Only the Uchiha Will Suffer

"The village has never treated us Uchiha as shinobi of the village!"

"It's already been fifteen years. The Hokage title has reached the Third Hokage, and they've all been Senju!"

"And fifteen years from now, the Hokage will still be a Senju! That damned brat, Senju Tsunade!"

"Everyone in Konoha knows it! She'll be the Fourth Hokage!"

"What about the Uchiha!? What about the Uchiha!?"

"Have we not bled for Konoha? Have we not shed tears for Konoha? Why can't it be the Uchiha!"

"They're crying! Our Uchiha brethren are crying, weeping in Konoha's Heroes' Cemetery!"

"What did we gain in exchange for risking our lives!?"

"Suspicion! Exclusion! Suppression! Humiliation!"

"Humiliation of Uchiha pride!"

"Konoha was clearly founded by us Uchiha! Yet in the entire village, we Uchiha are the ones treated most like outsiders!"

"How utterly ridiculous!"

Once the emotional Uchiha finished speaking, the many Uchiha present at the gathering all chimed in with heated agreement.

The village was unfair to the Uchiha.

Chiri could somewhat sense this underlying issue.

"Then what should we do?"

"Of course, we reclaim our clan's honor through strength!"

"Isn't the Hokage chosen based on whoever is strongest?"

"Let's fight those Senju bastards!? They call it an alliance, but they've been exploiting us for all these years!"

"She's just Tsunade! Kill her and see who can still push her to become Hokage!"

"Tsunade isn't the problem at all! The current Hokage is—the Third Hokage! If we don't bring him down, the Uchiha will never have a chance! There'll always be another Tsunade!"

"And Kagami, that traitorous bastard! Kill him!"

As the words fell, pairs of blood-red Three Tomoe Pattern eyes simultaneously settled on a young man in the middle of the room.

Cold, indifferent gazes pierced the young man, but he remained unmoved, his expression as gentle as ever.

"Why is Kagami here on an occasion like this!?" One man rose, drew his blade, and stepped forward. Pointing its edge directly at the kneeling Kagami Uchiha, he sneered, "Kagami, to keep you from leaking word of this, please die here."

"Stop! Kagami is the Uchiha's only bridge to speak with the Hokage. Are you trying to bury the efforts we've made over so many years!?" an elderly Uchiha said indignantly.

"Huoshi, what are you afraid of! Even if Kagami tells that brat, the Third Hokage, about today, so what? When have we Uchiha ever feared anyone?" Another elder spoke, then looked at Kagami. "Kagami, you must relay every word of today's events to that brat, the Third Hokage! Let him know that Uchiha patience has its limits!"

"Hawk Elder..." Kagami bowed slightly. "I understand. I will convey everyone's intentions."

"Hmph!" Hawk Elder snorted, and the matter was dropped.

After sweeping his gaze around the room, the old man said coldly, "You lot who don't know your own limits! Instead of wasting your breath here, why not train harder! Do you think you're already strong enough? Do you think the Uchiha are strong enough?"

"Who do you think we're fighting now?"

"That old bastard Sarutobi Sasuke isn't dead! Hyuga Tenno isn't dead! Aburame Three Insects is even less dead! That old bastard from the Kurama clan still hasn't drawn his last breath! And that woman Uzumaki Mito can live for a long, long time yet!"

"Right now, all of them stand behind that brat Hiruzen!"

"If Madara and Hashirama hadn't been so overwhelmingly powerful back then, do you think they would have joined Konoha?"

"But now that they've joined Konoha, who doesn't want to become Hokage?"

"Anyone can do it! Yet no one can!"

"Be patient. Once we're dead, it'll be your era."

The meaning of that whole speech could be summed up in one sentence: they couldn't win.

"This Konoha has always been a place where strength does the talking, brats!"

"Yes!"

During the rest of the Clan Gathering, the topic gradually shifted to everyday trivialities. After more than three long hours, it was nearly midnight.

The clan members gradually began to leave.

Just as Chiri was about to go, someone called out to her.

It was the Clan Head Grandpa who had spoken only one sentence at the beginning and had not said another word since.

He had worn an utterly calm expression the entire time, as though all he lacked was a cup of tea to watch the show.

Chiri remembered him. He was the leader who had broken with the legendary Uchiha Madara and led the clan members who remained in Konoha.

Dad had told her he was someone she should respect.

"Chiri, stay behind. Grandpa has a few words for you."

"Yes, Clan Head Grandpa."

The people gradually left until only a handful remained.

One was Hawk Elder, with a boy of five or six at his side.

The other was an elder who was usually kind. Chiri saw the big brother named Kagami Uchiha silently rise and stand behind the old man, helping him up.

They were leaving as well.

Chiri did not move.

As big brother Kagami left, he gave her a friendly smile.

The other pair, however—the old man named Hawk—deliberately stopped in front of Chiri.

The little boy beside him looked at Chiri curiously.

"Hmph. Creation of Form from Nothingness, you little brat Chiri—tricks may work for a moment, but not for a lifetime. An Uchiha should act like an Uchiha!"

"Those eyes of yours are your true strength!"

Chiri lowered her head without replying.

Seeing this, the old man did not say anything more to Chiri.

"Kama, remember this. This brat is the target you must surpass for the rest of your life!"

At that, the little boy's gaze at Chiri turned adorably fierce.

It was not very intimidating, but it had a bit of momentum.

"Yes, Grandpa!"

Then grandfather and grandson left, passing by Chiri.

When only the last two remained, the old man said, "Chiri, come here."

"Yes." Chiri got up, walked over, and sat across from the old man.

"Let me see your eyes."

After hesitating for a moment, Chiri opened her Sharingan.

At that instant, the old man was so shocked that he nearly jumped up.

Three Tomoe Pattern.

It spun quietly within Chiri's eye sockets.

When had it happened?

Just now.

While the clansmen had been arguing.

Chiri was too kind.

Only one step remained—a cruel step. Looking into Chiri's eyes, the old man fell silent for a while before speaking.

"Do you know? In my life, I have misjudged three things."

Without waiting for Chiri to answer, the old man continued.

"The first was believing Madara could lead the Uchiha clan to victory and utterly destroy the Senju Clan."

"The second was believing that after Madara left, Konoha would accept us Uchiha and let us truly become part of Konoha."

"The third was believing that the heirs of the great Ninja Clans would be carefully taught by their clans, while those sent to the Ninja Academy were useless trash who had been abandoned."

"So I misjudged your talent. Your talent is no less than Madara's!"

"Unfortunately, you have no brothers or sisters."

Chiri did not understand what the old man meant by brothers and sisters. She only listened quietly.

"In the era to come, you will be the strongest of the Uchiha clan, even beyond Kagami."

"If it is you, can you lead the Uchiha clan to find a new path?"

"I am old. I can no longer understand."

"And I can no longer see it."

"But I still hope."

"I hope the Uchiha clan can continue to survive."

"I heard you became Lady Mito's disciple?"

"Yes." Chiri confirmed the old man's information.

"Very good."

"Become an outstanding disciple who satisfies Lady Mito. This is her goodwill toward the Uchiha clan, and you must repay it properly."

"Yes."

"One last thing, Chiri. Gentleness and kindness are good things, but when necessary, do not hesitate. Even if they are clansmen, if they stand in the way of the Uchiha clan's survival, then cut them down—with your sword."

"Clan Head Grandpa..."

"I am old. I no longer have the strength to stop foolish clansmen, just as I failed to stop Madara back then."

"But you can stop it."

"Don't disappoint me."

"Yes."

"Lastly, don't become too attached to the Insect Princess. The ones who will suffer will only be us Uchiha."

"This is a warning."

"?"

Chiri did not understand, but the old man was unwilling to say more.

The old man gazed into the distance with longing.

The Fourth Hokage, Princess Tsunade?

He had met that child before. She was a kind child, like Hashirama, unlike Tobirama.

If it was her...

What would the future become?