The plan detailed how to infiltrate the Uzumaki Clan's territory, wreak havoc after getting inside and deal a heavy blow to the clan, then safely escape from their lands.
There was even a second part to the plan.
Uchiha Madara read through it carefully several times. Once he had confirmed that it was feasible, he prepared to hold his first clan meeting as clan head.
The revenge plan was so thorough that it felt more like an after-action report written after a successful operation.
His cousin had surprised him far more than he ever expected.
It would have been even better if his cousin could become a ninja.
What a shame.
Once again, Uchiha Madara found himself wishing Uchiha Yang were a ninja. The thought simply wouldn't leave him.
It seemed he couldn't keep letting his cousin waste his talents. Such a brilliant mind shouldn't be buried.
Uchiha Madara stood there, lost in thought for a long while. At last, he made up his mind.
An hour later.
Once the clan's senior members had gathered in the meeting hall, Uchiha Madara took the seat at the head of the room.
Only those with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan were entitled to attend this meeting. It was a true gathering of the entire clan leadership.
The senior members saw that their clan head had kept his eyes closed and remained silent for a long time. The elders exchanged puzzled glances. What was going on with him?
As Uchiha Madara's younger brother, Uchiha Izuna knew that his elder brother was actually waiting for their cousin to arrive.
He had read the revenge plan against the Uzumaki Clan, too. It was truly brilliant. A cousin like that shouldn't be mistaken for a good-for-nothing.
So he and his elder brother had made a decision that went against Uchiha Yang's wishes.
"Clan head, shouldn't we get started?"
At the Great Elder Uchiha Sei's prompting, the other elders exchanged glances, and he spoke up.
"We're not all here yet. Let's wait a little longer."
Uchiha Madara answered patiently.
"We're not all here?"
At that, everyone in the room looked around.
They wondered who would dare behave so boldly at the clan head's first full meeting—showing up late, of all things. They certainly weren't afraid of being given a hard time afterward.
Just then, Uchiha Yang pushed open the door and walked in. When he saw Uchiha Madara staring at him, he sighed inwardly.
He'd already given him the revenge plan, and now he claimed he couldn't understand it and wanted him to explain it in person.
At first, he had refused as firmly as he could. He wanted to keep a low profile and didn't want his peaceful life disrupted.
But he'd never imagined Uchiha Madara would pull a stunt like that.
He'd actually tried to tempt a man with money.
What man could resist that kind of temptation?
There was no helping it. Uchiha Madara had offered far too much. What a reckless spender. Yang had no choice but to agree.
"Uchiha Yang, you made a great contribution when the clan compound was attacked, but that doesn't mean you can come in here. This is no place for you."
The Great Elder Uchiha Sei didn't dislike Uchiha Yang. In fact, he was grateful that Yang had stepped up when it mattered.
But rules were rules. The clan's regulations couldn't be broken.
Only those with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan were allowed in here.
"Sure thing."
Uchiha Yang had no intention of arguing. If he wasn't allowed in, then he'd leave. It wasn't as if he wanted to be here anyway.
With that, he turned and walked straight back out.
"Wait."
Uchiha Madara called out to him helplessly. He stood up, strode over, grabbed Yang, and forced him into the seat beside his own.
"Clan head, that's against the rules."
The Second Elder, Uchiha Rei, was a woman and a very stubborn elder. She placed great importance on the clan's rules and was rather inflexible.
"I invited him here. The clan's prosperity matters far more than its rules. Besides, rules exist to ensure the clan prospers. If they ever become an obstacle to the clan's growth, then we might as well get rid of them."
Uchiha Madara boldly declared that the clan's rules could be broken. If they stood in the way of the clan's development, then they weren't worth keeping.
"Clan head, rules are rules. How can they be changed so easily? If the clan members follow your example, won't everything fall into chaos?"
Uchiha Rei remained stubborn, her expression unyielding. Even the clan head couldn't change her mind.
"I'm the clan head. Does anyone object?"
When Uchiha Madara realized his words weren't getting through, his expression darkened.
For a moment, Uchiha Yang thought he was seeing the stern, seasoned Uchiha Madara of the future.
Madara really was imposing.
"Rei, I'm sure the clan head has his reasons. There's no harm in waiting to see what he has to say."
"That's right, Rei. Let's hear him out first."
The Fourth Elder, Uchiha Fu, and the Fifth Elder, Uchiha Shi, were sensible enough to understand that the clan head must have had his reasons. They quickly tried to calm Uchiha Rei down.
"Fine. If the clan head doesn't give a satisfactory explanation, I won't let this go."
With the two elders tugging at her, Uchiha Rei sat down, still looking thoroughly unconvinced.
"Cousin, how did my elder brother persuade you? I asked him, but he wouldn't tell me."
Once his cousin had sat down, Uchiha Izuna leaned over and whispered the question.
"You think I wanted to come? Your elder brother offered me a price I couldn't refuse."
Uchiha Yang replied helplessly.
He had a lot of servants to support, and his daily expenses were high. The estate his parents had left him was nowhere near enough.
"Huh? That worked? Cousin, didn't you say you wanted to keep a low profile and live a peaceful life?"
Uchiha Izuna was completely taken aback. It felt as if his whole worldview were under attack.
"Life isn't just poetry and distant horizons. You need money, too."
"Anyway, I'll do the job since he's paying me. Then I'm leaving."
After saying that, Uchiha Yang switched to idle mode and let his brain and mouth do the work.
He'd taken the money. That didn't mean he had to do the job himself.
Heh.
Once Uchiha Madara had quieted everyone down, he took out the Revenge Plan and handed it directly to the Great Elder.
"This is the revenge plan Yang stayed up all night preparing for the clan. It details how we can take revenge on the Uzumaki Clan."
"The sheer detail in this plan is proof of Uchiha Yang's intelligence and talent."
"Our Uchiha Clan has never been short of strength, but we're lacking somewhat when it comes to strategy. Once you've read it, you'll understand why I'm breaking the rules."
As he spoke, Uchiha Madara made sure to glance at the Second Elder. He was directing those words especially at her.
Though stubborn, she never threw her weight around because of her seniority. She had always done her utmost to protect the clan in her own way, and he respected her for it.
"Wonderful!"
After reading it twice, the Great Elder exclaimed excitedly.
"Is it really that good?"
Uchiha Rei looked at him skeptically. She suspected he was putting on an act, but couldn't prove it.
"Read it yourself. Once you're done, you won't be saying that anymore."
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