Gentō looked up to find the clan's Three Elders already seated at the head of the hall.
In the center sat Grand Elder Uchiha Zonyan, his features stern and dignified. He wore a dark gray haori over a plain kimono.
He had looked noticeably more spirited these past few days.
The reason was simple: Gentō had led the Uchiha to a crushing victory over Sunagakure and ended the war, finally allowing the clan members, long burdened with the label of "the problem clan," to hold their heads high in the village.
Seated to the left was the second elder, Uchiha Shingen.
He was in his early fifties, with a short mustache and shrewd, narrow eyes.
He had managed the clan's finances for over forty years.
Every transaction and every property in the clan passed through his hands for verification.
Behind Shin Gen stood Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku stood ramrod straight, his expression solemn. When Gentō entered, their eyes briefly met before he calmly looked away.
On the right sat the only woman among the Three Elders, Uchiha Chie.
She was already seventy-three, with a kindly face and smile lines that bloomed like chrysanthemums at the corners of her eyes.
She wore the traditional white robes and scarlet hakama of a shrine maiden. Around her neck hung a jade pendant bearing three tomoe, the token handed down through generations of shrine custodians.
Elder Chie oversaw the clan's rituals and the affairs of Naka Shrine. She personally presided over every blessing, funeral, and invocation at clan assemblies.
Gentō stepped forward and bowed to the Three Elders, neither servile nor arrogant.
Elder Zong Yan raised a hand with a smile, unable to conceal the pride in his eyes.
"Gentō, I knew I was right about you!"
"You did exceptionally well in this war!"
Beside him, Elder Shin Gen cleared his throat.
"Zong Yan, we can catch up later. Everyone is here. It's time to get down to business."
Zong Yan nodded and turned to Elder Chie.
"Chie, sorry for the trouble."
Elder Chie slowly rose.
She approached the Sage of Six Paths Statue in the center of the shrine and drew an old-fashioned Sacred Sakaki Branch from her sleeve.
It was a ritual implement made from green sakaki twigs and folded white paper streamers.
She waved the Sacred Sakaki Branch three times to either side before her, her movements slow and solemn. A reverent hush settled over the hall.
"Amaterasu Ōmikami, Izanagi-no-Mikoto, Izanami-no-Mikoto..."
Her aged voice echoed softly.
"The Sage of Six Paths manifested here; myriad blossoms turn, and the Sharingan inherits his light. Today, the descendants of the Uchiha Clan gather before the gods to appoint a new leader, inherit the fan crest, and safeguard our clan's legacy. May the gods bear witness, and may our ancestors hear us."
She returned the Sacred Sakaki Branch to the altar, then turned to face the assembled clan.
"Let the clan deliberations begin."
Elder Zong Yan rose, took Fugaku and Gentō by the hand, and led them to the center of the hall.
"Today, we shall choose our clan head from these two."
"Shin Gen, Chie, and I will each cast one vote. Whoever receives two votes will become the new clan head."
He paused, then raised his voice.
"Uchiha Gentō is young and capable, possessing both courage and wisdom. In this war, he led our clansmen against Sunagakure and achieved a resounding victory without a single death, bringing glory to our clan and protecting our people. Therefore, I cast my vote for Gentō!"
Elder Shin Gen cleared his throat and spoke slowly.
"I see things differently."
His gaze passed over Gentō before settling on Fugaku.
"Gentō certainly has military achievements, but he has only recently become a jonin. Has he ever helped manage clan affairs? Has he ever mediated disputes between ninja clans? Has he ever overseen the Konoha Military Police Force?"
He paused, his tone firm.
"Being clan head entails more than fighting on the battlefield. It also requires steady leadership and sound judgment. Fugaku is ten years older and has held important posts in the Konoha Military Police Force. The previous clan head personally entrusted him with the succession on his deathbed. His steadiness and experience are not something a young newcomer can match."
"Therefore, I cast my vote for Fugaku!"
As soon as he finished, everyone turned to Elder Chie.
Two of the three votes had been cast. Elder Chie's crucial vote would determine the next clan head!
Elder Chie was silent for a moment before her aged voice slowly rang out.
"The previous clan head fell on the battlefield, giving his life for the clan. I believe his successor needs not only administrative ability, but formidable personal strength as well."
"Therefore, I have decided that Fugaku and Gentō shall face each other in a match. The winner will receive my vote."
An uproar erupted.
The hall instantly filled with clamor.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Isn't it obvious? Lord Fugaku! He's so much older than Gentō. All those years in the police force weren't for nothing. He has the experience!"
"Experience is one thing, strength is another! Lord Gentō led the team that wiped out Sunagakure's main force!"
"Well, I'm backing Lord Fugaku."
"Then I'm betting on Lord Gentō!"
Elder Chie cleared her throat, and the hall gradually fell quiet.
She looked at Fugaku and Gentō.
"Do either of you object?"
The two exchanged a glance, then both shook their heads.
Elder Chie nodded.
"In that case, please proceed outside."
Outside the shrine lay a broad stretch of sand and gravel surrounded by towering ancient trees. The night wind swept through the treetops, stirring the bronze bells beneath the eaves.
The clansmen moved back of their own accord, forming a ring around the clearing.
Elder Chie stood before the steps.
"This match is solely to determine who has greater combat strength. You are both outstanding talents of our clan. Remember, you must not strike to kill. Anyone who does will lose his eligibility to become clan head!"
Once both men nodded, Chie raised her hand.
"Begin!"
The moment the words left her lips, both men were already rapidly forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Two blazing fireballs collided with a thunderous crash in the center of the clearing. Waves of flame burst outward before both fireballs vanished.
Without the slightest pause, both men continued forming hand seals.
Fugaku's hands moved so quickly that they were almost impossible to follow.
In the end, the more experienced Fugaku completed his seals first.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
An immense sea of fire poured from his mouth, sweeping across the ground like raging waves. Wherever the flames passed, the sand and gravel blackened.
Gentō had yet to finish his seals.
He could only dodge while continuing to form them as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, Gentō had already quietly activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Rapidly analyzing the flames with his enhanced visual perception, he finally rolled clear by the narrowest margin before the sea of fire could burn him.
Gentō never stopped forming hand seals.
Fugaku knew the clan's ninjutsu inside and out, yet the seals Gentō was making matched none of the clan's techniques he knew!
What ninjutsu is this?
Among the spectators, the Uchiha clansmen were stunned by how fiercely the match had opened.
Seeing Fugaku gain the upper hand, his supporters began to cheer.
Those supporting Gentō broke into a nervous sweat.
Even the elders watching nearby looked puzzled.
Why were Gentō's hand seals so unfamiliar?
Zong Yan's brow furrowed slightly.
Shin Gen narrowed his eyes without speaking.
Chie quietly watched the match.
Just then, Gentō finally completed his seals.
"Yin Release: Heart Divergence!"
The unknown ninjutsu finally made Fugaku feel threatened.
He instantly activated his own Three-Tomoe Sharingan and looked at Gentō, trying to identify a weakness in the technique.
Yet the instant their eyes met, Fugaku's pupils contracted.
No! It's genjutsu!
He had never imagined that Gentō would use genjutsu against him!
Who would be foolish enough to use genjutsu against an Uchiha?
Though alarmed, Fugaku kept his composure.
His Sharingan immediately went to work, attempting to reflect the genjutsu.
Yet that cold, sinister chakra clung to him like a deep-seated blight, piercing straight through his Sharingan's defenses and invading his consciousness.
It didn't work!
Impossible!
What kind of genjutsu is this?!
Cold sweat immediately began to bead on Fugaku.
A violent wave of dizziness struck.
Fugaku bit the tip of his tongue, the pain allowing him to cling to a sliver of awareness.
At that very moment, Gentō was already charging toward him with a kunai in hand.
In Fugaku's vision, Gentō's face suddenly changed.
It was not Gentō.
It was Itachi.
His four-year-old eldest son was walking toward him, those quiet, precociously intelligent black eyes wide open.
Fugaku knew perfectly well that this was genjutsu.
He knew that was Gentō, not Itachi.
Yet, strangely, no matter how hard he tried, he could not raise his fingers to form hand seals.
Such powerful genjutsu...
Fugaku knew this was because his opponent's genjutsu had reached an exceptionally high level.
Even though he had used his Sharingan to reflect it and negate most of its effects.
The genjutsu had still deceived his subconscious.
Looks like I'll have to use that move!
Cries of alarm rose from the spectators.
"Why isn't Lord Fugaku moving?!"
"It's genjutsu! Lord Gentō's genjutsu has immobilized Lord Fugaku!"
"Even the Sharingan can't reflect it? That's impossible!"
Gentō had already reached Fugaku and raised his kunai to stab him.
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