Conspiracy (Seeking Collection, Seeking Recommendation!)

Uchiha Setsuna smiled slightly, slowly walked back to his seat, and sat down.

"Young people just can't keep their composure."

"But since you've said as much, I won't beat around the bush anymore."

Uchiha Setsuna's expression turned very serious as he continued.

"Are those words you spoke at the clan meeting your true thoughts?"

Yan frowned.

Was he talking about the coup, the total surrender, or the marriage alliance?

"Of course they are true. The Uchiha clan has no time left; we must make a choice as soon as possible."

"Oh?" Uchiha Setsuna tapped the tabletop lightly. "Sit!"

"Come, tell this old man your perspective. Why do you think this way?"

Hearing the invitation, Yan sat down on the stool without standing on ceremony.

He sat directly opposite Uchiha Setsuna, with a table separating them.

Then, clearing his throat, he spoke.

"Before the Night of the Nine-Tails, the Uchiha clan might have still had a chance to coexist peacefully with the Hokage faction."

"But after the Night of the Nine-Tails, that chance is gone, and such a possibility will never exist again."

"With that excuse, even if the Hokage faction were to wipe out my Uchiha clan, the other ninja clans wouldn't say much. At most, they would only feel a sense of 'the fox mourning the death of the hare'."

Uchiha Setsuna nodded inwardly and continued to ask, "Then why do you think the Hokage faction wants to wipe out my Uchiha clan?"

Yan smiled slightly. Instead of answering the question, he countered with one of his own.

"I wonder, Elder Setsuna, how do you think the Uchiha clan can truly integrate into Konoha?"

"Hahaha!" Uchiha Setsuna laughed heartily. "Testing me, are you?"

This young man was truly interesting, far better than Uchiha Fugaku.

It was a pity he was too young, and his strength was not enough to suppress everyone within the clan.

Thinking of this, his laughter quickly ceased, and he continued.

"Hokage..."

"Only when the Uchiha clan truly produces a Hokage will we truly integrate into Konoha."

"But that is impossible!" Yan continued.

Uchiha Setsuna nodded, agreeing with the other's view, his expression gradually dimming.

"That's right, it is impossible."

"They will never accept the birth of an Uchiha Hokage!"

Although it was said that the Hokage was chosen by vote, everyone knew that the position was predetermined.

The Second Hokage was the First's younger brother, the Third was the Second's student, and the Fourth was the Third's grand-student.

Even if the Third had not chosen to return to power after the Fourth's death, the position of Hokage would only have been chosen between Tsunade and Jiraiya.

Even if everyone in Konoha were to die, as long as the Third and his circle remained, the Uchiha clan would never be within their considerations.

Yan naturally understood this logic, and he quipped.

"Elder Setsuna, I suppose I don't need to answer your previous question now, do I?"

"Hahaha!" Uchiha Setsuna shook his head. "No need. You see things very clearly, unlike Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku."

"Now, you can tell me why you asked me to come here."

Uchiha Setsuna reined in his emotions and fell silent, seemingly weighing something.

A breeze drifted through the hall, gently brushing his graying short hair.

He was old, after all!

And the Uchiha clan had no time left!

Uchiha Setsuna sighed inwardly, looked up at Yan, and spoke.

"Yan, can I trust you?"

Yan: "..."

The elderly were certainly talkative.

He could guess the purpose of Uchiha Setsuna summoning him.

It was nothing more than the realization that Fugaku was useless, and Shisui had leaned toward the Hokage faction, making them unreliable.

Now that a clansman had appeared who could contend with Shisui, had not been influenced by Sarutobi Hiruzen and his ilk, and viewed matters with clarity, he simply wanted to place a bet.

For Yan, there was no reason to refuse such assistance.

It just so happened that he wanted to implement his own plan, and he had a great need for both manpower and capital.

He nodded, then smiled.

"Elder Setsuna, I am a ninja raised by the clan. Asking me to be a dog for Sarutobi Hiruzen? That is impossible."

"Besides, the Uchiha clan has no other choice now, do they?"

"Hahaha!" Uchiha Setsuna let out another loud laugh, though a hint of sorrow permeated the sound.

"Indeed, the Uchiha clan has no time to wait for another genius to emerge."

To think that my great Uchiha clan, as one of the founding families of Konoha, has actually fallen to such a state.

As for Uchiha Itachi, who is also called a genius.

To be honest, he could not trust him!

"I am getting old, and my mind inevitably struggles to keep up."

"Yan!" Uchiha Setsuna calmed his emotions and continued.

"You can likely guess part of the reason I came to find you, but you have absolutely underestimated the capacity of this Uchiha Setsuna."

He stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and fixed his sharp gaze upon Yan.

"From this day forward, the Radical Faction will forever support any decision you make."

"Whether you need people or money, I will provide it."

"If Uchiha Fugaku has any objections, I will shoulder the pressure for you!"

"But I have only one requirement: let the Uchiha produce a Hokage."

"Do you dare to accept this!"

Those words, carrying majesty and dominance, echoed through the hall, impacting Yan's soul.

It made him feel as if he were seeing that figure from the past who dared to lead the clansmen to stand toe-to-toe with the Second Hokage.

Yan took a deep breath and stood up, facing Uchiha Setsuna, meeting his gaze directly.

He replied in an extremely confident tone.

"Why would I not dare!"

A flicker of imperceptible gratification flashed through Uchiha Setsuna's eyes as he walked back to his seat and sat down.

"Very good!"

"Yan, I look forward to your performance!"

Yan nodded. "Rest assured! The Hokage is my goal as well."

"However, it is best if your support for me remains in the shadows."

"Of course!" Uchiha Setsuna chuckled teasingly. "I am not a child; you do not need to remind me of such things."

"I am naturally at ease with how you handle things!"

In the dead of night, Yan walked out of Uchiha Setsuna's residence.

After Uchiha Setsuna decided to support Yan with all his might, he had also asked Yan many detailed questions regarding his views on Konoha and the Uchiha clan.

To put it bluntly, it was painting a picture, specifically one with tangible possibilities.

Yan was quite adept at this sort of "presentation" work.

Consequently, he had spoken eloquently and at length on the spot, reeling off a series of plans.

Naturally, the core of his discourse remained the God-Making Plan.

Uchiha Setsuna had nodded continuously as he listened.

This made him increasingly satisfied with the young man before him.

In his heart, he was certain he had not misjudged the person.

He was a great talent!

On the way home.

Yan stopped in his tracks, looked up at the deep night sky, and could not help but have his thoughts wander.

Since I cannot avoid it, I might as well give it my all.

Letting the world develop according to my vision—that sounds quite interesting!