Dawn light streamed through the doors and windows of the Uchiha auditorium, shining directly onto the floorboards. Dust motes drifted through the beams, scattering flecks of light as they slowly floated upward.
It was another clan meeting.
There were a few more people attending than last time. Rikusei was no longer the youngest; that was Naori now. Like her bright purple hair, she stood out among the sea of black hair.
Before the meeting began, the auditorium was utterly quiet. Most people communicated with glances—mostly surprise and appreciation, with a hint of hesitation mixed in.
Opening their Sharingan at a younger age made them more likely to rely on it. Focusing too much on the power of their eyes while neglecting their overall abilities had led to some being targeted for their ocular techniques and dying young. Such things had happened many times over the long history of the clan.
If Rikusei knew what some of them were thinking, he would surely have argued, "Come on, the times have changed."
The girl sat straight-backed, her smooth purple hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back. She gazed up at the Uchiha crest at the front of the room, her small face utterly serious. Her delicate features looked like a jade statue carved with exquisite care.
"Mm."
Naori let out a little whimper as her wandering thoughts were pulled back to the present. Her gaze followed the tug on her sleeve.
It was Rikusei.
His familiar, smiling face warmed her heart, and the slight rise and fall of her chest gradually settled.
A moment ago, she had been remembering her parents' instructions before she left home: under no circumstances should she do anything rude at the clan meeting. It was the highest-level meeting in the entire clan, after all.
Rikusei