Clan Assembly

Uchiha Clan Grounds.

News of Uchiha You's return to Konoha had completely spread throughout the Uchiha Clan.

The three accompanying ANBU had died in battle.

Uchiha You had returned severely injured.

There had been a suspected intelligence leak during the mission.

The identities of those three ANBU suggested they had not been ANBU directly under the Hokage, but Root.

These pieces of news piled together, directly setting off the Uchiha Clan Grounds, which had been oppressed for far too long.

Inside the Police Force.

Quite a few Uchiha clansmen had gathered together, their expressions darker than the next.

"Root! It had to be Root!"

"That old bastard Danzo has finally stopped holding back against us Uchiha!"

"What do you mean, finally? Has he done little against us all these years? It's just that this time, You came back alive!"

"What if You hadn't returned? Would they have said he died at the hands of rogue ninja from the Land of Water?"

"Do the higher-ups really take us for fools?"

"We can't endure this anymore!"

"We must convene a clan assembly!"

"That's right! Let the clan head give us an explanation!"

"If we have to endure even this, then next time, it'll be us who die!"

The dissatisfaction, rage, and humiliation that had long been buried in their hearts were completely ignited today.

In the past, the Uchiha clansmen had not lacked resentment.

They had merely lacked someone capable of gathering that resentment together.

Fugaku was the clan head.

But Fugaku was far too steady, making everyone feel stifled.

Shisui was powerful.

But Shisui had always stood in the position of "reconciling the relationship between the village and the Uchiha."

Many of the more radical clansmen even felt that although Shisui was an Uchiha, he was more like the Hokage's man.

And Itachi needed no mention.

After joining the ANBU, he had grown increasingly distant from the clan.

Among the younger generation, the only one who dared strike before the Shimura Clan, dared question Danzo in the Hokage Building, and dared drag "Root's assassination of an Uchiha" into the light was Uchiha You.

So after today, the gazes many Uchiha clansmen directed at Uchiha You had changed.

It was the excitement of finally seeing a blade leave its sheath after being suppressed for so long.

In the night.

Uchiha You stood outside the Police Force, calmly watching the figures continuously gathering throughout the clan grounds.

Uchiha Chuan stood beside him and said in a low voice:

"You, the clan head has agreed to convene a clan assembly."

"The meeting will be held at Nanga Shrine tonight."

Uchiha You nodded.

"It's time."

Uchiha Chuan glanced at him and could not help asking:

"What are you planning to say tonight?"

Uchiha You replied indifferently:

"It isn't about what I say."

"It's about making them see clearly."

Uchiha Chuan was slightly stunned.

"See what clearly?"

Uchiha You raised his head toward the distant Hokage Rock, his voice low:

"See clearly that the blade of Konoha's higher-ups is already at the Uchiha's throat."

"And see clearly whether the Uchiha truly have the strength to resist."

Uchiha Chuan's heart shook.

He vaguely sensed that tonight's clan assembly would not be simple.

It might even become the beginning of a true turning point for the Uchiha Clan.

Just then, Shisui approached from afar.

His expression remained complicated.

Everything that had happened in the Hokage Building today had greatly impacted him.

Especially Danzo's reaction and the Third Hokage's silence.

If, in the past, Uchiha You's warning that "Danzo wants your eyes" had seemed too extreme to him.

Then now, he could no longer completely deny that possibility.

Shisui walked up to Uchiha You.

"I'll attend tonight's clan assembly as well."

Uchiha You glanced at him.

"Of course you should."

Shisui fell silent for a moment before saying:

"You, I know the clansmen are furious right now."

"But don't push everyone onto a road of no return."

"Shisui, you still don't understand."

Hearing Uchiha You's words, Shisui frowned deeply.

Uchiha You slowly turned around and looked into the depths of the clan grounds.

"I'm not the one who pushed them onto a road of no return."

"Konoha's higher-ups forced it upon them step by step."

"What I'm doing tonight isn't inciting the clansmen."

"It's letting them know that continuing to kneel and await death is what truly leads to no return."

Shisui said in a low voice:

"But if, after the clan assembly, the clansmen completely turn toward a coup..."

Uchiha You interrupted him.

"Then that means the coup has long been in their hearts."

"I'm only tearing away that fig leaf."

Shisui had no reply.

Uchiha You looked at him, his tone softening slightly:

"Shisui, you can voice your own thoughts tonight."

"I won't stop you."

"But don't stop me either."

Shisui looked up.

Uchiha You's gaze was calm:

"The clansmen have the right to know the truth."

"And they have the right to choose whether to live standing or die kneeling."

Shisui's heart shook.

He could not refute those words.

Nanga Shrine.

The Uchiha Clan's most secretive and most important meeting place.

Under the night sky, the shrine was brightly lit.

Uchiha clansmen entered one after another.

Those able to attend tonight's clan assembly were mostly adult ninja and important members of the clan.

Members of the Police Force.

Clan elders.

Radicals.

Conservatives.

Neutrals.

As well as Fugaku Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha had come as well.

He stood in a corner, his expression calm, though his eyes were deeper than usual.

Ever since Uchiha You had returned from the Land of Water mission, he had sensed the situation rapidly worsening.

Or rather, Uchiha You had forcibly dragged out the conflicts that had once been hidden beneath the surface.

Now, everyone could see them.

And they could no longer pretend that nothing had happened.

Inside the shrine.

The atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.

Fugaku Uchiha sat in the seat of honor, his expression composed.

His gaze swept across the clansmen below before finally landing on Uchiha You for a moment.

This young man had been doing bigger and bigger things lately.

Things so significant that even he, the clan head, could no longer ignore them.

Publicly injuring members of the Shimura Clan in the shopping district.

Questioning Danzo in the Hokage Building.

Returning alive from the Land of Water mission.

And now, his prestige within the clan was rising rapidly.

Fugaku understood very clearly.

On the surface, tonight's clan assembly was to discuss Uchiha You's assassination attempt by Root.

But in truth, it was also a concentrated eruption of the clansmen's feelings toward the current situation.

If it was not handled properly, the Uchiha Clan would completely lose control from within.

After a moment, Fugaku spoke:

"Everyone is here."

"Tonight's clan assembly begins."

As his voice fell, the shrine immediately quieted.

Fugaku said solemnly:

"Regarding You's ambush during his Land of Water mission, you should all have heard about it."

"But there are too many rumors."

"So You himself will explain first."

Everyone's gaze instantly fell on Uchiha You.

Uchiha You sat to one side, calm and composed.

He did not stand up immediately, merely sweeping his gaze around the room.

The clansmen's looks varied.

Anger.

Suspicion.

Anticipation.

Worry.

Several conservative elders also clearly bore dissatisfaction.

The people's hearts had not yet fully united.

But that was fine.

After tonight, they would be much more united.