Clan Meeting (Part 1)

On the southern outskirts of Konohagakure, patches of green woods surrounded the area, with a babbling stream adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

This place was rarely visited, with only a handful of homes.

Those who remained here were the elders who had stayed since Konoha's founding.

The Uchiha Clan's ancestral land, the Naka Shrine, was located in the center of this garden.

When Qingguang arrived, only a few scattered Uchiha members were seen quickening their pace towards the secret room beneath the ancestral hall.

"Qingguang, you're finally here. Come, sit here."

Fugaku's gaze had been fixed on the exit of the stairs since he first arrived in the secret room.

Qingguang naturally wouldn't refuse Fugaku's invitation and took a seat on the cushion to Fugaku's left.

He also greeted and exchanged pleasantries with the clan members around him.

However, some clan members, seated on the sides of the assembly hall, looked at Qingguang with ill intent.

Qingguang merely smiled and nodded in greeting. This action, however, made them feel unaccustomed, forcing a stiff smile in return.

After all, not all Uchiha had to join the Police Department; some lacked the skill, while more were dissatisfied with the clan head and the Neutral Faction represented by Fugaku.

They felt they were just stirring up trouble.

Click, click...

The clock on the wall ticked. At eight o'clock, everyone was present, and the clan meeting began.

Matters related to the clan's financial accounts and revenue concluded quickly.

For the Uchiha Clan, this was the least important and most disregarded aspect of their clan meetings. It had always been handled by Grandma Cat of the allied Ninja Cat Clan, merely a formality.

After all, the Uchiha Clan was not skilled in financial matters.

No one paid much attention to the details of the accounts.

The clan head, Fugaku Uchiha, put away the scroll recording the accounts and his expression turned serious. "Everyone, according to information from the Hokage, Amegakure has been acquiring large amounts of grain across the ninja world recently. Other countries have also begun recalling ninjas on missions."

"The Hokage wants us to send someone to infiltrate the Land of Rain to investigate Amegakure's intelligence."

"Do any of you have any thoughts or recommendations for candidates?"

The current state of the ninja world was extremely unstable; this was common knowledge. However, the relationship between the Uchiha and the village had always been strained, and almost no one expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to entrust such important information to the Uchiha.

By past convention, this task should have been assigned to the Aburame Clan.

Elder Setsuna, the leader of the Hawk Faction, seated on the left side of the assembly hall, let out a cold laugh. "Us Uchiha to investigate intelligence in the Land of Rain."

"Has this Sarutobi gotten old and lost his mind?"

"We Uchiha excel at Fire Release. Sending us on an intelligence mission to a place full of rain, I believe he's just trying to weaken our clan."

"He might as well have us Uchiha attack the Land of Rain directly."

Setsuna Uchiha's expression was ferocious, his eyes full of hostility, and he scoffed at such a mission.

Fugaku was accustomed to Setsuna's behavior. Whenever the village leadership was mentioned, this old man would invariably offer sarcastic remarks and veiled criticisms.

After all, Setsuna's failed coup during the Battle of the Underworld and his subsequent ten-year imprisonment had left him with a humiliation that still fueled his resentment towards Konoha's leadership.

He then turned his gaze to Fugaku.

As the future successor, Fugaku naturally understood, nodding slightly. "Elder Setsuna, your words are misguided. Do not let past failures cloud your judgment with hatred. This is a clan meeting; we must prioritize the clan and not let personal feelings interfere. I believe this is a gesture of goodwill from the Hokage towards our Uchiha Clan."

"It's merely an intelligence gathering mission, no combat is required there. While the Aburame Clan's insect users are skilled in this, the Uchiha's Sharingan is no less capable."

"Besides, with the Sharingan, even if combat were to occur, in a one-on-one situation, the Uchiha would not lose. No matter how you look at it, this is an opportunity for our Uchiha to showcase our abilities."

After years of guidance and training from his father, Fugaku's skill in smoothing things over was second to none.

These words, while directed at Setsuna, also saved face for the other Hawk Faction members.

Unfortunately, he overlooked the loyal followers behind Setsuna, causing them to feel dissatisfied.

Taking advantage of this moment, Hanaumi Uchiha, a Dove Faction elder seated opposite Setsuna, spoke up.

"Fugaku, what you say is largely correct. But if the Uchiha snatch this credit that originally belonged to the Aburame Clan, won't that lead to misunderstandings with other clans?"

"If we can snatch the Aburame's mission today, we could snatch the Ino-Shika-Cho's tomorrow, which would make other clans wary."

"The clan's current predicament is the best proof of this. Clan Head, I still believe we should be more cautious."

As he spoke, Hanaumi looked at Fugaku with a smile.

Through all this, Qingguang sat silently beside Fugaku, making no move, as if he were merely a passerby.

Even Shifang kept signaling him with his eyes, but Qingguang pretended not to understand, simply smiling.

Qingguang, at this point, you should act! Use your invincible Mangekyo to suppress them all. I've paved the way for you to lead the clan.

As long as you make a move, others will cooperate and follow your ideas.

This was what Qingguang interpreted from Shifang's gaze.

Qingguang wanted to, but he couldn't.

He could deceive Shifang Uncle with the Sharingan's genjutsu, but he couldn't possibly deceive nearly a hundred people at the clan meeting with genjutsu, could he?

Even if he had truly activated the Mangekyo, it would likely be a struggle, let alone the fact that he hadn't activated it yet.

He could only blink his eyes in response.

But in Shifang's eyes, this was interpreted as something else entirely.

[Uncle Shifang, don't worry, everything is within my plan. It's not time yet, just watch my performance.]

[It's fine to let them jump around a bit longer, because I will make my move.]

Receiving Qingguang's implied message, Shifang's heart was put at ease.

He had seen the achievements this child had made in the Police Department over the past few months, and it was worth all the effort he put in, working late and leaving early to win people over for him.

He nodded with a face full of relief, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

The elders and the clan head were engaged in a fierce debate, voicing their opinions, even their confidants beside them attacking each other and cursing.

Until they heard the "swish swish~" sound of Shifang drinking his tea.

Everyone's gaze snapped to Shifang.

His face instantly soured. His already gloomy and somber old face became even deeper.

"Elder Shifang, we are all worried and concerned about the family's affairs, and you still have the nerve to sit here and drink tea?"

"Do you think we're singing for money!?"