Chapter 23: Uchiha Fugaku: "This damn familiarity!" [1]

"Ding! The host has successfully pulled off a forceful act, and Pretend Points +6666!"

"Ding! Pretend Points are being automatically allocated: A-level Wind and Thunder Body Flicker Technique +3333, B-level Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation +3333."

"Ding! A-level Wind and Thunder Body Flicker Technique (7777/10,000), experience is not full. Please continue to act like a host to upgrade your abilities!"

"Ding! B-level Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation (6667/10,000), experience is not full. Please continue to act like a host to upgrade your abilities!"

---

The system notifications rolled in, marking the allocation of Pretend Points. Both his Wind and Thunder Body Flicker Technique and Great Fire Annihilation Jutsu received significant experience boosts, but Uchiha Qiye couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.

"Why isn't any of this experience going into my Mangekyō Sharingan?" he mused. With each use, Mangekyō would only bring him closer to blindness, so leveling it up was crucial.

"I need to show off more," he thought, realizing that scenes like this—where several Kage-level figures and elite Jōnin were present—were goldmines for accumulating Pretend Points. Unfortunately, opportunities like this wouldn't come often.

---

Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku observed his son's display with a strange sense of déjà vu.

"Why does this seem so familiar?" he muttered, recalling the last time he visited Uchiha Qiye at his father's house. Back then, Qiye had broken through from Chūnin to Jōnin, and the scene had played out almost exactly like it was now.

"Elder, your grandson..." Uchiha Hayato turned to Uchiha Kazuma, Qiye's grandfather, as if seeking an explanation.

Kazuma remained silent. He had no words for what was unfolding before him. This was indeed his grandson, but this exaggerated personality certainly wasn't something he'd passed down. When Qiye had boasted earlier, "My grandfather always says...," Kazuma could feel his blood pressure rising.

"This kid... where did we go wrong?" he thought, exasperated.

---

The surrounding spectators, though impressed by Uchiha Qiye's strength, were equally exasperated by his endless posturing.

"Damn it... and he's still showing off!"

Yet, with Qiye's current level—having just broken through to Kage-level—it was hard for anyone to deny him the right to gloat.

After all, standing at the top wasn't something just anyone could do.

---

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his entourage approached.

"As expected of Senior Yizhen's grandson," the Third Hokage said with a kindly smile, "this old man could never compare."

Uchiha Kazuma, though smiling humbly, was beaming with pride. "Lord Hokage, you give too much credit. The boy is just a bit more talented than most."

Internally, Kazuma was anything but humble. His grandson had unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan, for crying out loud! But, as an old hand in the world of politics, Kazuma knew better than to show his full pride openly. The more talent one flaunted, the more attention—and enemies—one would attract. Modesty, even when unwarranted, was a tool to avoid becoming a target.

The Uchiha clan had learned this the hard way. While their younger members, often headstrong and brash, flaunted their power, those older than twenty-five had been weathered by the harsh realities of life. They knew that strength without wisdom was a dangerous thing.

The clan had faced ostracization for seven years following the Nine Tails attack. In that time, Konoha's disdain for them had only grown. If Uchiha Qiye were the clan leader, Kazuma thought, would he have stood for this? Or would he have led the clan to another village where they could thrive, free from Konoha's disdain?

---

"Lord Hokage," Uchiha Qiye addressed Hiruzen with calm respect, showing none of his earlier arrogance.

Hiruzen smiled warmly. "Yes, Konoha is fortunate to have a genius like you. I'm sure you'll make great contributions to the village once you become a Genin."

The Third Hokage's words were full of praise, but Uchiha Qiye wasn't fooled. He knew better than to trust this "kind" old man. Despite the friendly demeanor, Qiye could sense Hiruzen's lack of genuine goodwill toward the Uchiha clan. The Hokage might be smiling now, but Qiye wouldn't put it past him to strike when no one was looking.

"As a Konoha Shinobi, contributing to the village is an honor for every ninja," Uchiha Qiye responded loudly, his voice full of false sincerity.

The people around him were taken aback by the sudden shift in tone.

"Huh, didn't you just say you were lonely at the top?" one of them whispered.

Now, he was acting like the model ninja, ready to serve the village at all costs. His sudden change in attitude was so transparent, even the veterans in the crowd couldn't help but roll their eyes.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was certainly not fooled either. He knew a performance when he saw one. But in the game of politics, appearances were everything, and Uchiha Qiye was playing the part well enough for now.

---

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

Din_hamine here:

I deeply appreciate your support since the beginning of this exciting journey!

I hope each chapter has provided incredible moments. If you like my work and would like to support the continuation of this fanfic, consider becoming a patron with plans starting at $5!. As a token of gratitude, I offer access to more than 20 extra chapters

🖤patreon.com/Reacher001🖤

Visit our Patreon for more:

https://www.patreon.com/Reacher001.

Extra Content Already Available.

**End of Chapter**