Holy Willie Of Konoha

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the holiday was nearly over.

During this time, Uchiha Tunan had honed his skills in setting traps, assassination, disguise, and the use of poisons.

Yet, the system had not sent a notification—clearly, Uchiha Tunan's parents were still alive and well.

Two Chūnin-level cannon fodder… why is it so difficult for them to die?

Tunan felt a bit impatient. He couldn't afford to wait any longer.

The political landscape was clear. Now, he needed to prove his worth.

To gain power, he needed recognition—and once he had it, he would strike.

A direct confrontation wouldn't work. He couldn't even match Obito at this stage.

The only viable path was assassination.

As for the target, they couldn't be too strong nor too weak.

Ideally, the person would have no prior experience in dealing with assassination attempts.

That meant selecting someone from the Ninja Academy.

As a first-year student, his best choice was someone from the second or third years.

A target with strong physical abilities but weak theoretical knowledge would be ideal for Uchiha Tunan.

If the target was physically strong, Tunan could benefit from inheriting their abilities.

If their theoretical knowledge was weak, they would be less likely to see through his assassination techniques.

The plan had to be executed in three phases:

1. Gain their trust.

2. Carry out the assassination.

3. Eliminate any traces.

Each step had to be flawless.

Earning recognition was essential to inheriting the target's abilities.

The assassination itself would rely entirely on his own skills.

Handling the aftermath would be troublesome. If he alerted the Anbu, his plans could be completely derailed.

With these thoughts in mind, Uchiha Tunan's eyes gleamed coldly.

---

The Next Day – The Academy

The new semester at the Ninja Academy began.

This time, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, did not come to deliver a speech.

Rumors suggested that the war on the frontlines had reached a stalemate.

During class, Uchiha Tunan quietly slipped out of the room and made his way to the third-year classroom.

"Tianxiong-san."

Standing at the door, he enthusiastically waved toward Uchiha Tianxiong.

Uchiha Tianxiong was a third-year student, ranking sixth overall in his class.

The top-ranked student was Uchiha Tetsuo—another member of the Uchiha clan.

When Tianxiong heard someone calling his name, he turned his head slightly, looking surprised.

At a glance, he recognized Tunan—the clan's well-known weakling.

Normally, he wouldn't have bothered responding. But as Tunan persistently called out to him, he finally relented.

Coolly, he stood up and walked outside the classroom. His expression remained indifferent as he asked,

"Kid, what do you want?"

Tunan's eyes sparkled with admiration as he said, "I heard that Tianxiong-san is the top combatant among the graduates. Can I train with you?"

"Oh?" Tianxiong raised an eyebrow. Though he kept his voice casual, the slight curve of his lips betrayed his good mood.

After a brief moment of thought, he said, "That guy Tetsuo ranks first, and I'm only sixth. Why not go to him?"

Tunan tilted his head, looking puzzled. "Isn't Tetsuo-san's high ranking mostly due to his theoretical scores?"

"You have a sharp eye." Tianxiong smirked. "As a shinobi, strength is what matters. I don't waste my time with theory."

"I train at the northern Uchiha training grounds every day. If you want to come, feel free. If I have time, I'll give you some pointers."

With that, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and strolled back into the classroom without looking back.

Tunan, delighted, cheered as he skipped back toward his own classroom.

His demeanor was completely that of a naïve child.

---

In the Third-Year Classroom

As soon as Tianxiong returned to his seat, Uchiha Tetsuo turned his head and coldly remarked,

"Tianxiong, stay away from that trash. He's a disgrace to the Uchiha clan."

"Hah! Since when do you get to decide who I associate with?" Tianxiong scoffed.

"Tch." Tetsuo snorted, turning his head away in disinterest.

---

Evening – Uchiha Clan's Training Grounds

After school, Uchiha Tunan made his way to the northern training grounds. As expected, Uchiha Tianxiong was already there, practicing his Fire Release techniques.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Boom!

A massive fireball erupted from Tianxiong's mouth, crashing into the pond beside the training grounds.

Tunan stared in awe. "W-Wow… that's incredible."

Tianxiong smirked, his back turned to Tunan. In truth, he had sensed Tunan's arrival long ago. The showy Fireball Jutsu was entirely for display.

"You're here, kid." Tianxiong turned around coolly, his expression impassive.

"Tianxiong-san is amazing! You can make such a huge fireball!" Tunan spread his arms wide to emphasize its size.

"Hmph. It's just a C-rank Fire Jutsu."

Tianxiong, pleased with Tunan's admiration, pointed to a nearby wooden training post.

"Your physical strength is lacking. Start with basic taijutsu drills."

"Yes, Tianxiong-san!"

Excited, Tunan rushed to the training post and began practicing seriously.

Unfortunately, his taijutsu was truly awful. Despite Tianxiong's repeated corrections, Tunan showed little improvement.

By nightfall, Tunan collapsed onto the ground, panting in exhaustion.

Tianxiong was also tired but maintained his cool demeanor. Hands still stuffed in his pockets, he sneered,

"You're already worn out?"

Tunan looked dejected, burying his face between his knees. In a small, trembling voice, he muttered,

"I'm sorry, Tianxiong-san… I let you down."

Tianxiong frowned slightly. "I've heard rumors about you. Why do you cling to those foolish ideas?"

Tunan buried his head deeper and whispered, his voice choked with emotion,

"Because… I'm useless. My parents don't care about me. The clan looks down on me…

Only Hokage-sama ever smiles at me.

I feel like he truly loves this village… and us."

Tianxiong paused. So this was the instinct of the weak—to seek the protection of the strong?

He let out a quiet sigh and softened his tone slightly.

"From now on, focus on the clan. Otherwise, I won't train you."

Tunan lifted his head, his expression unreadable. He gave a deep bow and said,

"I'm sorry, Tianxiong-san. I've disappointed you."

Hearing the implied refusal, Tianxiong's eyes darkened with irritation. He turned away, muttering,

"Get lost."

"I'm sorry," Tunan apologized again. Then, he took a small notebook from his pocket and held it out.

"This is a gift for you, Tianxiong-san. Thank you for teaching me."

Tianxiong glanced at the notebook. "What is it?"

Tunan smiled sincerely.

"During the break, I studied the senior classes' theory lessons. This notebook contains the key points for the upcoming exams.

I hope you can become the top graduate."

Tianxiong was taken aback.

Most Uchiha were too proud to show emotion. He had never received a gift before.

For a moment, his heart wavered.

He snatched the notebook and turned away arrogantly.

"Hmph! Be early tomorrow."

Then, without another word, he strode toward the clan district.

Ding! You have gained Uchiha Tianxiong's recognition.

Hearing the system prompt, Uchiha Tunan smirked slightly and waved.

"Thank you, Tianxiong-san! I'll do my best!"