Uchiha Tunan hurried back home, shut the door, and poured himself a cup of tea, lost in thought.
He recalled Uzumaki Kushina's strange gaze today.
Something was off—her eyes carried a strong sense of vigilance, like a cautious herbivore forced to drink from a crocodile-infested river.
Tunan wasn't sure where he had slipped up, but instinct told him to retreat quickly before exposing too many flaws.
What went wrong?
They had only just met, yet she seemed wary of him.
She mentioned that people in the village had been talking about him lately. But everything he did was carefully orchestrated—his grief, his righteousness—no one should have been able to find fault with it.
Strange…
Tunan was a firm believer in self-reflection. Only by constantly examining oneself could one improve and continue the hunt.
If there was something special about Kushina, it was undoubtedly her Uzumaki lineage and the fact that she housed the Nine-Tails.
Could it be that she possesses some form of telepathic ability?
Was she able to perceive the true nature of my soul despite my perfected disguise?
This was troublesome.
If he recalled correctly, Kushina was meant to die during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha…
Tunan took a sip of tea, drumming his fingers against the table.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Then, a flash of inspiration struck. His fingers froze mid-tap.
That's it.
She sees the soul, does she? Then I'll disguise my soul itself.
A smirk played on Tunan's lips as he stepped toward the mirror.
His Sharingan spun, the three tomoe swirling rapidly.
Genjutsu—Hypnotic Eyes.
From this moment on, he revered Kushina.
He saw her as a mother figure.
She was a beacon of warmth in the darkness, a flame that lit up his soul.
Whenever he saw her, his heart would ignite with emotion, driving away the shadows.
And when Naruto was born, that light would naturally fade away…
Tunan felt his consciousness waver as a flickering flame emerged in the depths of his mind.
Moments later, blood-tears trickled from his eyes, his pupils exhausted from the strain.
But the effect was undeniable.
Now, when he thought of Kushina, a deep sense of affection arose from the core of his being.
"A prey is still a prey—you can't escape me."
He let out a low, throaty chuckle.
"Hiss… Damn, my heart actually hurts."
In the dim candlelight, his whispered words melted into the shadows.
---
That evening, the Uchiha clan's Great Elder arrived at Tunan's home, personally escorting him to a special location.
Naka Shrine.
This was the heart of the Uchiha clan—both a sacred gathering place and a spiritual symbol.
Only the clan's elders and the patriarch could enter freely.
Inside, the flickering blue glow of oil lamps cast shifting shadows along the walls, making the Great Elder and Tunan's silhouettes dance in the dimness.
"Tunan, this shrine is the birthplace of the Uchiha clan," the Elder said solemnly. "Whenever a great decision is to be made, we gather here."
Tunan remained silent, listening.
"There are two reasons I called you here today," the Elder continued.
"First, you handled the situation with Konoha's leadership well. Because of your actions, Hiruzen Sarutobi was forced to compensate us generously."
With that, he slid a brand-new passbook across the table toward Tunan.
Tunan took a glance—600,000 ryo.
The equivalent of an A-rank mission reward.
If converted into Ichiraku Ramen… that would be around 10,000 bowls.
Yet, Tunan showed no reaction.
Seeing this, the Great Elder's admiration for him deepened.
"This amount is already generous. After all, we lacked solid evidence to demand more."
"You are still young. The clan does not wish for you to lose yourself in wealth. So, we've decided to allocate only 600,000 ryo to you. The remaining funds will stay with the clan for safekeeping. If you ever need more, simply ask me."
Tunan smiled slightly, picked up the passbook, and slipped it into his ninja pouch.
"This is already plenty. Thank you, Elder."
The Elder nodded in satisfaction and handed him another scroll.
"You have now been promoted to jōnin. As per our tradition, you may select three jutsu from the Clan's Inheritance Scroll."
"However," the Elder added, his gaze sharpening, "after discussing with Fugaku, we have decided to grant you one of the Uchiha Clan's greatest secrets. This single technique will count as two of your three choices."
Tunan raised an eyebrow.
The Uchiha's greatest secret?
Could it be Izanagi?
Curious, he unrolled the scroll.
At the top, a name was written:
"Shunshin Bunshin no Jutsu" (Instant Clone Technique)
Tunan's eyes narrowed.
The Elder gave a knowing smirk and began his explanation:
"This technique is classified as an S-rank genjutsu and ninjutsu hybrid."
"Due to its extreme difficulty, later generations broke it down into two simpler jutsu—Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker) and Bunshin no Jutsu (Clone Technique)."
"Years later, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, studied this jutsu and developed his own variation—the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)."
Tunan's mind immediately flashed to one man from the original timeline—Shisui Uchiha.
Shisui's famed Body Flicker Technique wasn't just high-speed movement—it was this very jutsu, the Instant Clone Technique.
Unlike regular clones, Shisui's technique produced solid duplicates that could engage in battle and vanish upon taking damage—far superior to mere illusions.
This is a true battle art.
Tunan carefully rolled the scroll back up, bowing slightly.
"Thank you, Elder."
The Elder nodded in approval and unfurled a larger scroll.
"Now, choose your final technique."
Tunan scanned the list.
Unlike the last time he had been here, the techniques available now were far more advanced. Many were complex hybrid techniques involving ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu.
Then, his eyes landed on something intriguing.
"This one."
The Elder followed his gaze and frowned slightly.
"Hijutsu: Jūga Kiba" (Secret Technique: Beast Fang Frenzy)
The Elder's voice carried a hint of doubt.
"This technique is used on ninja beasts. By channeling chakra into their bodies, it enhances their physical form, allowing them to enter a frenzied berserker state. It was developed by our ancestors after studying the Aburame Clan's insect techniques."
"The actual combat effectiveness is questionable, and it consumes a great deal of chakra. Are you sure about this choice?"
"Yes," Tunan confirmed without hesitation.
The Elder sighed but relented.
"Very well."
He performed a hand seal, and a smaller scroll materialized before him.
He handed it to Tunan, who swiftly stored it in his pouch.
Then, the Elder's tone turned grave.
"Tunan."
Tunan adjusted his glasses and sat up straight.
"What are your orders, Elder?"
The Elder's eyes gleamed in the lamplight.
"Where do you believe Uchiha's future lies?"
Tunan paused, then spoke with conviction.
"Blind obedience will not change the fate of our clan."
The Elder's gaze sharpened.
"What do you mean?"
Tunan stood, looking down at the Elder. His voice was calm but firm.
"The strong shall rule."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
The Elder watched him go, a satisfied smile curling his lips.
"Good… I look forward to that day."
He turned his gaze to the stone tablet deep within the shrine and muttered:
"Everything… for Uchiha."