No one spoke up to keep Uchiha Yutaka from leaving. His punishment was well deserved, and no one wanted to stick their nose into it.
Compared to that, everyone else was clearly more concerned about who would fill the vacant elder seats. Take this man, for example.
Uchiha Zhan rose to his feet. "Clan head, Uchiha Yutaka has been punished, but we should choose replacements for the three elder positions as soon as possible."
Uchiha Tajima fell silent for a moment, then gestured for him to sit. "We must be careful when choosing new elders. We'll discuss it later."
Unlike these Peak Jonin who had their eyes on the elder seats, he had his own ideas as clan head. The three elders of the Uchiha Clan held considerable power. Sometimes, if they agreed with one another, they could even overrule the clan head. Uchiha Tajima had been stymied several times after taking over as clan head, and it had left him simmering with anger. That was why he hadn't appointed new elders after two of them were killed in a sneak attack.
Now, after finally removing the last elder and securing true control of the clan, someone had the nerve to suggest appointing new ones. What a joke.
Of course, he knew he couldn't put it off forever. The elder seats would have to be filled sooner or later, but he would delay it as long as he could.
Uchiha Zhan wanted to say more, but Tajima shot him a glare, and he swallowed his words. He sat down with an unhappy expression and said no more.
Uchiha Tajima changed the subject and began giving orders. He discussed defenses against the Senju Clan and how to deal with other ninja clans, and handed out several urgent missions. Finally, his expression turned icy. "The Hyuga Clan must pay. We'll show the entire Warring States Period what happens when anyone crosses the Uchiha Clan."
All the ninja present answered as one, fists clenched and eyes blazing with anger.
The Uchiha Clan's blood carried a natural, inexplicable arrogance. They looked down on every other clan in the Ninja World. Aside from their old rivals, the Senju Clan, they considered all the others inferior and unworthy opponents.
Yet one such inferior clan had dared to ambush them while they were fighting the Senju Clan—and nearly succeeded. If not for the two prodigies of the new generation, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
It was an outright provocation, and the Hyuga Clan would pay in blood.
While they were in the thick of their discussion, a Black Shadow leaped into the hall and landed beside Uchiha Tajima. He handed him a confidential report, then vanished in an instant.
Shin frowned slightly. The person who had just entered had concealed his entire presence. Dressed in a black, form-fitting outfit with his face covered, he looked like a traditional ninja. He had ignored everyone else in the hall, delivered a letter to Uchiha Tajima, and left.
"He's one of my father's personal Secret Ninja. I once happened to pass by my father's room and saw him, but they usually don't appear in front of the clan members. Why did he break with convention today? Strange." Madara must have noticed Shin's confusion, because he explained in a quiet voice.
Shin narrowed his eyes. Personal Secret Ninja? He'd never heard of them before. It seemed there was still a lot about the Uchiha Clan he didn't know.
Uchiha Tajima opened the report and read it in silence. He knew his Secret Ninja wouldn't show themselves in public unless something unusual had happened.
The more he read, the darker his expression became and the angrier he looked. Finally, he slapped the report down on the table. "Damn the Hyuga! They've shamed their ancestors! They'd do something so shameless just to save their own skins!"
The people below had no idea what had happened and watched him in confusion.
Uchiha Tajima said furiously, "The latest news from the front lines: the Hyuga Clan has asked the Senju Clan for help, and offered to become their vassal clan. Tch! What a disgrace. They really are an inferior clan."
Everyone stared at him in disbelief. None of them had expected news like this.
An alliance and vassalage were two very different things. An alliance was an equal agreement, regardless of which side was stronger; both clans had the same standing.
Becoming a vassal was another matter entirely. It meant bowing your head completely. From then on, the clan head would have to lower his head whenever he met the other clan's leader. The clan would also have to pay a quarter of its mines and resources in tribute every year. Its status would be low, and no clan would willingly become another's vassal unless it had nowhere else to turn.
The Hyuga Clan was one of the great clans of the Warring States Period. Aside from the two strongest clans, the Senju and the Uchiha, they were one of the most powerful. Yet they had bowed to the Senju. Before today, no one would have imagined it.
The entire hall erupted into curses directed at the Hyuga Clan. How dare they call themselves one of the Three Great Dōjutsu clans? They were dragging down the Uchiha Clan's standing by association. A clan like that wasn't fit to tie their shoes.
Shin watched in silence. He knew exactly where he stood: he was young, and his strength was limited. Even if he spoke up, his words wouldn't carry any weight and would probably be ignored. He might as well keep quiet. Besides, he had the system. It probably wouldn't take him more than a few years to become a Kage-level Expert.
After they had mocked the Hyuga for a while, one of them asked Uchiha Tajima, "Clan head, what should we do now? Are we still going to war with the Hyuga Clan?"
"Silence!"
At Uchiha Tajima's command, everyone immediately fell quiet and turned to look at him.
Tajima considered the matter for a moment. "We withdrew in a hurry and lost a large stretch of the Kazama Valley region. That area used to separate the Hyuga and the Senju. Now that the Senju have taken it, their territories are connected. If we attack the Hyuga recklessly, the situation won't be in our favor... For now, we'll focus all our efforts on defending against the Senju Clan and stabilizing the situation. We can deal with the Hyuga later."
At Tajima's words, the others lowered their heads in agreement.
Then Uchiha Tajima stopped discussing the two clans and said, "Now let's talk about something more cheerful. On the night the Hyuga ambushed us, our clan produced two geniuses. The two of them joined forces and killed an enemy Jonin. Without them, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Let's hear it for our two geniuses, Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Shin!"
The Jonin immediately gathered around Madara and Shin, praising them loudly. Their praise was sincere. In the Warring States Period, nothing made people happier than seeing a genius emerge from the next generation of their clan.
Shin looked at them, doing his best to keep his expression calm, though inside he was thrilled. Being praised felt pretty good.
Madara lifted his head with an air of arrogance, striking a pose like some peerless hero.
"Good. I hereby declare that Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Shin are recognized by the Uchiha Clan as Special Jonin. Each of you will receive an A-rank ninjutsu. You can go learn it at the Uchiha Clan's Ancestral Hall in a little while. I've already informed the Jonin guarding it, so you can go straight in," Uchiha Tajima announced.
Shin was delighted. He hadn't expected a reward like this. He didn't care much about the title of Special Jonin, but the Uchiha Clan had plenty of valuable ninjutsu.
Uchiha Tajima added, "Shin, after you've chosen your ninjutsu, go to the Fujiwara Mine. There have been several groups of bandits causing trouble there lately. Go take care of them."
Shin was slightly taken aback. He looked at Uchiha Tajima, then nodded.
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