Clan Leader

On a spring afternoon, Sōken walked beneath cherry blossom trees heavy with flowers, listening to the wind rustle through the leaves, until he arrived before an imposing mansion. The double doors stood wide open, revealing a courtyard of meticulously trimmed plants. Following the path paved with bluish-gray stone bricks, his gaze landed on a sliding door at the end.

He stepped inside without ceremony, slid the door open, and called out, "Anyone home?"

No one answered.

Sōken removed his shoes at the entrance and stepped onto the wooden corridor. This wasn't his first visit to the Clan Head's residence—having an Elder for a grandfather meant he'd come as a guest several times before, which was why Sasuke called him "Brother Sōken."

He couldn't claim to know the house's layout by heart, but he was familiar with the general guest areas. To the right of the corridor were the kitchen and dining room, currently empty of any bustling figures—the Matriarch was likely out.

To the left was a six-tatami room, neatly furnished with a low table and cushions. Seated at the center was the current Clan Head of the Uchiha—

Fugaku Uchiha.

He was a man of imposing dignity. Short black hair, a square face, and expressionless features that carried an indescribable pressure. He wore a dark blue robe, the Uchiha Gunbai emblem centered on its back.

"Sōken, come in," Fugaku said.

"Lord Clan Head, pardon the intrusion."

Sōken entered and sat down on the cushion across from the Clan Head without hesitation.

On the low table sat a teapot and two cups, steam still curling from the tea within. Green tea stems floated and sank.

"I hear you've been trying to replace me as Clan Head lately."

No subtlety at all—Fugaku got straight to the point.

"Oh my! You already know, Lord Clan Head? I was hoping to surprise you when the cards were finally on the table!"

"Surprise? More like a shock."

"Feels about the same, doesn't it? Surprise, shock... the startle is what matters."

"Stop your nonsense, Sōken. You've always loved talking rubbish," Fugaku said, fixing Sōken with that chilling, stern stare.

"Since you already know... aren't you angry?" Sōken asked curiously.

It wasn't surprising that Fugaku knew of his moves. The Uchiha Clan wasn't large—just over a thousand people. Some things couldn't be hidden no matter how hard you tried. The further the plan progressed, the bigger the commotion, and discovery was inevitable. But Sōken hadn't intended to play any underhanded schemes anyway. He wanted to take the Clan Head position from Fugaku fair and square.

"If this were five years ago, I'd probably have strung you up for a beating and thrown you into the Border Defense Force so you'd never have time to cause me trouble again."

Five years ago?

The Nine-Tails' Rampage?

Sōken pondered. Indeed, the Lord Clan Head's brow had grown more furrowed with each passing day these past few years, and the heavy, gloomy aura around him had only thickened.

"But now... if you truly have the skill to replace me, it might not be a bad thing—for me or the clan." Fugaku rubbed his brow. The deep dark circles under his eyes proved he hadn't slept well last night.

And perhaps not just last night. The Lord Clan Head likely hadn't had a good night's rest in a long time.

With the village and the clan at odds growing sharper by the day, how could he sleep soundly?

If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have only two children, Itachi and Sasuke. A third might have been born by now...

"Of course, all this depends on whether you actually have that skill." Fugaku stared at Sōken, speaking each word deliberately. "You want the Clan Head's seat? Fine. It's right here. Come and take it. Let me see what you're capable of."

"I won't keep you waiting long, Lord Clan Head."

"Then I'll be watching."

With that, both fell silent. Sōken picked up his teacup and drank slowly, his gaze drifting to the lush garden outside the veranda. Bathed in spring sunlight, the plants thrived, clearly well-tended by the owner. Every branch and leaf was orderly, the entire garden a seamless whole with no discord.

Just like—

The rule-abiding Clan Head.

"Did you call me here just to expose my ambitions, Lord Clan Head?" Sōken broke the silence first, lifting the teapot to refill his cup.

Fugaku pushed his empty cup over without a word.

The cup filled again with green tea, ripples spreading as the hand moved.

"I called you here..." Fugaku stared at the tea in his cup, speaking slowly. "I went to see the Hokage last night. He very tactfully expressed that you shouldn't get too close to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... More precisely, he hopes the entire Uchiha Clan will keep a certain distance from her."

"Intimidation?"

"Exactly. Intimidation. And it wasn't just the Hokage present. The clan heads of the Hyuga, Aburame, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Akuma, Inuzuka... they were all there. No one wants to see the Uchiha getting too close to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. That night five years ago is still fresh in many people's memories."

"The Hyuga... I thought losing Hizashi Hyuga would make them hold a grudge against the Hokage."

"The Hyuga Branch House exists to protect the Main House. In the eyes of the Hyuga Main Family, Hizashi probably deserved to die that way." Mentioning the Hyuga Main and Branch Houses, Fugaku showed a rare hint of contempt.

"So what do you plan to do, Lord Clan Head? Punish me for this? The Third personally praised me for protecting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki last night, you know," Sōken asked.

"The Hokage praising you doesn't mean you can't be punished."

"Truly shameless."

"I need to give the village an explanation." Fugaku paused, then continued, "The Uchiha are part of the village. Matters involving the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki are no longer just internal clan affairs. The other clans are watching us. If we don't give an explanation... the clans that are currently neutral might all turn against us."

"Neutral clans?" Sōken laughed mockingly. "I wasn't aware there were neutrals in this village. Aren't their members widely serving in the Anbu and Root? That counts as neutral? Maybe only the declining Akuma clan hasn't been recruited by the Anbu or Root."

"Don't confuse members who joined the Anbu and Root with their clans. Those individuals don't represent a clan. Didn't Shisui join the Anbu? Does that mean he represents the Uchiha?"

"...Fine. You have a point. So... what's the punishment?"