"Yū, the Great Elder is waiting for you."
An Uchiha ninja reminded him from the side. He was not surprised by Uchiha Yū's arrival; if anything, he had come rather late.
Upon entering the room, Yū felt a wave of warmth. The burning stove provided light and heat to the dim room. Inside were all the upper ranks of the Uchiha Clan's hawkish faction. Although some were displeased that Uchiha Yū had only arrived now, with the Great Elder present, no one voiced it.
Making his way through the crowd, he looked at the Great Elder lying on the bed. The man's age would have counted as longevity in the ninja world—he was even several years older than Uchiha Madara.
Yet he now looked utterly aged, with an aura of decay clinging to him. Clearly, he was a man at the end of his life. Hearing the movement outside, Uchiha Zhu struggled to sit up from the bed. He opened his eyes and looked at Yū, saying peacefully and serenely:
"You're here."
"My apologies, Great Elder."
Yū stood quietly at his side. Birth, aging, sickness, and death were fates no person could escape. Perhaps only those who had surpassed the level of the Sage of Six Paths could overcome the shackles of time.
"You need not stay by my side. Leave. I want to speak with Yū alone for a while."
Even in his twilight years, the Great Elder's voice still carried an unquestionable authority. The Uchiha ninjas beside him gave Uchiha Yū a deep look. In the end, two people wanted to say something, but the ninjas behind them stopped them, lightly shaking their heads to cut off their next move.
Now was not the time to discuss matters with the Great Elder. Anyone with eyes could see that