Chapter 325: Stepping into the Sea (2)

Uchiha Keiji was not used to walking slowly on the empty streets. It was noon, the busiest time of the day, but Konoha had issued a maximum curfew order, and non-ninjas were not allowed to go out on the streets at will, leaving many vendors with nowhere to operate. Even so, Uchiha Keiji still saw many pairs of eyes from the windows and door cracks, which were the speculations of the people.

Not long after, Uchiha Keiji walked back home and saw his sons as expected. They were members of the security department and their mission was to evacuate the people and guard the gate. Naturally, they did not follow the main force to go out for defense.

There was no verbal exchange between the father and son. They sat in the dining room in silence, and the servants brought the dishes that had been ordered in advance. Uchiha Keiji was very particular about food, and would not eat anything unless it was fresh and delicious. The menu at home would be made by the old servants, and would be prepared and placed on the table even if he did not go home for dinner.

The autumn wind blows suddenly, and the old servant who pays attention to health preservation prepares the eight delicacies from the sea today: shark fin, abalone, fish lips, sea cucumber, skirt (the skirt-shaped soft meat outside the turtle's shell), scallops, fish crisps, and toads. All of them are carefully selected ingredients, some of which were even still breathing a moment ago. In addition, the retired chef of the famous family who was hired personally cooked them, and the color, aroma and taste are delicious, which makes people's mouths water.

Uchiha Keiji picked up his chopsticks and picked up an abalone and put it on the plate in front of him, but he didn't eat it. Instead, he poured a small glass of wine and drank it down, squinting his eyes and savoring it carefully: "The sixty-year-old wine is soft and mellow, and it leaves a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth. It is indeed one of the best wines in the family."

The eldest brother, Uchiha Tokulong, frowned and said softly, "Father, why are you back? Such a big thing happened in the village, you should stay by the side of the Hokage for a moment."

Uchiha Keiji slowly finished eating the abalone and glanced at Lao Dadao: "Has Wenchuan been looking for you these days?"

Uchiha Fumikawa, the current Three-Tails Jinchuriki, is also Uchiha Keiji's nephew. He lives next door, but the two sides do not have close contacts on a daily basis. They are in the category of knowing each other but not being familiar with each other.

"No, Wenchuan almost never goes out and stays in his room." Uchiha Delong replied honestly with a dazed look on his face.

Uchiha Keiji sighed, put down his chopsticks and said, "It's not that Wenchuan likes to be alone, it's just that you guys have been so arrogant in recent years that it's hard to talk to you. I remember that when you were young, you were almost inseparable. You four went everywhere together."

The three of them lowered their heads and said nothing. Uchiha Keiji slammed the table and shouted, "Boss, go call Wenchuan over so that our family can have a proper meal!"

Not long after, a young man in his twenties with fair complexion followed Uchiha Delong into the restaurant. He seemed very thin, as if he could be blown away by the wind, but his eyes were full of sharpness. When he saw Uchiha Keiji, he half-knelt hurriedly and said, "Greetings, Deputy Hokage."

Uchiha Keiji motioned for him to sit down and picked up a piece of fish lips for him: "You love fish lips the most. This is the food sent from the Land of Waves. Try it while it's hot."

"Thank you, uncle."

Uchiha Fumikawa tasted it and said, "It tastes really delicious."

The five of them ate in silence. When they were almost done, Uchiha Keiji wiped his mouth and said, "The four of you brothers are all here today. There are a total of four men in our group. I have something to tell you."

"According to your grandfather's arrangement, your generation was named with the prefixes of De, Wen, and Wu. However, my third brother Qide only had two daughters and failed to give birth to Wu. My second brother Qiguang died young and only gave birth to Wenchuan. However, I have three sons, Delong, Desheng, and Dequan. Thinking back on the past now makes my nose sour..."

Uchiha Keiji sighed and said, "Thirty years ago, in this restaurant, your grandfather sat in my position and made detailed arrangements. Unfortunately, he died in battle at the border. Not even a body was found. My two brothers and I had no choice but to build a cenotaph for him in the cemetery."

The four young men listened quietly. Uchiha Keiji continued, "Our clan is the most united and the most protective. Over the thousands of years of inheritance, each branch of the clan has rarely been cut off. Although the four of you are not born of the same parents, you are actually no different from brothers. In the past few years, I have become the Vice Hokage. Delong, Desheng, and Dequan rely on their power to look down on you, Wenchuan. Although I don't say it, I know it in my heart."

Uchiha Fumikawa moved his lips to speak, but Uchiha Keiji interrupted him: "I know the character of my own sons. They want to step on my shoulders to rise to the top, so naturally they look down on you, their orphan cousin."

The three sons' faces flushed with anxiety. Nono dared not to speak. Uchiha Keiji did not blame them too much, "Your generation grew up in a honey pot. Under the protection of the family, you have had a smooth journey with few setbacks. You even rarely set foot on the battlefield. Now think about it, it may not be a good thing. I killed people when I was five years old, became a squad leader when I was ten, and was promoted several times on the border. I had five body wounds. At a young age, I was listed as a key training target by the family. I killed my way through with my own sword and gun."

"Later, I served as the head of the Neko-nin Village, the warden of the First Prison, the deputy clan leader, and the deputy Hokage. These were achievements that I achieved step by step. I know that some people in the village laugh at me behind my back, saying that I am a yes-man deputy Hokage who can only flatter Ye Shan, but they don't think about it. If I don't have any ability, will Ye Shan use me?"

Uchiha Keiji stood up and poured a glass of wine for Uchiha Fumikawa. The latter hurriedly stood up but was pressed down on the shoulder by Uchiha Keiji and sat down: "A few years ago, I used my power as deputy clan leader to seal the three-tailed beast into your stomach. You must be quite resentful, right?"

"Don't dare!"

"I don't dare to! You haven't been willing to come visit me during the holidays in the past few years. I've seen it all, but I won't blame you. Do you know why?"

Uchiha Fumikawa pursed his lips and said nothing. Uchiha Keiji's powerful words came from the restaurant: "Jinchuuriki is one of the strengths of the ninja village. You have been good at water-based ninjutsu since you were a child. You are a well-known water-based ninjutsu expert in the clan. You are undoubtedly the most suitable candidate for the Three-Tails. And once you become a Jinchūriki, I dare not say that you will be rich and prosperous in this life. My second brother Qiguang was arrogant and wanted to make a name for himself in the clan. Who knew that his fate was unfortunate and he died halfway. You have fulfilled his wish."

"In the past few years, your position in the clan meeting is only below mine, and it is because of the help of the Jinchūriki! In my plan, after retiring in a few years, I will fully support you to take over my political position. Do you know why?"

When these words were spoken, not only Uchiha Fumikawa was stunned, but his three sons also looked at their father in disbelief. How could a father pass on his inheritance to his nephew and not to his sons?

Uchiha Keiji sneered with clear eyes: "My three sons are strong on the outside but weak on the inside. They are good at calculations but lack the overall perspective. They are destined to linger in the middle level all their lives and never have the mind and heart to step into the forefront. But you are different. You are taciturn but wise, depressed but tenacious, weak but decisive, kind but cruel, young but experienced, just like your father when he was young, but you just lack a platform to rise to the top. That's why I will ignore their power and even welcome it. In the future, you will have less ties and more distance, so that you won't be reluctant to refuse them when they ask for help."

"There can only be one person in charge of a branch, and you are the one I have chosen!"

Uchiha Fumikawa frowned and thought for a moment, then he picked up the wine glass and drank it down: "Uncle opened up his heart and said a lot of things from his heart today. I am really moved, but I am also a little uneasy. I guess his death is not far away."

Uchiha Keiji nodded and said, "It should be not far away. I am not forcing you to die, but the village needs you to die. But your life is life, and the lives of my sons are also lives. You can choose one to die with you, so you will have a companion on the road to the underworld."

It was as if a devil's whisper rang in the ears of several people: "Now tell me, who would you choose to die?"

Uchiha Fumikawa played with his wine cup, looking at his three cousins ​​with a half-smile, which made their hair stand on end and they shuddered: "Let's choose the third brother, Dequan."

Hearing this, the eldest and second brother breathed a sigh of relief. Before they could cast their eyes on the unlucky third brother, Uchiha Keiji clapped his hands and said loudly, "You are indeed a good candidate that I have chosen. Can you tell me why you chose the third brother?"

"The eldest and second oldest are timid and appear to be aggressive, but they are actually very cautious. Once you, uncle, die, they will immediately keep their tails between legs and behave themselves. The third oldest is arrogant and has a fanatical pursuit of power. He also happens to be very talented. I'm afraid this will be detrimental to the future development of the branch, and may even bring disaster."

"Uncle, you died voluntarily. The Hokage must feel extremely guilty, and he will have to pass this guilt on to your sons. By then, the third son will definitely do whatever it takes to climb up until he inherits your political position. But human guilt is limited and has a time limit. Sooner or later, the Hokage will run out of patience and tolerance. By then, our branch will probably end up being pushed down by everyone. It is better to let the eldest and second sons live on this incense and love, so that if the younger generation has a good seedling in the future, they will have a foundation to reach the pinnacle."

Uchiha Keiji nodded repeatedly, obviously very satisfied: "You are right, it is exactly what I thought. Third brother, did you hear what we said? If you have anything else to say, please say it as soon as possible."

Uchiha Dequan has thick eyebrows, big ears and a sturdy body, but he has a pair of peach blossom eyes, which makes him look charming. Hearing this, he smiled bitterly and said, "Father and cousin have already said everything. I have nothing to say about this. I have lived a life of luxury since I was a child. I have enjoyed everything I should have. This is given by the village and the family. Now I should give back a little."

Uchiha Keiji looked at the third brother deeply and said, "You are most like me, but you lack awe in your heart, otherwise you would not have been chosen."

"Pour the wine, let's have a reunion drink together!"

After drinking the reunion wine, the next thing to do is to taste the separation wine. The moon waxes and wanes, the water is full and then overflows. Uchiha De is in control of his whole body, and so is Uchiha Keiji.

But this is a war, a war that could lead to the destruction of a nation and race if we are not careful!