CHAPTER 17

Uchiha Tunan spent the day training in Kenjutsu under Hatake Sakumo's guidance and finally walked home, exhausted.

As he approached the entrance of the Uchiha district, he noticed Umino Naoto standing nearby, seemingly waiting for him.

"Tunan!" Umino Naoto called out, waving.

Adjusting his glasses, Uchiha Tunan walked over and bowed respectfully. "Sensei, were you waiting for me?"

Naoto handed him a thick envelope. "This is the death pension from the village, along with the bonus for eliminating that enemy spy. Hokage-sama has been busy, so I was asked to deliver it to you."

Without even glancing at the envelope, Uchiha Tunan bowed again. "Thank you for going out of your way for me, Sensei."

Umino Naoto scratched his head with a sheepish smile. "It's no trouble at all. Honestly, though, I'm more impressed that you managed to take down a Chūnin-level spy on your own. That's incredible."

Uchiha Tunan shook his head with a faint smile. "I still have a long way to go."

Naoto found himself liking the boy even more. He placed a hand on Tunan's shoulder. "Training is important, but don't overwork yourself. You look exhausted. Get some rest, alright?"

Tunan nodded. "I was fortunate to receive guidance from Lord Sakumo today. It was a valuable experience."

Umino Naoto's expression shifted slightly. So even the White Fang acknowledges his talent...

"Well, I won't keep you. See you at the Academy tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sensei. Goodbye."

As Naoto walked away, he glanced back after half a street's distance and saw Tunan still watching him. The sincerity in his gaze made Naoto's heart warm.

What an exceptional student...

When Naoto called out, "Go home already," Uchiha Tunan merely responded with a gentle smile. Once his teacher was out of sight, he turned and entered the Uchiha district.

The Uchiha police force members patrolling the area acknowledged him with nods, to which Tunan responded with his usual polite smile.

No matter the world, social dynamics never change…

As he arrived home, he found Uchiha Clan Elder standing at his doorstep, clearly waiting for him.

"Tunan, you're back," the elder greeted with a warm smile.

Tunan immediately bowed. "Good evening, Elder."

The elder waved off the formalities and handed him another thick envelope. "We're family—there's no need for such politeness. This is your parents' death pension from the clan, along with your monthly living expenses."

Tunan accepted it, subtly gauging its weight. This is significantly more than what Sarutobi gave…

Feigning mild confusion, he asked, "But didn't Hokage-sama already provide a pension?"

The elder gave him a meaningful look. "The Hokage represents the village, but the Uchiha clan takes care of its own. From now on, you'll receive a monthly stipend as well. If you ever face difficulties, come to me or the clan head—we will always support you."

He patted Tunan's shoulder, then turned and left without further elaboration.

Uchiha Tunan watched him go, a small smile forming on his lips. The elder is clever, but he's underestimating me…

The delivery was precise—no extra words, no unnecessary lingering. Just enough time to let the gesture settle. A perfect political move.

Once inside, Tunan placed the money from both envelopes into his locker.

I've suddenly become very valuable.

Sarutobi's pension was already excessive. Two Chūnin-level deaths wouldn't normally warrant such an amount.

And yet, the Uchiha clan had doubled that sum.

The elder must've seen Naoto handing me the village's payment and estimated the amount. So he adjusted his offer on the spot…

For Uchiha Tunan, this was an ideal situation. He now had plenty of funds to invest in raising and training his carrier pigeons—an essential tool for his plans.

By the time the Third Great Ninja War erupted, he wouldn't have to worry about resources.

The Next Morning

As usual, Uchiha Tunan left for the Academy.

Just before exiting the Uchiha district, he encountered one of his classmates—Uchiha Mina.

A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she greeted him. "Tunan-kun! What a coincidence."

"Yes, what a coincidence." He returned her smile with the same polite warmth as always.

They walked to school together.

Of course, Uchiha Tunan knew this was no coincidence. His pigeons had spotted Mina lurking around this area earlier.

He didn't mention it, though. After all, she may prove useful later…

Among his classmates, there were several "rations" he could cultivate.

If, for some reason, his plans with Hatake Sakumo didn't work out, he might need them.

Mina was particularly promising. A lesser-known Uchiha… that meant she was expendable in the grand scheme of things.

And if he played his cards right, she might even awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

A powerful asset to help him reach his ultimate goal.

His eyes flickered with a brief spark of interest as he turned toward her.

Uchiha Mina had been sneaking glances at him the entire walk. When their eyes met, she tensed slightly.

"Tunan-kun… is something wrong?" she asked nervously.

Uchiha Tunan's expression remained warm. "Not at all. I was just thinking… you're different from the others."

"Eh? Different how?" she asked, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Most people I meet tend to be… prideful. But you… you have a different kind of energy. You seem lively, yet there's a certain sincerity to you. It's… charming."

His voice was calm, factual, as though he were merely stating an observation. There wasn't a trace of flattery.

Mina's heart raced. Did he just call me charming…?

As they continued walking, their conversation flowed naturally.

To any onlooker, they looked just like a budding couple.