Please Call Me Zhan, Big Brother!

Time returned to normal.

The arguing continued, while Uchiha Fugaku sat calmly, unmoving. Those who had just spoken had merely voiced the opinions of their clansmen.

It was the first clash between the Uchiha Hawk Faction and the Dove Faction. The contest was insignificant, but it could build momentum for the elders of both factions in the battles to come.

The two factions had remained relatively peaceful until the Nine-Tails Incident six years ago, when Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze died while suppressing and sealing the Nine-Tails.

The village's Root ordered them to stay where they were and forbade them from joining the battle. Afterward, citing the fact that the Sharingan had controlled the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki during the incident,

the higher-ups held a meeting and nominated Sarutobi Hiruzen, the former Third, hailed as the strongest Hokage, to take up the Hokage Position once more.

At the same time, the higher-ups discussed how the Nine-Tails had rampaged because of the Sharingan. Some suspected that the Uchiha Clan had plotted it all to threaten the village.

Others believed that the Uchiha Clan couldn't have been responsible, since every member of the clan had remained on their compound during the incident, and no one had gone out.

But with Hokage aides Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura all joining forces to challenge them, the dissenters fell silent.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also issued an order: "Move the Uchiha Clan to the edge of the village, far from the political center. At the same time, assign more Anbu to monitor the Uchiha."

"If any Uchiha shows signs of approaching Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, kill them on the spot!"

Every clan except the Uchiha Clan learned of this order.

Under the circumstances, they drew a clear line between themselves and the Uchiha Clan and rarely interacted with them.

The Uchiha Clan knew only the first part—the order to relocate their compound. They knew nothing about what came afterward.

Uchiha Izuna's thoughts returned to the present. Honestly, he agreed with the Hawk Faction. He really couldn't understand it. With three Mangekyō Sharingan, how could they possibly lose this fight? Why wouldn't his deadbeat old man fight?

Could he be afraid? No, that couldn't be right. How could someone like him have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?

Uchiha Izuna studied Uchiha Fugaku, who had his eyes closed as if dozing.

Just then, a shinobi stood up. Everyone stopped talking.

"Clan Head, Uchiha Shisui has something to say." Uchiha Shisui went down on one knee to show his respect for Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan's supreme leader.

At that, Uchiha Fugaku opened his eyes and smiled. "Shisui, just say what you have to say. There's no need for formalities."

Uchiha Fugaku could sense that Uchiha Shisui's chakra was no weaker than his own. In other words, Uchiha Shisui had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

If Shisui supported going to war, then his close friend—Fugaku's own eldest son—would surely join in too. With three Mangekyō, what did little old Konoha have to fear?

But Shisui's next words made Fugaku's expression darken. He even felt a little disappointed.

"Clan Head, Shisui believes that the Second's decision to entrust our clan's elder, Kagami Uchiha, with important responsibilities was meant to help the Uchiha Clan become part of Konoha."

"Later, he gave us the Uchiha Police Force. That, too, showed how much he valued our clan."

"During the Nine-Tails Incident, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan controlled the Nine-Tails. That's an undeniable fact. It's only natural that the village's higher-ups are wary of us."

"If we want the Uchiha Clan to truly become part of Konoha, I believe armed conflict is a very unwise choice."

"Even if we win, both the Uchiha Clan and the village will suffer heavy losses. The Land of Fire is rich, and the other four shinobi villages are all watching it."

"Even if the Uchiha Clan emerges victorious, how could a battered Konoha withstand attacks from the other four villages?" Uchiha Shisui supported his argument with sound reasoning and historical examples.

His words drew approving chuckles from countless Dove Faction members, many of whom stroked their beards.

"Shisui's words get right to the heart of the matter. Clan Head, I think he makes a good point!" a Dove Faction elder said.

Uchiha Izuna looked over. It was Zongyi Uchiha. From his memories, Zongyi was the Dove Faction's leader.

The Hawk Faction had no answer. It wasn't that they agreed with Uchiha Shisui. The problem was that the Hawk Faction had no one powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with him.

In the Uchiha Clan, the strongest had always had the final say. At the moment, Uchiha Shisui's standing in the clan was second only to Uchiha Fugaku.

And Uchiha Fugaku's son, Uchiha Itachi, had been completely taken in by the man and supported Uchiha Shisui. That left the Hawk Faction able to do little more than chant slogans; when it mattered most, they always fell silent.

After hearing Uchiha Shisui's words, Fugaku showed nothing on the surface, but inside, he was deeply disappointed. Both Mangekyō wielders were on Konoha's side. It made him feel that he was powerless to change the current situation.

Uchiha Shisui wanted to protect both the clan and the village, but had he ever considered that, if things continued this way, Konoha would slowly devour the Uchiha Clan?

Uchiha Clan shinobi had already been mysteriously killed by Root shinobi while out on missions, their eyes stolen.

There weren't many victims, but it proved one thing: Konoha had turned its blade against them.

If they sat back and did nothing, they would only meet a slow destruction.

Uchiha Izuna suddenly rose to his feet. At that moment, the movement drew everyone's attention.

Uchiha Fugaku's train of thought was broken, and he looked at Uchiha Izuna in confusion.

Uchiha Izuna walked from behind Uchiha Fugaku toward the Hawk Faction's side.

"Second Brother, get back here! Don't make a scene!" The one who spoke was Uchiha Itachi. He frowned at his younger brother.

Uchiha Izuna stopped in his tracks. Hearing that familiar voice, he sneered.

"Well, if it isn't my good big brother!" Uchiha Izuna's voice was arrogant and contemptuous.

Uchiha Itachi was very displeased. He took a deep breath. "Second Brother!"

"Please call me Zhan, big brother!" At once, chakra surged through Uchiha Izuna. A vast blue chakra filled the entire Uchiha clan hall.

The force of Uchiha Izuna's chakra made Uchiha Fugaku's robes billow and his hair fly.

Uchiha Shisui staggered back half a step. Uchiha Itachi, caught off guard, stumbled back seven or eight steps.

Uchiha Itachi stared at his little brother in shock. When had he gotten so strong?

Uchiha Shisui looked at Uchiha Izuna, his pupils shrinking. The shape of a Mangekyō had appeared in Uchiha Izuna's eyes.

People of this era didn't recognize Uchiha Madara. If Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had been there, they would surely have thought Uchiha Madara had come back to life!

"Big brother, do you have any other objections?" After speaking, Uchiha Izuna took the seat at the head of the Hawk Faction and glanced at its current leader.

The Hawk Faction's leader froze, then his face lit up with delight. He yielded the seat and stood behind Uchiha Izuna, becoming his most loyal guard.