yoichi was likely to become a strong representative of the Uchiha clan. Punishing him for a minor matter would seem excessive to Kanbayashi.

"Kanbayashi-senpai, what you said makes sense. However, although we Uchiha are strong, there are many ninja clans in Konoha, and there are also many strong individuals. We already control the guard unit. If we try to grasp other powers, it will surely cause dissatisfaction among other ninja clans."

Fugaku said in a deep voice, "Many people in the village are watching us Uchiha closely. It's best not to give them any handle at this time. Although Yoichi is right in this matter, it's still unacceptable for him to injure fellow villagers at the Hokage Tower. Let him apologize to Sugimoto, the chuunin, to show his acknowledgment of his mistake, and it'll be enough for Hokage-sama to see."

"Just admitting his mistake isn't much of a punishment. I'll go persuade Yoichi."

Kanbayashi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but he and Fugaku overlooked one thing. If the doves among the Uchiha clan bowed their heads and admitted their mistakes, it wouldn't be that complicated.

But to make the hawks among the Uchiha clan bow their heads and admitted their mistakes, it would be better to control them with the Sharingan.

Although Yoichi was not a hawk, he would never do anything disgusting to himself and help others.

Striving to power was to live with dignity. Otherwise, with Yoichi's appearance, he would have more than enough fame to be a son-in-law to a prominent family. There was no need to endure the hardships of training every day.

Fugaku spoke up, "Tomorrow is the assembly. Kanbayashi-senpai, you should let Yoichi participate in the assembly. We'll handle it there."

Last time, when they talked privately, Fugaku noticed that Yoichi was quite assertive and didn't even ask for compensation from the clan.

Fugaku was worried that Yoichi might be the same as last time. However, when they reached the clan assembly, with the continuous persuasion from the supporters of the clan leader, Yoichi should agree to apologize.

---

"Ninja-sama, the custom order you requested is quite complicated. It will require a total of 150,000 ryo. The materials aren't expensive, but to make a custom-fit weight, it requires a skilled blacksmith."

"It's fine. Notify me when it's ready. Here's the money."

Yoichi took out a scroll, unlocked the seal, and took out 150,000 ryo from it, handing it to the owner of the ninja tool shop, leaving an address as well.

He had long planned for this weight. Physical training was essential for his training, especially for the Lightning Release Chakra Mode that required rigorous body conditioning.

However, the functions he wanted for the weight were quite extensive, hence the higher cost, unlike simple metal blocks like Rock Lee's.

The wrist guards, leg bindings, and ninja outfit all needed to have protective capabilities and be easy to disassemble. That's why it was so expensive.

The 43rd year of Konoha was approaching soon. Yoichi had just returned not long ago, and he heard that Konoha's top talent, Kakashi, planned to participate in the chuunin exams alone.

"Let's focus on training for a while. If only the Sharingan could be stimulated a bit more. The single tomoe is somewhat lacking."

Yoichi knew that the evolution of the Sharingan required stimulation, but it seemed that nothing could stimulate him. 

(End of Chapter)