Please Big Brother Call Me Zhan!

Time returned to normal.

The clamor of the crowd resumed, while Uchiha Fugaku sat as steady as a rock; those who had just spoken were merely expressing the views of their respective clansmen.

This was the first clash between the Hawk Faction and the Dove Faction of the Uchiha Clan. While this skirmish was insignificant, it served to build momentum for the elders of both factions in the days to come.

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

At the time, the Root had ordered them to stand by and forbade them from joining the battle. After the war, they claimed that the Sharingan had been used to control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki during the chaos.

During the subsequent meeting, they pushed for the former Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—known as the strongest Hokage—to take the position once again.

Simultaneously, the high-ranking officials discussed how the Nine-Tails' rampage was caused by the Sharingan. Some speculated that this was a plot by the Uchiha Clan, intended to threaten the village.

Others felt that since every member of the Uchiha Clan had been in their residential district during the Nine-Tails Incident and no one had left, it could not have been them.

However, under the joint questioning of the Hokage's advisors, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, that other group was silenced.

Sarutobi Hiruzen then issued an order: "Relocate the Uchiha Clan to the edge of the village, far from the political center, and increase Anbu surveillance on the Uchiha Clan."

"Should any member of the Uchiha Clan be found attempting to contact the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, execute them on the spot!"

Beyond the Uchiha Clan, every other family in the village learned of this decree.

Consequently, pressured by the situation, they drew a line between themselves and the Uchiha Clan, rarely interacting with them.

The Uchiha Clan only knew the first half—the relocation of their district—and remained ignorant of the rest.

Uchiha Izuna's thoughts returned to reality. To be honest, he quite agreed with the Hawk Faction. He truly could not understand how they could lose a war when they possessed three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan! Why was his cheapskate father refusing to fight?

Could it be that he was afraid? That didn't make sense; how could a man like that awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?

Uchiha Izuna scrutinized Uchiha Fugaku, who was sitting with his eyes closed in feigned sleep.

At this moment, a ninja stood up, and as he did, everyone ceased their conversations.

"Clan Leader, Uchiha Shisui has some thoughts." Uchiha Shisui knelt on one knee, expressing his respect for the supreme commander of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Fugaku opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling upward as he said, "Shisui, just speak directly; there is no need for such formality."

Uchiha Fugaku could sense that the chakra on Uchiha Shisui was no weaker than his own, which meant that Uchiha Shisui had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

If Shisui supported going to war, then his eldest son, who was close with him, would surely join in as well. With three Mangekyō Sharingan users, what could a mere Konoha do to stop them?

However, the words that followed made his expression sink, leaving him feeling somewhat despondent.

"Lord Clan Leader, I believe that the Second Hokage's decision to heavily rely on our predecessor, Kagami Uchiha, was an attempt to integrate the Uchiha Clan into Konoha."

"Later, he granted us the Uchiha Police Force, which was a clear sign of the importance he placed on the Uchiha Clan."

"As for the Nine-Tails Incident, it is an undeniable fact that the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan controlled the Nine-Tails. It is only natural for the village elders to be wary of us."

"If we want the Uchiha Clan to truly integrate into Konoha, I believe that armed struggle is a very unwise path."

"If we win, both the Uchiha Clan and the village will suffer severe losses. Furthermore, the Land of Fire is a wealthy territory, and the other four ninja villages are all watching us."

"Even if the Uchiha Clan achieves victory, how could a battered and bruised Konoha defend against an invasion from the other four villages?" Uchiha Shisui spoke with reason and evidence, citing historical precedents.

His words caused countless Dove Faction members to stroke their beards and laugh.

"Shisui's words hit the nail on the head and address the current crisis. Lord Clan Leader, I think Shisui makes sense!" a Dove Faction elder spoke up.

Uchiha Izuna looked over; it was Zongyi Uchiha. From his memories, he was the leader of the Dove Faction.

The Hawk Faction was left speechless—not because they agreed with Uchiha Shisui, but because they lacked a powerful talent capable of going toe-to-toe with him.

In the Uchiha Clan, strength had always dictated who had the final say. Currently, Uchiha Shisui's status in the clan was second only to Uchiha Fugaku.

Because Uchiha Fugaku's son, Uchiha Itachi, had been led astray by this guy and supported Uchiha Shisui, the Hawk Faction could only shout slogans, always falling silent at critical moments.

After hearing Uchiha Shisui, Fugaku showed no reaction on the surface, but he felt deeply disappointed inside. With two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan leaning toward Konoha, he felt powerless to change the current situation.

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

Members of the Uchiha Clan had already been mysteriously killed by Root ninjas during missions, their eyes stolen.

Although the numbers were small, it signified one thing: Konoha had turned its blade toward them.

If they sat and waited for death, destruction was the only outcome.

Uchiha Izuna suddenly stood up, his movement highly conspicuous.

Uchiha Fugaku's train of thought was interrupted as he looked at Uchiha Izuna, looking completely bewildered.

Uchiha Izuna walked from behind Uchiha Fugaku toward the position held by the Hawk Faction.

"Second brother, go back, don't cause trouble!" The one who spoke was Uchiha Itachi, who frowned as he looked at his younger brother.

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

"I wondered who it was—turns out it's my dear big brother!" Uchiha Izuna's voice was arrogant and dismissive.

This made Uchiha Itachi quite displeased. He took a deep breath: "Second brother!"

"Please address me as Zhan, brother!" Suddenly, Uchiha Izuna's chakra surged, and a massive wave of blue chakra flooded the entire Uchiha clan meeting hall.

Uchiha Fugaku's robes fluttered and his hair whipped about from the pressure of this immense chakra.

Uchiha Shisui stepped back half a pace, while Uchiha Itachi, caught unprepared, stumbled seven or eight steps backward.

Uchiha Itachi stared at his little brother in shock; when had he become this strong?

Uchiha Shisui looked toward Uchiha Izuna, his pupils constricting, for in Uchiha Izuna's eye sockets, the pattern of the Mangekyo Sharingan had emerged.

It was fortunate that the people of this era did not recognize Uchiha Madara; if Hashirama Senju or Tobirama Senju were here, they would surely have assumed Uchiha Madara had been resurrected!

"Big brother, do you have any other objections?" Having said this, Uchiha Izuna walked to the head of the Hawk Faction and cast a glance at its current leader.

The leader of the Hawk Faction was stunned, then his expression turned to one of wild joy as he yielded the main seat, standing behind it instead as the most loyal of guards.