Chapter 46: Visitor

"Please, have a seat!"

It was rare, but today Hitsugaya Toshiro had a guest visit him at his home. The visitor was a member of the security force in his early twenties, standing notably taller than the average Uchiha. His medium-length hair flowed down his back. His face was somewhat stern with two long nasolabial lines, giving him an air of seriousness, formality, and meticulousness.

Yes, this man was none other than Uchiha Fugaku, who would later be known as the one who fathered the 'dutiful son' and the 'pillar'. At this point, he was not yet the head of the Uchiha clan. Although he was the son of the current clan leader and his strength had been widely recognized within the clan, who could truly predict the future in the face of such butterfly effects?

"My apologies for the lack of preparation; we rarely have guests at the house."

"Please, have some tea!"

Toshiro hurriedly carried out a tray with two freshly brewed cups of green tea. He handed one to Fugaku and took the other for himself, sitting down across the coffee table, silently observing him.

Today, Uchiha Fugaku's visit had left Toshiro puzzled. He couldn't fathom why someone with his standing would be interested in a child who hadn't even become a ninja yet.

As far as he knew, this 'future clan leader,' who the current leader had high hopes for, was incredibly busy. Not only did he hold important positions within the security force, but he also frequently undertook various high-difficulty missions assigned by the Hokage.

He maintained contact with various branches of the clan.

He skillfully managed the village, the clan, and the security force, fully embodying the image of a future leader. As the saying goes, 'a night owl visits no house without cause,' and Toshiro hoped it wasn't bad news.

[His hospitality and manners are impeccable!]

[He doesn't show the usual panic of a child when facing an elder from the clan; very mature and calm!]

[And with his years of persistent effort and resilient character…]

Since entering the room, Uchiha Fugaku hadn't said a word. He was simply observing every move Toshiro made—how he treated guests and how he responded to this sudden visit.

After just a few minutes of observation, combined with some gathered intelligence, he could already conclude that this young man was a good fit for becoming a ninja and a future pillar of the clan.

"I wonder why Senior Fugaku has come today. If there's anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask!"

Breaking the silence, Toshiro, as the host, spoke first. His attitude was very upright, showing his readiness to serve the clan's needs, yet he emphasized 'within my capabilities.'

As a boy not even eight years old and still in ninja school, the clan shouldn't have any designs on him. So he did away with any unnecessary formalities and got straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku didn't immediately respond. Instead, he sipped his hot tea, blew away the steam, and gave Toshiro a measured look before speaking unhurriedly.

"As a genius of the clan, what are your thoughts on the current state of the ninja world?"

[Thoughts? I look with my eyes!]

Toshiro thought to himself, not expecting such a question after all this build-up. Was this really something you asked a child?

"Senior Fugaku flatters me. How could a simple ninja school student like myself have insights into such matters?"

"The ninja school has expanded its enrollment this year."

Yes, this year, the ninja school had expanded its enrollment. Unlike when Toshiro had enrolled at the age of six, this year not only six-year-olds but also some five-year-olds were admitted early.

For instance, Uchiha Obito from his own clan had enrolled as the bottom of the class. And then there was 'Konoha's White Fang's' son, Hatake Kakashi, who had enrolled at the exact age of five!

Hearing this, Fugaku seemed a bit surprised. He hadn't expected the boy to give a thoughtful response to such an impromptu question.

[Didn't expect this kid to observe so keenly, and his perspective is different from us adults.]

"As expected of a rare genius in the clan!"

"You flatter me, Senior Fugaku. I'm just more diligent than the average person."

Being a genius in the world of Naruto wasn't easy. Be it Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Itachi, or even later on, Hatake Kakashi—they were all deemed geniuses, yet their outcomes were less than ideal.

The higher you are praised, the harder you fall. With all this talk of genius, Toshiro didn't know what Fugaku was trying to achieve, so he opted to be humble.

"Since Toshiro doesn't seem like the usual clueless child, I'll speak to you plainly."

"From the intelligence the clan has gathered and various materials related to war, such as metals, medicines, and food supplies—their prices are all slowly rising!"

Thanks to the guidance he received and the development of a hemostatic agent by Uchiha Mikoto, the clan had recently become very sensitive to the prices of medicinal materials. Additionally, the ninja tools like shuriken and kunai sold by the Ninja Cats had seen a spike in orders, causing the cost of raw materials to surge, and the clan had taken note.

"The clan's experienced elders suspect that the major ninja villages might be dissatisfied with the outcomes and treaties of the last war. A new war could break out soon!"

Hearing this, Toshiro wasn't overly surprised. In the original story, the Third Shinobi World War was indeed the most brutal, lasting for a long time and causing horrific casualties.

Heads of various clans almost completely changed.

By the time Minato Namikaze took over as the Fourth Hokage, the clan representatives at the ceremony were all from the younger generation. Where did the current leaders go? They were all consumed by the war!

As Uchiha Fugaku spoke, he observed Toshiro's expression closely. To his surprise, the boy showed no significant reaction to the news of an impending war.

How could he react? Already knowing the future outcome allowed him to remain calm.

Feigning surprise was risky, especially under the watchful eyes of an Uchiha Jonin, so he opted to remain indifferent.

(End of Chapter)