"Haha! Not exactly!"
Before anyone else could speak, Uchiha Xinmei smiled, patting Fugaku's head to comfort him. "Considering how dangerous it was for these techniques to leak out, Tianyi only taught your father the Eye-Opening Technique and the Tianyi Chakra Refinement Method."
"I only knew about this, but I wasn't taught anything either!"
"You, on the other hand, already learned the Tianyi Refinement Method and the foundational martial arts technique. We're not excluding you—don't overthink it."
"Really?"
Fugaku looked relieved, grinning again. He flashed Tianyi a thumbs-up. "Big bro, you're amazing! You came up with so many god-tier techniques!"
"With these, I'm definitely going to keep getting stronger. Maybe one day I'll surpass the Third Hokage—or even Uchiha Madara! Hehe!"
Tianyi shook his head, speechless.
This brother of mine is getting a little too inflated.
"As long as it keeps you motivated," he said flatly. Then he turned to Uchiha Nobuhiko. "Father, next you should begin selecting clansmen you trust implicitly. Bring them to me in secret, and I'll place the spiritual contract seal on them."
"Once that's done, I'll teach them our methods and help them improve quickly."
"This way, we can bolster our faction's strength and move more quickly on internal reforms and expanding influence."
Now that the spiritual contract seal could ensure secrecy, it was time to push the plan forward.
"Alright. Let's do it your way," Nobuhiko nodded. "Since the contract ensures your secrets are safe and they can't act against you, I feel reassured."
"But… what if I had the entire clan sign contracts with you in batches?" he suggested. "Wouldn't that let us rapidly unify internal voices and complete all reforms even faster?"
"Too hasty."
Tianyi shook his head. "Signing the contract means they won't betray me or leak secrets—but it doesn't mean they'll be loyal to us or follow our plans unconditionally."
"This kind of thing must be done step by step."
"We begin with the loyal ones, raise their strength, and once our side has a definitive edge, we can use strength and results to bring the rest in line."
"Right, right. I got ahead of myself," Nobuhiko nodded seriously. "Let's go with your pacing."
"Oh—also, I plan to place contracts on Minato, Shikaku, Kushina, my teacher Tsunade, and Lady Mito."
"I'll teach them martial arts, chakra refinement, spiritual meditation, and the chakra movement method…"
Before Nobuhiko could interject in shock, Tianyi recounted the full story of Uzumaki Mito's confrontation with the Third Hokage days earlier, along with her personal support and investment in him.
"Phew…"
Nobuhiko exhaled sharply. "This all happened recently?"
"Oh! I remember something strange that day. Someone from the Guard told me the sky over the Senju compound darkened without warning—right in the middle of a clear day."
"I didn't think much of it at the time… But it must've been the moment when Mito clashed with the Third."
"Sounds like it," Tianyi agreed.
"Tsk-tsk!"
Nobuhiko smacked his lips with glee. "So the old monkey finally ran into a real storm, huh?"
"She's Lady Mito, after all. Not to be underestimated!"
"And based on what you've said, there's no doubt that the Third and Danzo were behind the annihilation of the Senju elites."
"She supported him into power, and this is how he repaid her. Shameless."
"Without her support, Sarutobi Hiruzen never would've been Hokage in the first place. He was only Tobirama's emergency pick."
"And the team who came back alive while Tobirama died protecting them? Seriously? Guards who can't protect their Hokage?"
"No credit, only blame. Lady Mito stood by them at the time, but now she sees their true colors."
Fugaku and Tianyi exchanged surprised glances.
"The coup back then… it was that serious?" Fugaku asked.
Tianyi shook his head. "More than that. I imagine it was Mito and the other great clans together that quashed the uprising."
Nobuhiko nodded. "Exactly. Back then, we Uchiha were hated across the village. That's why I helped suppress the coup."
"Many of those who resisted—led by Elder Uchiha Setsuna—were either imprisoned or sent to the frontlines as cannon fodder. Most never came back."
"That's how the rebellion ended… on the surface, at least."
"But even after that, the Third and Danzo kept Uchiha under pressure."
"Other clans distanced themselves. It was only after you started changing things that I began to see a path forward."
"This time, you've even secured Uzumaki Mito's support. If she's backing you, we might really turn the tide for Uchiha."
"Father," Tianyi said solemnly, "while Mito still has a few years, I'll do everything I can to grow stronger under her protection."
"We need to make the most of it."
"I'll take care of things in the clan," Nobuhiko said. "We'll reform, rally, and rebuild. Uchiha will rise."
Then he turned to Fugaku. "Son, you too need to step up. Don't let your younger brother shoulder everything. With these techniques, your potential is no longer the issue."
"Yes, Father!"
Fugaku nodded seriously, his motivation reignited.
"By the way," Tianyi asked, "you also know about Mito's lifespan?"
"Of course," Nobuhiko replied. "Anyone paying attention knows. The moment she brought that Uzumaki girl to Konoha, we guessed it."
"She was training a successor—preparing a new Jinchūriki. That says everything."
"It's probably one of the reasons the Third didn't retaliate this time. He thinks he can wait her out."
"Then he'll be disappointed," Tianyi said with a sly grin.
"Oh?"
Nobuhiko and the others turned to him.
"I've got a way to extend her life."
Nobuhiko blinked, then his eyes widened. "You mean… the martial arts and chakra movement method? Will it work in time?"
"It will," Tianyi said confidently. "She's far stronger in body and mind than you or me. She'll progress faster."
"Plus, Tsunade-sensei and I are working on a life-extending potion that restores vitality."
"If it works, it'll benefit her… and even you, Father."
"Hah!"
Nobuhiko laughed. "Well played, son! Let's see the look on the Third's face when Mito outlives all his plans!"
"But we can't let up. We need to be strong enough that when the tables turn, it's too late for him to fight back."
"Exactly."
Tianyi nodded.
"I'm off to practice!" Fugaku announced, jumping up.
He wanted to prove himself—show that he too was part of the backbone of the family.
"I'll go clean up and practice too!" Xinmei smiled warmly, clearing the table.
"I'll head to the Guard and begin selecting loyal clansmen," Nobuhiko said. "You go and pass those skills to Lady Mito—time is everything now."
Uchiha Nobuhiko had never expected to someday want Uzumaki Mito to live longer.
But now?
She was no longer their enemy.
She was their greatest ally.
And it felt… damn good.
The last thing he thought before stepping out was:
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the biggest supporter you once had… now belongs to me.