Uchiha Ryusuke

"Everyone, find your seats and sit down."

After saying that, Yushu went straight to the clan head's seat. Still unaccustomed to kneeling, he chose to sit cross-legged on the cushion.

Seeing that their new clan head had taken his seat, everyone else found their places and sat down as well.

A new official always starts with three bold moves!

Looking at the clan members seated before him, Uchiha Yushu immediately began his first move.

To unify the clan's way of thinking, the first thing he needed was, naturally, the greatest authority.

As a clan that worshipped strength, the Uchiha Clan had not actually possessed the position of elder before Madara's betrayal.

Before that, the clan head held the highest authority and the greatest strength within the clan. He was the symbol of the Uchiha Clan—the clan head was the clan.

That was also why Madara's betrayal had dealt such a tremendous blow to the Uchiha Clan.

What Yushu wanted now was naturally to become the same kind of clan head Madara had been. The first step was to reclaim the authority in his hands.

"At such a difficult time, now that I have become clan head, what we need most is for every clan member to unite as one and face these hardships together. Therefore, the current elder system is clearly no longer suitable. I intend to reform it!"

Yushu did not beat around the bush in the slightest and directly stated his demand.

"First, there will no longer be a position of elder within the clan. The current elders will become clan advisors. Advisors may offer opinions on all clan affairs and report them to the clan head. They may participate in important meetings and make recommendations. The only difference from before is that advisors will no longer hold the authority to deploy the clan's shinobi. From now on, I alone will have the authority to mobilize the clan's shinobi."

"Do you all agree?" Yushu waited for everyone to state their positions after he finished speaking.

At the same time Yushu was waiting for everyone's response, Itachi Uchiha, who had been driven out of the clan meeting by Yushu, arrived at the Hokage's office.

Itachi truthfully reported everything that had happened to the Third Hokage.

After hearing Itachi's account, Hiruzen Sarutobi guessed that Yushu would be the key to this clan meeting. Unfortunately, there was no way to know how matters would develop afterward.

At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi also hoped nothing unexpected would happen. Having become Hokage again after the Fourth's sacrifice, he was no longer the same as when he had first taken office in a crisis. He only hoped that everything in Konoha would remain unchanged—not better or worse, merely maintained as it was until he could hand Konoha over to the Fifth Hokage.

"I understand the situation, Itachi. It is not your fault that you failed to complete this mission. Go call Kakashi over."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not continue speculating about what the Uchiha Clan intended to do.

Not long after Itachi left, Kakashi arrived at the Hokage's office.

"Lord Hokage."

"You're here, Kakashi. This is the transfer order assigning Uchiha Yushu to the Wind-Earth border. The village has already reached its decision, and it will officially take effect tomorrow. Give it to Uchiha Yushu tomorrow and urge him to depart for the border."

As he spoke, he picked up a scroll from the side of his desk and handed it to Kakashi.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Inside Naka Shrine.

Yushu did not have to wait long. The clan members mostly voiced their support for the elder reforms.

After all, most clan members neither disliked nor particularly liked the elders. If the clan head felt they were unnecessary, then they were unnecessary.

Although the old man from Yushu's family felt somewhat upset that his own grandson had targeted people like them first after becoming clan head, he was also gratified to see his grandson settle into the role so quickly. It was a mixture of joy and sorrow.

After exchanging looks with his two old companions for a moment.

"Yushu, since you think us old men are an eyesore, we should have enough self-awareness to step aside. The clan will be yours from now on anyway. I truly am getting old. Looks like I should go home and prepare my coffin!"

In the end, Uchiha Yan expressed his support along with his two companions.

"How could that be, Grandpa? Even if you are no longer elders, you are still clan advisors. The clan's future will still need you and all the senior members to look after it."

Seeing that his old man was clearly supporting him but still speaking so sarcastically, Yushu quickly tried to reassure him.

"Advisor? Hmph! Don't think this old man doesn't know what an advisor is. Forget it, forget it. I won't say any more. Do a good job, Yushu!"

Uchiha Yan was not so easily fooled. How could he not know what advisors were? Konoha had two excellent examples right there. Put simply, they were just people who rushed to criticize whenever anything happened. As for whether it was useful, that depended on who you asked.

Afterward, Uchiha Qing from Shisui's family also chose to support the change and became a new clan advisor.

Only two remained. Uchiha Yushu turned his gaze toward Uchiha Da and Uchiha Mon.

Seeing that the situation was already obvious, Da, who had always gone whichever way the wind blew, wanted to agree. However, Mon beside him stopped him.

"Da, you cannot agree. Was Madara's lesson not enough? We cannot place all our hopes on Yushu alone. If something goes wrong, the portion of strength in our hands can still serve as a way out."

Uchiha Mon earnestly tried to persuade Da beside him.

Yushu naturally heard every word clearly. He also knew both approaches had their own advantages and disadvantages, but under the current circumstances, he did not want any voices within the clan that differed from his own.

Moreover, aside from him, no one present knew the Uchiha Clan's true nature: strong on the outside, weak within.

This could be seen from the original story, where Itachi Uchiha and Obito alone had been able to slaughter the entire Uchiha Clan.

At the time, Fugaku had willingly accepted death without resisting for Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha's sake. Yet the clan's six elders still had their own forces, and they had been completely useless.

This showed that the best approach now was to concentrate all strength. Yushu had no intention of explaining this to them. If they refused to accept it, all the better—what he lacked was precisely an opportunity to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.

Before long, Uchiha Da ultimately chose to support the change, leaving only Uchiha Mon.

"Uchiha Mon, are you choosing to reject my first order as clan head? Can't you see that even the jonin under your command have chosen to support me?"

With an imposing aura in his eyes, Yushu stared at Uchiha Mon and questioned him.

"Hmph! This old man never truly supported you becoming clan head. The shinobi under my command support you now, but after I return, I can continue training the younger generation. We cannot place the clan's fate entirely on one person. The Uchiha Clan has paid the price for that before."

Uchiha Mon retorted.

Yushu admitted that Mon had a point, but one's position determined one's perspective. Whether Uchiha Mon opposed him becoming clan head or sought to retain control over his own shinobi forces, both were obstacles to Yushu taking complete control of the Uchiha Clan.

Whether Mon acted out of selfishness or genuine concern for the Uchiha Clan, Yushu did not care. What he cared about was that someone was trying to question him, and if he did not respond with a fierce blow now.

Then there would still be people who continued to defy his will in the future. Even if he reclaimed most of the elders' authority, nothing would have changed from Fugaku's time.

During Fugaku's time, the doves and hawks within the clan had fought each other, and Fugaku, as clan head, had spent nearly all his energy balancing the clan's internal conflicts.

After Yushu became clan head, because of his usual conduct, the village's targeting and suppression would only become harsher. In order to face the storms coming from outside.

Yushu had no desire to spend his energy balancing the clan's internal affairs as well. The clan only needed to act according to his will. It did not need so many thoughts or so many voices.

"I'll ask you one last time, Uchiha Mon. Are you certain you refuse to hand over the elders' authority?"

"That's right. The clan can no longer afford to keep making mistakes," Uchiha Mon answered.

Since you were seeking death, then I would grant your wish.

Yushu spoke in an icy tone. "Naoto, Xuanyue, and Ryusuke, heed my command!"

He did not call Shisui. Knowing Shisui's character well, Yushu figured it would be difficult for him to raise his blade against fellow clan members. Instead, he chose Naoto and Xuanyue. As for Ryusuke, he was originally one of Uchiha Mon's shinobi, yet he had chosen to support Yushu. Therefore, Yushu wanted to see just how far that support went.

Whether Ryusuke chose to act in the end or merely went through the motions, Uchiha Yushu did not care. He knew everyone had their value; it only depended on where they were placed.

Of course, Yushu still hoped he would act. There were too many shinobi in the clan who valued their feelings, while ruthless men like Itachi, who dared to turn their blades on their own parents, were rare. Yushu greatly envied that quality. He also hoped to have such a ruthless man under his command, provided that man put the clan first.

"Uchiha Mon seeks to divide the Uchiha Clan. His intentions are malicious, and this is an outright betrayal of the clan. Effective immediately, Uchiha Mon is stripped of his clan membership and removed from the clan register. Now, I order the three of you to behead this traitor. Carry out the order at once!"

"Yes, Clan Head!" ×3

All three chose to obey. There was nothing more to say. Three elite jonin from the clan could easily deal with an old man with one foot in the grave.

What delighted Uchiha Yushu was that the one who ultimately cut off Uchiha Mon's head was Ryusuke.

His actions disgusted the surrounding clan members. Even Naoto and Xuanyue, who had acted alongside him, quietly moved away from him.

Yet Yushu was immensely pleased. A ruthless man like this had to be put to great use—very great use!