Chapter 6: Scheming

After that day's walk with Izuna, Ling started to change his mindset. Instead of staying in his room getting used to his body, he took the blind stick given by his younger brothers and started to wander around the Uchiha clan.

As for Ling's actions, the Uchiha clan had different opinions.

However, the division was a bit strange. Those who criticized Ling were mostly the older generation who had seen many battles, as well as the young and child generations who had a generation gap with him. The young generation, led by Uchiha Akihiko, who had just started on the battlefield, almost unconditionally defended him.

In public, it meant that every time Ling left his house, there would be an extra peer who was off - duty accompanying him.

"Sorry, I'm putting you in a difficult Mondai."

Uchiha Akihiko looked a bit embarrassed. But when he saw the scar on Ling's face, he couldn't bring himself to say anything too harsh. "If you really think we're in a tough Mondai, cheer up quickly. Our duel isn't over yet."

"You really don't like to admit defeat, Akihiko..." Ling smiled softly. "How about practicing with me right now?"

Uchiha Akihiko first glared at a kid who was pointing at Ling's wound and about to say something. Then he showed obvious disgust on his face. "You want me to pick on a blind guy? Do I have no self - respect?"

Ling wasn't annoyed. "It's okay to just practice Gitai. I've recently started practicing it again."

Hearing this, Akihiko stroked his chin. "…Then let's go to the back mountain. There are fewer people there."

"Let's go to the training ground." Ling shook his head slightly, with a somewhat helpless smile on his lips. "You don't need to protect me like this anymore. After all, in a few days, when this war is over, everything will settle down."

Hearing this, Uchiha Akihiko couldn't help sizing Ling up and down. Finally, his gaze landed on the scar on Ling's face. He seemed to understand, but he couldn't help shaking his head and tut - tutting. "You're so devious. No wonder you don't cover your eyes."

Ling chuckled and held up a finger in front of him. "We always have to leave some clues for what's going to happen next. We have to make the act believable, right?"

"Tsk, you're wasting my good intentions..." Uchiha Akihiko put his arm around Ling's neck. "Come on, let's go to the training ground. I won't be satisfied unless I beat the hell out of you today!"

"

 "Then, please go easy on me first... Hey, slow down, slow down. I still need to count the steps."

 Uchiha Akihiko slowed down his pace. Just listening to the crisp sound of Ling's blind stick hitting the ground, he couldn't help but admire Ling once again.

 Since he was one of the strong contenders for the heir, he naturally had his own calculations in mind. Once Ling said this, uniting the recent rumors in the Uchiha clan and the situation on the battlefield, how could he not know what was going on?

 ——It could only be that Ling set up a trap with himself and took advantage of the existing conditions to scheme.

 First, he spread the rumor that he had his eyes gouged out due to a failed mission, guiding the Uchiha clan to contract their front line and avoid the edge of the Senju clan's Fury. Then, he temporarily avoided disputes under the pretext of recuperating, allowing the clansmen to vent their grievances on him while also starting to focus on the selection of the next - generation heir.

 When the Senju clan began to turn to a disadvantage on the battlefield, Ling started to move around again and didn't hide his injuries. As one of the powerful ninja clans in the ninja world, how could the ninjas in the Uchiha clan not tell how Ling's injuries were actually caused?

 As long as they had doubts, most Uchiha, with their temperaments, would surely investigate on their own. Once they dug out the hidden truth, out of guilt and entanglement, they would surely turn their attention to Ling and Madara. This would undoubtedly bring inestimable benefits to Ling's restoration of his reputation and Madara's participation in the next heir selection.

 This move not only safeguarded the interests of the Uchiha clan but also enhanced the clan's cohesion. In the end, Ling himself suffered no loss other than briefly enduring the criticism...

 But people's words are terrifying. Even if they knew this, how many people could bear such pressure?

 Thinking of this, Uchiha Akihiko couldn't help but shake his head secretly. He asked himself, if he had encountered the same变故 as Ling, he definitely wouldn't have been able to put aside his own feelings right at the beginning, use his own pain to set up a plan, and at the same time pave the way for his younger brother and the Uchiha clan. Uchiha Ling was a madman who could always stay calm.

 Because they had competed with each other, and he knew what kind of person Ling was, when the rumor spread in the Uchiha clan that Ling had his eyes gouged out due to a failed mission, Uchiha Akihiko's first reaction was disbelief. Unless someone defected from the Uchiha clan, the most severe punishment for a failed mission in their clan was at most to withhold the mission reward to make up for the clan's losses. In the worst - case situation, they would send the person to the place where the clan scrolls were stored to copy ninjutsu and history.

 As a family renowned for its eye techniques, the eyes were undoubtedly the foundation of the Uchiha clan. So, unless it was an unforgivable sin, the Uchiha clan would never gouge out someone's eyes.

 Therefore, Uchiha Akihiko was certain that there was something fishy going on. After a brief exchange with some of his former competitors, he was even more convinced. This was also why he said those words to Madara when he met him that day. He just wanted to use Madara's mouth to convey some news from the Uchiha clan to Ling.

When Uchiha Akihiko saw the scar on Ling's countenance, he became even more certain that the recent trend within the Uchiha clan was deliberately incited. Putting himself in Ling's place, he and several of his contemporaries gathered to accompany Ling in their spare time, hoping to shield him from the gossip...

However, reality proved that everything had already been pre - arranged. He was just meddling in other people's business!

Upon hearing the snort beside him, Ling couldn't help but defend himself, "This matter isn't entirely my doing alone. After all, you've seen my current situation. The current outcome is thanks to the efforts of the elders and my Father."

"Then you must have been the one to bring it up first, right?" Uchiha Akihiko clicked his tongue. "You still have a mind for scheming even in such a seriously injured state. You're really a lunatic."

"Hehe... I'm afraid this battered body of mine won't be able to make much contribution to the Uchiha clan from now on. So, I need to do something for my family and the Uchiha clan while I still have some influence. Moreover... as the former heir, since I've managed to survive, at the very least, I can't become a burden to the family. Otherwise, the clan members will start to question my Father and the elders' judgment."

Hearing this, Uchiha Akihiko couldn't help but sigh inwardly, but he also couldn't resist muttering, "Say, does Madara know you're this sly?"

Ling didn't answer this question, just smiling and saying, "Madara is very talented and hard - working. He'll definitely do better than me in the future."

"That lad?" Uchiha Akihiko scoffed and waved his hand. "It's only because you're still alive. If you were dead, aside from the Uchiha clan's reaction, not many of us in this generation would recognize that lad as the clan leader. Although Madara is responsible and talented enough, the head of the clan doesn't need a stubborn idealist like him."

"A stubborn idealist..." Ling laughed softly. "But if one day, someone can really convince Madara, then they must share a grand dream, right?

One single tree cannot form a forest, and one solitary flower cannot bring spring. One tree does not make a forest; one flower does not make a spring (i.e., unity is strength). If you can meet someone with the same ideals and work together for it, it would be a good future to lead the two clans forward together... Well, it seems there are still reasons not to slack off."

"...Can you be cured of your brother - complex?"

"Come on, it's like you don't have one. I remember last time—"

Uchiha Akihiko immediately widened his eyes, reached out, and covered Ling's mouth. "Stop right there! Just talk and don't dig up old embarrassing stuff. Otherwise, don't blame me for using ninjutsu to attack you later!"

Hearing the gradually louder sounds of fighting in the distance, Ling smiled and pulled Akihiko's hand away. "Then you have to clear the area. I can't see now, and I won't be able to tell friend from foe in a fight."