The Clan Gathering in Progress

Swish!

Swish!

Swish!

Under the shade of the trees.

A few sparrows landed on the branches, pecking at the insects on the leaves, completely unaware of the two youths who flashed past them.

"What is it?!"

"Captain Shingen?!"

Shisui turned his head, his gaze landing on the face of Uchiha Shingen.

From his angle, he could clearly see the solemnity between Uchiha Shingen's brows.

"It's nothing."

"Just keep moving."

Uchiha Shingen shook his head, but the expression on his face did not soften.

Although the eye contact with Orochimaru had lasted only a split second, the bone-chilling coldness that had been etched into his marrow still made his scalp tingle.

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

It was none other than one of the Sannin, who shared the same fame as Jiraiya, and the most outstanding disciple recognized by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Orochimaru!

If Jiraiya gave one the feeling of an unshakable mountain, then Orochimaru was a dark, deep pool.

Even if light shone into it, one could only glimpse endless darkness!

This man, who bore the title of Sannin alongside Jiraiya, was far more dangerous than Uchiha Shingen had originally anticipated!

However.

That Anbu attire...

Could he have received orders from the Third Hokage to monitor the Uchiha clan meeting?!

Under normal circumstances, with Fugaku Uchiha suppressing them, the voices of rebellion within the Uchiha clan were almost completely stifled, so the Hokage's surveillance was merely a formality.

But tonight's situation was clearly different; the release of Setsuna Uchiha from prison brought too many possible variables, and it was not even impossible for the Uchiha clan to break out into direct infighting!

"We're here!"

As Uchiha Shingen pondered, Shisui suddenly spoke, and he looked up toward the front.

Outside Naka Shrine, the massive crimson torii gate gradually appeared in his line of sight.

The palace-like complex of Japanese-style buildings, even surrounded by countless towering ancient trees, could not hide its grandeur.

It was less like a shrine and more like a fortress built by the Uchiha.

At this moment.

At the entrance of Naka Shrine, two Uchiha ninjas wearing jonin vests were already standing guard.

The two were initially puzzled when they saw that the arrivals were two youths.

Not all clan members were qualified to participate in the Uchiha clan meeting; only the jonin of the clan would receive an invitation to come here.

But after seeing the faces of Uchiha Shingen and Shisui, the two Uchiha jonin responsible for guarding did not stop them; they simply nodded slightly and allowed the two to enter.

Although geniuses might not have real power, they often had corresponding privileges.

Inside Naka Shrine, in the main hall.

By the time Uchiha Shingen and the other arrived, more than twenty Uchiha jonin had already gathered.

This number accounted for nearly one-fifth of Konoha's jonin.

Coupled with the advantages brought by the Sharingan, it was no wonder that even though the high-level officials of Konoha were wary of the Uchiha, they were unwilling to give up such a powerful fighting force.

The twenty-plus jonin in the hall were divided into two distinct factions.

One side was the young and middle-aged faction led by Fugaku Uchiha, which occupied the majority of the hall.

The other side numbered fewer than ten, but these middle-aged ninjas, each exuding a fierce aura, were likely the old guard who had followed Setsuna Uchiha in the past.

Seeing Uchiha Shingen and the other arrive, Fugaku Uchiha nodded slightly and allowed the two to stand to the side and listen.

Standing in the main seat, Fugaku Uchiha nodded slightly at Uchiha Shingen and the other, letting them stand in the corner.

At this moment.

Setsuna Uchiha had not yet arrived, and there was still some time before the start of the clan meeting.

"Come to think of it, we haven't met that person yet."

Shisui rubbed his chin with a serious expression.

Uchiha Shingen ruffled Shisui's hair and remarked out of nowhere:

"It couldn't possibly be that disabled old man from before, could it?!"

Shisui was slightly taken aback, immediately dismissing Uchiha Shingen's speculation:

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Although that old gentleman is a bit rigid, he bears no malice, nor does he possess the killing intent one would expect from a figure like Setsuna Uchiha."

"That is true, I suppose..."

Uchiha Shingen nodded, and just as he was about to continue, a familiar sound reached his ears.

Whirr, whirr, whirr—!

An old man in a wheelchair slowly entered the main hall under the gaze of everyone present.

"Since Elder Setsuna has arrived as well, let this clan meeting begin."

Fugaku Uchiha, standing at the front, spoke slowly.

His voice was steady, revealing no specific emotion.

Yet, the atmosphere in the hall froze the moment the old man entered.

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

Wait a minute, hold on!

Isn't this the old man who sits by the tea table every day listening to stories about the Imperial Uncle? You're telling me now that this is Setsuna Uchiha?!

Although Uchiha Shingen felt the turn of events was utterly absurd, the reality was right before his eyes, leaving him no choice but to accept it.

Uchiha Shingen couldn't make sense of it.

What on earth is wrong with this world?!

First Jiraiya, then Setsuna Uchiha—are all these big shots obsessed with hiding their identities to act cool and stomp noobs?

Who's next?

I dare you to bring out the First Hokage to stomp noobs!

Uchiha Shingen's mouth twitched violently.

He couldn't help but start recalling whether he had ever badmouthed the man to his face during that time.

Oh, no badmouthing, just endless nonsense.

Then it's fine.

"It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over..."

Beside him, Shisui's eyes were almost completely vacant, repeating these words.

Uchiha Shingen then remembered that when he and Shisui were discussing the coup led by Setsuna Uchiha, the man himself had been sitting right across from them listening.

Back then, when Shisui started badmouthing people, he had absolutely no filter!

Thinking of this, Uchiha Shingen's mood couldn't help but improve significantly.

After all, being unlucky himself was nothing; as long as his brother was unluckier than him, there was no problem.

Seeing Shisui looking utterly devastated, Uchiha Shingen whispered a word of comfort:

"Don't panic."

"You didn't badmouth him behind his back, did you?!"

Shisui was on the verge of tears:

"I badmouthed him to his face..."

Ahem, ahem—!

Two coughs interrupted the whispers between Shisui and Uchiha Shingen.

Both of them looked up simultaneously, only to see Setsuna Uchiha looking right at them, a faint, ambiguous smile on his face.

For a moment, Shisui's heart turned cold.

However.

Setsuna Uchiha's gaze did not linger on Uchiha Shingen and his companion, quickly shifting away.

Under the guidance of Fugaku Uchiha, the clan meeting proceeded as expected.

Recent affairs of the clan were put to a vote by the present Jonin one by one.

To everyone's surprise.

Setsuna Uchiha, who everyone thought would take action, did not speak a single word from beginning to end.

He simply sat there quietly, looking exactly like an old man who had lost all real power and served merely as a mascot.

The change occurred after the final resolution of the clan meeting was passed.

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

"You may all leave now."

"I have something I wish to discuss with the Clan Head in private."