My Foolish Onii-chan

"Young Clan Head Izuna, Clan Head Madara went out early again today."

On a new day, Izuna returned to Madara's residence and got the same answer as before.

Izuna pondered for a moment, nodded, and left.

Far from the Uchiha Clan Grounds, dozens of miles away, a cliff stood on Mount Kumogakure, the boundary between Uchiha and Senju territory.

The view here was wide open. From the cliff, the dense forest below stretched out as far as the eye could see.

Madara Uchiha stood at the top of the cliff. Ten years ago, this was where he had first met Hashirama Senju.

It was also where Hashirama had proposed using this place as a starting point to build a village where all the ninja clans could live together in peace.

"I knew you'd be here."

A familiar voice came from behind him. Madara didn't turn around. "It's you, Izuna..."

"The village's leaders are busy winning people over, while you have time to reminisce here?"

Izuna walked over to Madara and sat down beside him, his legs dangling over the cliff's edge.

"Huh?"

Madara furrowed his brows.

Izuna shook his head helplessly. His foolish onii-chan really had nothing but muscle in his head.

Uchiha Tajima and many of the clan's powerful fighters had died in battle.

The Uchiha leadership was now in a state of unrest. The powerful ninja, especially those at the peak jōnin level and above, were secretly vying for the vacant positions—including that of clan head.

Izuna was involved in this himself. That was why he'd spent precious Skill Points to obtain Lightning Release, a skill he wasn't good at, so he could teach it to his students.

Madara, on the other hand, came here every day to reminisce about his past with Hashirama Senju, ignoring everything happening within the clan.

No wonder that when he betrayed Konoha in the future, nobody had been willing to follow him, despite his reputation.

Come to think of it, things seemed much the same on the Senju side.

Hashirama Senju was practically a political idiot, and it was all up to Tobirama Senju to play the bad guy.

But Izuna wasn't like Itachi Uchiha, who'd actually blurted out, "My foolish onii-chan." Instead, he said, "The clan's highest council meeting is about to begin. Big brother, you know what the clan's most urgent problem is right now, don't you?"

"The clan head position."

Madara wasn't so foolish that he didn't understand anything. He replied at once, "It'll most likely go to Uchiha Gakugyo."

"On the Senju side, Senju Takeuma will probably take over, while you, as the eldest son of the former clan head, and Hashirama Senju become the new clan heads. Then, after a while, you'll officially take charge of the two clans..."

Izuna shrugged and smiled. "The situation really is remarkably similar."

The uncanny understanding between Indra and Asura, those two friends of a thousand years, was fully on display in the duos of Madara and Hashirama, and Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.

"But things are different now. Big brother, you should take over immediately."

Madara's heart stirred, but he didn't argue. Clearly, he was tempted.

After a long silence, Madara asked, "Because of... the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

It was true. The Mangekyō Sharingan was the only thing he currently had that could help him compete with Uchiha Gakugyo for the clan head position.

"And because of me."

Izuna stood up and brushed the dust from his trousers with a smile. "Did you think I'd done nothing while you spent the past half month reminiscing about the past?"

Madara looked at Izuna in surprise. After a moment, he said, "Izuna, why do I feel like you're becoming more like that guy Tobirama? You're getting... calculating..."

To be honest, as a devoted little brother enthusiast, he'd still prefer his younger brother to stay a little more "pure."

Izuna rolled his eyes, not bothering to answer.

It took around twenty days after the burial ceremony for Uchiha Tajima and the others to finish dealing with the aftermath of the war.

Only then did the Uchiha Clan gradually return to a rare stretch of peace.

At the same time, the clan meeting officially began.

Early in the morning, Izuna received word and went to the hall at the center of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Only ninja at jōnin level or above were qualified to attend the meeting.

Dozens of jōnin sat in the lower seats, while the senior decision-makers sat on either side at the front.

They included Uchiha Gakugyo, the current vice clan head.

Uchiha Sen, who had fought Tobirama Senju at Mount Taihang and nearly lost to his Flying Thunder God. He'd been saved by Izuna and was a Kage Level fighter of the same generation as Uchiha Tajima.

Uchiha Kai, who was also of the same generation as Uchiha Tajima. He hadn't taken part in the previous battle at Mount Kumogakure and was responsible for guarding the northwestern border. He, too, was a Kage Level fighter.

There were also a few elites from the same generation as Izuna and Madara, including their cousin, Uchiha Soshu, who was at the peak jōnin level.

With the clan head dead, the clan's highest authority currently rested in the hands of the three elders.

Besides Uchiha Kai, the Third Elder, who served as the head of the ninja academy,

there was also the Second Elder, Uchiha Tenzou, who oversaw security in the clan grounds—an equivalent to Konoha's future Konoha Military Police Force.

The Great Elder was Uchiha Gakugyo's father, Kōshi Uchiha. He was mainly responsible for wartime logistics, including the distribution of food and weapons, as well as handling matters large and small in the aftermath of the war.

By the time Izuna arrived, Madara was already there. He nodded to Izuna, and the two sat on cushions among the decision-makers.

Uchiha Soshu, seated on Izuna's other side, asked in a low voice, "Izuna, if big brother Madara goes for the clan head position, does he have a chance?"

Compared with Uchiha Gakugyo, who was twice his age, Uchiha Soshu of the younger generation preferred to have Madara, whom he'd known since childhood, as clan head.

Of course, there was another reason. A few days ago, his four-year-old younger son, Uchiha Bu'an, who was still learning ninjutsu,

had kept praising how amazing Izuna was at the academy.

People said children were easily influenced by their parents. In truth, parents' decisions often depended on their children, too.

Izuna smiled calmly. "Just wait and see."

Once everyone had arrived, Great Elder Kōshi Uchiha cleared his throat and stroked his beard with his right hand. "Everyone is here. I now declare the first highest council meeting since Clan Head Tajima's passing open."

Izuna and Uchiha Sen, seated across from him, exchanged glances. Uchiha Sen narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke up. "Great Elder, our most urgent task now is to choose a new clan head. I'm sure everyone here understands that."

Kōshi Uchiha nodded in satisfaction. Since Uchiha Gakugyo was his son, he'd naturally be happy if his son became the new clan head.

However, what neither Kōshi Uchiha nor most of the people present had expected was for Uchiha Sen to say, "I've also heard how bravely Madara fought at the Mount Kumogakure battlefield. Izuna has also won our Uchiha clan a great deal of time to rest."

"So I propose that the late Clan Head Tajima's eldest son, Madara Uchiha, take over as clan head, and that Izuna be promoted to vice clan head."