The Clan Heads' Shock

The next day, at the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Uchiha Ao arrived at the clan meeting hall early. As soon as he took his seat, a clan member came to report that the clan heads of the Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka Clans had already arrived at the entrance.

He straightened his clothes, then ordered Uchiha Shuanghuo, who stood nearby, to bring them in.

The two accepted the order with fervor.

At the gate, Uchiha Inabi disdainfully glanced over the clan heads and their accompanying guards. Still, he did his best to keep his tone even as he said, "Everyone, please follow me."

One of the Hyuga Main Family members immediately took offense.

Every person in their group was someone of high standing. The Uchiha brat hadn't come to greet them in person, which was one thing, but now even some gatekeeper dared look down on them?

"Hmph! Unless that Uchiha brat comes out to greet us himself, the Hyuga Clan won't take part in this alliance!" A Main Family member stepped out of the crowd, his face full of arrogance.

Seeing this, Hyuga Hiashi hurriedly smiled apologetically at Uchiha Shuanghuo. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. A junior from my clan doesn't know the rules. Please excuse him."

After speaking, he turned and glared fiercely at the Main Family member, his eyes full of warning.

Do you have nothing better to do than cause trouble?

Look where you are. I'll deal with you when we get back!

The Main Family member was still unwilling, but under the clan head's intimidating gaze, he eventually retreated into the crowd.

"Heh. Clan Head Hiashi really ought to discipline his people," Uchiha Tekka said, narrowing his eyes.

He'd been planning to teach that Hyuga brat a lesson himself for insulting Lord Clan Head.

What a shame.

Soon, Shuanghuo led everyone to the meeting hall.

Inside, Uchiha Ao was leaning back in the high-backed chair at the head of the table.

He didn't particularly like sitting with his feet dangling off the ground, but those two had decided that an ordinary chair would undermine the dignity of the Uchiha Clan Head and had gone out of their way to make his chair much taller.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Uchiha Ao's gaze swept over the clan heads as they entered.

The Nara Clan Head casually surveyed the meeting hall and was the first to break the silence. "Clan Head Uchiha, shall we get straight to the point?"

After all, they had come to Uchiha territory under tremendous pressure.

Uchiha Ao gave a slight nod. His right hand rested casually on the armrest, his fingers tapping a steady rhythm against it with a dull sound. "Clan Head Shikaku, you certainly are straightforward."

Meanwhile, at the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned against his desk, the pipe between his fingers glowing faintly.

An Anbu member knelt on one knee. His voice beneath his mask carried a hint of apprehension. "Lord Hokage, the clan heads of the Nara, Akimichi, and Hyuga Clans have entered the Uchiha Clan Compound."

"As expected." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly and glanced at the portraits of the past Hokage on the wall. The title Third seemed especially heavy beneath their gazes.

He felt he was a complete failure as Hokage.

The Sannin he had once taught had left the village one by one, and now the entire village was standing against him.

"Xiang, am I a failure as Hokage?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked calmly.

The Anbu member Xiang looked up sharply, his eyes beneath the mask full of conviction. "You've devoted yourself to Konoha for decades, Lord Hokage. The village has survived these turbulent times thanks entirely to your wisdom and benevolence! The Sannin leaving... They were simply blinded by their obsessions!"

He slammed his knee against the floor. His metal kneepad struck with a dull thud. "As for the Uchiha... It must be their ambition driving them!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the pipe in his hand, its last ember dying out in the silence.

Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Everyone, are you satisfied with this arrangement?" After several rounds of bargaining with these old foxes, Uchiha Ao slammed the draft alliance scroll down on the long table.

"Of course we are," Shikaku Nara said with a smile.

Behind him, Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi nodded in agreement.

The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans had always been united, and now that the Nara had taken the lead, they had secured considerable benefits for all three clans.

This was far better than serving under that old bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hyuga Hiashi was also quite satisfied with how the benefits had been divided.

"Clan Head Ao, now that everything's settled, we should be heading back." Hyuga Hiashi slipped his clan seal into his sleeve, his tone full of relief.

"Don't rush, Clan Head Hiashi. You took a risk joining us, so of course we'll make sure you feel secure." Uchiha Ao smiled.

"What do you mean, Clan Head Ao?" Hyuga Hiashi asked in confusion.

Could the Uchiha Clan have other hidden strength?

Isn't Shisui's Mangekyo enough?

Uchiha Ao smiled and raised a hand, calling softly toward the door. "Fugaku, Itachi, come in."

The door slowly swung open, and the two discreetly surveyed everyone in the hall.

They walked over to Uchiha Ao's side and stood silently.

"Fugaku, Itachi, show them your Mangekyo Sharingan, so all the clan heads can—"

Fugaku and Itachi exchanged a glance. The chakra in the air suddenly grew oppressive.

Two spinning Mangekyo Sharingan slowly appeared in their eyes.

"This..." The clan heads were stunned.

Wait, the Uchiha Clan already had three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan, and they were still keeping such a low profile?

If it were them, they would have already stormed the Hokage and seized power for themselves.

Shikaku Nara drew a deep breath. "Three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan... You've kept them hidden too well!"

Uchiha Ao's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Keeping your strength hidden is how you stay alive. The Third has feared our power and suppressed us, openly and behind the scenes, for years. If we hadn't kept a low profile and lain low, we would have been history by now."

History?

More like Hiruzen Sarutobi would be history.

The clan heads had never witnessed the battle between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.

But the long fissure at the Valley of the End, the enormous statues, and the legends passed down through generations all spoke of how terrifying the Uchiha Clan had been at its peak.

Now, with three pairs of Mangekyo gathered together, this power was enough to rewrite Konoha's history.

It seemed they had made the right choice by joining the Uchiha's side.

The clan heads exchanged glances, and each saw anticipation in the others' eyes.

They were looking forward to the Uchiha Clan helping them pull Hiruzen Sarutobi down from the Hokage's seat.

Konoha's current state was like stagnant water. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and the others clung to power and refused to change, allowing the once-vibrant foremost village in the Shinobi World to gradually rot away.

Meanwhile, under the pretext of "putting the greater good first," the elite members of their clans were sent on near-suicidal missions, while their share of the resources grew ever smaller.

The clan heads left the meeting hall with smiles on their faces, but as soon as they walked out of the Uchiha Clan Compound, their expressions changed.

Several clan heads even chatted as they walked.

"Sigh, that Uchiha brat really went too far!" Hyuga Hiashi deliberately raised his voice. "He actually used the Mangekyo Sharingan to intimidate us during the alliance negotiations. What does he take us for?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement in the shadows—the Anbu spy sent by the Third.

Shikaku Nara sighed in agreement. "Exactly. They talked about an equal partnership, but they kept trying to lord it over us."

He turned to Inoichi Yamanaka. "Inoichi, how sincere do you think this alliance really is?"

Inoichi Yamanaka pretended to think for a moment. "The way I see it, the Uchiha have no small ambitions. We'd better prepare in advance, or we might end up being used as pawns."

The Anbu spy in the shadows held his breath, rapidly recording every word.

Once he was sure they had all left, he vanished in a flash and sped toward the Hokage Building as a shadow.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi burst out laughing after hearing the report. "I never thought they'd use the Mangekyo to intimidate those clan heads. How foolish. Hmph, the Uchiha Clan really is born evil."