Naruto: I'm Really Not an Evil Uchiha!

Fugaku could never forget how cold sweat had drenched his entire body, as if someone had poured a bucket of icy water over him.

After a day's rest, feeling slightly better, Fugaku immediately summoned Shimizu. His intent was clear: to pressure Shimizu into accelerating his medical research.

"Have you been training with Fire Release lately? Are you trying to develop new jutsu?" Fugaku asked.

Today, he had assigned someone to monitor Shimizu and discovered that he had been practicing various jutsu that seemed random and unrelated.

"Yes, just minor tricks. E-rank stuff," Shimizu replied.

"Why don't you devote all your time to medical ninjutsu?" Fugaku's tone grew sterner, clearly showing his disapproval.

"I have been dedicating a significant amount of time to medical ninjutsu," Shimizu replied with a faint smile, though Fugaku could see no genuine warmth in his expression.

"Are you just going to squander your talent like this?" Fugaku's voice now carried a trace of authority and disappointment.

To Fugaku, it seemed that Shimizu did not take the Uchiha clan seriously, despite his natural gifts.

"Fugaku-sama, I train in medical ninjutsu because I choose to. I train in Fire Release because I choose to. How I allocate my time is up to me," Shimizu said calmly, locking eyes with Fugaku. His dark eyes betrayed a cold smile within.

Even while practicing Fire Release at home, Fugaku had spies keeping tabs on him—this much was clear to Shimizu. However, he was not foolish enough to let anyone notice that he was developing a powerful jutsu. Each practice session was meticulously controlled, slowing his movements to make them appear unremarkable.

To any observer, it would seem he was working on a D-rank or C-rank jutsu.

"As for medical ninjutsu, rest assured, Fugaku-sama, I will not neglect my progress. Medical advancements are never achieved overnight. Taking ten or even twenty years would be entirely reasonable," Shimizu explained, sensing Fugaku's impatience. Was this urgency born from his role as the clan head, sensing the brewing undercurrents in the village? Or was it simply a desire to keep his vision intact?

Whatever the reason, Shimizu was indifferent.

Previously, he had humored Fugaku because he genuinely needed to focus on learning medical ninjutsu. But now, after several sleepless nights, he had successfully developed the Fire Flicker Technique.

His strengthened chakra network made developing jutsu much easier. Unlike others who needed to navigate intricate pathways like winding mountain roads, Shimizu now walked the expressway—broad and direct. While others risked damaging their chakra network by pushing too far, Shimizu's enhancements allowed him to proceed boldly.

Equipped with both the Fire Flicker and the Rasengan, along with an increased chakra reserve, Shimizu's confidence soared.

"Fugaku-sama," Shimizu said, "you need not worry. I will comply with your orders."

Fugaku's instincts told him that Shimizu's words were nothing but polite defiance. Though he couldn't find any flaws in Shimizu's arguments, it was obvious that Shimizu intended to continue wasting time on other pursuits.

"I'll assign a few clan members to you," Fugaku finally said. "Teach them medical ninjutsu in your free time. I want to see progress."

This arrangement served a dual purpose: ensuring that Shimizu contributed to the clan and placing him under surveillance. With the border growing increasingly unstable, Fugaku anticipated being assigned to guard it soon. He also planned to take this time to review Uchiha assets and prepare for the uncertain future.

That grim future—it loomed ever closer, though Fugaku could not predict when it would arrive. He hoped to accelerate research into cloning technology.

Hearing Fugaku's words, Shimizu's lips curled into a faint smile. Without answering directly, he posed a question of his own:

"Fugaku-sama, let me ask you something. If one day, an Uchiha massacred the entire clan, would you avenge the fallen?"

"Of course I would. We are all Uchiha," Fugaku replied without hesitation, though he found the question odd.

"Oh, is that so? Let's hope it remains true," Shimizu said, his gaze turning icy.

Teaching others? What a waste of time. Even with Rin Nohara, Shimizu mostly handed her written instructions to study on her own, checking in only occasionally. And now Fugaku expected him to babysit others? This was clearly just a way to monitor him.

"Lord Hokage has assigned me a mission," Shimizu said abruptly. "I need to leave tomorrow, so I must rest tonight." He stood up as he spoke.

"Shimizu!" Fugaku barked, frustrated by Shimizu's attitude.

For a moment, Fugaku considered teaching Shimizu a lesson but dismissed the thought. They were clan members, after all; there was no need for violence.

Shimizu, however, had been maintaining his chakra the entire time, fully expecting Fugaku's reaction. He smirked internally. Fugaku was always like this—soft and hesitant, even when Itachi clashed with other clan members.

Shimizu had had enough of pandering. Before leaving, he cast a lingering glance toward Mikoto, who was busy in the kitchen. His departure was marked by one resolute thought: perhaps the Uchiha clan needed a new leader.

With Fugaku likely heading to the border soon, this could be Shimizu's best opportunity.

"What's wrong?" Mikoto asked, stepping out of the kitchen after hearing Fugaku shout. She looked startled.

Fugaku did not respond, his eyes fixed on the direction in which Shimizu had left, as if trying to see through him. What was Shimizu truly thinking? Was his aloof demeanor merely a facade?

The next day, Shimizu stood in his courtyard. Flames seemed to spread from his feet.

Boom!

In an instant, he moved five meters away, leaving a long, fiery trail that gradually dissipated into the air.

"It's nearly twice as fast as an ordinary Flicker Technique, but the chakra consumption is only one-fifth. Let's try continuous use."

The courtyard became a canvas of intersecting fiery trails, forming an intricate, blooming lotus pattern.

"Not bad. The flames perfectly obscure my movements," Shimizu remarked with satisfaction.

Initially, he had envisioned a different approach. However, after enhancing his chakra network, he revised his plan. By wrapping his feet in Fire-natured chakra and generating explosive thrust, he achieved remarkable speed.

And this was only the beginning. With a deeper understanding of Fire Release, he might one day use this propulsion for flight—much like Onoki's Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique. Such an ability would be invaluable for combat, travel, and escape alike.

"Next, I'll focus on physical training," Shimizu mused. He had limited knowledge of the chakra pathways required for Lightning Release, but by enveloping his body in pure Lightning-natured chakra, he could stimulate his cells, boosting both defense and vitality.

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