The newly built mansion in the Uchiha District blazed with light, its halls decked out for celebration.
The sprawling estate showed the wealth of a clan with a thousand-year history. Red lanterns hung high, lighting up the night sky.
Ren stood in the center of the hall, hands clasped behind his back, a black Divine Robe draped over his shoulders. He watched his clansmen bustle around him.
"Clan Leader!"
Uchiha Yashiro hurried over with a list of gifts in his hand.
"Isn't this celebration a little too extravagant?"
"The Military Police Force has just gone through a major reshuffle, and we've set up the Civilian Police Office and the Security Bureau. The clan's finances are already stretched thin."
Yashiro lowered his voice.
"We're serving banquet meals throughout the district for three days and nights, using nothing but the finest ingredients and wine."
"Tonight's meal alone could empty our stores! Shouldn't we spend a little more carefully?"
Ren turned to Yashiro and smiled at his pained expression.
"Yashiro, you're still looking at this too narrowly."
Ren patted him on the shoulder.
"Do you think I'm holding this celebration of my appointment as Clan Leader just to show off?"
Yashiro froze and looked at him in confusion.
"Isn't it to celebrate your taking command?"
"This is about the Uchiha Clan's reputation—and our influence in Konoha!"
Ren explained.
"The Konoha Leadership just backed down under the threat of our strength and withdrew all their spies."
"Now the major ninja clans are watching in secret. They want to see whether the Uchiha Clan has truly awakened or is just putting on a brave front!"
Ren spread his arms and looked around the lavish hall.
"If we pinch pennies now and can't even put on a proper celebration, what will they think?"
"They'll think the Uchiha Clan is on its last legs!"
"We're going to use this celebration to show all of Konoha and every great clan just how strong we are!"
Ren's voice rang through the hall.
"We're going to make it clear that the Uchiha Clan has the confidence, the wealth, and the power to crush anything in its way."
"The moment they step through these doors, I want them to feel awe."
At those words, understanding dawned on Yashiro.
He slapped his thigh and straightened his back.
"I understand! Clan Leader, you're brilliant!"
Yashiro nodded firmly.
"This is strategic deterrence. I'll see to it right away and make the display as grand as possible. Even if we have to empty our stores, we'll show those great clans what the Uchiha Clan is made of!"
Ren nodded.
"Go. We can earn more money. The Hundred Arts Pavilion will soon make the clan rich."
"But we cannot afford to be careless with this chance to make our position clear!"
Night fell, and the celebration began.
Outside the Uchiha District, traffic filled the streets and voices rose in a constant din.
Konoha's great clans arrived one after another. Figures rarely seen in public gathered before the Uchiha estate's vermilion gates.
"Well, Shikaku. You came too."
Tsume Inuzuka, the leader of the Inuzuka Clan, approached with a massive Ninja Dog at her side. She spotted Shikaku Nara nearby and called out to him.
Shikaku Nara wore a loose kimono. He sighed and rubbed his brow.
"With an event this big, how could I not?"
Shikaku lowered his voice.
"The Uchiha Clan's new leader is ruthless."
"Even the Third Hokage and Danzo suffered badly at his hands. I heard he tore apart Root's underground base."
"If our clans dared to slight him, we might end up dead without even knowing what hit us."
"Woof!"
The Ninja Dog beside Tsume Inuzuka gave a low bark, as if agreeing with Shikaku.
"True enough."
Tsume folded her arms and gazed at the imposing Uchiha estate with a click of her tongue.
"But the Uchiha Clan really has turned things around. I heard they even reorganized the Military Police Force and set up a Security Bureau to investigate the leadership."
"That nerve, that boldness—only Ren would dare!"
Nearby, Shibi Aburame, leader of the Aburame Clan, adjusted his sunglasses and remained silent.
But his body was tense beneath his coat, and the Kikaichū in his pockets were stirring.
The insects were warning him of danger.
Representatives of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans and the leaders of the Inuzuka Clan, the Aburame Clan, and other clans had all arrived. They exchanged greetings outside the gate, but none dared be the first to enter.
Just then—
"Look! That's..."
A startled cry rose from the crowd, the speaker's voice cracking.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
At the far end of the street, two figures in pure white kimonos approached.
The man in front was none other than Hyuga Hiashi, the current leader of the Hyuga clan!
Half a step behind him walked his younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga!
The crowd fell silent—then erupted in astonished cries!
"My god! Am I seeing this right? The Hyuga clan leader came in person?!"
"How is that possible? Everyone in Konoha knows the Hyuga clan and the Uchiha Clan are the two great ocular-jutsu clans. They've never gotten along."
"They've fought openly and schemed against each other for years. Why would Lord Hiashi come personally to congratulate the new Uchiha Clan Leader?"
"Could he be here to cause trouble? No way. This is Lord Ren's event. Hiashi wouldn't dare, even if he had ten times the courage!"
The clan representatives exchanged stunned looks.
The feud between the Hyuga clan and the Uchiha Clan went back generations.
Ordinarily, members of the two clans could hardly pass each other on the street without trading insults.
Yet Hiashi had come in person today. Everyone sensed that something unusual was happening.
It seems even the Hyuga clan feels the pressure.
Shikaku Nara narrowed his eyes and weighed the implications.
Ren's rise has completely upset Konoha's balance of power.
Hyuga Hiashi showed no expression and ignored the murmurs around him.
He walked steadily to the gates of the Uchiha estate, Hizashi following close behind.
The Uchiha greeters faltered when they saw Hiashi.
But they remembered Ren's instructions. They stepped forward and ushered their guest inside.
Hiashi entered the newly built Uchiha mansion.
The banquet hall glittered beneath crystal chandeliers.
Tables were laden with food, and serving women moved among them.
But the mansion's finery was not what caught Hiashi's attention.
"Brother, look around..."
Behind him, Hizashi Hyuga stopped and spoke in a low voice.
Hiashi glanced around the banquet hall.
Dozens of young Uchiha stood straight-backed at every entrance, at the corridor corners, and in concealed positions above.
They were all around twenty years old!
They wore dark combat uniforms, the contours of their muscles visible beneath the fabric.
Black cloaks hung over their uniforms, each bearing two blood-red characters on the back: "Temple"!
They did not look around or whisper to one another. They stood motionless at their posts.
That presence...
Hiashi stopped.
As leader of the Hyuga clan, he had fought for his life countless times. His instincts for sensing strength were keen.
"Byakugan! Activate!"
Veins bulged at the corners of Hiashi's eyes as he activated his clan's Kekkei Genkai.
Through the Byakugan, he saw the young men's chakra networks—and their vast reserves of Chakra!
How... How is this possible?!
Hiashi roared inwardly. His breathing quickened.
The Byakugan showed him that every one of these men in their early twenties possessed an astonishing amount of Chakra!
Every one of them... Every one is at least an elite Chunin?!
Hiashi took half a step back.
Dozens of elite Chunin, all around twenty years old!
For any clan—
Even for all of Konoha—that was a formidable force.
An ordinary ninja who reached Chunin rank at that age would already be considered a genius!
But what concerned Hiashi even more was the young man at the front, the one leading them.
It was Tekka Uchiha!
Tekka stood with his arms folded, surveying the hall.
Under Hiashi's Byakugan, the Chakra flowing through Tekka's body—
It had reached an extraordinary level of refinement. He was an Elite Jonin!
An Elite Jonin at twenty... leading an organized unit of elites...
Hiashi swayed, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
He turned and met Hizashi's eyes.
Hizashi's fists were clenched.
He, too, had sensed the strength of the young men of the Temple.
Both brothers knew these youths in blood-lettered cloaks were nothing like the ordinary Uchiha clansmen they had known before.
Before you continue