Chapter 19: Family Meeting
The next morning, the sun hung high in the sky, with not a cloud in sight.
Although the temperature in Konoha was quite high for July, Uchiha Aozora didn't feel overly hot while sitting in the shade of a tree.
The tall trees blocked direct sunlight, and after converting a significant amount of fire-natured chakra, Aozora felt his heat resistance had improved greatly.
At this moment, he had his eyes tightly shut, recalling various wooden targets set up in the forest.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, as if a cold light shot out from between his eyelids.
At the same time, he flicked both sleeves, instantly launching four kunai.
Shiu! Shiu! Shiu! Shiu!
The kunai pierced through the air, though not traveling along straight paths.
Instead, they darted like slender birds—gliding over flowerbeds, twisting around tree trunks, soaring between branches—and deftly avoided every obstacle in their paths.
Peng! Peng! Peng! Peng!
Each kunai struck its wooden target one by one. At first, Aozora smiled in satisfaction, but then frowned.
He was pleased with the results after [Yu Qi] advanced; now he could control and adjust the direction of all four launched kunai simultaneously at any time.
Yet the drawback was the excessive consumption—each kunai throw used up a massive amount of chakra. Controlling just one kunai for a minute cost at least as much chakra as creating a Kage Bunshin.
"It seems more cost-effective to cultivate my own life-bound spiritual weapon."
After [Yu Qi] advanced, the Heavenly Book also revealed new knowledge on nurturing and refining spiritual weapons.
To forge one's own spiritual weapon, one must first obtain a heavenly treasure capable of holding spiritual energy. Then carry it on the body (or store it in the dantian for advanced cultivators), nourish it daily with spiritual energy until it becomes attuned to him, before fragmenting a sliver of one's soul and embedding it within.
The longer the cultivation period, the better the synchronization between weapon and master becomes. This makes wielding the weapon easier and less energy-consuming.
Expressed in Ninja World terms: First find some chakra-conductive metal, nourish it daily with chakra, and finally embed a split fragment of one's consciousness into the metal.
"The only problem is… I'm flat out of money!"
Chakra-conductive metals were prohibitively expensive. Selling his family home might have been his only chance to afford enough for forging a weapon—but even that wasn't an option.
Chakra-conductive metal is a general term. As the name suggests, it refers to rare metals that can absorb injected chakra, fusing it with the metal itself to dramatically amplify jutsu power.
Besides chakra conduction, these metals often possess unique properties—for instance, self-regeneration and healing through absorbing blood, or storing and releasing lightning-natured chakra.
Legendary blacksmiths crafted divine weapons from chakra-conductive metals, such as the seven ninja blades of Kiri or Tobirama Senju's Thunder God Sword.
As these legendary weapons gained fame, different factions began hoarding chakra-conductive metals, driving prices to unbelievable heights.
Moreover, Aozora couldn't even sell his house.
Even if he wanted to, no one would buy it anyway. The Uchiha compound was spacious, each household having its own residence, and outsiders weren't allowed to purchase property within the Uchiha district.
"Cultivating a spiritual weapon costs too much. I'll forget about it for now—my current Ninja Tool Throwing skill will suffice."
"Next, I'll study some genjutsu techniques, then continue converting chakra to prepare for cultivating Breath Fire!"
Having made up his mind, Uchiha Aozora packed away his kunai and started heading home.
As he neared his house, Aozora noticed a cute little boy about five or six years old standing by the front gate of his yard.
As Aozora drew closer, the boy had already turned around.
The boy had fine brows and gentle eyes framed by long lashes top and bottom, while faint tear troughs gave him a maturity beyond his years.
"Hey Itachi, look at this!"
Aozora teased young Itachi Uchiha, who remained unmoved. Shrugging uninterestedly, Aozora said, "Are you looking for Shisui? He went on a border mission."
The young Uchiha looked serious as he replied, "No, I came specially to find you, Aozora-niisan."
"Really?" Aozora pushed open the courtyard gate and said, "Next time, come straight inside. Don't be so formal. Shisui cares about you more than I do."
Upon hearing this, Itachi blushed slightly and replied, "That's not true. It's just that Shisui-niisan still thinks I'm young, so he looks out for me."
However, he didn't enter the house, but instead said, "I came to inform you about attending today's family meeting."
Upon hearing this, Aozora frowned slightly. After the Nine-Tails' Invasion, there had been many family meetings large and small, but he had never participated in any of them.
These meetings usually focused on gathering together to complain about the village's suspicions toward the Uchiha clan, which solved nothing.
Noticing Aozora's reluctant expression, Itachi added, "This one is called by Father personally. There's apparently an important order to announce."
Thinking for a moment, Aozora asked, "When and where?"
Itachi replied, "At 2 PM in the conference hall."
"I'll be there on time." After finishing business talk, Aozora offered hospitality. "Itachi, have some water before leaving."
"No thanks, I still need to notify others."
After seeing off Itachi Uchiha, Aozora kept pondering why the head would summon everyone like this? Even notifying someone like him who was only a genin.
He got so lost in thought that he barely touched his lunch.
After lunch, Aozora took out a genjutsu scroll and studied the [Hellish Gaze Technique] and [Kasumi's Shadow Binding Technique] for a while.
At 1:30 PM, Aozora changed into his dark blue Uchiha ceremonial robe and left home.
Although the conference hall was still within the Uchiha compound, it was located on a hilltop adjacent to their territory, requiring some travel time.
At 1:40 PM sharp, Aozora arrived at the hilltop and saw the large archway before the conference hall.
Under the arch stood Uchiha clansmen wearing dark blue ceremonial robes, each bearing the Uchiha fan symbol on their backs.
Some had long hair while others had short, gathered here in twos and threes.
"Hey Kenta," one greeted, "heard your wife's expecting?"
"Yeah, ha-ha! Don't forget to give a gift when the baby comes—maybe a nice cash packet like we always do."
"Of course! I'm already saving up a good-sized gift for my big nephew."
"..."
"Lately we're shorthanded. The Police Force has accumulated lots of cases waiting to be handled."
"Yeah, I haven't had a day off in ages."
"..."
As Aozora listened to the clan members' laughter and worries, he could feel the weight of their shared emotions.
They were ordinary people—no one was born inherently evil.
Tobirama Senju once said that the Sharingan's power grew in tandem with the strength of one's heart. As hatred built within them, their strength soared, dragging them into darkness.
Was Tobirama's statement correct?
Uchiha Aozora thought it was nonsense.
In such a distorted Ninja World, who could keep their mind pure and untainted?
In endless wars where loved ones and close friends continuously perished, how many people could truly maintain inner peace?
Were only the Uchiha capable of drastic emotional shifts—from love to hatred?
No, such people were everywhere in the Ninja World, countless in number.
Then why were the Uchiha always singled out as examples, accepted without question?
In Uchiha Aozora's eyes, it was all the Sharingan's fault.
Other ninja could experience intense emotional upheaval and chakra surges without any outward signs.
Yet among the Uchiha, whenever someone underwent a traumatic event, their Sharingan would awaken.
Such a trait was painfully obvious.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!