Chapter 10. Why am I Here?
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I am Uchiha Setsuna.
I once witnessed the greatness and kindness of the First Hokage and followed the legendary Uchiha Madara, a man of unparalleled might. Now, after all these years, I've become one of the elders of the Uchiha clan.
Leaning on my cane, I no longer walk with the same pride as before. I even need assistance just to go to the bathroom at night.
What I long for most now is to see the Uchiha clan restored to its former glory.
Unfortunately...
The young man I had high hopes for... ended up going into business.
Early in the morning, I disguised myself and quietly followed a group of Uchiha elders to a flat, open field on the outskirts of the village.
Watching the bustling crowd of elderly folks, all smiling and leisurely enjoying themselves, I let out a cold snort in my heart.
Waste!
A huge waste!
An absolute waste!
What's the point of wasting money here?
Will this bring another genius to the Uchiha clan?
Will this make the Uchiha clan stronger?
Will this restore the Uchiha clan's former glory?
Each of these questions was answered with a firm "no" in my mind. I was starting to feel disappointed with Uchiha Yuto, the young man I once had high hopes for.
Wouldn't it be better to use this money to train Uchiha shinobi?
100 million each year… with that kind of money, think of how much the Uchiha clan could accomplish!
I sighed deeply, filled with anger and frustration. "That little Yuto, he's so irresponsible!"
To think he once opposed the decision to take his eyes.
He's planning to support the Uchiha clan financially, but he didn't even consult me, the Elder?
That's just so, so immature!
At that moment...
"Line up, line up! Everyone else is here. Sound off!" A young woman leading the group clapped her hands and said, "Those who just arrived, please line up at the back. If you can't see, I'll arrange you in a better spot later!" She then turned to the large man with thick eyebrows and a green outfit beside her, "Thanks for your help, Senior Duy!"
"No problem!" Might Duy flashed a smile, giving her a thumbs-up.
With that, his figure dashed forward, leaving behind multiple afterimages in the eyes of ordinary people.
"Sir, please line up over here! Are you with the Hyuga clan? You can line up here!"
Watching this scene made my eye twitch. I knew this guy. He's somewhat famous in Konoha, though...
A useless taijutsu ninja!
Sure, he looks fast, but if he went up against the Uchiha's Sharingan... Haha, he wouldn't stand a chance.
I sighed again, muttering to myself, "I can't believe Yuto has fallen so far!"
To be recruiting such weaklings?!
I couldn't take it anymore. Just as I was about to leave and have a serious talk with Uchiha Yuto...
"Sir, please move a bit further inside." Might Duy appeared beside me, noticing the clan emblem on my robe, and quickly understood.
Most Uchiha members are stoic, difficult to communicate with, and a bit arrogant. As Yuto had once explained, all you needed was patience.
However...
I let out a cold, disdainful snort. My face filled with contempt as I prepared to throw a few sarcastic remarks to humiliate this worthless man before leaving.
"You're still as insufferable as ever, Setsuna!"
A cold, elderly voice suddenly interrupted me from the front.
Elegant, calm, and disdainful… but with a hint of familiarity.
Startled, I looked up to see a silver-haired old woman with the same wrinkled face as mine, but with the distinctive, though somewhat clouded, Byakugan of the Hyuga clan. I blinked in surprise, "Hana, what are you doing here?"
"Me?" Hyuga Hana smiled elegantly, her old face still radiating the grace she once had as a younger woman.
"Just passing the time. I've been coming here for several days now. I didn't expect..." She glanced up and down at me. "That even you, the old stubborn one from the Uchiha, would show up!"
"The Uchiha clan's stubbornness is nothing compared to you Hyuga old-timers!" I shot back, "I didn't expect an old Hyuga like you would be here!"
"It's quite relaxing and rather enjoyable." Hana smiled gently, unfazed. "Your young clan member… Uchiha Yuto… not bad! Not bad at all!"
With those words, Uchiha Setsuna suddenly felt choked up, unsure of what to say.
Was this woman mocking the Uchiha clan?
Uchiha Yuto.
Once a genius of the Uchiha…
Now, a disgrace to the clan!
To say something like this in front of him was clearly a taunt, mocking the Uchiha for failing to protect their genius!
Anger welled up in him, and just as he was about to lash out, ready to bring up the Hyuga clan's dark secret—the Caged Bird Seal—the group leader suddenly approached with a smile, saying, "Is he an acquaintance of Senior Hana?"
"Not quite familiar, but an acquaintance nonetheless," Hana smiled modestly and nodded.
Before Setsuna could speak, the leader continued, "Then could I trouble Senior Hana to take care of this elder?"
"Of course."
After a brief exchange, the leader left, leaving Uchiha Setsuna frowning, but he didn't say anything. With a cold snort, he turned to leave.
"Stop!" Hyuga Hana's calm voice sounded. "Lift your head."
"Hmph! How dull. I have no interest in—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Uchiha Setsuna, with a dazed expression, watched as Hyuga Hana stepped forward and grabbed both of his hands. Her cloudy Byakugan glanced at him briefly. "You're already so old, yet you still act like a child? Lift your hands, and watch my movements!"
"???" Uchiha Setsuna stood dumbfounded, staring at her wrinkled face and feeling the touch of her hands. His body began to move involuntarily with hers.
He stared at her face in a daze, his once cloudy eyes clearing up, as if he were seeing the same beautiful, graceful face she had in her youth.
At that moment…
Hyuga Hana stopped her movements and frowned slightly, looking at Uchiha Setsuna as if he were in a stupor. "Did you get it this time, old man? What's with the dumbfounded look?"
"I..." Uchiha Setsuna snapped out of it and let out another cold snort, saying flatly, "I didn't get it. What kind of nonsense was that? Show me again!"
"…What happened to your Sharingan?"
" I am old! It's useless now!"
"Heh," Hyuga Hana chuckled softly, "Yes, you are old. This time, make sure you pay attention."
With that, she once again guided Setsuna's hands, and as he watched her graceful, calm movements, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch into a brief, barely noticeable smile.
If one didn't look closely, they wouldn't notice it.
But…
Why am I even here?
It felt like there was something important he had forgotten!
But Hyuga Hana's stern voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Pay attention! You're still daydreaming?"
His inner confusion was cast aside, and his expression became focused. If I forgot it, then it must not have been important.
If it wasn't important, it could wait. For now, what mattered most was showing these old Hyuga fools that no one could outshine the Uchiha when it came to dancing…
…
Meanwhile…
After a quick registration with Konoha's gate guards, using his merchant status to leave the village for business, and bidding a brief farewell to Suzune with a light smile, Uchiha Yuto, accompanied by two bodyguards, leisurely left the village.
The two bodyguards beside him were trusted aides, registered in Konoha, and allowed to enter and leave with him. Naturally, they weren't very strong—just average.
After all, if they were too powerful, he wouldn't have such freedom.
Once outside Konoha... beyond its borders, another group was waiting for him.
By late afternoon…
Finally, outside the range of Konoha, they arrived in a forest.
As soon as they stepped into the woods…
Several black-robed figures appeared and stood before Uchiha Yuto. "Boss!"
"Daibutsu," Uchiha Yuto smiled faintly, "Is it you this time?"
"Hahaha," Daibutsu laughed heartily. "I was bored, so I came! Boss, shall we head back now?"
"Hold on!" Uchiha Yuto shook his head, then turned around, a smirk appearing on his lips. "Let's take care of the little rats following us first!"