Chapter 11: Chapter:11
Traveling through this time period might be a misfortune for Izuna, but it also presents a significant blessing. Although this era may be one of the least valuable phases in Naruto's timeline, the timing of Izuna's arrival is remarkably coincidental. It occurs just as Uchiha Tajima dies and his predecessor awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan. Thus, Izuna, who has no emotional attachment to Uchiha Tajima, can awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan without suffering any pain.
After retreating to the clan, Izuna set aside other chores for the moment. The first priority was the funeral of Uchiha Tajima. In the Uchiha clan area, which was roughly the size of a small county, every household was adorned with white ribbons.
In the mourning hall, the only two close relatives, Uchiha Madara and Izuna, knelt in front of the coffin, dressed in mourning clothes. Other clansmen tied white ribbons around their heads and paid their respects by offering incense one after another.
As the incense burned, those passing by the two brothers often expressed condolences, saying things like "My condolences," "Stay strong," and "You are the hope of Uchiha." Izuna kept his head down during this time, making sure no one noticed the lack of sadness on his face. In contrast, Madara continued to frown, fixated on the coffin.
According to the customs of the Warring States Period, children mourn their deceased parents for three days before burial. This is not as burdensome as the customs of Izuna's previous life, where children had to observe filial piety for three years after their parents died. In this chaotic period, surviving three years is uncertain at best.
After completing the final burial ceremony, they still wore white ribbons but were no longer required to remain at the coffin. A few days later, Izuna passed by Madara's residence and asked the maid at the door, "Is Brother here?"
Most of the family's maids, servants, cooks, and other helpers were civilians who could not survive in this troubled world and had sought refuge within the ninja clan. Some were descendants of exterminated ninja clans. The maid replied, "Chief Madara left early this morning and won't return until almost evening."
Izuna squinted his eyes, nodded, and said, "I see. Thank you for your hard work." After saying this, he left without looking back.
"Izuna-sama is so kind," the maids at the door murmured among themselves.
"Yes, even though Madara-sama isn't bad, he feels so distant."
"I heard that the end of this battle was all thanks to Mr. Izuna."
"Yes, my husband, who is responsible for transporting food, said that if it weren't for Chief Izuna, they would have perished in the mountains."
After leaving Madara's mansion, Izuna did not go to see him but instead headed to Uchiha Fuyuki's residence. Uchiha Fuyuki, a generation older than Uchiha Tajima, had miraculously lived to the age of sixty in a time when the average lifespan was under thirty. He now held the position of the third elder of Uchiha and oversaw the growth of the new generation of ninjas.
In the Warring States Period, the Council of Elders was not composed of mere bureaucrats who sat behind desks. Although they were too old to fight on the battlefield, they still contributed their last strengths to support the clan. Uchiha Fuyuki was akin to the principal of a ninja school in later eras, dedicated to teaching.
The Uchiha ninjas were all favored by him during their youth, and he held high prestige within the clan. While there was no formal concept of a "school," children under the age of ten spent ten hours a day studying and practicing ninjutsu in a designated area in the northwest of the clan.
After Uchiha Tajima's death, the children continued their studies as usual, each wearing the same white ribbon on their heads as Izuna. In fact, they studied even more diligently than before. This battle had resulted in the loss of thirty jōnin, elite jōnin, and peak jōnin for the Uchiha! If we exclude the chūnin and genin, this was undoubtedly the most severe blow the Uchiha had suffered in decades.
This was the outcome despite Izuna stopping Senju Tobirama's sneak attack. In the original story, many Uchiha had failed to prevent this, further widening the already significant gap between the disadvantaged Uchiha and the Senju. In essence, Madara Uchiha inherited a difficult situation.
Upon arriving at the training ground, Izuna found about two hundred Uchiha children gathered, listening to a speech from their teacher, Uchiha Fuyuki. The training instructors were mostly older or had sustained lifelong injuries that prevented them from returning to the battlefield.
"I've made it clear that the sacrifices this battle has brought to us Uchiha are unimaginable. Among them, I believe your parents, brothers, and friends are included. You are responsible for the future of Uchiha…" Uchiha Fuyuki continued his speech. Compared to the future Third Hokage's "Fire of Konoha" speech, it was less of a manipulative pyramid scheme. Although his words were vague, the message was straightforward: "revenge."
After Uchiha Fuyuki finished speaking, applause erupted from behind. The children and Uchiha Fuyuki turned to see Izuna walking beside him, smiling at the children. "The third elder is right; you are responsible for Uchiha's future."
"Lord Izuna, thank you for saving my father!" A six-year-old boy with a spiky head stood up and bowed deeply to Izuna.
Immediately, an eight-year-old girl stood and bowed as well, exclaiming, "Thank you for saving my uncle!"
One by one, the children rose and bowed in gratitude. Izuna's capture of Senju Tobirama had ended the war, a contribution that saved the lives of countless clansmen. Unlike Madara, who usually wore a stern expression, Izuna smiled and waved, urging the bowing children to sit back down. "If you truly want to thank me, grow up quickly and protect the old me in the future."
Uchiha Fuyuki interjected, "Izuna, why are you here today…?"
He was two generations older than Izuna and thus did not need to use honorifics.
"Third Elder, I've developed two new ninjutsu and recorded them. I hope they can be added to the clan's ninjutsu library and taught to these children." Izuna replied, pulling out two scrolls from his ninja bag and handing them to Uchiha Fuyuki.
"New ninjutsu developed?" Uchiha Fuyuki and the surrounding Uchiha ninjas were shocked. Those who could create and develop their own ninjutsu undoubtedly left a mark on the glorious history of the Uchiha clan.
(End of the Chapter).
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