Clan Meeting

On the day of the clan meeting, at Root.

Danzo summoned Itachi Uchiha and asked, "How are things with Uchiha Shu?"

"The target hasn't left home in the past half month. He hasn't even returned to the new house he bought. There's no suitable opportunity for now," Itachi Uchiha replied.

"It doesn't matter. An opportunity will come eventually."

Danzo did not dwell on Xiu's matter. He knew Uchiha Shu had accumulated quite a bit of money, but so what? Could he stay indoors for the rest of his life?

It was not as though Danzo had never seen shut-ins before. He had that much patience.

Besides, if there truly was no opportunity, he could create one. Right now, there was something else that deserved more attention.

"The Uchiha Clan meeting is tonight, correct?"

"Yes." Itachi gave a slight nod.

"This clan meeting should select a new clan head. Do you have any thoughts?" Danzo asked.

"I recommend Shisui Uchiha to succeed to the position of clan head." Itachi did not hide his thoughts.

"Body Flicker Shisui... He is indeed a suitable candidate."

Danzo narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "It's just that he is a little lacking in age and seniority."

But that was not necessarily a bad thing. Danzo remembered Shisui as someone innocent by nature and relatively easy to manipulate.

Even if someone like that became clan head, he would not be able to suppress the dissatisfied voices within the clan.

That way, it would be best if the Uchiha Clan descended into internal strife. Even if Shisui were coerced by the clan into launching a coup, that would suit Danzo perfectly—he could take the opportunity to wipe out the entire clan!

Danzo took this for granted.

Because of Xiu, the Third Hokage had not told Danzo about Shisui's ocular technique, so Danzo had not focused his attention on Shisui.

Instead, he had concentrated all his attention on Xiu's pair of Mangekyo.

"Many things may happen tonight. I will need a detailed report afterward."

"Understood!"

At dusk, Naka Shrine.

This was the shrine of the Uchiha Clan.

If one counted inward from the farthest position on the right side of the shrine's main hall, beneath the seventh tatami mat lay a hidden, spacious secret chamber.

Not only did it house the Uchiha Clan's ancestral stone tablet, it was also where the Uchiha Clan held its secret gatherings.

Soon, as the sun set, nearly every clan member who had awakened their eyes had gathered here.

Shisui sat in the back row, his gaze repeatedly sweeping toward the entrance.

"Shisui, what are you looking at?"

Seeing Shisui's behavior, Itachi beside him could not help asking.

"Nothing..." Shisui looked slightly embarrassed.

He knew Uchiha Shu and Itachi's family did not get along, but Itachi had agreed to support his bid for clan head. In fact, Itachi had been the first person he approached, so he was embarrassed to say that he was waiting for Xiu.

But honestly, while he and Itachi had a close relationship, Itachi did not make him feel as secure as Xiu did.

"You invited Uchiha Shu too?" Seeing Shisui's evasive manner, Itachi suddenly asked.

"How did you know?" Shisui was somewhat surprised. Then he could not help finding his own reaction amusing. "Did you see it while you were on duty?"

"Yes." Itachi nodded. "But I didn't expect you to invite him to the clan meeting. From the looks of it, he doesn't seem to have taken this matter to heart."

"It's fine. I believe in Xiu."

Shisui smiled and said no more.

He sensed something off in Itachi's tone, but Xiu had beaten up both Itachi's father and younger brother. It was perfectly normal for Itachi to hold some resentment toward Xiu.

"It's about to begin." Itachi did not argue with him further.

In his eyes, Xiu was as good as dead. There was no point arguing over it.

Although he felt somewhat sorry for Shisui, it was still better than letting him remain under Xiu's influence.

Especially lately, Shisui's attitude had made him uneasy.

The two often spoke privately about the village and the clan, but recently Shisui had rarely come to discuss such matters with him. Itachi could vaguely sense that Shisui seemed to be hiding something.

Just as Itachi was thinking, Uchiha Fugaku, at the front of the crowd, gave a light cough and drew everyone's attention.

"Alright, everyone is here, so let us begin. This clan meeting has only one agenda: selecting the next clan head."

With his back to the stone tablet, Uchiha Fugaku sat cross-legged on the ground like everyone else, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Just as the rumors within the clan have said recently, I, Uchiha Fugaku, will officially step down as clan head starting today."

The moment his words fell, the crowd erupted into commotion.

"Captain, there's really no need for this."

Tekka wore a complicated expression. Over the past few days, he had tried to persuade Fugaku many times, but Fugaku's attitude had remained resolute.

He had taken the initiative to attack a child, only to be instantly defeated in return.

After something like that happened, Fugaku had no face to remain in this position.

It was foreseeable that even if he continued occupying the post, his prestige would be greatly diminished.

Who would submit to someone defeated by a child? Even if that child was monstrously strong.

But as that joke went: you got beaten by a monkey!

Even if that monkey was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

The Uchiha Clan revered strength above all else. Even if the clan members said nothing out of courtesy, there would certainly be gossip behind his back.

If someone got emotional someday and brought it up again, he would lose all face completely.

Thinking of this, Fugaku waved his hand. "There is no need to mention this matter again. Begin nominating candidates now. You may nominate others or yourselves. I will list the people with the most nominations, and then we will hold a final vote."

After his words fell, the air became silent for a moment.

Everyone looked at one another, and no one was particularly willing to speak first.

No one lacked the courage to recommend themselves, but whoever spoke first might give the others the impression that he had long coveted the position of clan head and could not wait to take it.

This silence also revealed one of the Uchiha Clan's greatest problems—they cared too much about saving face.

After all, the previous clan head had only just stepped down.

Shisui looked conflicted. He had already worried that his lack of seniority made him uncompetitive. If he spoke first, people might think he did not respect his elders.

The Shinobi World placed great importance on such matters. People like Xiu, who looked down on everyone equally, were exceedingly rare.

Itachi noticed Shisui's conflict and had wanted to speak up and nominate him. But considering his current popularity within the clan, it might have the opposite effect, so he could only give up and wait for someone else to speak first.

Fortunately, the atmosphere of silence did not last long.

Just as a young clan member in the front row could no longer contain himself and was about to rise to make a recommendation, the air before the crowd suddenly twisted!

Everyone present was an Uchiha who had awakened their eyes. Even without activating them, their eyesight was far keener than that of ordinary people.

Thus, almost in an instant, everyone noticed the anomaly. Several clan members nearby immediately scattered.

"Who is it?"

"Uchiha Shu!"

As the spatial vortex twisted ever more violently, Xiu's figure slowly emerged from the void.

Within his scarlet pupils, a pair of black eight-pointed stars slowly turned...