Uchiha Naka Shrine.
In the dim underground chamber, Elder Setsuna had lived here ever since being released.
"Cough, cough. So you're the brat Mikoto mentioned. Not bad."
As his aged voice echoed through the room, Uchiha Yoru, seated properly inside the chamber, solemnly nodded.
"Uchiha Yoru pays his respects to Elder Setsuna."
After his Eye Awakening, if he wanted to improve, he naturally had to go through Mikoto and meet Elder Setsuna.
Though Elder Setsuna had inherited Madara's will and even dared plot rebellion, he had merely been confined within the clan grounds. His prestige remained considerable.
After all, this was the Uchiha Clan!
Elder Setsuna, his face sallow and weathered, flipped through the Intelligence Scroll his granddaughter had presented and nodded.
"Not bad. You actually possess Dual Kekkei Genkai. But likewise, the strength of Dual Kekkei Genkai will also limit you. A person's energy is finite, and the flaws in your bloodline limit are far too great."
Though Dual Kekkei Genkai were rare, this elder had seen too many geniuses throughout the shinobi world. Yet how many had lived to reach his age?
"Elder."
Uchiha Yoru respectfully nodded, though he secretly observed the Old Bastard. Just as he had expected, the Old Bastard's sallow, frail appearance meant he only had a few years left.
No wonder he was so eager to nurture Uchiha Mikoto. He was clearly arranging his affairs for after his death.
"Cough, cough. Come in, all of you."
Just then, Elder Setsuna lightly coughed and calmly glanced toward the door, leaving Uchiha Yoru stunned.
Three figures entered: the current clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku, and Uchiha Mikoto.
"Clan leader, elder!"
After Uchiha Fugaku and Mikoto entered, they respectfully bowed to the clan leader and elder seated at the head of the room.
Uchiha Mikoto then sat properly at his side.
Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru narrowed his eyes and pondered in secret. The Old Bastard should still have some time left. Was he really so eager to settle his final affairs?
As Uchiha Yoru continued guessing, the clan leader who had entered looked him over from head to toe before giving a slight nod.
"Elder, this Uchiha genius indeed has the qualifications to carry out this mission."
Elder Setsuna, seated nearby, also smiled and nodded.
This secretly shocked Uchiha Yoru. The clan leader and elder appeared to disagree in public, but it was clearly just an act for outsiders.
They were both old foxes!
"Fugaku, you will bear the Uchiha Clan's burden in the future. And Mikoto!"
Elder Setsuna looked deeply at Fugaku before turning his gaze to his granddaughter, Uchiha Mikoto.
"You should both understand the clan's situation within the village. The three of you will all bear the clan's burden in the future."
Uchiha Yoru was speechless at this empty promise.
Uchiha Fugaku was the clan leader's son and the most talented and powerful among the younger generation. It was only natural that he would inherit the clan leader position.
As for Uchiha Mikoto, she was this old man's granddaughter. Her inheritance was equally justified.
After all, an Uchiha Clan united without internal disagreements would keep quite a few people in the village awake at night.
But what was he supposed to be?
Uchiha Yoru did not even need to think about it. Only a fool would believe such nonsense.
Yet the next moment, after the clan leader and Elder Setsuna exchanged glances, they took out a scroll.
It was clearly for him. Fugaku seemed to know what it was and awkwardly lowered his head, while Mikoto calmly smiled at him, as though encouraging him.
Uchiha Yoru suspiciously accepted the scroll. The moment he saw the information on it, his eyes widened.
Seeing Uchiha Yoru's shock, Elder Setsuna coughed lightly, his expression turning solemn as he said in a deep voice.
"Yoru, although the Uchiha Clan is powerful, we are not trusted. I know this mission is difficult and an enormous challenge, but it is all for the clan!"
However, as Uchiha Yoru stared at the information on the scroll, his expression became solemn. Yet his gaze shifted toward Uchiha Fugaku, and everyone naturally noticed it.
"Clan leader, elder, in terms of talent and strength, Captain Fugaku has already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. In terms of ability, Captain Fugaku is also a jonin, and he is only a few years older than us."
Uchiha Fugaku immediately became deeply embarrassed, while Elder Setsuna let out a faint sigh.
"Yoru, your talent is beyond doubt. Fugaku merely has some talent for training, but you are different."
Good heavens! What did he mean, Fugaku merely had some talent for training?
Though Uchiha Fugaku was embarrassed by those words, he repeatedly nodded, afraid others would misunderstand and think he was dissatisfied.
Damn it!
Uchiha Yoru revealed a troubled expression and looked toward Mikoto.
The mission was too difficult. He was not an idiot. A bird in the hand was worth two in the bush.
Besides, he was enjoying the support Sister Mikoto provided. The Old Bastard would kick the bucket in a few years, and he would soon be able to rise to power.
Yet now they were handing him a mission like this!
"Yoru."
Faced with Uchiha Yoru's troubled expression, Uchiha Mikoto gave him a gentle, understanding smile and lightly nodded.
It was as if she were saying that she would not mind.
Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru went numb.
Elder Setsuna was helpless upon seeing this as well. Fugaku, beside him, lowered his head, terrified that he might be chosen instead. With the Uchiha Clan's prideful nature, few were willing to take on such a mission.
"This mission is extremely difficult!"
Seeing the clan leader remain silent beside him, Elder Setsuna cursed inwardly. It still had to be him.
"Yoru, you have read Uzumaki Kushina's information. If nothing unexpected happens, she will likely become the village's future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. After all, she is already living with the Senju Clan.
"The clan's position in the village is awkward. If we wish to enter the upper ranks and gain the village's trust, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is the best choice."
At this point, Elder Setsuna even revealed a rare, enticing smile.
"The First Hokage's wife was the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Yoru! Isn't your dream to become Hokage? Don't you wish to restore the Uchiha Clan's glory?
"If you succeed, with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki outside and Mikoto's family supporting you within, you may one day reach the Hokage position!"
Damn it!
That was one hell of a promise. Uchiha Yoru's face turned green. The Old Bastard really dared to dream.
Marrying the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would let him become Hokage? It actually seemed possible!
Wasn't that how the First Hokage and Fourth Hokage had done it? The Seventh Hokage was even a Jinchuriki himself.
Put that way, it actually made some sense.
But! Could the Uchiha Clan truly become involved with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Wouldn't the village become wary of them to death?
The clan leader beside them nodded solemnly and said:
"Correct. Befriending the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki may not guarantee the Hokage position, but the Uchiha Clan will certainly gain a place among the upper ranks."
Good heavens, these two Old Bastards really dared to say anything. They truly were the Uchiha Clan's sleeping dragon and fledgling phoenix!
Uzumaki Kushina! The Senju Clan!
He seemed to have grasped something!
The Jinchuriki had always existed in the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and they had even long prepared shinobi with suitable constitutions. Otherwise, when the Uzumaki Clan had been destroyed, why had the Five Great Nations not captured all those Uzumaki clansmen and used them as breeding tools?
Clearly, the Five Great Shinobi Villages each had their own methods. The Uzumaki were not necessarily the preferred choice for sealing a Jinchuriki. It was only because this was Konoha, and the First Hokage's wife had been Uzumaki Mito.
Uzumaki Kushina's surname meant she was destined to be an outsider. How could Konoha feel at ease with her? But the Senju Clan could!
Because Uzumaki Mito was there, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki still belonged to the Senju Clan for now. As for the future...
At that thought, he was secretly alarmed. Clearly, the Senju Clan had lost out to the Third Hokage. Thinking of Minato, he seemed to realize something.
Politics was an art of compromise.
"Clan leader, elder!"
Uchiha Yoru looked deeply troubled, but he had secretly made up his mind. It was not that they lacked foresight; they simply did not know the future.
Who could have imagined that after the Second Shinobi World War, the Senju Clan's influence in the village would almost vanish without a trace, while Tsunade would drift outside the village?
The Senju Clan would exist in name only within Konoha, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki naturally would not possess the status Uzumaki Mito once had.
They only saw Uzumaki Mito's current status. Once Kushina became the Jinchuriki, with the Senju Clan behind her, her identity and standing naturally would not be low.
Yet they did not know that the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would become a weapon in the Third Hokage's hands.
"Yoru!"
At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto gave him an understanding smile and offered him support with her eyes.
Clearly, Uchiha Mikoto knew about this mission!
Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru took a deep breath. For the clan, he was willing to shoulder the Uchiha banner!
Before you continue