Uchiha Sen's words startled many of the middle-aged and older Uchiha strongmen, most of whom were over forty.
As a senior border defense commander at Mount Taihang, a fortress on the front lines, Uchiha Sen had never made his political stance clear.
But by seniority, he should have sided with Uchiha Gakugyo, who was of the same generation.
The Second Elder, Uchiha Tenzou, whispered in the Great Elder Uchiha Kōshi's ear, "In the last battle, Uchiha Sen nearly died fighting Tobirama Senju. Izuna saved his life."
The Great Elder nodded at this, understanding.
Uchiha Sen had always been a combat-focused ninja who paid no heed to politics. Now that Izuna had saved his life, it was only natural that he would lean toward Izuna's side.
With the clan head dead, they also had to elect a new vice clan leader. The vice clan leader's position was essentially that of the clan head's aide.
The vice clan leader acted in concert with the clan head, and the clan head had almost complete control over how much authority they held.
So if Madara became clan head, Izuna would be the best person to support him.
Uchiha Gakugyo, meanwhile, would naturally be given another important post.
"Well... I think Gakugyo should lead us. There's no question that Young Clan Head Madara should become the next clan head."
The one who opposed the proposal was a middle-aged ninja, around thirty-five to forty, named Uchiha Sora, the border defense commander on the northwestern frontier.
He was a little younger than Uchiha Sen and Uchiha Gakugyo, but his strength was at the elite jonin level. He was also a member of the decision-making council.
"Experience is important, but strength matters more right now. Everyone saw Young Clan Head Izuna's performance last time. He also worked perfectly with Young Clan Head Madara."
Uchiha Soshu couldn't help speaking up. "If Young Clan Head Madara becomes clan head and Young Clan Head Izuna becomes vice clan leader, the two of them together can lead the Uchiha back to glory."
"Your argument only proves that Young Clan Head Izuna is suited to be vice clan leader. Whether Young Clan Head Madara should be clan head is still up for debate..."
As the argument threatened to grow more heated, the Third Elder, Uchiha Kai, suddenly barked, "What are you all arguing about? This is the Uchiha's highest council!"
The next moment, the whole room fell silent.
Compared to the other elders, Uchiha Kai was usually more amiable.
But when someone like him suddenly lost his temper, it was all the more intimidating.
The Great Elder, Uchiha Kōshi, spoke after a moment's thought. "Third Elder, what do you think?"
Uchiha Kai didn't even stay seated. He rose to his feet and said, "Everyone saw how brilliant Izuna was at Mount Kumogakure. He not only secured our most important garrison at Mount Taihang, but also bought us time to recover. I don't think anyone would object to him becoming vice clan leader."
No one objected to Izuna taking up the new position of vice clan leader.
In some ways, the vice clan leader could be considered the strategist behind a war. There was no controversy in appointing the wisest person to the role.
"Then the answer is simple: the question is whether Gakugyo or Madara should be clan head."
Uchiha Kai continued, his voice firm. "Age has its advantages, but youth has its own strengths."
"Then it's easy to settle, isn't it? What the Uchiha need right now is someone capable, not someone virtuous."
By this point, even a fool could understand what Uchiha Kai meant.
If that was the case, then they should fight.
Whoever won would become clan head.
After all, no matter which of them became clan head, both the seniority faction and the younger generation could list plenty of reasons in their favor.
So they would take the simplest approach: let the strong rise to the top, and the loser could keep quiet.
Izuna mused to himself that the Uchiha were hardly free of infighting, but their situation was still much better than it had been when the Third Hokage was in charge of Konoha.
Though everyone had their own interests and jockeyed for power, ultimately, they were all trying to ensure the clan's survival.
That was nothing like Konoha under Hiruzen Sarutobi. Take Danzo, for example: who knew how many times he had fought and schemed in secret for the Hokage position?
Even when Konoha faced the catastrophic devastation of Pain's attack, most of Root's forces had stayed put.
That wasn't mere infighting. It was a full-fledged coup.
"Well said, Second Elder."
Izuna finally spoke. As the man already all but certain to become the next vice clan leader, he immediately drew everyone's attention. "I don't want to discuss this from a personal standpoint, but this is the best solution."
After Uchiha Kai and Izuna had both spoken, Madara, the future Ninja Asura, finally clenched his fists, lifted his head, and rose to his feet. "Then let all our clan members bear witness."
The aura of the Ninja Asura had finally emerged!
Were they really going to fight?!
Everyone was startled. The three elders, the decision-making council, and the many Uchiha jonin below were all taken aback.
At Uchiha Gakugyo's age, he could no longer improve, but he was at the peak of a ninja's prime.
Madara, on the other hand, was still young, with room to grow.
If everyone had to guess, they would still give Uchiha Gakugyo the better odds.
Uchiha Kai had originally been neutral, but Izuna's recent performance had made him lean slightly toward Izuna's side.
Still, to be honest, he wasn't very confident that Madara could beat Uchiha Gakugyo.
Apart from Izuna, only Uchiha Sen had that kind of confidence.
He had witnessed the power of Izuna's Mangekyō Sharingan. If Madara possessed the same power...
"What do you think, Gakugyo?"
Uchiha Kai turned to look at Uchiha Gakugyo.
Uchiha Gakugyo's desire for the clan head position wasn't as frenzied as Danzo's later obsession with the Hokage position.
But that didn't mean he didn't want it.
"Since the elders and our future vice clan leader all say so, it would be hard for me to refuse."
Uchiha Gakugyo spoke in a somewhat formal tone.
The Great Elder, Uchiha Kōshi, couldn't show any favoritism toward his own son, and his expression remained calm. "Then we'll hold the clan head selection match at the training grounds. Prepare a barrier, and make sure neither side seriously injures the other. No matter who wins, both of you will bear the heavy responsibility of the Uchiha's future."
The Uchiha training grounds.
When word spread that Uchiha Gakugyo and Uchiha Madara would decide the next clan head through a duel, the whole clan was in an uproar.
Once the barrier ninjas had set up a barrier to prevent accidents, every clan member who wasn't occupied with anything important rushed over.
"Who do you think will win?"
Behind Izuna, a group of Genin and Chunin who had hurried over after hearing the news quietly discussed it.
"Lord Gakugyo."
"Lord Gakugyo."
"It's... Lord Gakugyo, right?"
Over ninety percent of them gave the same answer.
"I think so too. With Young Clan Head Madara's talent, he should be able to surpass Lord Gakugyo in five years. But right now... he's still a little short."
"But I heard Young Clan Head Izuna's appointment as the next vice clan leader has been confirmed. Congratulations."
"With Lord Izuna's strategy and strength, it's only right."
Hearing the discussion behind him, Izuna said nothing. He only thought to himself, That's assuming Madara doesn't use his Mangekyō.
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