Chapter 46: Visitor

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It was another morning, in Fuyu Shirou's living room.

"Please, have a seat!"

It was rare, but today Fuyu Shirou had a visitor. It was a Police Force member in his early twenties. He was slightly taller than the average Uchiha, with medium-length hair that fell behind his back. His face was somewhat stern, with two long nasolabial folds. He gave off an impression of being serious, rigid, and meticulous.

Indeed, this man was none other than Uchiha Fugaku, who would later father the 'Great Filial Son' and the 'Pillar of Heaven.' At the moment, he was not yet the head of the Uchiha clan. Despite being the son of the current clan leader and having his strength widely recognized within the family, the butterfly effect of his presence made it hard to predict the future.

"I apologize, as we rarely have visitors, I wasn't prepared!"

"Please, have some tea!"

As he spoke, Fuyu Shirou hurriedly brought out a tray with two freshly brewed cups of green tea. He handed one cup to Fugaku and took the other for himself, sitting across the coffee table and quietly observing him.

Fuyu Shirou was completely puzzled by Uchiha Fugaku's visit. He couldn't understand why a mere child, not yet a ninja, would be of any interest.

To his knowledge, this 'future clan leader,' who was highly regarded by the current clan leader, was quite busy. Not only did he hold a key position in the Police Force, but he also frequently took on various high-difficulty missions assigned by the Hokage.

He maintained connections with all the branches of the clan.

He was meticulous in his care for the village, the clan, and the Police Force, embodying the demeanor of a young clan leader. As the old saying goes, when an owl visits, it's never for nothing. He hoped it wasn't bad news.

[He is very considerate and polite in his hospitality!]

[He doesn't panic like a typical child when facing a senior from the clan, showing maturity and composure!]

[His persistent efforts over the years have shaped a resilient character!]

Since entering the house, Uchiha Fugaku had not spoken a word. He quietly observed Fuyu Shirou's every move, watching how he treated guests and handled his sudden visit.

From just a few minutes of observation, combined with the information gathered by the clan, he could already make a basic judgment. The young man before him was a promising ninja, destined to be a pillar of the clan.

"I wonder what brings you here today, Fugaku-senpai. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask!"

He didn't remain silent for long.

As the host, Fuyu Shirou took the initiative. His attitude was very proper, showing a readiness to take on any clan matters. He would do his utmost to complete any clan tasks, but the key was still in the phrase 'within my capabilities.'

He, a boy not yet eight years old, still a student at the ninja school, was unlikely to be of much use to the clan. So, he didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku didn't rush to speak. He held the hot tea in his hand, blew on the steam rising from the cup, and gave Fuyu Shirou a faint glance before speaking slowly.

"As a genius of the clan, what do you think of the current situation in the ninja world?"

[What do I think? I use my eyes to see!]

He inwardly complained. He hadn't expected that after all this buildup, Uchiha Fugaku would ask such a question. Was this something to ask a child?

"Fugaku-senpai, you flatter me. How could a mere student at the ninja school know such matters?"

"But since you asked, I'll try to give an answer!"

"This year, the ninja school has expanded its enrollment!"

Indeed, the ninja school had expanded its enrollment this year. Unlike when Fuyu Shirou entered at the age of six, this year, even some five-year-olds were admitted early.

For example, his clanmate Uchiha Obito, who entered as the lowest-ranked student. And 'White Fang of Konoha's' son, Kakashi Hatake, who entered at the tender age of five!

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku was somewhat surprised. He had asked the question casually, not expecting the young man to provide a reliable answer.

[I didn't expect this kid to be so observant, and his perspective is different from that of adults.]

"Indeed, you live up to your reputation as a rare genius in the clan!"

"Fugaku-senpai, you are too kind. I'm just more diligent than the average person!"

Being a genius in the world of the Hokage is no easy feat. Whether it's Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Itachi, or even Kakashi Hatake, all of them were known as geniuses, but their fates were not favorable.

The higher you are raised, the harder you fall. With every mention of 'genius,' he didn't know what you were up to. Humility! Humility!

"Since Fuyu Shirou isn't as naive as a typical child, I'll speak frankly!"

"Based on the information gathered by the clan and the rising prices of war-related materials, such as iron, medicinal herbs, and food, we can see a gradual increase!"

This was partly due to his cooperation with the Nin-Cat Clan. The Blood Clotting Potion, developed with his ideas and Uchiha Mika, made the clan more sensitive to changes in the prices of medicinal herbs. The Nin-Cat Clan's high-quality shurikens and kunais saw a surge in sales, leading to a significant rise in raw material prices, which the clan had noted.

"Some experienced elders in the clan speculate that the major ninja villages may be dissatisfied with the results of the last war. A new war is likely to break out in the near future!"

Upon hearing this, Fuyu Shirou was not overly surprised. After all, in the original story, the Third Great Ninja War was the most brutal of all the ninja wars. It lasted for a long time and resulted in horrific casualties.

The heads of the major clans were almost entirely replaced.

By the time Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage, The representatives of the major clans at the Hokage succession ceremony, whether from the Ino-Shika-Chō (Pig, Deer, Butterfly Clan) or the Uchiha, were all from the younger generation. Where were the current clan leaders? They had all been consumed by the war!

While speaking, Uchiha Fugaku observed Fuyu Shirou's facial expressions. To his surprise, upon hearing the news of an impending war, Fuyu Shirou's expression remained largely unchanged.

What could change? For a message he already knew the outcome of, he could remain calm and composed.

As for feigning surprise, he had long realized that playing with micro-expressions in front of an Uchiha jōnin was too risky.

(End of Chapter)