The Uchiha's Unified Will

Compared to the Senju Clan next door, the Uchiha clan meetings were far livelier.

Starting with Uchiha Shikata, the Clan Head of the Compromise Faction, the Martial Faction elder Setsuna Uchiha, and the Conservative Faction elder Kaku Uchiha, all three Kage Level powerhouses who decided the Uchiha's future were left with torn clothes.

"Cough, cough. I've heard everyone's heartfelt opinions. Now we need to reach a definite decision about Takeyasu's imminent return."

Uchiha Shikata sat at the head of the table. The Martial Faction and Conservative Faction sat on either side of him, while the Compromise Faction that followed him sat in the middle.

In terms of numbers, the Martial Faction held most of the seats, with an advantage of more than forty people. Next came the Conservative Faction, with more than twenty, and finally the Compromise Faction, which kept things stable from the center, with around a dozen.

Nearly a hundred Uchiha Jonin took part in the clan meeting, and half of them were registered Jonin in Konoha with voting rights.

Of the nearly hundred Uchiha, half were Three Tomoe, and the clan also had Uchiha whose strength rivaled Elite Jonin, as well as three Kage Level powerhouses. Their combined strength surpassed every other force in the Ninja World—they were truly the greatest family in the Ninja World!

That was exactly why they were all proud and formidable fighters. Without the Mangekyō Sharingan, it was difficult to win their complete allegiance.

What's more, with their former Clan Head, the [Asura of the Shinobi World] Madara Uchiha, setting such a high standard, most Uchiha Jonin who had survived from the Warring States Period found it hard to accept the current Clan Head, Uchiha Shikata.

Most importantly, the Second wasn't even the Uchiha Clan Head!

Seeds of discontent had long since taken root in the hearts of the Uchiha Jonin. After Madara Uchiha left, Uchiha Shikata had been chosen as Clan Head, but Setsuna Uchiha and Kaku Uchiha had squeezed away most of his authority and prestige.

"I watched that child, Takeyasu, grow up."

"When he was little, I could already see that he had the makings of the [Asura of the Shinobi World]. I kept investing in him, and now, just as I expected, he's awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and embarked on the same divine path as Lord Madara."

"This time, he even killed the Second Raikage. Perhaps Senju Tobirama was killed by Takeyasu, too."

The Martial Faction elder Setsuna Uchiha smoothed the hem of his clothes, which had been singed by Fire Release. His face was full of pride and delight as he dropped a bombshell. "I propose that we immediately name Takeyasu our Young Lord and next Clan Head, and fully endorse him for the position of Third Hokage!"

Setsuna Uchiha only wanted the Uchiha Clan to produce a Hokage and truly surpass the Senju of the Forest. There was no pretense in his words. The Uchiha powerhouses who understood that—even many from the Conservative and Compromise Factions—looked respectfully at the Martial Faction elder, who had devoted himself entirely to the Uchiha.

At the same time, Setsuna Uchiha had stirred the passion in their hearts.

The Uchiha Clan had the Mangekyō again, while the Senju of the Forest had no Wood Release.

The era of the Uchiha Clan was sure to come again!

"I have no objection to naming Takeyasu the family's Young Lord."

Kaku Uchiha, a Conservative Faction elder who had once followed Madara Uchiha and had truly witnessed the power of the Mangekyō, brushed the dust off his clothes. To the Conservative Faction's delight, he agreed with Setsuna Uchiha.

The Conservative Faction only wanted the Uchiha to maintain normal relations with the village and rise to positions of power through legitimate means—not to pick a fight with the village and end up completely at odds with it.

Now that the Uchiha had gained the achievement of killing the Second Raikage and Senju Tobirama was dead, this was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. The Conservative Faction weren't fools; they couldn't possibly let it slip away.

(A pity about Kagami. His child should be starting at the Ninja Academy this year.)

(And the Young Lord's bloodlust is a little too strong.)

Anyone clever knew what had happened in the forest on the front lines, so no one would say it aloud. Kaku Uchiha changed tack.

"But is it a little too soon to endorse Takeyasu as the Third Hokage? If I remember correctly, he's only sixteen, isn't he?"

"His youth means he lacks experience and practical knowledge. When managing a village, he's bound to make mistakes and misjudgments. If he's rash and gets fixated on the wrong thing, he could bring losses to both the clan and the village. In serious cases, he might even be impeached."

Kaku Uchiha's words made quite a few Uchiha powerhouses nod almost instinctively. A young man without a beard couldn't be trusted with important work. Elder Kaku made a good point.

"What does that matter?"

Setsuna Uchiha scoffed. "If the Young Lord makes a mistake, won't we be there to help?"

"Would we elders really stand by and watch the Young Lord make mistakes?"

"When Hashirama Senju was the First Hokage, Senju Tobirama handled most of the administrative work and village development. If the Young Lord becomes the Third Hokage, we can simply give him our full support."

"We have to understand: the Young Lord's youth is his greatest asset, and the Mangekyō Sharingan is his greatest deterrent. If he remains in the Hokage Position for forty or fifty years, just imagine how much the Uchiha Clan will grow!"

Even Kaku Uchiha was tempted by that argument, to say nothing of the other Uchiha Jonin.

Uchiha Shikata, seeing that the matter was nearly settled, had long since given up trying to do anything. This group had worn him down completely.

Most of the time, all he did was smooth things over. At this point, he was remarkably calm and even felt a sense of relief, as if he were about to be free.

After all, his son, Fugaku Uchiha, was only one year old. He wasn't remotely qualified to compete with Uchiha Takeyasu for the position of Clan Head. With his help, Fugaku could become an elder of the Uchiha Clan or Konoha one day, which would be wonderful.

He could hold a high position and wield great authority without much responsibility. Sometimes he could even argue with the Clan Head or the Hokage and voice his opinions. It was absolutely delightful.

Although Uchiha Shikata was a little tempted by the position of Third Hokage, the thought vanished as soon as he looked at Setsuna Uchiha and Kaku Uchiha.

As if! He didn't want to get into a fight with those two troublemakers in the Hokage Building and burn the place down!

"You've all heard what the two elders had to say. We'll vote by a show of hands."

Uchiha Shikata, his mind at ease and free of desire, spoke with a serious expression. "Those in favor of Uchiha Takeyasu becoming our family's Young Lord, raise your hands."

Hands shot up. Unanimous!

"Now, those in favor of the Young Lord becoming the Third Hokage, raise your hands."

Hands shot up again. Unanimous!

"Excellent. A bright future is beckoning to us."

Uchiha Shikata nodded slowly and delivered his closing remarks. "Starting today, Takeyasu will be our clan's Young Lord, and we will do everything in our power to make him the Third Hokage."

"The Senju of the Forest are already bones in their graves. They're no longer a threat."

Uchiha Shikata spoke with boundless confidence. "The position of Third Hokage is ours for the taking!"

"Everyone, prepare to welcome the Young Lord's triumphant return. We'll show all of Konoha—and the entire Ninja World—what it means to be the greatest family in the Ninja World, and what it means to be the Uchiha Clan!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone, including the two elders, bowed their heads, their voices ringing through the hall and beyond.

Since the peak of Madara Uchiha's era, the will of the Uchiha Clan had been united once more!