Grand Ancestor, You're Still Young

Although, by seniority, Uchiha Hikari really was the ancestor of the current Uchiha clansmen, and not long ago at the Root Base, she had indeed said to Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, "Why would an adult get serious with children?"

But...

Being called "Grand Ancestor" in public by a whole group of people—especially when several of them were clearly elderly old men—was still rather embarrassing.

After a long while.

"Cough..."

Uchiha Hikari cleared her throat and calmly said, "You may rise... What did you come to see me for?"

She also understood now why Kakashi had been the one knocking on the door earlier.

—This was the home of the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. With the Uchiha Clan arriving in such force, the Anbu had to be extremely nervous. But "paying respects to their ancestor" was also a perfectly legitimate reason, so they could not simply stop them. The only option was for both sides to compromise: hold the meeting in the corridor outside Naruto's home, have the Anbu relay the messages, and at least keep the Uchiha Clan from directly contacting the Jinchuriki.

If nothing unexpected happened, Kakashi had probably already sent someone to notify Sarutobi Hiruzen. The latter was likely on his way over now.

Across from her.

Several Uchiha clansmen exchanged glances. Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head, stepped forward, bowed deeply, and spoke with great respect:

"Grand Ancestor, this is the situation..."

"...In recent years, the village has continued to suspect us of being involved in the unrest four years ago. Not only did they relocate the entire Uchiha Clan to the edge of the village without cause, but the authority of the Military Police Force under our command has also been repeatedly reduced."

"When the clansmen learned of your return, they were all greatly encouraged. We have presumptuously come to disturb you because we hope that, for the sake of our shared bloodline, you will return to the clan and take charge of the overall situation!"

With the Anbu present, Uchiha Fugaku did not make his words too explicit.

But between the lines, he still "subtly" mentioned a certain gloomy, bandage-wrapped man who preferred not to be named, and how he had spent years leading the effort against the Uchiha Clan. To the current Uchiha Clan, he was the person they hated most. When they learned that Shimura Danzō had been carried into the hospital, they had practically wanted to set off firecrackers in celebration.

Kakashi, who was standing nearby with his ears pricked to eavesdrop, twitched at the corner of his eye and remained silent.

Uchiha Hikari, meanwhile, frowned slightly.

"Take charge of the overall situation... Are you serious?"

"Of course. If Grand Ancestor is willing to return, the position of Uchiha Clan head will be yours."

Uchiha Fugaku said it naturally, as though they had already discussed it within the clan.

"..."

Uchiha Hikari narrowed her eyes slightly. Her gaze swept over the group of Uchiha clansmen behind him, most of whom looked at her with fervent eyes, then lingered for several seconds on Shisui, Mikoto, and the others who appeared comparatively calm. After a brief moment of thought, she sighed. "To be honest, I have no interest in fighting for fame and profit."

In fact, perhaps due to the influence of her merged memories from her previous self, she felt an almost instinctive aversion toward the Uchiha Clan.

"But..."

Fugaku instinctively wanted to say more.

But Uchiha Hikari immediately continued, "Besides, since you all know the people suppressing the Uchiha Clan are Konoha's higher-ups, you should be going to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō... Oh, right, that brat Danzō is already lying in the hospital. Then go find brat Sarutobi. You're all grown adults now. You should have some independence. Don't think about relying on me, someone from the past, to solve everything for you."

Uchiha Fugaku: "..."

Kakashi: "..."

No, just because they called you Grand Ancestor, did you really start treating the Third Hokage and the others like snot-nosed brats...?

Uchiha Fugaku's mouth twitched a few times. His eyes rested for several seconds on Uchiha Hikari's overly delicate and youthful face. He forcibly swallowed the words, "Grand Ancestor, you're still young," then patiently explained:

"Grand Ancestor, things are not as simple as you think. The rift between the Uchiha and the village has existed for a long time, and the rights and wrongs involved are difficult to explain. Over the years, it is not as though we have not tried speaking with the Third Hokage, but every time, it ended unhappily..."

"Then talk again."

Uchiha Hikari said lightly, "I have already explained the Nine Tails Riot to brat Sarutobi. If he doesn't believe me, have him come find me."

In Uchiha Hikari's view, the Uchiha Clan's problem was not actually that complicated.

Strengthening and developing the Uchiha might take some effort, but avoiding the clan's destruction was far too simple.

This had always been a problem left over from history.

On one hand, Konoha needed the Uchiha Clan's strength, yet also feared them, worried that another person like Uchiha Madara might appear, so it had deliberately suppressed them all along.

On the other hand, a small portion of the Uchiha Clan truly was mentally unstable. They tended to go to extremes whenever something happened; a breakup could make them want to destroy the world.

But...

What clan did not have a few lunatics?

The five great hidden villages had existed for sixty years and had fought through four Warring States Periods. Even during peacetime, on average, two people could not scrape together one complete pair of parents. Living under that kind of pressure, it would be stranger if no one went mad.

The Uchiha Clan was said to be prone to extremes, but the only ones who truly turned dark and disowned everyone close to them were Obito and Itachi. Even someone like Uchiha Madara could still interact with people relatively normally. Especially before Black Zetsu deceived him into betraying Konoha, Uchiha Madara had not really committed any great evil beyond having a bad temper and being poor at getting along with others.

Not to mention examples like Shisui, who barely changed before and after awakening the Mangekyo.

If the Nine Tails Riot had never happened and Minato Namikaze had remained alive, the Uchiha Clan Massacre most likely would not have occurred.

And even if the Nine Tails Riot had happened...

As long as Shisui had not been assassinated by Danzō and had his eye taken, there would still have been room for reconciliation.

Now, she was keeping watch over the Nine-Tails, so nothing could go wrong for the time being. Shimura Danzō, who bore the deepest malice toward the Uchiha, was also lying in the hospital. Whether he could ever get out of bed again in this life was uncertain. Konoha's higher-ups only had the indecisive Sarutobi Hiruzen and two advisers with little ability to act remaining. If they still could not negotiate a result under those circumstances, then it would mean neither side had any intention of reconciling, and going to war directly would be the proper course.

Of course...

Uchiha Hikari did not think highly of the Uchiha Clan either.

Being weak was the original sin.

The current Uchiha were a disorganized mess internally, without even a unified voice. Externally, let alone political allies, they could not find a single clan on good terms with them. Yet they still had their hearts set on becoming Hokage. And before their rebellion had even taken shape, they had already made it common knowledge to every passerby in Konoha... Yet the Uchiha were still smugly convinced they could pressure Konoha's upper ranks.

If people at this level could actually accomplish anything, she, Uchiha Hikari, would eat all nine tailed beasts on the spot!

"Fugaku, you're still young. There are many things you don't understand."

Uchiha Hikari rose onto her tiptoes and patted Uchiha Fugaku on the shoulder, speaking earnestly. "If you don't have a better idea, then do as I say for now. Your Grand Ancestor has walked more roads than you have crossed bridges. I won't lead you astray."