Uchiha's Future Is in Your Hands

Maintaining Susanoo for a long time was indeed hard on Habara's eyes, but it was nowhere near as bad as the old man before him imagined.

Habara's Susanoo had been awakened with Tamatsusari's help, and Tamatsusari greatly reduced the difficulty of activating Susanoo.

Moreover, after a month of training and study, Habara discovered that this "reduced difficulty" did not apply merely to activating it.

Even Susanoo's drain on his body seemed to have been included in the category of "reduced difficulty." The strain on Habara's eyes was actually far less severe than he had imagined.

However, Susanoo did not consume Dojutsu Power alone. It also consumed chakra at a frenzied rate.

Although most of that chakra consumption seemed to come from the Susanoo of Habara's own guardian deity, buried deep within his eyes and seemingly existing in another dimension.

Still, communicating with that power and using the Mangekyō Sharingan to bring it forth was an extremely difficult and chakra-consuming task.

Fortunately, Habara's chakra had increased enormously after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, and he had only activated Susanoo in its initial stage.

That amount of consumption was truly nothing to him. This was the conclusion he had reached after a month of repeated tests and training; otherwise, Habara would not have dared use it carelessly.

Silently deactivating Susanoo and closing his Mangekyō Sharingan as well, Habara quietly watched the old man before him.

In Habara's memories, this old man was named Uchiha Takechi, an elder of considerable standing within the clan.

However, like Uchiha Zong, Habara had virtually no connection with him, and Habara found his political demands thoroughly unpleasant.

After all, once they had gained enough influence to force Uchiha Fugaku, the deeply concealed moderate, to switch sides, Konoha had moved against the Uchiha without hesitation.

It would have been truly strange if Habara had any favorable impression of people like them.

Now that this man had kept the elders behind and said they needed to have a proper talk, Habara was rather curious about what they wanted to say.

Still, what pleased Habara was that perhaps they were about to discuss an answer he was willing to accept.

Only after Uchiha Tomoya and the people Habara had beaten down left the bamboo forest one by one with their heads lowered did Uchiha Takechi finally speak.

"Alright, they've all left. I hope you won't be angry over what happened tonight, Habara-kun."

At that, Uchiha Takechi silently sighed before continuing.

"Elder Naoki told me about your meeting this morning. Fundamentally, I agree with your view, but there is one thing I have No Way to do.

That is, to force the children who follow me to obey me with the toughest possible attitude—to give up those grudges, let go of that hatred, and abandon the beliefs we once held.

The conflict between both sides' beliefs began who knows how many years ago, and after reaching this point today, many things have left us unable to act as we wish."

"So you need me to make a move and tell them?"

Habara raised an eyebrow when he heard Uchiha Takechi's words. Although there was nothing wrong with what the man said, Habara was not about to believe him completely.

After saying that, he pondered for a moment before suddenly smiling.

"At the same time, you wanted to see my Mangekyo, didn't you? Your gaze Just Now already told me everything."

"Indeed. I truly longed to see the Mangekyo again. After all, it has been a very, very long time since I last saw eyes like those."

Uchiha Takechi had no intention of denying it. He directly nodded before revealing a faint smile.

"Besides, fighting them also helps establish your authority. If you want to become Clan Head, you naturally need everyone's recognition.

On Uchiha Zong's side, Shisui's recognition alone was enough to make Other People fully acknowledge you.

But our situation is different. No matter how strong Shisui is, we have had little contact with him.

The children who follow me are ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth. They have only heard of the Mangekyo but Don't Know its power, so naturally they would not accept it.

Therefore, your actions can make up for that as well. Letting those ignorant children know of the Uchiha's ultimate power is also a good thing."

The Uchiha's ultimate power?

Habara could not help but freeze when he heard that. Although the Mangekyō Sharingan was indeed a powerful ability of the Uchiha Clan, it was nowhere near worthy of being called their ultimate power, was it?

After all, beyond the Mangekyō Sharingan was the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, which never went blind and possessed seemingly limitless power.

Could it be that this old man did not know those eyes existed at all?

Habara thought about it briefly, then could not be bothered to care any further. After all, he had received an answer he rather wanted to hear.

Clan Head—coming from Uchiha Takechi's mouth, combined with Habara's threat that morning and his current display—

could be completely regarded as this old man's acknowledgement. Of course, it might also have been a compromise.

But whichever it was, Habara had gotten the answer he wanted!

"Tell me, then. What demands do you have?" Habara took a deep breath and raised his head to look seriously at Uchiha Takechi.

Although he already knew he had received recognition, he did not believe Uchiha Takechi would simply obey him completely.

Even Uchiha Zong had negotiated terms with him. Though he had only dared to do so because of Shisui.

But Uchiha Takechi was also an Elder, after all. He surely had thoughts of his own. Even if Habara might not agree, he could at least hear him out.

He could listen to his requests and understand his thoughts, which would make it easier for Habara to form some judgments.

"I know Uchiha Zong made two demands of you—Shisui becoming Deputy Clan Head, and gaining our recognition.

I heard you agreed to the first demand, and you have already fulfilled the second. Then I will make two demands as well.

Don't worry. We will not make things difficult for you, either."

Uchiha Takechi looked seriously at Habara before speaking solemnly.

"First, you must ensure the clan's safety. That is your duty as Clan Head.

Second, you must fulfill everything you have promised. I want to see you make the Uchiha great again!

Those are my only two demands. Can you agree to them?"

Habara could not help but stare blankly at his words. He had kept wondering what demands this old man would make, perhaps even demands intended to make things difficult for him.

But he had not expected the demands to be so simple. They could even be said to be the very things Habara would need to do in the future.

At This Moment, he realized that while the people within the Uchiha might have had some problems in their heads, their Inner Heart did not seem as awful as he had imagined.

Though their ideals differed, they were still trying to save this clan in their own ways.

Although the outcome had been terrible, they had at least truly acted. That made Habara think somewhat more highly of them.

Taking a deep breath, Habara seriously nodded. "I agree to your demands. I will do my utmost to accomplish All of This, and your demands are also my ultimate goal!"

"Is that so?" The smile on Uchiha Takechi's face brightened considerably at those words.

He turned to Looked Towards Uchiha Zong and the others. Uchiha Zong led the elders of his faction over, together with Uchiha Naoki and the elders among the Hardliners.

Soon, they all stood together as one. Their expressions became incomparably solemn, and The Next Moment, they collectively bowed slightly.

"Clan Head-sama, Uchiha's future is in your hands."