The Uchiha Clan Meeting

The night was like a massive black curtain, hanging heavily over the Uchiha Clan Compound. Inside Naka Shrine, the lights flickered, making the Uchiha clan members' shadows on the walls sway and stretch. Fugaku was presiding over the clan meeting.

The Uchiha clan members had split into two clearly distinct factions inside the shrine. On one side was the hardline faction, led by the elder Uchiha Setsuna, their eyes burning with fervor and impatience. On the other was the peace faction, made up of the younger generation, whose expressions were comparatively calm and composed. In the past, Fugaku, caught between the two factions as clan head, had always struggled to choose a side. This time, however, was different.

As at previous clan meetings, the two sides' arguments rose and fell throughout the shrine, fierce and unrelenting. The hardliners waved their arms and loudly called for an armed seizure of power and a coup, while the peace faction argued their case, advocating peaceful negotiations in pursuit of mutual benefit.

Just as everyone thought today's clan meeting would end inconclusively, as usual, Fugaku spoke.

"It's perfectly normal for you young people to disagree with us, but I hope everyone will avoid damaging the harmony of our clan," Fugaku said slowly, turning toward the peace faction. His voice was steady and calm.

"That's all for today's clan meeting. Elder Setsuna, I'd like you to stay behind. There's something I want to discuss with you." Fugaku then turned to the hardliners.

At his words, the peace faction slumped like deflated balloons. A few wanted to say something, but Shisui stopped them.

After the peace faction had all filed out, the hardliners gathered around Fugaku.

"Clan Head Fugaku, did you leave us behind because you agree with our ideas?" Elder Setsuna asked first, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Elder Setsuna, forgive my bluntness, but I don't agree!" Fugaku replied firmly and without hesitation.

"If you don't agree, then you're with the peace faction, aren't you? Why did you leave us behind?" Uchiha Setsuna looked at Fugaku, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart as his brow furrowed slightly.

"I can't let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch!" Fugaku said, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan appeared before the crowd.

Before anyone could react, Fugaku trapped them in a genjutsu with his Mangekyō.

"For the future of our Uchiha clan, I have no choice but to ask you to make this sacrifice. Don't worry. I won't harm your families. Letting them go is already the greatest mercy I can show you." With that, Fugaku turned to leave Naka Shrine. As soon as he stepped outside, the Anbu assigned by Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared.

"I've trapped them all with genjutsu. I don't want my own hands stained with the blood of my clan, so I'll leave the rest to you," Fugaku told the Anbu.

"Understood," an Anbu Captain replied.

"Wait!" a voice suddenly called out. The newcomer was Shisui Uchiha.

"Fugaku, one of them is my elder... I want to... see him off myself," Shisui said. His voice was calm, but his slightly trembling lips betrayed his nervousness and inner turmoil.

Fugaku had actually told Shisui about this well in advance, giving him time to prepare himself.

"Go ahead. Don't burden yourself with too much guilt. Remember, you carry the future of the Uchiha clan on your shoulders," Fugaku said gently.

Without a doubt, Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi were the most outstanding members of the Uchiha clan's younger generation, and Shisui Uchiha was a likely candidate to become the next clan head.

"I understand, Clan Head. I've made my resolve!" Shisui said, then stepped into Naka Shrine.

"Let's go!" The Anbu Captain led his subordinates in after him.

A deathly silence settled over Naka Shrine. No screams came from within, only the muffled, chilling sound of blades piercing flesh.

Before long, Shisui and the Anbu emerged. Tears streaked Shisui's face, as if he had just lost a loved one. His eyes were filled with pain and sorrow.

Fugaku saw this and let out a long sigh, then gently patted Shisui's shoulder.

"You did the right thing, Shisui. If you hadn't, many more people might have died today," Fugaku said.

"I understand, Clan Head Fugaku." Shisui gripped the bloodstained blade tightly in his hand. Blood slowly dripped from its edge, but he refused to let go.

Shisui slowly opened his eyes, revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan. Fugaku saw them but didn't draw attention to them. He simply patted Shisui's shoulder again and said:

"Come on, Shisui. I'll take you somewhere quiet so you can collect yourself." Fugaku turned and walked ahead.

Shisui wiped the blood from his Ninja Blade, returned it to the sheath on his back, and silently followed Fugaku.

"Captain, what should we do with the bodies?" an Anbu Ninja beside him asked.

"Lord Hokage said the Uchiha clan should handle their own. We were only responsible for ending their lives," the Anbu Captain replied.

"Understood. I've checked them all. There are no survivors!" the Anbu Ninja said.

"Good. Let's go." The Anbu all left the area.

After everyone had gone, two figures quietly appeared. Neither wore anything that could reveal their identities. They sneaked into Naka Shrine furtively.

Once inside, the two took a scroll from their robes and unrolled it. A large character, "person," was written on it.

One of them quickly formed Hand Seals. Suddenly, there was a "Poof!" and a cloud of white smoke appeared, from which Danzo emerged.

"Take all their Sharingan. Hurry!" Danzo ordered impatiently.

"Yes, Lord Danzo!" At his command, someone immediately got to work.

"Lord Danzo, what are you doing?" At that moment, the "corpse" of an Uchiha clan member lying on the ground stood up and challenged Danzo.

The three of them jumped in alarm and looked at the person. Only then did they realize he looked to be about ten years old. He was Shisui Uchiha's clone.

"Lord Danzo, we meet again." Fugaku's voice came from behind them. As it turned out, he and Shisui hadn't gone far; they had been waiting nearby the whole time.

"Fugaku?" Danzo reacted at once, realizing he had been set up.

"Hmph! Your Uchiha clan was plotting a coup. What's wrong with me coming to see what was going on?" Danzo retorted shamelessly.

"That's strange. Besides me, only Kakashi, Menma, Itachi, Shisui, and Lord Hokage knew about tonight's operation. May I ask how you got the information, Lord Danzo?" Fugaku countered, regarding him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"I..." Only then did Danzo realize that an elaborate trap had been laid for him.

"I'm the Hokage's advisor. I have the right not to answer your question." With that, Danzo prepared to leave with his men.

"Safe travels, Lord Danzo!" Fugaku said coldly.

"Hmph!" Danzo left without looking back.

"Menma really did guess right. Danzo actually came," Fugaku said.

"Tomorrow's meeting at the Hokage Office will be quite a show," Shisui replied.

"Indeed. First, we should arrange for the clan members' bodies to be dealt with. We'll say Danzo led Root in an attack on our clan compound," Fugaku said.

Shisui was startled. The hardliners had indeed been eliminated, but this would surely breed a new group of hardliners. After all, Danzo represented Konoha's leadership.

"Clan Head Fugaku, wouldn't that be inappropriate? Danzo represents the village's leadership," Shisui said worriedly.

"I know. But as long as Danzo dies and we replace him with a younger clan head, the problem can be resolved," Fugaku said calmly.

"What? Clan Head, you..." Shisui stared at Fugaku in disbelief.

"Shisui, I trust you. You'll lead the clan better than I can. Besides, you and I are the only ones in the clan with the Mangekyō Sharingan. They won't dare say anything," Fugaku continued.

"But, Clan Head, I'm only thirteen. How can I..." Shisui tried to refuse. He didn't want to take on the responsibility of clan head so soon.

"I didn't say you had to take over right away. We can wait a few years. Menma was right. Danzo has to die. If he doesn't, none of us will have any peace. This is the only way now," Fugaku patiently explained.

"Understood!" Shisui said, then turned and left.

Meanwhile, in Menma's room, Naruto and Menma sat on the bed in their pajamas.

The light in the room was a little dim and yellow, casting the two boys' shadows on the wall and making them look rather comical.

"Rock, paper, scissors!" The two were sitting on the bed playing the simple game, their faces already covered in little slips of paper.

"Rock, paper, scissors! Aw, I lost again," Naruto lamented, then stuck another slip of paper to his face.

"Give up. I've completely figured out what you're going to throw," Menma said smugly.

Menma also had slips of paper on his face, but nowhere near as many as Naruto.

"No way! Again!" Naruto protested.

"Oh, come on. What's the big deal about doing me one favor?" Menma said, continuing to play rock, paper, scissors with Naruto.

"Don't forget, you still owe me one," Naruto reminded him.

"Tell me what you want when you've figured it out," Menma replied.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Naruto, Menma, aren't you two going to bed? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Kushina called from outside, sounding a little displeased.

"Okay, we're going to sleep now." Menma hurriedly pulled every slip of paper off his face, turned off the bedside lamp, and got ready for bed.

Naruto hurriedly pulled off his slips of paper too and lay down.

"Hey, Menma, I'll count this round as your win. So, what do you want me to do for you?" Naruto whispered in Menma's ear.

"Um... Let's call it even with the one you owe me," Menma whispered back.

"What? Call it even?" Naruto suddenly sat up and shouted.

"Shh! Keep your voice down, or we're in trouble," Menma whispered so softly only the two of them could hear.

Unfortunately, it was already too late. As soon as Naruto stopped speaking, Kushina pushed open the door. Her eyes glowed white, and her hair lifted slightly. At that moment, she looked like a demon.

The two clung to each other, swallowed, and stared at Kushina in terror.

"You still refuse to go to sleep this late at night? Fine, then don't sleep at all!" Kushina said, slapping the rolling pin in her hand against her palm.

"Sleep! We're sleeping! Big brother just had a nightmare and was talking in his sleep. Then when you came in, Auntie Ku, he woke up because your presence scared him," Menma explained hurriedly, his forehead slick with cold sweat.

"Is that so?" Kushina said as she slowly approached, her presence making it seem as if she might swallow them whole at any moment.

Naruto bobbed his head like a pecking chicken, frantically agreeing with everything Menma had said.

"Then hurry up and go to sleep. Good night!" Kushina changed her expression in an instant, spoke in a gentle voice, and went out.

The two were both drenched in cold sweat. In perfect unspoken agreement, they said nothing more, lay down, and went to sleep.