Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 24: Uchiha Fugaku's Pledge

After laughing for a while, Hayama staggered to his feet and headed in the direction where Tatsu had been thrown, intending to provide basic first aid. It took quite some time, but he eventually found the injured Tatsu, drenched in sweat from the pain, wedged between two rocks. Looking at the sheer five-meter-high cliff above the crevice, Hayama couldn't help but admire his teammate's bit of luck.

Hayama pulled Tatsu out from between the rocks, gave him a soldier pill, then took out a hemostatic powder to sprinkle over Tatsu's badly injured left shoulder. Finally, he wrapped it up with bandages. The crude bandaging caused Tatsu to cry out repeatedly in pain, and his "aggrieved" gaze at Hayama's rough handling left Hayama a little embarrassed.

As for his own chest wound, Hayama chose to leave it alone. The cut, already dusted with hemostatic powder, had formed a thin scab. Though a small amount of blood still seeped out, it wasn't a major problem since Hayama was planning to retreat soon.

At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku hobbled over, his leg wrapped in bandages. Among the three of them, he had sustained the least injuries. Aside from being low on chakra, he'd only been stabbed once in the leg.

Looking at the crouching and lying figures of these two ninja he'd barely gotten to know, Fugaku reflected on the unpredictability of fate and grew increasingly impressed with them both—especially the young Hayama. Fugaku had been deeply struck by Hayama's performance: his keen decisiveness in strategy, his calm ruthlessness in combat, and his boldness and meticulousness under pressure. Fugaku couldn't help but feel inferior in comparison. His father had often said that the battlefield was the best proving ground for ninja. While Fugaku had outwardly agreed, he hadn't truly taken it to heart, stubbornly believing that a ninja's bloodline ultimately determined their potential. But this battlefield experience shattered his biases, stomping them into the ground. Those who had underestimated their enemies because of their prestigious bloodlines paid the price with their lives. And Hayama's performance completely overturned Fugaku's expectations. After all, Hayama was only fifteen.

It wasn't unheard of for a fifteen-year-old to perform outstandingly in battle. Fugaku knew a few, but most of them came from prominent clans. Among them, there was even a civilian-born ninja named Namikaze Minato who, thanks to his extraordinary abilities, had earned recognition from the Third Hokage himself. Yet Minato, though of civilian origin, had the backing of Jiraiya, becoming Jiraiya's student and the Third Hokage's grand-student immediately after graduating ninja academy—essentially a direct heir to the Hokage lineage with a strong chance of someday becoming Hokage. But from what Fugaku had seen in last night's battle, it seemed likely that Hayama had reached this level on his own, without any guidance. The reason was simple: Hayama had only a few jutsu in his repertoire, yet his chakra reserves were remarkably large.

Realizing this, Fugaku felt a genuine desire to build a good relationship. Having more allies could only be beneficial. Moreover, the method to win over Hayama was straightforward: sharing jutsu. Powerful jutsu that could significantly enhance his strength. In this regard, Fugaku could confidently promise results. The Uchiha clan had no shortage of jutsu. After all, with the Sharingan's unmatched ability to copy techniques, they had amassed a treasure trove of jutsu over time. And as a true elite clan, the Uchiha had wealth and resources to spare. In simpler terms, they were rich enough to be extravagant.

As Hayama was about to stand up, Fugaku spoke up. Despite his even tone, the understated confidence behind his words nearly made Hayama stumble.

"Hayama, once we're back in the village, pick a place to meet. I have a few minor jutsu you could probably use, and Tatsu can come along too."

Hayama, who had spent fifteen years struggling in the ninja world, had never before heard anyone refer to jutsu as "minor." In that moment, Hayama truly felt what it meant to belong to a prestigious clan. Jutsu that could cause a bloody scramble outside were being offered as casually as if they were cabbages in a marketplace, with Fugaku's tone as nonchalant as if he were saying: "Hayama, let's meet somewhere. I'll treat you to a meal and give you a few cabbages while we're at it."

Overwhelmed, Hayama wanted to ask, "Is this real?" but worried about offending the "rich kid." He also considered saying "Thank you, Daddy," but that seemed too undignified. Steadiness was a principle he refused to compromise. So, he simply replied:

"Sure…"

Then, without another word, he carried Tatsu away, leaving Fugaku with nothing but a "cool" departing back view.

…

Hours later, upon returning to the chaotic border camp, the first thing Hayama did was rush Tatsu to the field hospital. Then, he found a medic to treat his own wounds. After taking care of everything, Hayama returned to his tent and lay on the makeshift bed, carefully weighing the meaning behind Fugaku's words.

Clearly, Fugaku's statement was a promise. Hayama knew the Uchiha clan wouldn't back out. Although he hadn't known Fugaku before, the obedient behavior of the other Uchiha ninja towards him the previous night suggested that Fugaku held some status within his clan. A ninja of high status might not always keep their word, but when that name was Uchiha, it became a certainty. With the Uchiha clan's reputation as one of the ninja world's foremost families, their credibility was undeniable.

That left Hayama with a question: should he accept Fugaku's goodwill or not?

Refusing would likely offend Fugaku, and possibly the entire Uchiha clan. That was a risk Hayama, still a Chūnin, could not afford. A family like the Uchiha might struggle to take down a high-ranking village elder, but eliminating a civilian Chūnin was about as easy as squashing an ant.

Accepting the offer, however, meant gaining a significant short-term power boost—possibly even a qualitative leap. But over time, it would become impossible to conceal the source of this power. Eventually, people would label him as an Uchiha affiliate. Judging by the village's recent moves, the Uchiha clan, reeling from two major defeats, was likely to face increasing scrutiny and pressure from the Third Hokage and the Konoha leadership. In the worst case, they might lose their bid for high-level positions entirely. Even so, a fallen giant was still a giant. The Uchiha clan would remain one of Konoha's most prominent families. For Hayama, who had no solid backing, aligning with such a powerful faction seemed like a good idea.

Technically, Hayama's civilian origins made him part of the Hokage faction, since the ninja academy was run by the Third Hokage. But in reality, no one in the leadership considered him a noteworthy student. Despite his solid performance on the battlefield—arguably outstanding among his peers—he had somehow never caught the attention of higher-ups. At fifteen, he remained a nobody.

Hayama knew that if things continued this way, he'd never achieve recognition from the Konoha leadership. The best outcome would be to retire after losing a limb and scrape by on a meager pension, eking out a miserable existence. The worst outcome was dying in some forgotten corner of the battlefield, without even the honor of being remembered.

Thinking of this, Hayama couldn't help but feel despondent. He recalled Dufu's tragic death, an image forever etched into his mind, a haunting nightmare that reminded him of the brutal reality of the ninja world. From that moment on, Hayama realized he needed a change—a new approach to survival.

Now, with the Uchiha clan extending an olive branch, Hayama had no reason to refuse. Judging from what his college roommate often talked about in the past, Sasuke Uchiha's family seemed to have been incredibly powerful at the time, and Sasuke's father might have been a high-ranking figure, possibly even a Hokage candidate.

Realizing this was his chance to align with a clan that had the potential to rise again, Hayama made up his mind. He would support the Uchiha during their difficult times, seizing the opportunity to build a relationship that could pay off in the long run.

On that day, Hayama decided he would no longer struggle alone. From now on, he had a backing. Even though he knew the Uchiha clan wouldn't consider him a big deal, and this kind of recruitment happened secretly among all major families under the guise of "for the good of the village," Hayama saw this as his chance.

Sure, nothing was truly free. The Uchiha weren't foolish; they were shrewd. Accepting their gift meant becoming somewhat beholden to them. But Hayama was prepared for that. He understood the costs and was willing to bear them.

Determined, Hayama drifted into a deep sleep, imagining a new future. In his dreams, he abandoned his cautious demeanor and began wielding power with bold confidence, ruling the ninja world and finally living the life he'd always dreamed of.

In Konoha Year 39, July, Hayama made his decision. He would abandon Konoha's official leadership and align himself with the Uchiha clan, transitioning from a nameless pawn to someone with solid backing. It took him fifteen years of struggle and hardship to reach this turning point, a journey only he could truly understand.

The next morning, as the sun rose, Hayama completed his daily exercises and gazed at the first light of day. For the first time in a long while, he smiled. Everything was finally moving in the right direction.