Clan Gathering (Seeking Collection)

Yan, Shisui, and the other Uchiha clansmen stood outside the house, waiting for about half an hour.

The surroundings were deathly silent, save for the occasional sound of the wind and the rustling of leaves.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Just then, a series of dull, melodious bell tolls suddenly rang out from within the house.

The sound pierced through the walls and echoed into the night sky, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Upon hearing the bells, the Uchiha clansmen gathered around began to walk toward the house.

Shisui gently patted Uchiha Yan on the shoulder, "Yan, the clan meeting is starting. Let's head over too!"

Yan nodded and followed Shisui and the other clansmen into the assembly hall.

The doors of the assembly hall creaked open, and a sense of historical weight rushed to meet them.

The layout of the room made Yan's heart tighten.

The interior was extremely spacious, with walls painted a tranquil cyan, giving the space a steady and solemn atmosphere.

Cushions were laid out on the floor, and some were already occupied.

Uchiha Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha clan, sat cross-legged at the highest seat, his eyes deep and revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Flanking him were the clan elders, their expressions grave.

The Uchiha clansmen who had entered the room took their seats one after another.

Yan and Shisui exchanged a glance and chose a spot at the very back to sit down.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The melodious sound rang out once more, signaling that the clan meeting had officially begun.

"Is everyone here?"

An elder with sparse, graying hair asked.

He was the Great Elder of the Uchiha clan, one of the few remaining elders who had been born during the Warring States period.

Uchiha Fugaku, sitting in the center, scanned the room, "Everyone is here."

The Great Elder nodded, gave two light coughs, and spoke in a steady tone.

"Since everyone has arrived, let us begin the clan meeting."

Uchiha Fugaku tapped the floor, producing a crisp sound that drew the attention of everyone below.

"You are all aware of the Nine-Tails Incident that occurred half a year ago."

"It was from that day on that life in Konoha became increasingly difficult for our Uchiha clan."

"The suspicion from Konoha's higher-ups, the distrust of the villagers, and that certain someone who is eyeing us like a predator—I won't name names, but you all know who I mean!"

"The purpose of this meeting today is to discuss the future of our Uchiha clan and what we should do."

"Please speak in an orderly fashion!"

"..."

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd below erupted in agitation.

"The Konoha higher-ups clearly have ill intentions. If we just sit here and wait for death, we aren't far from being wiped out!"

"I agree with Tekka-aniki. Especially that old dog Sarutobi Hiruzen; he would love nothing more than to see our entire Uchiha clan annihilated."

"You're talking nonsense! Many people saw the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes; their reactions are only reasonable. We should show them our resolve to integrate into Konoha so we can rebuild trust."

"Exactly! You radicals, all you ever think about is fighting and killing!"

"You're the one talking nonsense! Your whole family is talking nonsense!"

"..."

In no time at all, the assembly hall was in an uproar.

In their fury, some even activated their scarlet Sharingan to glare at their opponents, looking as if they were about to come to blows.

Seeing this, Uchiha Fugaku, who was sitting on the dais, took a deep breath and shouted.

"Quiet!"

A massive surge of chakra erupted, instantly sweeping through the room and forcing the agitated clansmen to fall silent at once.

Uchiha Fugaku scanned the room again and spoke with a stern tone.

"I told you all to be orderly, and this is how you are orderly? Were you just about to start a brawl?"

The Uchiha clansmen below looked at one another, then lowered their heads in silence, looking as if they were resigned to his reprimand.

Uchiha Fugaku shook his head helplessly.

As the clan head, he understood the temperaments of these clansmen all too well.

Whether they were doves or hawks, they all had stubborn, dog-like tempers. If what you said didn't align with their philosophy, they treated it as if you were just passing gas.

Uchiha Fugaku steadied his emotions and turned to ask the Second Elder sitting beside him.

"Is there a clansman attending the clan meeting for the first time today?"

"Yes!" The Second Elder, whose hair was also graying but who sported a goatee, nodded in response. "His name is Uchiha Yan, and he awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan three months ago."

He then swept his gaze across the room, pointed at Yan, who was sitting in the very back, and continued.

"Right there!"

Uchiha Fugaku followed the Second Elder's finger and looked over.

A young man with delicate features was staring back at him with wide eyes.

Blinking, he looked quite innocent.

He carefully recalled the moment.

Vaguely, he remembered that when the clansmen in the hall were arguing earlier, Uchiha Yan did not seem to participate, remaining calm and composed as he sat on the floor, watching them with a smile.

"Yan!"

Hearing the clan head's voice, Yan stood up from his cushion.

"What is your take on the future of the Uchiha Clan?"

Uchiha Fugaku's question instantly drew the attention of everyone present, including Shisui.

In truth, Shisui had been curious for a long time, but Yan had simply refused to say.

Now that the clan head had spoken, he should finally reveal his true thoughts.

Becoming the focus of the meeting, Yan's mouth twitched, and he awkwardly scratched his neck with his finger.

He didn't have a damn opinion; if he really had to say it, it would be two words...

Wait for death!

Just as he was preparing to muddle through, the system suddenly released a new mission.

[Side Mission 3: Propose a constructive opinion beneficial to the Uchiha Clan at the clan meeting and gain the approval of more than two-thirds of the clansmen.]

[Reward: Mastery of Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformation.]

Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Isn't this forcing a duck onto a perch?

A constructive opinion, and it has to be approved by them—you are really making things difficult for me.

But facing the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, Yan could only bite the bullet and tentatively ask.

"As for opinions, I do have some. I just don't know if you want to hear the radical ones, the conservative ones, or the moderate ones?"

Uchiha Fugaku raised an eyebrow.

He actually has three different perspectives? Could he really be a talent?

I didn't see that coming!

"Let's hear the radical one first."

When Yan heard this, his head immediately began to ache.

But since things had reached this point, he hardened his heart—if I'm going to die, I'm going to die.

Yan swept his gaze across the hall, and his clear, forceful voice rang out.

"The radical method is quite simple."

"Starting now, we tally all the disposable wealth within the clan and purchase a massive amount of explosive tags, shuriken, sealing scrolls, and other war supplies. At the same time, we gather the elders, children, and civilians of the clan and find a way to send them out of Konoha, or dig a large-scale shelter beneath the clan grounds."

"Once everything is ready, the civilians will enter the shelter, and we Uchiha shinobi will take up our weapons, charge toward the Hokage Building, and drag that Sarutobi Brat down from the seat of the Hokage."

"It is time for our Uchiha Clan to produce a Hokage."

"..."