Heroes of the World, Like Carp Crossing a River

October 15th was a special day for the Uchiha.

This day marked the mid-month clan meeting, an event open to everyone, regardless of age or gender.

For the average person, it was simply a gathering to socialize, chat, and shoot the breeze.

But for the Uchiha leadership, there was much more to consider, including but not limited to:

Reporting on individual work achievements and fiercely criticizing the bureaucracy of the Konoha high command.

Commending outstanding members of the Police Force and fiercely criticizing the bureaucracy of Konoha civil servants.

Proposing important resolutions and work deployments, and fiercely criticizing relevant Konoha leaders for their incompetence and inaction.

The supreme leader of the Uchiha delivering a summary speech, clarifying goals, and passing resolutions.

Finally, the floor would open to all, where any Uchiha clansman could take the stage to express personal opinions or voice demands.

Parentheses: free to fiercely criticize anyone, end parentheses.

The process was tense and thrilling, with not a single dull moment from start to finish.

In the end, the mid-month clan meeting would conclude perfectly.

The above was the specific meeting agenda that Kazuhiko had summarized for the mid-month clan meetings.

He had personally experienced three such meetings, and without exception, they all followed this exact tune.

As for the higher-level executive meetings and the shrine meetings, ordinary Uchiha clansmen had no right to participate.

It was shameful to admit, but despite growing up to this age, Kazuhiko had never seen what the legendary Naka Shrine looked like.

After washing up and eating breakfast, Eri's family headed together toward the ancestral hall in the residential district to attend the mid-month clan meeting.

The ancestral hall was located in the very center of the clan grounds, housing the spirit tablets of generations of clansmen.

Although the sky had not yet brightened, the inside and outside of the ancestral hall were brightly lit with candles, and the crowd was surging.

Inside the hall, directly beneath the spirit tablets, the white-haired clan elder Uchiha Amano sat with his eyes closed, leaning on his cane.

This man, nearing seventy years of age, had witnessed the entire history of the Uchiha from the Warring States period to the founding of Konoha, earning him the title of "Living Fossil of the Ninja World."

Though his strength was no longer what it once was, he remained the absolute authority within the Uchiha clan.

In the seats of honor on the left:

Great Elder Shio held his breath in concentration, Second Elder Yuichi sat with his hand on his sword, and Third Elder Yutaro was reading the Uchiha Weekly with great relish.

In the seats of honor on the right:

Clan Head Fugaku frowned deeply, and Fourth Elder Yashiro sat with an expressionless face.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shisui was currently sitting in the secondary seating area behind Fugaku, and further out were Itachi and the three-year-old Sasuke.

Those qualified to sit in the secondary seats were mostly Jounin of the Uchiha clan, as well as captains and various leaders of the Police Force.

Today's clan meeting was clearly different; every prominent figure of the Uchiha clan was in attendance.

The number of Jounin in the secondary seats was nearly thirty; every Uchiha Jounin currently in the village had attended this mid-month clan meeting.

Eri and Hideki were both seated in the secondary area, while Kazuhiko had it worse—he was sitting at the kids' table.

"Brother Kazuhiko!" "Brother Kazuhiko!"

Shota and Moe greeted him enthusiastically.

Kazuhiko nodded with a smile.

Beside them, Itachi was coaxing little Sasuke and didn't make a sound.

What a little tsundere, pretending not to see me to make me lose face, huh?

Hmph, just you wait!

Today you treat me with indifference, tomorrow I'll make you unable to reach me.

You haven't even awakened your Sharingan at seven years old; what are you going to use to protect your foolish little brother?

"So you're the one called Kazuhiko?"

"Hmm?" Kazuhiko glanced to the side.

Is there actually someone at the kids' table who dares to challenge me?

Do I, Uchiha Kazuhiko, look that easy to bully?

"You're the one who posted the employment mission, specifically requesting a foreign ninja to tutor you in genjutsu, right?"

The Uchiha brat opposite him was full of rage, glaring at Kazuhiko with wide eyes.

"You've completely disgraced our Uchiha clan!"

How is that a disgrace?

Kazuhiko was baffled.

I'm flirting with a beautiful foreign girl, and I'm getting both benefits and rewards out of it—if word of this got out, wouldn't every Uchiha give me a thumbs up?

"Praise me for 'bringing glory to the clan'!"

Seeing someone dare to be disrespectful to Kazuhiko, Shota could not hold back any longer.

"Who are you supposed to be?"

"I am the great Uchiha Yuto, and this is my younger brother, Yuji!"

Why are you dragging me into your trouble?

Yuji felt incredibly embarrassed; he covered his face, lowered his head, and dropped his voice.

"Brother, watch the occasion! If you cause more trouble, it won't just be a matter of the Police Force office anymore!"

"I'm just speaking the truth, what is there to be afraid of! In a moment, I'm going to make him..."

Thump, thump, thump!

Clan Elder Amano opened his eyes and tapped his cane to signal that the clan meeting was about to begin.

"Before the clan meeting officially commences, there is secret intelligence from the Anbu that needs to be discussed. Shisui, you tell them."

Named by the clan elder, Shisui stood up and spoke:

"Lord Hokage is preparing to mobilize a large number of ninjas to the border to thoroughly end the war with Kumogakure."

At twelve years old, Shisui's voice was steady, possessing the aura of a powerhouse, his words clear and composed.

"Our Uchiha clan will also have a large number of ninjas conscripted to fight on the front lines."

As Shisui's voice fell, the clan meeting descended into a brief silence.

At this time, the true Third Shinobi World War had basically ended.

There were no wars around the Land of Fire; the conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure was mainly due to border friction.

The Land of Lightning was mountainous and resource-poor, and Kumogakure had long coveted the northeastern plains of the Land of Fire, harboring intentions of expansion for quite some time.

And the root of all this was actually the death of the Fourth Hokage.

It left Konoha with the reputation of being the number one hidden village, but without the strength required to uphold that title.

Three years later, the shadow of the Nine-Tails incident still hung over Konoha and the Uchiha like a dark cloud.

Great Elder Shio slammed the table and stood up:

"The Uchiha's opportunity has arrived! We should refuse this conscription. While Konoha is weak, we should take out the Root headquarters and control the Konoha high command! The Third Hokage indulges Danzo; rather than going to the battlefield to be monitored, persecuted, and stabbed in the back for no reason, we might as well just blow them up!"

With the Great Elder speaking out, the Uchiha below instantly erupted into chaos.

Everyone had something to say, clearly fed up with the unfair treatment they suffered in Konoha.

"The Great Elder is right! After we succeed, I propose that the Clan Elder becomes the Hokage and the Great Elder becomes the Hokage's advisor!"

"Damn right, blow them up! I've been enduring those people monitoring me for a long time. Do they think my Sharingan is blind? Damn it, I'm going to slaughter every one of those animals in Root!"

"Massive conscription to send us out of the village? It's a conspiracy! This is definitely a conspiracy targeting the Uchiha clan!"

"How can the Third Hokage be so evil! He's trying every way to weaken us Uchiha."

"Something's not right, we need to have a sense of crisis! Maybe the news Shisui brought back is intelligence the Konoha high command intentionally let us know, wanting to use this to wipe out our Uchiha!"

"..."

Shisui's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, but his heart was not at peace.

As a double agent for both the Uchiha and the Hokage, he was starting to break into a cold sweat.

Because the news he brought back was intelligence that the Third Hokage had approved for him to "leak."

Wiping out the Uchiha was certainly not the goal, but getting the Uchiha ninjas to contribute their strength was real.

As for whether Danzo would stir up trouble, only heaven knew.

Kazuhiko sat at the children's table, having no right to speak, and could only watch his agitated clansmen fire off at will, enjoying their freedom of speech, feeling extremely envious.

Conspiracy Uchiha, five damn seconds, conspiracy Uchiha, crisis Uchiha...

The heroes of this world are truly as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river.

Our Uchiha truly has sages in power and is full of talent.

Not only are the proposed plans very constructive, but even the Third Hokage's schemes are seen through clearly!

The hearts of the people can be utilized, the hearts of the people can be utilized!

Once I hold absolute power and make the final decisions, why should our Uchiha worry about not accomplishing great things!

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