The Grand Assembly

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe, frowned at the invitation on his desk, and asked in a deep voice, "What do you make of this?"

"Bizarre!"

Utatane Koharu shook her head, picked up the invitation to read it again, her expression clouded with confusion.

"Uchiha Fugaku is young and vigorous. While he hasn't made any major achievements in the past few years, he has been steady. Why would the Uchiha clan change their clan head?"

"I suspect it has something to do with that brat, Obito."

Danzo sat in his chair, his expression gloomy.

Mitokado Homura frowned at Danzo and accused, "If that's the case, why didn't you take Uchiha Obito down earlier to see what kind of mischief the Uchiha clan is up to?"

"Heh."

Danzo let out a strange laugh, his tone not yielding in the slightest.

"You'll have to ask Hiruzen's fine grand-disciple about that."

"Left to the Hokage's discretion?"

"What a grand display of authority!"

"Enough."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the desk, looking at the bickering trio with a headache, and shouted, "I brought you here to discuss a strategy, not to argue."

Danzo snorted coldly, rose abruptly from his seat, and turned to walk out. "What is there to discuss? We'll know once we go and see for ourselves tomorrow."

"Sigh."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, turned to look at the bustling, prosperous streets of the Hidden Leaf Village outside the window, and muttered, "Very well, we shall see. I will not allow anyone or any clan to disrupt the peace of the Hidden Leaf."

The next day, the heads of the various Hidden Leaf clans and the village's top brass made a rare joint entrance into the Uchiha compound, led by Uchiha clansmen toward the VIP section where the assembly was to be held.

The clan heads and the Hidden Leaf leadership were all dressed formally, their expressions solemn.

No matter how much they loathed or feared the Uchiha clan in their hearts, they could not change the fact that the Uchiha were the premier clan of the Hidden Leaf.

There was a time when the Senju clan stood as a counterweight, but ever since the Second Hokage, in an effort to curb the influence of powerful clans, led by example by dissolving his own clan and forbidding the use of the Senju surname, the Uchiha had stood alone at the top.

Especially after the death of the Second Hokage, the Uchiha clan had been resentful of Sarutobi Hiruzen serving as the Third Hokage.

The Uchiha believed that since the Uchiha and Senju had founded the Hidden Leaf, and Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama had served as Hokage, it was only natural for them to accept that.

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen? What was he? It should have been the Uchiha's turn.

Consequently, the Uchiha clan had always been at odds with the Third Hokage's faction. The other clans, feeling suffocated by the Uchiha, had rallied around the Third Hokage to suppress them together.

Upon receiving the invitation, the various clan heads were astonished. Uchiha Fugaku hadn't even been in power for many years; changing the head again? The Uchiha were surely finished.

Despite their deep confusion, the clan heads still rose early, dressed formally, and arrived together at the Uchiha compound, a place they rarely stepped foot in.

After taking their seats in the VIP section, Akimichi Choza looked at the bottle of green liquid on each table and curiously picked it up to sniff.

"What kind of drink is this? I've never had it before."

A rich aura of life emanated from the bottle. Akimichi Choza's mouth twitched, and he drank it in one gulp.

"How is it?"

Nara Shikaku, sitting nearby, watched Akimichi Choji's reaction with deep meaning in his eyes.

Akimichi Choza took a deep breath, his face full of intoxication. "Better than anything I've ever had. I feel like the lingering injuries from the Three-Color Pill are completely healed."

"Is that so?"

Nara Shikaku smiled thoughtfully, finding it interesting. "It seems this Uchiha clan assembly is not so simple."

Yamanaka Inoichi looked at Akimichi Choza with some concern and said in a low voice, "Is there something wrong with this drink?"

"Inoichi, you're overthinking it again."

Nara Shikaku looked at Yamanaka Inoichi with a helpless expression and explained, "Given the pride of the Uchiha clan, they wouldn't resort to poisoning."

"After I sat down, I noticed this drink contained a dense aura of life. It must be a precious medicinal secret."

"Since the Uchiha clan provided a bottle for everyone, it means they have already mastered the ability to mass-produce it."

"As for what they intend to do..."

Nara Shikaku glanced at the Third Hokage sitting at the highest point and chuckled softly. "They will explain it later. We just need to watch a good show; after all, we have the Hokage taking the lead."

Akimichi Choji grabbed the fruit on the table and stuffed it into his mouth, his voice muffled. "I wish the Uchiha clan would give me a few more bottles. Shikaku, your knowledge of medicine is so deep, can you replicate it?"

Nara Shikaku stared at the glowing green liquid in his hand for a long time, then shook his head. "It will be difficult. I'll take the remaining two bottles back to test."

At the highest point of the VIP section, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the green drink on his table and shook his head with a smile. "It seems the Uchiha clan has truly changed."

Danzo, sitting beside him, squinted as he examined the green drink and beckoned behind him. "Kadokawa, you come and test it."

"Yes."

A Root ninja behind Danzo took the bottle without hesitation and downed it in one gulp.

"How is it?"

After waiting a moment, Danzo scrutinized Kadokawa's reaction.

Kadokawa's expression turned strange, then comfortable, and he replied respectfully: "It feels warm, and the hidden injuries in my body are healing."

"Oh..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked thoughtful. He glanced at Uchiha Fugaku on the other side and said in a low voice, "Fugaku's intentions this time are not simple."

Danzo frowned, using his chakra to carefully sense the changes in Kadokawa's body, his voice filled with doubt: "What exactly is the Uchiha clan planning?"

"We'll know soon enough."

Sarutobi Hiruzen toyed with the bottle in his hand, his gaze fixed on the area below the viewing platform.

Uchiha Fugaku, dressed in his custom Uchiha clan attire with the clan crest emblazoned on his back, stood on the high platform and announced loudly: "Fellow clansmen and honored guests, you all know the purpose of this clan meeting. As I lack the necessary ability, after consulting with the elders, I have decided to pass the position of clan head to a young talent who will lead the Uchiha clan toward prosperity."

"After discussions between myself and the elders, we have determined that Uchiha Obito possesses outstanding talent and extraordinary insight. He has already awakened the supreme ocular technique of our Uchiha clan—the Mangekyo Sharingan—and has the strength required to hold the position of clan head."

The Uchiha clansmen below were all shocked, breaking into whispers.

"Obito actually awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!"

"But he's far too young."

"Indeed, and he has no notable achievements to his name."

"What are you thinking? That is the same Mangekyo Sharingan as our ancestor Madara! Obito will surely lead our Uchiha clan to greatness; I support him."

"I'm not saying he lacks strength, but can someone his age really handle it?"

"I, Uchiha Kenichi, only recognize strength. If you're unconvinced, why don't you go up and try him?"

"Silence."

Uchiha Fugaku frowned at the noisy crowd and shouted: "This matter has already been decided. We will now proceed with the handover ceremony."

"Obito, come up."

Uchiha Fugaku's expression was solemn as he took a uniquely shaped Uchiha Gunbai from an old wooden box. He looked deeply at Uchiha Obito as he approached and said in a low voice: "Swear that you will lead the Uchiha clan toward prosperity."

Obito's expression was earnest. He raised his hand, turned to face the Uchiha clansmen below, and shouted: "I swear that I will lead the Uchiha clan toward prosperity!"

"Good."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded in satisfaction and placed the Uchiha Gunbai heavily into Obito's palm.

"This is the heirloom of our Uchiha clan, traditionally held by the clan head. Today, I entrust it to you."

Obito nodded, gripping the Uchiha Gunbai tightly. He looked down at the clansmen, the pinwheel patterns in his eyes spinning rapidly. A purple giant made of energy rose from the ground, holding an Uchiha Gunbai that had grown in size along with it.

Standing at the center of the Susanoo, Obito swept his gaze over the shocked Hokage and the various clan heads. A satisfied smile played on his lips as he manipulated the Susanoo to raise the Uchiha Gunbai and shouted to the Uchiha clansmen: "Uchiha!"

Feeling the overwhelming aura of the Susanoo, the clansmen below were whipped into a frenzy, shouting back in unison.

"Uchiha!"

"Uchiha!"