The Clan Meeting

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Beneath the shade of the trees.

A few sparrows perched on the branches, pecking at bugs on the leaves. They didn't notice the two boys flash past them in an instant.

"What is it?!"

"Captain Shingen?!"

Shisui turned his head, his gaze falling on Uchiha Shingen's face.

From where he stood, he could clearly see the tension between Uchiha Shingen's brows.

"It's nothing."

"Just focus on getting there."

Uchiha Shingen shook his head, but the expression on his face remained tense.

Though his exchange of looks with Orochimaru had lasted only an instant, the bone-deep chill had still made his scalp prickle.

Even though he had only heard Jiraiya describe Orochimaru a few times by chance, he had recognized the identity of the person watching them from afar in that instant.

One of the Sannin, famed alongside Jiraiya, and the most outstanding disciple of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Orochimaru!

If Jiraiya felt like an immovable mountain, then Orochimaru was a shadowy abyss.

Shine a light into it, and all you could glimpse was endless darkness!

This man, who bore the title of Sannin just like Jiraiya, was far more dangerous than Uchiha Shingen had expected!

Still.

That Anbu outfit...

Had the Third Hokage ordered him to monitor the Uchiha Clan Meeting?

Under normal circumstances, with Fugaku Uchiha keeping things in check, rebellious voices within the Uchiha clan were all but silenced. So the Hokage's surveillance was little more than a formality.

But tonight was clearly different. Setsuna Uchiha's release from prison had introduced far too many uncertainties. It was entirely possible that the Uchiha would break out into open conflict among themselves!

"We're here!"

As Uchiha Shingen pondered this, Shisui suddenly spoke. He raised his head and looked ahead.

Beyond Naka Shrine's entrance, a gigantic red torii gate gradually came into view.

The Japanese-style buildings, resembling a palace, stood imposingly even amid the surrounding ancient trees.

This place looked less like a shrine and more like a fortress built by the Uchiha.

At that moment.

Two Uchiha shinobi in Jonin vests were guarding the entrance to Naka Shrine.

Seeing two boys approach, the pair were initially puzzled.

Not every member of the clan was entitled to attend the Uchiha Clan Meeting. Only the clan's Jonin received invitations.

But once they recognized Uchiha Shingen and Shisui, the two Uchiha Jonin on guard didn't stop them. They simply nodded and let the boys enter.

Geniuses might not hold real power, but they were often granted certain privileges.

Inside Naka Shrine, in the main hall.

By the time Uchiha Shingen and Shisui arrived, more than twenty Uchiha Jonin had already gathered there.

That number accounted for nearly a fifth of Konoha's Jonin.

Combined with the advantage granted by the Sharingan, it was no wonder the Konoha High Command, despite its wariness of the Uchiha, was unwilling to give up such a powerful fighting force.

The more than twenty Jonin in the hall had split into two clearly distinct factions.

One was the younger faction, led by Fugaku Uchiha, and it made up the majority.

The other had fewer than ten members, but each was a battle-hardened middle-aged shinobi. They were likely the old guard who had followed Setsuna Uchiha back in the day.

When Uchiha Shingen and Shisui arrived, Fugaku Uchiha gave them a slight nod and let them stand to one side and listen.

Standing at the head of the room, Fugaku Uchiha gave Uchiha Shingen and Shisui a slight nod, then let them stand in a corner.

At that moment.

Setsuna Uchiha had yet to arrive, and there was still some time before the clan meeting began.

"Come to think of it, we've never met that person."

Shisui rubbed his chin, his expression serious.

Uchiha Shingen ruffled Shisui's hair and brought up an idea out of the blue:

"Could it possibly be that disabled old man from before?!"

Shisui froze for a moment, then immediately dismissed Uchiha Shingen's guess:

"No way. Absolutely not!"

"The old man was a bit old-fashioned, but he didn't seem malicious. And he didn't have the killing intent you'd expect from someone like Setsuna Uchiha."

"Fair point..."

Uchiha Shingen nodded, about to say more, when a familiar sound reached his ears.

Rattle, rattle, rattle—!

With everyone watching, an old man in a wheelchair slowly entered the main hall.

"Now that Elder Setsuna is here, we can begin the clan meeting."

Fugaku Uchiha spoke slowly from the front of the hall.

His voice was steady, giving nothing away.

But the atmosphere in the hall froze the moment the old man entered.

Uchiha Shingen's gaze fell on the old man in the wheelchair, and his expression instantly stiffened.

Wait. Hold on!

Wasn't this the old man who'd been listening to Imperial Uncle at the tea table every day? And now you're telling me he's Setsuna Uchiha?!

Uchiha Shingen thought the way things had unfolded was absurd, but the facts were right before his eyes, leaving him no choice but to accept them.

Uchiha Shingen couldn't make sense of it.

What on earth was going on with this world?!

First Jiraiya, and now Setsuna Uchiha. Did all these big shots like to hide their identities, show off, and mess with people?

Who was next?

Go on, bring out the First to mess with people!

Uchiha Shingen's mouth twitched violently.

He couldn't help thinking back, wondering if he'd ever bad-mouthed the old man to his face during that time.

Well, he hadn't said anything bad. It had all been cheeky remarks.

Then no problem.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no..."

Beside him, Shisui stared blankly ahead, repeating those words over and over.

Only then did Uchiha Shingen remember that when he and Shisui had discussed the coup led by Setsuna Uchiha, the man himself had been sitting right across from them, listening.

Back then, Shisui had been gossiping about him without a care in the world!

Thinking of that.

Uchiha Shingen's mood actually improved a little.

After all, his own terrible luck wasn't so bad as long as his buddy had it worse.

Seeing Shisui looking utterly dejected, Uchiha Shingen whispered a few words of comfort:

"Don't panic."

"It's not like you were gossiping about him behind his back!"

Shisui looked like he was about to cry.

"I was gossiping about him to his face..."

Ahem! Ahem!

Two coughs interrupted Shisui and Uchiha Shingen's whispering.

They both looked up and saw Setsuna Uchiha looking right at them, with a faintly amused expression.

Shisui's heart sank.

However.

Setsuna Uchiha's gaze didn't linger on Uchiha Shingen and Shisui. It soon moved elsewhere.

Under Fugaku Uchiha's direction, the clan meeting began as expected.

The Jonin present voted on the clan's recent affairs, one by one, and passed them.

To everyone's surprise.

Setsuna Uchiha, who they had expected to make a move, didn't say a word from beginning to end.

He simply sat there quietly, like an old man who had lost all his power and was little more than a figurehead.

The change came after the final clan matter had been approved.

Setsuna Uchiha, who had been sitting quietly to one side, suddenly spoke:

"You may all leave for now."

"There's something I'd like to discuss with the clan head in private."