Uchiha Clan Gathering

As night fell, the Council Hall of Naka Shrine, located at the heart of the Uchiha Compound, was brightly lit, the atmosphere so heavy it felt as though it could be wrung out like water.

Beneath the high dome, nearly every jonin and elder of the Uchiha Clan with any standing sat in their designated seats.

Clan Head Uchiha Chishin sat upright in the main seat, his expression steady. His gaze swept over those below with the authority of a leader, yet it also concealed a trace of imperceptible anxiety.

To his left sat the hawk faction, led by Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna.

At this moment, Uchiha Setsuna sat with perfect posture, his eyes—which had weathered countless storms—slightly closed, as if he were resting his mind.

To Uchiha Chishin's right were the neutral faction, represented by several senior elders. Most of them wore calm expressions, their eyes shifting between the various parties as they clearly weighed their options.

Yet the focus of the entire Council Hall undoubtedly fell upon Uchiha Ling, who sat in the front row with a straight posture and a youthful face.

Uchiha Ling simply sat there calmly; he did not intentionally release any aura, yet he naturally became the center of the entire room.

Many gazes, especially those of the younger generation of jonin, landed on him with undisguised fanaticism and awe.

For the core members among them had personally witnessed that legendary power—within those scarlet pupils, the complex and majestic pattern that transcended the ordinary Sharingan!

That was the legendary power of the Uchiha Clan: the Mangekyo Sharingan!

That single, brief display had completely conquered these power-worshipping Uchiha elites, making them willing to gather under Uchiha Ling's banner.

"Everyone is here," Uchiha Chishin said slowly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching every person's ears.

"I have summoned you all today to discuss a matter of great importance concerning the future status and development of our Uchiha Clan in Konoha.

This matter was proposed by Ling, and it concerns a change in the authority and responsibilities of the Military Police Force. Ling, you explain it."

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Uchiha Ling.

Uchiha Ling stood up and first bowed slightly to Clan Head Uchiha Chishin and the elders, his demeanor composed and unhurried.

Uchiha Ling scanned the room, his gaze calm and firm, and spoke in a clear voice: "Clan Head, elders, and fellow clansmen.

The proposal I am making today may sound shocking, or even unacceptable, to everyone.

Our Uchiha Clan must take the initiative to propose to the Hokage faction that we reform the existing structure of the Konoha Military Police Force, so that it is no longer held exclusively by our Uchiha Clan.

Instead, we should open it to the entire village, absorbing members from other clans and even excellent civilian ninja to jointly hold the authority and responsibilities of the Military Police Force!"

As soon as his voice fell, the Council Hall erupted in an instant uproar!

"What?! Open up the Military Police Force? How can that be!"

"The Military Police Force is the foundation of our Uchiha Clan! It is the authority granted to us by the Second Hokage! How can we easily yield it to others?"

"Ling! Do you know what you are saying? How is this any different from cutting off our own arms?"

"I object! Absolutely not!"

The reactions were particularly intense among the neutral faction and those clansmen who had not yet fully pledged their loyalty to Uchiha Ling.

Even Uchiha Chishin, in the main seat, frowned deeply, clearly feeling extremely surprised and puzzled by this proposal.

Only Uchiha Setsuna remained with his eyes closed, as if he had long since anticipated this, or perhaps it was because he held a near-blind trust in Uchiha Ling's decisions, born from that absolute power.

Facing the surging waves of questioning, Uchiha Ling did not rush to refute them. He waited quietly until the noise subsided slightly before he spoke again, his voice still steady but carrying a power that pierced the heart:

"Everyone, please calm down.

I am well aware of what the Military Police Force means to the Uchiha Clan. It is a symbol of our status in Konoha; it is power, and even more so, it is responsibility.

But over these years, has our Uchiha Clan's exclusive control of the Military Police Force truly made our relationship with the village more harmonious? Has it truly earned us more respect and power?"

Uchiha Ling's gaze swept over those clansmen who wore expressions of dissatisfaction, his tone becoming heavy:

"No. On the contrary, we have reaped too much resentment and isolation because of it. The villagers fear us, other clans are wary of us, and the high-level officials are on guard against us!

We hold the power of law enforcement, but because of this, we have become the target of public criticism! All the dissatisfaction and contradictions eventually point to us, the Uchiha!"

These words were like a basin of cold water poured over the heads of many impulsive individuals, causing them to fall into a brief silence.

Some of the older clansmen, who had experienced more in life, showed expressions of deep thought on their faces.

How could they not know of the awkward situation the Uchiha Clan faced in Konoha?

"But even so, this is a symbol of our clan's power! How can we hand it over?" an elder of the neutral faction could not help but speak up.

"The elder is mistaken. I am not asking to hand it over, but to turn this 'hot iron' of the Military Police Force into a 'chariot' that we Uchiha use to lead Konoha forward!"

Uchiha Ling took a deep breath and began to elaborate on his well-considered plan: "Even if we open up the Military Police Force, do we lose control over it?"

A confident arc appeared at the corner of Uchiha Ling's mouth, "No! As long as our Uchiha Clan maintains the strongest power and possesses the most jonin, the core authority will still remain in our hands!

The ninja from other clans we introduce—in order to gain a foothold in the Military Police Force and obtain power and resources, who will they rely on? Will they rely on the high-level officials far away in the Hokage Building, or on those other small, shallow-rooted clans that have also just joined?

They will have no choice but to rely on us, the Uchiha! This is how we turn potential opponents into our allies and vassals!"

He paused, letting everyone digest these words, before continuing to throw out an even weightier reason:

"And what about those civilian ninja who join?

They have no roots and no foundation. Within the Military Police Force, if they want to be promoted, if they want to obtain better development, who can they rely on other than us, the Uchiha?

They will become our most grassroots, most reliable force! They are the best channel for us to influence the foundation of the village!"

"In this way," Uchiha Ling's voice struck at the heart of everyone present.

"The Military Police Force will no longer be a wall that isolates us, but a place where we, the Uchiha Clan, unite the majority and build our own power!"

Inside the Council Hall, silence reigned.

Only the voice of Uchiha Ling echoed. Many who had originally been fiercely opposed were now lost in deep thought.

The vision Uchiha Ling painted was too grand, and too enticing.

To turn passivity into initiative, isolation into alliance, and shackles into stepping stones—what kind of courage and foresight did this require?

"But will the Hokage faction, and the other clans, be willing to be used by us?" another clansman raised a concern.

"Used?" Uchiha Ling chuckled. "This is an open scheme."

"We grant them power and positions, and they offer loyalty and support; each takes what they need.

As for the Hokage, as long as our actions align with the village's overall interests, as long as we continuously contribute to the village and demonstrate our irreplaceable value, why would the Hokage stop us?

Is a more united, more powerful Konoha not exactly what the Hokage desires? And we, the Uchiha, will become the core force to achieve this goal!"

At this moment, Uchiha Setsuna, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

His aged yet sharp eyes swept across the room, finally landing on Uchiha Ling, and he spoke slowly, his voice raspy but carrying undeniable weight: "Ling's words are deep and far-sighted. Only by breaking and then rebuilding can our Uchiha Clan be reborn from the ashes. This old man supports Ling's decision."

The declaration of Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna was like the final hammer blow!

He represented the most radical and powerful hawk faction within the clan; his support, combined with the young jonin who had already pledged their allegiance, caused the scales to tilt decisively in an instant.

Clan Head Uchiha Chishin looked at the high-spirited Uchiha Ling before him, then at the Great Elder who had voiced his support, and finally at the many clansmen below whose expressions had shifted from opposition to agreement, or even excitement. His heart was a complex mix of emotions.

Uchiha Chishin knew that the rise of Uchiha Ling was now unstoppable, and the future of the Uchiha Clan had already been placed in the hands of this young man.

He sighed softly, a sound that held both relief and a trace of melancholy.

"Since Elder Setsuna also supports this, and Ling's analysis does indeed have its merits..."

Uchiha Chishin's voice regained its composure. "Then, let this matter be handled according to Ling's wishes. Ling shall be fully responsible for liaising with the Hokage faction and pushing forward the reforms of the Military Police Force. Within the clan, everyone must provide full cooperation."

"Yes! Clan Head!" Uchiha Ling bowed to accept the order, sharp light flashing in his eyes.

The clan meeting concluded, and the crowd dispersed with complex feelings.

But in the air, a restlessness and anticipation, different from anything in the past, had already begun to permeate.

Uchiha Ling walked at the very end, and Uchiha Setsuna slowly walked to his side.

"Lord Ling!" Uchiha Setsuna whispered, his eyes filled with undisguised expectation.

"The future of the Uchiha is in your hands. Let those decaying things that hinder our clan's progress be thoroughly transformed by your strength and wisdom!"