Uchiha's Future Development

The 2.5 billion in compensation was escorted to the Uchiha Clan Grounds by an ANBU squad.

Heavy chests were piled into a small mountain in one corner of the square.

The Third Hokage naturally would not miss this rare opportunity to enter the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Of the ANBU who came, two were dedicated sensory ninja, while the other two possessed exceptionally strong sensory abilities as well.

They were rapidly committing every bit of intelligence they saw and sensed to memory, so they could report it upon their return.

Standing on high ground, Shien personally oversaw the distribution of the money.

Although it was impossible to distribute all 2.5 billion, the compensation each person received this time was more than ten times the previous standard.

The clan members had just lost their loved ones. Holding thick stacks of money in their hands, they felt not only grief, but also a little more gratitude and trust toward their newly appointed acting clan head.

The clan's cohesion gradually began to gather again amid this cruel reality and tangible benefits.

His gaze swept across the ANBU, and he was fully aware of their little moves.

During a break in the distribution, Shien publicly announced the arrangements for Sasuke and Mikoto.

"To completely dispel the village's suspicions toward us and prove that the Uchiha harbor no ulterior motives."

"Mikoto and Sasuke will temporarily leave the clan grounds and be personally placed under the Hokage's care."

With the ANBU present, the clan members did not say much.

But the moment those words were spoken, a suppressed commotion immediately rose from the crowd. Countless gazes shot toward Sasuke beside Mikoto.

Those looks still carried unresolved hatred and displaced resentment.

Sasuke pressed his lips tightly together, his head lowered so low that he did not dare look up. His small hand clutched his mother's hem tightly.

He did not want to leave the home where he had grown up, but the invisible pressure around him nearly made it impossible to breathe.

The ANBU recorded all of this as well.

Shien had warned them in advance, and Mikoto had already packed her belongings: a small bag containing close-fitting clothes, and nothing else.

Under the complicated gazes of the crowd, Sasuke and Mikoto followed two of the ANBU and slowly walked out of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

The remaining two ANBU dawdled, stubbornly waiting until the clan's compensation had nearly all been distributed and there was no longer any reason for them to remain before preparing to leave.

"Where have Sasuke and Mikoto been arranged to stay? I need to check on them regularly as well."

Shien asked as he escorted the ANBU to the entrance.

"The address is..."

The ANBU did not hesitate. He immediately gave Shien the address, clearly having received instructions beforehand.

"I understand."

After seeing the ANBU out, the slight warmth on Shien's face quickly faded, replaced by solemnity.

His gaze swept over the crowd in the square, which had not yet fully dispersed, and he said in a low voice:

"Akabane, Zhi Ming... all core members, gather in the conference room immediately."

The doors and windows were tightly shut, and the atmosphere was grave. This was the Uchiha's first meeting to truly plan for the future since the night of the massacre.

Since Konoha was founded, the Uchiha had never suffered such a devastating blow. Everyone was somewhat lost.

"Money is not something we lack for the time being."

Shien got straight to the point, reassuring everyone.

"At least for a long time to come, no one in the clan will need to worry about the most basic necessities of life."

The crowd exchanged glances and silently nodded. They had seen with their own eyes the astronomical compensation Shien had obtained from the Third Hokage.

Shien had not kept any of that money for himself. It had all been placed into the clan's public funds, along with all of Fugaku's remaining assets.

Even if the entire clan did nothing, they would have no problem living off it for ten years.

Besides, for the next three years, they would receive 70 million every month. (The remaining 2.5 billion.)

"However," Shien shifted the subject, pulling everyone's thoughts back to reality.

"Money cannot buy safety, much less dignity. The higher-ups will never truly accept us, and that venomous snake Danzo will not let this go."

He looked around at every young face present.

"What we lack most right now is people and strength. We must use these next few years to build up the Uchiha with everything we have."

"We must quickly gain the capital that will make Konoha, and the entire shinobi world, hesitate to touch us."

Zhi Ming, who was responsible for taking notes, set down his pen and looked up.

"Clan Head, how exactly should we grow stronger?"

"Even counting everyone we can, we have only a little over two hundred who can fight. Among them are quite a few women and children who need protection."

The Uchiha had many civilians, but non-combatants were not included in this count.

Shien had clearly prepared for this long ago. He raised two fingers.

"Two paths, pursued simultaneously."

"First, internally, strongly encourage childbirth. Starting today, the clan will provide substantial additional childcare subsidies for every newborn until they reach adulthood."

"If they awaken the Sharingan, the clan will provide further preferential resources and rewards."

This policy was relatively mild, and everyone nodded in approval.

Population had always been the foundation of a clan.

"Second, relax the screening process and actively recruit promising newcomers from outside clans, granting them the Uchiha name!"

The Uchiha were not forbidden from marrying outside the clan, but the screening process had been relatively strict.

Especially after the number of ordinary Uchiha civilians became sufficient, marriages outside the clan became even rarer.

After all, when both parents were Uchiha, the chances of possessing ninja talent and awakening the Sharingan were higher.

Moreover, this was not marriage. They would be joining the Uchiha directly.

The moment those words were spoken, a suppressed murmur immediately filled the conference room.

The clan had not taken in outsiders for many years. At least, no one of the generation present had experienced it, so their hesitation was natural.

Knock, knock.

Shien tapped the tabletop. Under the crisp sound, everyone's attention focused on him.

"Everyone, our Uchiha clan has descended from the lineage of our ancestor Indra. Over thousands of years, we flourished and spread our branches through continually taking in fresh blood, which was how we achieved our former prosperity."

"Now that the clan has suffered such a calamity, we cannot remain set in our ways! Only by taking in more outstanding talents with clean backgrounds and enormous potential can we accelerate the clan's revival!"

"This will bring nothing but benefits to the clan!"

Those present were all young core members of the clan. The old ones were all dead, so they had been less influenced by the older generation's stubborn ideas.

They accepted new things more quickly. After considering it carefully, they all felt that Shien's words made sense.

"Besides, everyone knows that I am aware of parts of the future."

"So I know where the geniuses and promising talents are."

Everyone had naturally discussed in private Shien's knowledge of the future. Hearing him say this, their eyes lit up.

That meant everyone brought into the clan would be promising talent.

For the time being, Shien did not tell the clan members about the immense disaster that would strike the shinobi world in the future.

Everyone was already uneasy. Telling them about the calamities ten years from now would only have negative effects.