The Old Clan Head's Final Words

Since Gen left, this family finally has a "man" who can hold things together again.

Sensing his mother's slightly strange gaze, Kosuke hurriedly stood up from the cushion and fled back to his room like he was escaping, slamming the door shut with a bang.

The moment Kosuke fled the living room, Mina, who had been whimpering just moments before, instantly opened her eyes, a gleam in them completely different from her usual demeanor.

"What do you think of Izuna?"

Looking at Mina, who had sat up straight, Aoba suddenly asked.

"Uh~ Mother, you..."

"Ha ha ha ha~"

Aoba laughed until Mina's face flushed red again, then she stopped smiling.

"You heard what your little brother said just now, didn't you?"

Mina nodded heavily. The moment she thought of how her precocious little brother always looked out for her, a brilliant smile bloomed across her face.

"From now on, whether it's matters inside the home or out, if your little brother has any differing opinion, we need to agree and follow through."

Hearing her mother's serious tone, Mina wiped the smile off her face. A single tomoe flashed briefly in her eyes as she nodded heavily.

At that moment, hiding in his room, Kosuke was pretending to rummage through things, trying to cover up the unease brought on by his mother's strange look earlier.

He had no idea that during the time he'd returned to his room, the center of gravity in this family had quietly shifted onto him.

Early the next morning.

Aoba accompanied her two children through breakfast, then headed to the Logistics Department.

She explained her situation to squad leader Uchiha Natsuno and submitted her resignation.

Natsuno looked at the faint white haze covering Aoba's right eye, and a wave of sorrow surged in his heart.

Had it really come to this for Uchiha Aoba, once a renowned name in the intelligence world?

Without much attempt to persuade her to stay, Natsuno approved the application on the spot.

Just as Aoba was about to turn and leave, Natsuno couldn't help but ask, "Senior Aoba, what are your plans from now on?"

Aoba paused. Her clouded right eye turned toward him, a flicker of confusion passing through her gaze. In an instant, she replied softly, "From now on? I was thinking of trying the Medical Unit. Even though I'm about to go completely blind, I can still contribute some strength to the clan."

"Heavens, as expected of Senior Aoba. Senior, let me see you out."

Hearing Aoba's answer, a surge of admiration welled up in Natsuno's heart.

Not refusing the squad leader's kindness, Aoba walked side by side with him to the street.

There, Aoba stopped and politely declined.

She calculated in her mind that it was still early, so she'd go try her luck at the Medical Unit first.

Whether things went smoothly or not, she'd still have time to get home and make lunch for little Kosuke and his sister.

Three weeks later.

The Council Hall was thick with tension.

At this moment, Uchiha Tajima was gathered with the clan's six elders.

"Clan Head, after more than three years of quiet, the Senju Clan has become active again. This time, they seem to be planning an alliance with the Uzumaki Clan."

"An alliance with the Uzumaki Clan?"

The hot-tempered First Elder, Jihuo, immediately turned cold-faced and snorted.

"So what if they ally? The Uchiha Clan crushed the Senju once, and we can crush them a second time!"

"That's right! So what if they ally with the Uzumaki? If they dare meddle in the affairs of our two clans, we'll swallow them up this time!"

The Third Elder echoed angrily, his voice reverberating through the hall.

"Silence!"

Suddenly, a commanding roar, full of authority, exploded like a thunderclap.

The hall, which had been as noisy as a gossip session under the village tree moments before, fell instantly silent.

Tajima's sharp gaze slowly swept across the six elders.

The moment his eyes touched them, the elders felt as if they had passed through a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, cold sweat quickly soaking their backs.

The Clan Head's strength had grown again. The pressure he unconsciously released made even our hearts tremble.

"Fifth Elder, does your Intelligence Division have any news on the Uzumaki Clan?"

"Clan Head, as soon as we discovered Senju spies heading toward the Uzumaki Clan, I immediately sent people to monitor them. I also gave orders that if we encounter any Uzumaki clansmen outside, we are to capture them on the spot and bring them back to the clan."

Hearing the Fifth Elder's arrangements, Tajima nodded with satisfaction.

His gaze shifted, landing on the Sixth Elder at the end of the row, Uchiha Akiha.

"Sixth Elder, once war breaks out, there must be no delays in logistics supplies. Understood?"

"Understood! Clan Head, the clan's warehouses are stocked with supplies ready for a major battle."

Tajima swept his gaze over everyone once more and said in a low voice, "Elders, if there is nothing else, go back and prepare for the coming war."

"Clan Head, according to the report from the logistics squad leader, Uchiha Aoba resigned from her logistics post three weeks ago."

"Mm?!" Tajima's sharp gaze once again fixed on the Sixth Elder, Uchiha Akiha, his tone icy: "Do you know the reason?!"

Feeling the terrifying pressure from Clan Head Tajima, Akiha inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, glad he had taken the initiative to report. If he had waited for the Clan Head to discover it himself, he would have faced more than just this oppressive aura.

"According to squad leader Uchiha Natsuno's response, it's because Aoba's Sharingan is on the verge of going blind."

"Going blind, is it..."

Hearing the Fifth Elder's reply, the oppressive aura radiating from Tajima receded like a tide, vanishing in an instant. He couldn't help but recall the stubborn Aoba of those days, and the dying words of the former Clan Head echoed in his ears. In a daze, it felt as though he had returned to the night the old Clan Head passed away.

"Tajima, I have devoted my entire life to the clan." The old Clan Head coughed violently several times. "Extreme too, he spilled his blood on the battlefield. Now our family has only a daughter left..." His voice choked up. "But I am deeply remorseful, remorseful that I couldn't be there for her, couldn't give her beautiful memories. Perhaps only her deceased brothers left her with some happy memories. Cough, cough, cough..."

"Clan Head, please rest first. We can talk later."

The young Tajima quickly reached out, wanting to soothe the bitterness in the Clan Head's chest, but the Clan Head grabbed his hand. Feeling the dim gaze of the Clan Head, Tajima's body tensed slightly.

"Tajima, if I don't speak now, I'll never have another chance."

Watching the Clan Head gasp for breath, Tajima's expression softened. He slowly withdrew his hand and placed it back on his lap. Seeing this, the Clan Head revealed a relieved smile.

"After I'm gone, you, Uchiha Tajima, will succeed me as Clan Head. They will assist you."

Noticing Tajima's stunned look, the Clan Head continued without pause, speaking with difficulty: "Tajima, from now on, take care of my daughter—Uchiha Aoba. I don't... ask... you... cough... only that when she errs, you can forgive and guide her. I... I... I..."

He never finished his last sentence before his breath ceased.