The Clan Meeting (Part 2)

Uchiha Shifang's hand, which had been holding his teacup, suddenly stiffened. He swept his gaze around the room, then slowly set the cup down.

Then he looked at Qingguang.

Qingguang immediately had a bad feeling.

Uncle Shifang, you're my uncle! You may not be my father, but you're as good as one!

Please don't do anything reckless.

"Everyone, I've been listening to you argue this whole time. In the end, you're just worried this mission is a hot potato—tempting, but you're afraid you'll get burned."

"Isn't the best person for this mission already here, right in front of us?" Shifang said with a smile, looking at Qingguang.

Qingguang, your uncle already knows what you're thinking. With the Mangekyō Sharingan, what does it matter if the mission's a hot potato? Just use force to put them in their place. Which clan would dare suspect or fear the Uchiha?

Go ahead and do whatever you want. Your uncle's been looking forward to seeing you show off for ages!

Feeling the gazes around him, Qingguang could only smile awkwardly and nod.

At that moment, he didn't know what else to do besides smile.

Uncle, you've really gotten me into trouble...

"Clan Head, Elders, how about... letting me take on this mission?"

Fugaku's mind raced with possibilities when Qingguang spoke up. His eyes lit up, and he grabbed Qingguang by the wrist, standing to raise his arm.

This was the perfect chance to bring Qingguang into the Neutral Faction and resolve the dispute. How could he let it slip by?

Why hadn't he thought of this sooner?

"Everyone, I'm sure the whole clan knows about Qingguang's recent accomplishments in the Police Department."

"Even Lord Hokage has praised him as the Smiling Executive Officer. Any clan that dares to show displeasure toward him would be openly opposing Lord Hokage!"

As soon as Fugaku said those two things, Fugane immediately understood what his son was thinking.

Smiling, he raised a hand to stroke his beard, watching Elder Setsuna and Elder Hanahai's reactions to Qingguang out of the corner of his eye.

Setsuna looked conflicted. He was still displeased, but kept it to himself.

The title Smiling Executive Officer meant nothing to him, but he knew Qingguang had awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan at fourteen.

He couldn't help but admire such a prodigy.

That kind of talent was even greater than Lord Madara's at the same age...

As for Hanahai, there was no need to say more.

Qingguang was the first Uchiha to win the villagers' goodwill, and had even helped foster better relations between the Uchiha and the other clans.

Yashiro had recently started dating a girl from the Inuzuka Family.

Hanahai was naturally delighted.

"If nobody has any objections, then let Qingguang handle it," Shifang said happily, taking a sip of tea when no one spoke up.

With the hot potato now passed to Qingguang, the discussion soon came to an end.

After the clan meeting, Fugaku cheerfully exchanged a few words with Qingguang, then hurried home with his father, Fugane, to claim credit.

As for Qingguang, Shifang smilingly led him on a walk around Naka Shrine.

"Qingguang, what did you think of my little push in the right direction?"

Qingguang stared straight ahead, his face stiff. "Uncle Shifang, you really went to a lot of trouble."

Hearing the stiffness in Qingguang's voice, Shifang patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, "You're too shy if you want to unite the whole clan someday."

"Other than that, you're good in every way."

"Remember to speak up more at future clan meetings. Don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing. That's how I got through my younger years. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility. Just go ahead and do what you want, haha!"

With that, Shifang laughed, clasped his hands behind his back, and strode forward with his head held high.

He'd certainly made a name for himself today. He'd even stolen the clan head's chance to give the final remarks, letting himself show off for once.

It felt pretty good~

Watching Shifang walk away, Qingguang raised a hand as if to say something, but swallowed his words.

Never mind. He'd planned to make his move after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But thanks to Uncle Shifang's accidental nudge, things had turned out well enough. He'd even made a bit of a name for himself at the clan meeting.

That was a good thing, too.

The next morning, Qingguang packed his things and went to the Hokage Office.

"Qingguang, I never expected the Uchiha to choose you for this mission."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had assumed that Qingguang had only just returned to the clan, and that this coveted mission would be a gift to win the Uchiha Clan's goodwill.

That way, he could help Qingguang find allies within the clan, making it easier for him to unite the Uchiha in the future and improve relations with the village.

But now Qingguang had accepted the "gift."

How had things turned out like this...

Seeing Hiruzen's look of disappointment at his plans falling through, Qingguang explained what had happened at the clan meeting the previous night.

Hiruzen gave Qingguang a strange look.

The boy was certainly capable, but he hadn't expected Qingguang to establish himself in the clan so quickly and win the affection and trust of so many Uchiha.

"Ahem... Well, the mission is simple in some ways, but dangerous in others. I also have another reason for assigning it to you: I want to test your courage and resolve."

"Qingguang, would you be willing to take on another covert mission?"

Hearing Hiruzen's slightly guilty-sounding words, Qingguang immediately understood the old fox's intentions.

He knelt on one knee, his face full of loyalty.

"Lord Hokage, if you entrust a mission to me, Qingguang, I'll do everything in my power to complete it."

"Everything is for the village!"

Hiruzen was extremely pleased with Qingguang's response. He took two scrolls from his desk and handed them to him.

One was an A-rank mission, the other an S-rank mission.

There was no need to elaborate on the A-rank mission: infiltrate Amegakure and gather information, learning as much as possible that might be useful in the future.

The mission details were extremely vague.

Basically, it meant sending the Uchiha there. Any information they obtained would count as a success, even if it offered only the slightest help.

Qingguang glanced at that scroll and put it away without giving it a second thought.

It seemed the real challenge was the other scroll, the S-rank mission.

Infiltrate the Land of Rain and wait for orders. When the shinobi arrived, help instigate a conflict between Sunagakure and Amegakure.

The mission itself was just as simple, but it was on a completely different level of difficulty from the A-rank one.

Qingguang put it away and looked at Hiruzen, puzzled. "Lord Hokage, is everything Amegakure is preparing for aimed at starting a war with Konoha?"

Hiruzen let out a long sigh, his expression troubled. "We can't be certain, but according to our strategists' analysis and deductions, Konoha is the most likely target."

"Whether he'll choose Konoha depends on that Demigod's courage and ambition."

"That's why I'm sending you to help provoke a war between them. Once fighting breaks out, Amegakure will have to focus its efforts on Sunagakure, giving Konoha more time to prepare."