Wind-Bending Willow (Seeking Investment!)

What is a clan head?

In short, it is the person who manages clan affairs.

Depending on history, culture, customs, and traditions, the power of a clan head varies from family to family. In the Uchiha Clan, the clan head is the undisputed highest authority, and in the past, they could decide on all matters, big or small, with a single word.

However, ever since Madara Uchiha, the clan head at the time, defected from Konoha.

The clansmen who refused to follow the clan head in his departure held several discussions and decided to limit the clan head's power. They elevated the authority of the clan elders to counterbalance the clan head's unilateral rule, preventing a similar incident from happening again. After all, Madara Uchiha's defection nearly brought about the clan's destruction.

At that time, Tobirama Senju, who was not yet the Second Hokage, proposed the complete eradication of the Uchiha Clan. Fortunately, the First Hokage was benevolent and magnanimous. Not only did he not punish the Uchiha, but he praised their choice to refuse to leave Konoha with Madara Uchiha.

Even so, the elders of that generation were thoroughly frightened.

Thus, the changes that followed came about.

The elders gained the power to interfere with the clan head's decisions. Under certain circumstances, with the consent of the majority of the clansmen, they could even replace the clan head. Of course, such a thing has never happened to this day, since only two generations of clan heads have passed since Madara Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha is the second clan head after that.

Moreover, as long as the clan head shows no clear signs of betraying the clan, no one dares to casually replace him.

In the original history, even the clansmen, whose rebellious intentions were burning high, did not cast aside the wavering clan head. Instead, they applied pressure through collective petitions, forcing Fugaku Uchiha onto the path of plotting a coup... To be honest, if they could have cast aside Fugaku Uchiha as clan head, the Uchiha Clan's destruction wouldn't have been so utterly humiliating!!!

"I didn't expect Hōmaru to support you either. This way... the chances of the plan succeeding have increased quite a bit!" In the courtyard of Sōken's residence stood an old cherry tree of considerable age. It was said to have been planted by an elder of Sōken's lineage at the founding of Konoha, and it was moved along with the clan land relocation using Earth Style Jutsu.

Beneath the tree lay a Green Stone Slab. Genji Uchiha sat on it, holding a bottle of his beloved Ruby Port Wine, enjoying the cherry blossoms while drinking.

"This old man, Ryūji, Hōmaru... half of the six elders support you. Add in the young people you've recruited yourself, and over half of the clan's Jonin are on your side... Sōken, how much longer do you plan to prepare?"

"It won't take too long."

Sōken spread a felt mat on the grass not far from the tree, sitting cross-legged on it as he accompanied his grandfather in enjoying the cherry blossoms while plotting in secret.

"This time, I turned down the Third's invitation. If I don't become clan head quickly, I'm afraid I'll face another attack before long. Grandfather, to be honest, I even considered having Toka drop out of school. Staying at the Ninja Academy doesn't feel very safe..."

"Don't worry about Toka. I've arranged for people to protect her. If you're really uneasy, you can pick her up and drop her off yourself. But it's best not to have her drop out. You said it yourself—the Uchiha can't isolate themselves; they need to interact and connect with other clans. The Ninja Academy is the best channel for change. If Toka drops out, how do you plan to get the clansmen to send their children to the Academy in the future?"

"It's not like I'm sending everyone to the Academy. Just pick a few with good temperaments and decent looks... Fine! I understand. For the time being, I'll personally pick up and drop off Toka from school."

"Don't spoil your sister too much. Spoiling her will only cause you trouble later."

A breeze blew.

The branches of the old cherry tree swayed, and the beautiful blossoms fell like pink pastries, carried by the wind toward the nearby bamboo grove, like a rain of cherry blossoms.

After Genji Uchiha finished speaking, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the sight. He clapped his hands in admiration: "How beautiful!"

"Toka is a girl! A little extra pampering is only right."

Sōken said with a chuckle, but inwardly he was grumbling relentlessly, "You're the one who spoils your granddaughter the most, old man. I didn't even know you had people protecting Toka... When I went to war and traded blows with the Mist Ninja back in the day, I didn't get this kind of treatment!" Of course, this was just a thought; his face showed no trace of it.

"By the way, Sōken, what about that child, Shisui...? Judging from last night, did you win him over?" Once the cherry blossom rain settled, Genji Uchiha reluctantly withdrew his gaze and suddenly brought up Shisui.

It wasn't exactly sudden.

Sōken had been waiting for this question all along!

Uchiha Shisui—though young, only fifteen this year, the same age as Sōken—his reputation as "Shunshin" Shisui was known even to the Cloud Ninja and Stone Ninja. Within the clan, his influence over the younger generation was not much less than that of "Flame Demon" Sōken.

Furthermore, although Kagami Uchiha died young, he still had a number of supporters within the clan, including even one elder.

Thus, Shisui's stance indeed had a significant impact on Sōken's success or failure.

"Barely, I suppose."

Sōken nodded lightly, taking a sip of green tea. Ninjas under the age of twenty were not allowed to drink alcohol, and the Uchiha Clan followed the same rule. Alcohol is a poison that rots the intestines, and lust is like a blade that scrapes the bone... For young ninjas, indulgence in drink and lust is often harmful.

To be precise, regardless of age, wallowing in these two things is never a good thing.

"Strictly speaking, the reason Shisui chose to support me is simply that after fully seeing the harsh reality, he realized there was no other choice besides me... He had to support me. Of course, he could have tried to go it alone, but his personality destined him to be incapable of that."

"Don't be careless."

Genji Uchiha took a sip of wine, two rosy patches appearing on his face as he said tipsily, "In the end, Sōken, your plan to preserve the clan isn't so indispensable that it has to be you. If Fugaku changes his attitude, given his prestige in the clan, it will be very difficult for you to topple him. Keep that in mind at all times. Don't let your confidence turn into arrogance just because success seems near."

"I'm not worried about that."

Sōken smiled freely. "As the saying goes, a mountain's nature is hard to change. Our clan head's habit of being indecisive and swaying like a willow in the wind isn't something that can be fixed so easily. Besides, in the end, we Uchiha believe in the strong. As long as my fists are strong enough, the clansmen will naturally know who to follow."

With that, he looked up at the sky, then stood up.

"Grandfather, enjoy the cherry blossoms on your own. I'm going to pay a visit to our clan head."

Thank you to the "Nine Sword Daoist" reader for the tip!