Uchiha Clan Matters Are to Be Resolved by the Uchiha

Kagami Uchiha leaped lightly without making a sound, vanishing into the vast night in a single instant.

Returning home, Kagami Uchiha headed straight for his father's room, for his father was the current head of the Uchiha Clan.

Kagami's grandfather was the Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan, making the status of both Kagami and Chirori incredibly noble, yet neither of them grew arrogant because of it; instead, they constantly pushed themselves to improve.

He knocked twice on the door, and a steady, magnetic male voice came from within: "Is that you, Kagami? Come in."

Kagami acknowledged the call and pushed open the door to find a middle-aged man playing chess with an old man.

Though the old man was aged, he had few white hairs and looked quite robust, currently arguing incessantly with the middle-aged man because he wanted to take back a move.

Seeing Kagami enter, he casually tossed his chess piece aside and stopped playing.

The middle-aged man could only sigh at his father's behavior; since his own father was such an old rascal, he figured he might as well indulge him while he was still in good health.

This middle-aged man was naturally Kagami's father, Teruaki Uchiha, and the old man was Teruaki's father, Shintaro Uchiha—Kagami's grandfather.

Shintaro asked with a smile: "Kagami, you've come in such a rush, is something the matter?"

Without much hesitation, Kagami reported to his grandfather and father what he had just overheard.

"The Fourth Elder, Kai Uchiha, is plotting to betray Konoha. The operation is set for three days from now, and he has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Upon hearing this news, Shintaro and Teruaki were not overly surprised; after all, Kagami had told them long ago that the Fourth Elder was secretly conspiring.

Today was simply the day he prepared to launch his official strike, and neither Shintaro nor Teruaki took Kai Uchiha seriously.

After all, regarding Kai Uchiha's talent, he had only become an elder because there were no older members left in the family; he had earned his position through age, not through any real strength.

However, the fact that this old man had actually awakened the Mangekyō meant they had to handle this with caution. Awakening the Mangekyō could be called a qualitative change, as it could more than double a person's strength!

Shintaro seemed somewhat worried, saying in a fearful tone: "This is a bit troublesome. I didn't expect that guy to awaken the Mangekyō."

Teruaki calmly asked Kagami for every detail he had heard that night so he could make an informed judgment.

After Kagami recounted the conspiracy between Kai Uchiha and the other four elders word for word, Teruaki's brow furrowed.

Five elders launching a rebellion, and their primary target was actually their own clansmen! If this got out, it would be a laughingstock.

But Teruaki noticed a detail: the Fifth and Sixth Elders had been coerced, agreeing only half-heartedly!

This could become a breakthrough point; these old guys didn't have any real convictions! What kind of nonsense was this, following Madara Uchiha!

Especially the Fifth and Sixth Elders—two old men who cherished their lives so much they wouldn't even step onto a battlefield!

People like that were the easiest to bribe.

"Kagami, I have a mission for you."

"Please speak, Father."

Teruaki pondered for a moment before laying out his plan: "The Fifth and Sixth Elders are most greedy for clan power and wealth. Find a way to bribe them over these next few days; as long as they don't take action, that is enough."

Kagami seemed to have some doubts about this method, but before he could speak, Teruaki added: "We can settle the score with them after it's all over."

Only then did Kagami nod and accept the mission.

"Father, Grandfather, should we tell Teacher and the Hokage about this?"

Upon hearing this, Teruaki immediately and sternly forbade Kagami from doing so.

"You must tell no one! I know you respect Tobirama and the Hokage."

"But until this matter spills over to outsiders, it remains an internal Uchiha affair!"

At this point, Shintaro interjected, cutting off Teruaki: "If the news gets out, it will evolve into the Uchiha Clan attempting to launch a rebellion. No one will care whether it's the Hawks or the Doves."

Shintaro Uchiha's eyes turned scarlet, and a six-pointed star shape slowly appeared in his pupils, accented by tomoe—this was none other than the Mangekyō Sharingan!

"Uchiha affairs will be resolved by the Uchiha."

Shintaro's aura surged, his words cold and devoid of warmth. Gone was the old rascal who had wanted to take back his chess move!

"These old guys have lived in peace for a few days and forgotten their own worth. To think that even someone like him would dare to provoke me, awakening the Mangekyō only when he's about to die."

Kagami and his father, Teruaki, found it hard to breathe under this immense pressure.

Kagami Uchiha, who had joined Konoha with the clan when he was only a few years old, was seeing his grandfather's power for the first time. He had always assumed the old man only possessed the Three Tomoe; he never expected he had been hiding his true strength.

"Father! Please, withdraw your power!"

Hearing his son's words, Shintaro slowly stopped, and his Mangekyō Sharingan faded away.

"Truly, there is war at every turn."

Shintaro was a veteran ninja who had seen countless battles. During the Warring States period, various clans occupied territories and fought one another, and now that the village was established, they still had to fight.

What could war possibly bring to a ninja?

It seemed to bring only endless pain. Shintaro's wife, his eldest son, and his two younger brothers had all died in the war.

He had deeply experienced the pain of war, which was why, after the Uchiha joined Konoha, he had urged his clansmen to integrate into the village and enjoy this hard-won peace.

"Alright, Kagami, let your grandfather have some quiet time. You should go back and rest."

"Very well, Father, Grandfather, I will take my leave."

Kagami turned and left the room, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

He had always thought of his grandfather as a playful old child, never expecting him to be this strong.

Although Kagami desperately wanted to possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, the price for it was suffering immense mental anguish.

Perhaps it would take losing his father, his grandfather, or even Chirori for him to awaken the Mangekyō.

If that were truly the case, he would rather not have the Mangekyō; Kagami believed that even relying on his own strength, he could still stand at the pinnacle of this ninja world.

Kagami's ideals were not particularly grand; he simply wanted to protect his younger sister and family well, and within the scope of his abilities, protect the people of the village.

Therefore, Kagami was perhaps better suited to be a good brother or a good husband, and not suited to be the Hokage.

"Brother, why are you back so late today?"

Chirori had been standing at the doorway for a long time waiting, and only now saw her brother return, looking somewhat exhausted.

"I was reporting some matters to Father and Grandfather, so I came back late."

Chirori took her brother's hand and led him into the house.

"You must be worn out, get some good rest."