Clan Head Fugane Was Quite the Conversationalist

"Please, come in." Fugane Uchiha smiled as he led the two inside.

As Qingguang stepped through the doorway and took in the scene before him, he felt as though he had entered a peaceful, elegant garden.

A stream flowed gently by, while a waterwheel built from wood and bamboo turned without pause, keeping the water in motion. Colorful flowers bloomed in abundance. Compared with Shifang's home, the surroundings were incomparably better.

When they reached the reception room, a maid brought in tea and immediately withdrew.

The clan head was about to speak with his guests. One was Elder Shifang, who hadn't visited in many years; the other was the prodigy Uchiha Qingguang, who had returned to the clan not long ago.

As a maid who worked in the clan head's household, she naturally understood what she should do at a time like this.

"Clan Head, please call me if you need more tea." The maid bowed and withdrew.

Once she had left, Fugane lifted his teacup to his lips. "Elder Shifang, it's been nearly twenty years since that incident. It's been a long time since I last had tea with you like this."

"Give it a try. I had Granny Ninja Cat bring this gyokuro back from the Land of Tea."

Shifang's expression barely changed. He only offered a faint smile and took a sip.

"Thank you for the tea, Clan Head. To be precise, it's been seventeen years and 357 days."

At that, Qingguang lowered his head in silence. "In eight days, it will be Father's death anniversary."

Shifang and Qingguang's responses made Fugane's hand tremble as he held his teacup.

Damn my big mouth. Why did I have to bring that up as soon as I opened it?

One sentence, and the conversation's dead.

Just as he was wondering how to carry on and keep the conversation going, Qingguang stepped in at just the right moment.

"If Father could learn of the changes in the Uchiha from the Pure Land, I'm sure he'd be deeply gratified."

Qingguang was clearly referring to the recent changes in the Police Department, and a smile returned to Fugane's face.

"Qingguang, we have you to thank for all of that."

"If you hadn't made those changes, that bunch of blockheads would never have thought of this approach in their entire lives."

This time, it was Shifang's turn to be stunned.

Clan Head, what you just said is basically an insult to every Uchiha except Qingguang. You didn't even spare yourself or your son Fugaku.

Was there really any need to be so ruthless?

Shifang had known for a very long time that Fugane wasn't good at making conversation. But he hadn't expected that, after all these years, the man would still be the same. He hadn't improved at all—in fact, it seemed to have gotten worse.

"Clan Head Fugane, have you heard anything about Yashiro lately?"

After just two exchanges, Fugane had turned into a conversation killer. Qingguang could only get straight to the point and skip the small talk.

He was worried Fugane might come out with another classic line. Qingguang had never met anyone so skilled at killing a conversation.

"Yashiro? Do you mean his relationship with Inuzuka Akiya?"

"I've heard about it, too. But the Uchiha have always been on good terms with the Ninja Cat Clan, while the Inuzuka Clan are all dog handlers. The fact that cats and dogs don't get along makes this a real problem."

At last, Qingguang understood just how absurd Fugane's conversational skills were. Was the main issue really that cats and dogs didn't get along?

It's a miracle the clan has survived this long under your leadership. No wonder so many Uchiha in the Hawk Faction call Fugane a shit-stirrer...

Fugane's words nearly made Qingguang choke on his tea. He set down his cup and said, "Ahem. Clan Head Fugane, the reason I came today was Yashiro's situation. I also have a suggestion to make."

Fugane first looked at Qingguang, then shifted his gaze to Shifang.

Shifang lowered his head to drink his tea, then went on to explain Yashiro and Akiya's situation once more.

Even Fugane frowned at Yashiro's predicament, feeling sorry for him and regretting how things had turned out. "What a shame about Yashiro's feelings. It seems he loved her, but she didn't love him back. I only hope he can move on from this failed relationship soon and not let it become a lifelong regret."

Qingguang restrained his urge to complain, steadied his breathing, and composed himself before speaking. "Clan Head, this may be the first time something like this has happened, but once we set this precedent, it will happen more and more often."

"Imagine if, in the future, nearly a hundred young men and women in the Uchiha Clan remained single for life because of conflicts between our clans. What a heartbreaking sight that would be."

"Surely you don't want so many Uchiha to suffer heartbreak?"

Although Qingguang was arguably exaggerating the seriousness of the problem, his reasoning was easy to understand. It also brought another issue into focus.

That issue was the clan's population. For a clan to grow strong, a large population was one of the necessary conditions.

The Uchiha had always been devoted in love. If a spouse died, they never remarried. Now that the first romance between an Uchiha and someone from another ninja clan had emerged, there would only be more to come. If they couldn't resolve this problem soon, it would inevitably affect the clan's prosperity.

"Well..." Fugane fell silent, at a loss for words. He couldn't think of a better solution.

Just then, Shifang nudged Qingguang in the back.

Keep going, kid. Don't give Clan Head Fugane a chance to speak again, or he'll kill the conversation all over again!

"I have a plan that could change this situation and even improve the clan's relations with other ninja clans."

A flicker of excitement immediately crossed Fugane's face. He was just about to speak when Shifang cut off his wind-up. "Clan Head Fugane, why don't you let Qingguang finish first? Give the younger generation more chances to show what they can do."

"That's true." Fugane smiled as he lifted his teacup and took a satisfied sip.

A chance to show what he can do?

By now, Fugane was certain that Elder Shifang had already chosen to stand behind Qingguang and support him. Qingguang, in turn, was ready to join his Neutral Faction.

His eagerness to prove himself in front of Fugane was the best evidence!

"All we have to do is open the Police Department's authority to other ninja clans and civilians."

The moment Qingguang finished speaking, Fugane spat out the tea he had just sipped, splashing Shifang from head to toe.

"Impossible! The Police Department's authority is the foundation of the Uchiha's standing in the village. There's absolutely no way we can open it to outsiders!"

Fugane had never imagined Qingguang would dare to say something so outrageous. Even the Dove Faction Uchiha would never entertain such an idea.

How many years had it been since the Uchiha last produced a Mangekyo? Although the clan's overall strength was still among the highest of Konoha's ninja clans, it was nowhere near what it had been in Konoha's early days.

If they gave up their power voluntarily at a time like this, it would be a dead end!

Though the Uchiha Clan was divided into factions, the Police Department was the foundation of their standing. No matter how much they fought among themselves, this was a point every Uchiha at the clan council tacitly agreed on.