Who Approves, Who Opposes

"I recommend Shisui Uchiha to succeed to the position of clan head!"

Xiu emerged from a spatial vortex, his voice carrying clearly to everyone present.

He simply stood before the crowd with his arms folded, his chin lifted slightly in a haughty pose.

Though he was the shortest person there, his posture made it seem as though he were looking down on them all.

"Shisui Uchiha possesses outstanding strength and a generous character. Within the clan, he can unite every member; outside it, he can uphold the clan's position while striving to find opportunities for change. He is the best candidate for clan head."

Xiu said flatly, "I'm done talking. Who approves? Who opposes?"

"Xiu!"

From the back rows, Shisui's eyes flashed with delight when he saw Xiu.

Noticing Shisui, Xiu tilted his head slightly, signaling for him to come forward.

The surrounding clan members turned to look at Shisui as well, while those in front tactfully made way for him.

Shisui rose to his feet, nodded awkwardly at everyone, then quickly made his way to Xiu's side.

Itachi Uchiha watched the entire scene with a deeply furrowed brow.

He had not expected Xiu to appear at such a moment, and in this manner. The instant he appeared, he had drawn everyone's attention.

Though Itachi also supported Shisui succeeding as clan head, he absolutely did not want it to happen this way.

"Hey... Xiu, isn't this causing too much of a commotion?"

Shisui came to Xiu's side and asked in a low, awkward voice.

Xiu turned his head impatiently. "Cut the nonsense. Stand tall. Don't embarrass yourself!"

Shisui's expression stiffened. Only then did he take a deep breath. When he turned to face the clan members again, his gaze gradually became firm.

"Just as Xiu said, I, Shisui Uchiha, am running for the position of clan head! I hope everyone will support me!"

The air fell silent for a moment after Shisui finished speaking.

Before anyone present could react, a clan member at the front of the crowd suddenly stood up. He wore the Uchiha clan's traditional dark-blue high-collared attire.

"I oppose!"

The moment the words left his mouth, a massive black chakra fist descended from above and slammed him to the ground!

"Opposition invalid."

Xiu stood with his arms folded, his expression unchanged. A huge rib cage made of solidified chakra surrounded him, black and translucent in appearance. A skeletal arm extended from one side—the culprit that had smashed the dissenter flat.

Uchiha Fugaku's pupils abruptly contracted at the sight. "That is... Susanoo?!"

As soon as he spoke, the crowd erupted into an uproar.

"So this is Susanoo?!"

Inabi exclaimed, "I wanted to ask earlier—the eyes... those should be the Mangekyō Sharingan, right?"

Uchiha Fugaku froze for a moment. He had been sitting cross-legged facing the clan members, so he had not noticed Xiu's eyes immediately.

He hurriedly stood and walked over to face Xiu. The moment he noticed the eight-pointed star in Xiu's eyes, his expression became complicated.

"That's right. They are indeed the Mangekyō Sharingan. Only by awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan can one grasp the Sharingan's true power—the third power, Susanoo."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke with emotion. "However, no one in the clan has awakened those eyes for many years."

"So this is... the Mangekyō?"

At the back of the crowd, Itachi Uchiha stared fixedly at Xiu's eyes.

Was this cold, sinister chakra the power of the Mangekyō?

Just then, a trembling hand rose into the air.

"I... I wanted to say this earlier, cough cough..."

The clan member Xiu had just punched down climbed to his feet, bruised and swollen. "Since you've awakened the Mangekyō, wouldn't it be better for you to become clan head yourself? Why recommend Shisui to be clan head instead?"

Xiu gave him a surprised look. "Ah... so that's what you meant? Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Veins bulged on the other man's forehead. "You didn't give me a chance to speak, you bastard!!"

The unfortunate man who had been punched down was named Uchiha Enka. He was one of the clan's radicals, an advocate of strength above all else—a typical Uchiha-minded fool.

There were actually many people like him within the Uchiha clan.

"Enka is right. If we have the Mangekyō Sharingan, we won't need to fear the higher-ups' suppression anymore!"

"That may be true, but Xiu is too young, isn't he?"

"He's not that young. Kids that age went to war during the Warring States era! And I remember Xiu matured early, didn't he? If we have to talk about age, my grandfather is old. How about making my grandfather clan head?"

"You looking to pick a fight with me, brat?"

For a time, the clan members all began arguing amongst themselves.

Some believed that the strongest person should hold the position of clan head!

The others were not necessarily opposed. They simply felt that Xiu was too young. No matter how mature he was for his age, he was still a child. If he had been ten this year, no one would have objected.

Itachi Uchiha watched the scene unfold, his brow faintly furrowed.

These people actually wanted to make a six-year-old brat the clan head...

It was absurd!

And with Xiu's personality, if he truly became clan head, things would become completely disastrous.

Just as Itachi wondered how to stop this, a heavy wave of chakra suddenly swept across the entire area!

Crack, crack, crack...

Xiu stood where he was as surging chakra roiled wildly around him, directly shaking huge cracks into the ground. Even the walls and roof were affected.

"Be quiet, all of you trash."

Xiu spoke softly, and everyone instantly fell silent.

Itachi Uchiha's eyes widened slightly, his heart filled with shock.

What was this chakra?

Seeing everyone's horrified faces and silent, trembling expressions, Xiu's lips curled upward.

To intimidate these clan members with absolutely overwhelming strength, he had suffered quite a bit over the past two days. Fortunately, the results had been remarkable.

"What are you all yapping about? What makes you think... I would give up being a perfectly good rich man just to deal with your bullshit? Haven't you heard that the greater the ability, the less responsibility?"

Xiu sneered and spread his hands. "Let me make this clear: I recognize only Shisui as clan head. After all... he's the only one here I'm even somewhat familiar with."

"Hey, don't be so angry, Xiu."

Shisui hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Xiu actually cares deeply about the clan. He's even given me many useful suggestions. He just hates trouble..."

Xiu ignored him and swept his cold gaze across everyone present. "Now, give me your answer! Raise your hands if you support Shisui succeeding as clan head!"

The instant Xiu finished speaking, nearly everyone present raised their hands high!

This even included members of Uchiha Fugaku's faction.

The few remaining people did not feel much resistance either. Seeing everyone around them raise their hands, they followed suit and raised theirs as well.

The Mangekyō's appeal to the Uchiha was unparalleled!

Especially after no one had awakened it for the past several decades, Xiu's Mangekyō was practically the hope of the entire clan!

Whether they broke completely with the village or endured and lay low for the time being.

So long as those eyes remained, the Uchiha still had hope!

That was the belief of the vast majority of clan members.

And so, Shisui Uchiha's succession to the position of clan head was approved unanimously!