Clan Meeting

Konoha outskirts.

Low mountains rolled across the landscape. Swallows and sparrows called as they flitted over the shrine rooftops, while petals from century-old cherry trees drifted down on the warm breeze, mournful and achingly beautiful.

It took some time to reach the Council Hall on the mountain.

Many Uchiha clan members chatted as they climbed the stone steps strewn with cherry blossoms, passed through the torii gate, and stood waiting before the main hall for their clan leader to arrive.

"Hey, have you heard? The village seems to be planning something against the Police Force."

"I knew they'd make a move when the Anbu surrounded our clan compound on the night the Nine-Tails attacked. The High Command never trusted us in the first place."

"After all, the Nine-Tails had Sharingan in its eyes."

"We were all at home. How could anyone have controlled the Nine-Tails? And besides, what kind of ocular power would that take?"

"Could it be that Madara Uchiha... is still alive?"

"Shh! The clan leader's here."

The chatter quickly died down. Everyone bowed to Fugaku in unison, and only began filing inside after he entered the Council Hall.

The shrine was ancient, but its renovations had left it looking anything but dilapidated.

It had cinnabar-red pillars and delicate screens, but no altar or Buddha statue. Instead, tatami mats covered the floor, with everyone's seats arranged in orderly rows.

"Look over there, Itachi Uchiha's here too."

"Well, he is the clan leader's son. But I'm more interested in Uchiha Akashi. He's close to the Third Hokage and used to serve under Orochimaru. Hard to tell where his loyalties lie."

"He's just a spineless coward," someone beside them sneered.

Akashi sat kneeling in the middle, eyes and ears alert, but said nothing.

He'd never been popular within the clan, and he'd long since gotten used to it.

The clan meeting began with the tolling of a bell.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Uchiha Fugaku spoke. "Everyone, it's been half a year since the Nine-Tails Incident. Konoha has mostly recovered, and is preparing to launch a new development plan. I called you here today to discuss it."

"A new development plan?"

Many people were puzzled.

"That's right. The Nine-Tails damaged the Police Force during its attack, so this time Konoha has decided to help us relocate both our clan compound and the Police Force to the outskirts of the village."

Fugaku paused.

An uproar broke out, just as expected.

The older generation of shinobi knew how to keep their anger in check. Their faces stiffened, and they let out one cold laugh after another.

Some of the younger clan members were arrogant and hot-tempered, and they shouted outright. "What's that supposed to mean? They're obviously trying to isolate us!"

"What does the village take the Uchiha for?"

"This is outrageous!"

"Clan leader, you didn't agree to it, did you?"

The hardliners among the Uchiha protested one after another.

Once they'd shouted themselves hoarse, a representative of the moderate faction tried to calm them down. "After what happened with the Nine-Tails, it's only reasonable that the village would have doubts about us. At least we're still in charge of the Police Force. Our authority hasn't been reduced."

"That's right. Our priority should be rebuilding the village's trust in us."

Trust?

Was there any trust left?

Several of the most hotheaded clan members nearly jumped to their feet to argue back, their faces flushed.

Just as the two sides were arguing furiously, Uchiha Fugaku cleared his throat. The Council Hall fell completely silent.

Fugaku's prestige was at its peak.

His voice left everyone holding their breath and returning to their seats.

"I know moving is a hassle, and no one wants to do it. But the Uchiha are part of the village and one of its founding clans. We should consider the bigger picture."

Those words made his position clear.

Fugaku continued, "That said, the village's solution is rather heavy-handed. I'll do my best to negotiate more compensation. What do you think?"

"Well..."

Everyone hesitated.

The clan leader's meaning was obvious. He was siding with the moderates.

The truth was, Konoha had suffered terrible losses in the Third Shinobi World War, and the Uchiha Clan had suffered plenty of casualties as well. Picking a fight with the village now would be unwise.

They'd swallowed their grievance over the Nine-Tails Incident.

Fugaku couldn't understand who would use the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails.

And now the village had something to hold against them.

The Fourth Hokage had sacrificed himself, and public pressure in the village was intense.

Danzo had seized the opportunity to propose the relocation plan. It was a truly ruthless move. The Third Hokage had just cut Root's funding after the assassination attempt, so he couldn't very well obstruct Danzo any further without souring relations within the High Command and becoming a laughingstock.

Taking everything into account, Fugaku chose to compromise.

"Guess that's why he's the Shinobi World's biggest coward." Akashi had known what the outcome would be all along. He quietly stifled a yawn.

"What did you say?" Shisui, beside him, turned his head curiously.

"Ah, I said the clan leader's wisdom is impressive."

Akashi flashed a practiced fake smile.

Amid the murmurs, Takehiko Uchiha rose to his feet. "Clan leader, forgive my bluntness, but this decision puts us in a very difficult position."

Fugaku sat upright, glancing at Akashi from time to time.

The message was clear—

It was his turn to step in.

If he made a good argument, he could pave the way for Fugaku's closing remarks. If he made a bad one, he could draw the hardliners' fire instead. Either way, the boy had been mocked more than once before. He was thick-skinned, and Fugaku trusted him.

Akashi caught the signal and grinned.

"Difficult? I say we just don't do it."

The words left the whole hall stunned. Even Fugaku was taken aback.

What the hell?

Whose side are you on?

Inabi Uchiha sneered. "What kind of idea is that?"

"My idea is that I have no ideas. We can sit here discussing it from morning to night, then from night to morning. Do you think we can talk the Konoha High Command to death? In the end, we'll still accept their decision, whether we like it or not."

"What did you say?!"

"I'm just stating a fact. What else can we do? Rebel?"

Akashi shrugged.

He might have made fun of Fugaku for being weak, but the clan leader hadn't been wrong about the relocation decision.

The Uchiha needed time to build up their strength.

Those words left everyone speechless. Inabi Uchiha gritted his teeth and said, forcing the words out, "Then... then we'll rebel!"

Akashi remained calm. "The Konoha High Command knows the Uchiha inside and out. But, Inabi, do you know the High Command? Do you know how many positions the Anbu has? How many men Danzo has? How many people are watching us from outside while we hold this meeting?"

At that, the hair on many people's arms stood on end.

Akashi continued, "I'm guessing you don't."

"And you do?"

"I don't either. That's why I don't say childish things like 'rebel.'"

A familiar voice of derision sounded again a moment later.

All kinds of mockery followed, from accusations of sucking up to the Hokage, to calling him a coward and a fence-sitter. Some people deliberately raised their voices.

"You've already been bought off by the High Command, haven't you? You're always running to the Hokage Building. Traitor!" Ryoichi Uchiha jumped in again, bellowing in a rough voice.

"I've gone to see the Hokage a few times, and so far I've secured an extra five thousand ryo per square meter in compensation for every household. If I were to make a suggestion, I'd ask the clan leader to get us even more money."

Akashi patted his forehead. "If we can't resist, we might as well drive up the price."

We'd get money and a new home. What was there not to like?

And as for the Police Force, a place everyone hated, did they really think it gave them that much power?

Couldn't they think bigger?

"You..."

The opponents stammered for a while, unable to come up with anything to say.

The guy was irritating, but his arguments were sound. He was even trying to secure benefits for the clan. The accusation that he'd sided with the Hokage didn't seem to hold up either.

The Council Hall returned to a rare silence.

Once they'd calmed down, the clan members reluctantly accepted reality.

What else could they do?

All they could do was vent among their own people.

From clan leader Fugaku to the older jonin, everyone thought Akashi had a point. Since the decision couldn't be opposed, there was no point in stewing over it. They might as well negotiate for more benefits.

Fugaku felt quite pleased. He hadn't been wrong about him.

Akashi was a real talent!

Making him a double agent had been the best decision he'd ever made.

Then a voice broke the silence.

"Akashi, you must have found out the Konoha High Command's exact plans, then, right?"

The speaker was Itachi Uchiha. He had been kneeling beside Uchiha Fugaku all along. Now he rose to his feet and spoke in a mature tone, sounding remarkably wise.

Several elders beside him even smiled in approval.

What are you smiling at?!

I was just about done here, and now you have to run your mouth!

Akashi cursed inwardly, ignoring Itachi's question. He raised an eyebrow. "How did you get in here?"

"I—"

"Since when have Genin been allowed to attend clan meetings?"

The whole hall erupted in an uproar.

Everyone knew that Uchiha Akashi always did things his own way. The young people of the Uchiha Clan were supposed to have some individuality and pride, after all. Otherwise, what kind of young people would they be?

But no one had expected him to speak like that.

Itachi Uchiha was the clan leader's son. Talking back to him was like disrespecting the clan leader.

Even Fugaku was stunned.

Aren't you on my side?

It was true that Genin attending a clan meeting went against the rules. After all, there were a lot of shinobi in the clan, and most Genin were children under ten who couldn't offer any constructive opinions. Besides, there wasn't room for so many people.

But still, Itachi was his son, and a genius. Wasn't that different?

Fugaku knew he had no grounds to argue, so he couldn't lash out.

Still, he felt deeply frustrated.

Itachi took a step forward and smiled. "Actually, Chunin and Genin are just different ranks. I think it'd be better to prove that I belong here through my strength. Akashi, you can decide whether I'm qualified."

The meaning behind his words was obvious. He wanted to challenge Akashi.

But...

What did he mean that Chunin and Genin were just different ranks?

Was he saying he was stronger than a Chunin?

Some of the Uchiha Chunin weren't happy to hear that.

Akashi scoffed to himself. If you didn't know how to talk, you shouldn't talk at all. When a kid acted too grown-up, it just made him annoying.

Everyone sat up straighter. Those who wanted to watch a fight, those against Fugaku, those jealous of Itachi's talent, and those who disliked Akashi all looked on with eager interest.

They suddenly realized that watching the two of them fight might be more entertaining than today's meeting.

Akashi scratched his head and grinned. "Sure."

He left the rest unsaid: Actually, I've wanted to beat you up for a long time.