The Ninja Clans Convene

Early the next morning, the sky had barely begun to lighten.

Uchiha En put on the Uchiha Clan's traditional attire: a dark blue, high-collared robe with the clan crest, a Gunbai, embroidered on the back.

Uchiha Yashiro wore the same outfit and waited for him at the door.

"Let's go, Clan Head."

Uchiha Yashiro's voice was calm.

"Mm."

Uchiha En nodded and followed him out of the house.

They walked side by side through the streets of Konoha.

The morning air was chilly.

Quite a few villagers were already out and about. When they saw Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro approaching, they stopped in their tracks.

Their expressions were complicated.

Some looked sympathetic, some afraid, some puzzled. Others looked pleased by their misfortune.

"Look, it's the Uchiha Clan..."

"Weren't they almost wiped out last night?"

"I heard someone called Uchiha Itachi did it. He even killed his own little brother..."

"Tsk. What a terrible thing."

"The Uchiha Clan is finished now, isn't it?"

Whispers came from every direction, buzzing like flies.

Uchiha En kept his face blank and pretended not to hear.

Uchiha Yashiro clenched his fists, his face dark with anger.

But he said nothing either.

They walked on in silence, through the crowds and under all those complicated gazes.

At last, the Hokage Building came into view.

The towering building stood at the heart of Konoha, a symbol of the village's highest authority.

A crowd had already gathered at its entrance.

They were ninja from the major clans.

The Hyuga Clan, the Aburame Clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans...

Each was a renowned ninja clan of Konoha.

Their clan heads and guards stood at the entrance, waiting for the meeting to begin.

As Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro approached, the ninja turned to look.

Some gazes held sympathy, others scrutiny or wariness.

Hyuga Hiashi, head of the Hyuga Clan, stood with his arms crossed and watched Uchiha En calmly. A thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.

Shikaku Nara stood among the crowd, studying Uchiha En through narrowed eyes, the faintest smile on his lips.

"Well, well..."

He murmured under his breath, almost to himself.

"Who would've thought the Uchiha Clan's new head would be a twelve-year-old boy..."

"Interesting. Very interesting."

Beside him, Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka nodded.

"It's certainly unexpected."

"But... if he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he must be powerful."

"The question is whether he has any political sense."

The three spoke quietly, their eyes repeatedly drifting back to Uchiha En.

Uchiha En felt their gazes but paid them no mind. He followed Uchiha Yashiro into the Hokage Building without a word.

The meeting room was already prepared.

A huge oval wooden table stood in the center, draped in dark red velvet.

A dozen or so chairs surrounded it, each assigned to a ninja clan.

Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro entered the room and took their seats.

The heads and guards of the other clans sat down as well.

Hyuga Hiashi sat across from Uchiha En, watching him calmly.

Shikaku Nara sat beside Hyuga Hiashi, looking perfectly at ease.

Shibi Aburame sat in a corner behind his sunglasses, saying nothing.

Tsume Inuzuka sat on the other side, a massive ninja dog lying beside her and sniffing the air.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

No one spoke.

Everyone was waiting.

The seconds ticked by.

At last, the meeting room door opened.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, walked in.

He wore the Hokage Robe and Hokage Hat. Weariness showed on his face, but his eyes remained sharp.

Behind him came Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.

All four of Konoha's leaders were present.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the seat at the head of the table, set down his hat, and looked around the room.

"Is everyone here?"

He waited for an answer.

"Everyone is here," an Anbu Ninja replied.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

"Good. Let's begin."

No sooner had he spoken than Shimura Danzō stood up.

Leaning on his cane, he walked toward the center of the table and looked from Uchiha En to Uchiha Yashiro.

"I have a question first."

His voice was cold, carrying an authority that brooked no argument.

"Uchiha Yashiro. Uchiha En."

"Why isn't your clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, here?"

The room fell silent.

Every eye turned to Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro.

Uchiha Yashiro was silent for two seconds, then gave a cold snort.

"Uchiha Fugaku?"

He sneered, his voice full of contempt.

"What right does he have to lead us?"

"We've removed him."

"As of today, Uchiha En is the head of the Uchiha Clan."

The room erupted.

"What?!"

"Uchiha Fugaku was removed?!"

"You made a twelve-year-old boy clan head?!"

"Has the Uchiha Clan lost its mind?"

The clan heads who knew nothing of the situation stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

They thought Uchiha Yashiro must be joking.

But his expression was far too serious.

"Uchiha Yashiro, are you certain?" Hyuga Hiashi asked with a frown.

"Making a twelve-year-old boy clan head is no small matter."

"I know."

Uchiha Yashiro nodded, his tone steady.

"But Uchiha En has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"He is the strongest member of the Uchiha Clan."

"Every member of our clan agreed that he should succeed as clan head."

Hyuga Hiashi fell silent.

The other clan heads went quiet too.

The Mangekyō Sharingan.

It was the Uchiha Clan's greatest power.

A ninja who possessed it could rival an Elite Jōnin, perhaps even reach Kage Level.

Uchiha En might be only twelve, but with those eyes, he was qualified to lead the clan.

"Hmph."

Just then, Shimura Danzō gave a derisive snort.

"Making a child your clan head."

"How far the Uchiha Clan has fallen."

His gaze settled on Uchiha En, full of disdain.

"Uchiha En, was it?"

"Twelve years old. Until now, you were a Genin with no real combat experience."

"And you think you can bear the weight of an entire clan?"

The moment he finished, Uchiha Yashiro rose and stared coldly at Danzō.

"At least someone in the Uchiha Clan is still able to stand up."

"I wonder how many of your Shimura Clan are still alive, Elder Danzō?"

Danzō's face darkened instantly.

He slammed a hand on the table and drove his cane into the floor with a dull thud.

"Uchiha Yashiro!"

"You have a death wish!"

Danzō's voice was icy, thick with killing intent.

"Good. I was about to settle this score with the Uchiha Clan!"

He fixed Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro with a chilling stare.

"Uchiha Itachi of your clan colluded with that Masked Man and slaughtered members of the Shimura Clan and Sarutobi Clan."

"How do you explain that?"

"I propose moving the Uchiha Clan to the farthest edge of the village, restricting their freedom, and placing them under tighter surveillance."

"Until the truth is established, no member of the Uchiha Clan may enter or leave the village without permission!"

"They may not carry weapons!"

"They may not take part in any village missions!"

The room went still.

Everyone watched Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro, waiting to see how they would respond.

Uchiha Yashiro's face was dark with anger. He clenched his fists and was about to argue.

But before he could speak, Uchiha En stood up.

"What's this?"

Uchiha En's voice was calm, edged with mockery.

"Elder Danzō, do you want to drive the Uchiha Clan out to some remote corner again?"

"And then send people to wipe us out?"

"So you can take our Sharingan?"

He met Danzō's gaze without a trace of fear.

"Is this how you treat one of the clans that founded Konoha?"

"Oh, I nearly forgot."

A cold smile tugged at Uchiha En's lips.

"The Senju Clan seems to have disappeared thanks to you."

"Now it's the Uchiha Clan's turn."

"Who's next?"

His gaze swept over every clan head present.

"The Hyuga Clan?"

"Or another clan with a Kekkei Genkai?"

"Perhaps one with secret techniques passed down through the family?"