Uchiha Clan Head

The Uchiha Clan Head's succession ceremony had been completed. During the ceremony, Uchiha Okura had handed Uchiha Nara the Uchiha Gunbai, a symbol of the Clan Head's authority. (The real one had been taken by Madara, so this one was only symbolic.)

After receiving the Uchiha Gunbai, Uchiha Nara officially became the Uchiha Clan Head.

"From this day on, I am the leader of the Uchiha Clan. I will make the world know the strength and dignity of our clan!"

At the inauguration ceremony, Nara made his solemn vow beneath the clan members' enthusiastic gazes.

Hokage Office

"Uchiha Nara has become the leader of the Uchiha Clan. Does this mean Uchiha Okura is stepping behind the scenes?"

Mitokado Homura asked as he looked at the letter in his hands.

"Younger people are always easier to deal with than old men like Okura," Utatane Koharu said coolly.

The Third sat in the Hokage's chair, smoking his pipe without a word.

Three members of the Konoha Quartet were present. They hadn't yet become as obsessed with power as they would in their old age, and were still exhausting themselves for Konoha.

Shimura Danzō, the absent member of the Quartet, was currently leading ninjas in a fierce battle in the Land of Rain.

"I've met that boy Nara. He's a ninja with a strong Will of Fire," the Third said slowly, blowing out a smoke ring.

"The Uchiha are the largest ninja clan. We absolutely can't let them grow stronger."

By "grow stronger," he meant preventing the Uchiha from going to the battlefield or other places where emotions ran high, and guarding against the emergence of a Mangekyō Sharingan among them.

"Mm," the Third replied with a nasal grunt, puffing away.

Uchiha Nara was feeling a little frustrated. He'd been Clan Head for several days, but despite what he'd been promised, his only subordinates were Uchiha Yashiro and a few young Genin and Chunin.

The Uchiha elite ninjas who were on Konoha's payroll still preferred to report for work at the Great Elder's residence.

This wouldn't do. If he couldn't bring power under his control, being Clan Head in name alone was meaningless.

Uchiha Nara led a few subordinates toward the Great Elder's residence.

The Great Elder's residence

Living room

"Nara, what brings you here?" Okura asked, somewhat surprised.

"Uncle, I've taken over as Clan Head, but I can't give orders to the clan members or keep track of what they're doing. What should I do?"

Okura pondered for a moment. He had indeed forgotten about that. The Clan Head they'd put forward was meant to be a leader in name only. Okura and Sanzang still held the real power.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Okura had already decided that Nara possessed the bearing and composure to lead the Uchiha Clan. Nara wasn't some hot-blooded youngster.

"Uncle, I suggest building a Clan Head's residence, or a Clan Affairs Hall. From now on, clan members can gather there to report on their activities and work.

"Whether it's collecting a share of the mission rewards earned by clan ninjas, providing compensation for the bereaved, training ninjas, teaching jutsu, registering jutsu, training in the Sharingan, or even cleaning the roads, defending the clan, repairing equipment, supporting the elderly, and raising orphans, the Clan Head's residence can assign all these tasks."

"What do you think?" Nara asked softly.

When Uchiha ninjas completed missions, they had to hand over a portion of their earnings to the clan. It wasn't much—10 percent—and was used to support the Great Elder and others, compensate the families of clan ninjas killed in action, care for elderly people who had lost their children, and raise orphans within the clan.

Being a ninja was a high-risk profession. It was common for all three members of a family to be ninjas. There were countless elderly people who had outlived their children and orphans with no parents. This was unavoidable not just for the Uchiha, but for every ninja organization.

"A Clan Affairs Hall? That's a good suggestion." Okura took a sip of tea. He neither rejected nor accepted Nara's obvious attempt to seize power.

The reason the Great Elder, Uchiha Okura, could control every aspect of clan affairs was that he held the clan's vast funds. Clan ninjas who completed missions would willingly pay a portion of their earnings to the Great Elder.

When someone else held the purse strings, clan members knew that if they died on a mission, it would take a great deal of money to support their parents, wives, and children. The Great Elder controlled the Uchiha's finances, so why wouldn't the clan members try to curry favor with him?

"You really are suited to being the leader. I agree. Choose a site and build the Clan Affairs Hall."

Okura didn't want to relinquish his power lightly, but he had steered the Uchiha for nearly thirty years, and his age was catching up with him. He was already growing weary of piloting the Uchiha ship.

Okura had originally favored his son Fugaku, but Nara was a good choice too. As Sanzang had said, it made little difference which of the two became Clan Head.

"Uncle, even after the Clan Affairs Hall is built, we'll still need elders. We should select people who have contributed to the clan or are getting on in years and appoint them as elders to assist the Clan Head with clan affairs. Uncle, perhaps it's not yet time for you to retire."

Uchiha Okura was nearly fifty, an advanced age in the Shinobi World. In a place where Genin were generally still in their single digits, surviving to nearly fifty really did make him an elder.

Ninjas suffered all kinds of injuries in their missions and battles when young. Medicines like Military Ration Pills also drained the body's energy. Few ninjas reached old age or died peacefully.

The Third had become Hokage in his twenties and never left Konoha afterward, which was why he had lived so long.

"I see. The idea of a Clan Affairs Hall is excellent. Though the Uchiha have a history of choosing their Clan Head, we've never had an administrative body like the Hokage's. Everything has always been decided by the Clan Head and a few elders.

"Your suggestion is excellent. We'll discuss the site and construction of the Clan Affairs Hall after Sanzang returns tonight."

Night

Naraku House. As before, the Great Elder Uchiha Okura and Sanzang, the Police Force captain, sat in the seats of honor.

The so-called Uchiha leader, Nara, sat kneeling below them like a subordinate.

"A Clan Affairs Hall, is it? That's a great idea, and it's certainly necessary. The Uchiha have thousands of clan members and nearly a thousand ninjas. We do need an organization to manage things."

Nara's adoptive father, Uchiha Sanzang, stroked his chin. Like Okura, he approved of the idea.

"I say we build it next to the Hokage Building. It would show off the might of our Uchiha Clan," Uchiha Sanzang said with a chuckle, suddenly changing tack.

Okura nodded at his words. "You're right, little brother. That would befit the prestige of the Uchiha."

Nara was speechless at their conversation.

"Uncle! Father! The Uchiha aren't strong enough to challenge the Hokage's authority. The Police Force is powerful, but the Hokage's ninja forces, Jonin Class, Anbu, and other departments are all staffed by elite ninjas. Flaunting the Uchiha's might and so-called prestige now would be extremely unwise!"

"We know that. We were just saying it. Don't take it seriously."

Okura and Sanzang exchanged a smile. They hadn't expected a ninja renowned for his reputation to have no interest in promoting it. That was excellent.

"I think this spot would be a good choice. Father, Uncle, what do you think?"

Nara had chosen a spot right in the center of the clan grounds, not far from his own home. He could walk out the door and straight into work.

Okura and Sanzang had already picked out three possible sites: the center of the clan grounds, a spot in the east near the Hokage Building, and the farthest corner of the clan grounds.

Seeing Nara choose the very center, they couldn't help asking curiously,

"Nara, why did you choose this location?"

"Because it's central, making it convenient for all the clan members to come and go. If it were in a corner, clan members living in the opposite corner would have farther to travel. That wouldn't be fair."

Nara smiled. The reason was that simple.

Okura and Sanzang exchanged a glance and nodded.