"Ah... I really am getting old. Young people are the ones who know how to act decisively."
Uchiha Shimei glared behind him. "What are you brats muttering about? You dare disobey the Clan Head's orders?!"
"Follow me!"
With a sweep of Uchiha Shimei's hand, Uchiha Huo Xuan, Uchiha Xuanming, and the others led a crowd of younger relatives over to the right.
Uchiha Yashiro rose and joined them.
Uchiha Tekka and Inabi went over as well.
The trembling Uchiha Genshiki, supported by a few younger members of his family, also moved to the right. "Shisui, you've got a good eye! That boy Kagami can finally rest easy in the Underworld!"
Shisui scratched his head. "Senior Genshiki, I..."
To be honest.
Shisui still hadn't figured out what Shinji's whole speech had been about.
After all, he knew Shinji better than anyone... In his imagination, that battle maniac should have been leading the clan out with a sword in hand right now!
He had even been ready to talk him out of it.
But now...
Had that path been cut off?
"You're doing the right thing. Shinji's restraint surprised me. He really doesn't seem like a seventeen-year-old brat! Still, you must get your eye back, whatever it takes. The Uchiha Clan's eyes cannot be left in outsiders' hands, much less those of that accursed Tobirama Senju's disciple!"
Shisui snapped back to his senses, his gaze firm. "Yes!!!"
Finally, under the eyes of dozens of staunch supporters, Uchiha Fugaku drew a breath and walked, step by step, to Shinji's side.
Fugaku's supporters finally gave up hope.
One by one, they joined him.
Only one person remained alone in the room.
His eyes met Shinji's.
"Big Brother Shinji," Uchiha Itachi said softly.
"Itachi, what's your choice?" Shinji eyed Uchiha Itachi aggressively, making no attempt to conceal his brimming killing intent.
Without hesitation, Uchiha Itachi dropped neatly to one knee. "Clan Head!"
The contest for Clan Head was settled.
Whatever thoughts anyone harbored, they could no longer voice them.
Everyone streamed out of the Naka Shrine.
Shinji Uchiha kept Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Tekka, Inabi, Shisui, and his six companions behind.
Of course.
There was also Uchiha Itachi, who had stayed of his own accord.
"Uncle Fugaku, I need you to write a resignation letter and a report nominating the next Head of the Konoha Military Police Force, then submit them."
Fugaku frowned. "So soon?"
"Yes! But this isn't directed at you. I'm worried the village will seize the opportunity to take back the police force's authority. We can't let them exploit the transition of power!"
Before Fugaku could ask anything, Shinji turned to Shisui. "Shisui, you'll be taking over as head of the police force!"
"...Huh?! Me?!"
The laid-back Shisui's eyes went wide. "I—I can't! I've only ever been on the battlefield. I've never worked in an office! I..."
"It's decided! Learn what you don't know. You'll have Uncle Yashiro at the police force, and when you're home, you can ask Uncle Fugaku. Even a pig could learn with that much help!"
He ignored the flustered Shisui.
Having firmly settled the matter, Shinji turned to Uchiha Yashiro. "Uncle Yashiro, sorry for the trouble. Your position will remain unchanged. Guide Shisui so he can familiarize himself with everything in the police force and take charge as soon as possible. Also, Kei! Go with Shisui and advise him!"
"I have just one thing to say! The police force must do more than enforce the law impartially. As the village's armed law enforcement agency, it can accomplish a great deal, whether for villagers, shinobi, or clans... Your task, along with Shisui's, is to completely transform the police force. Don't be too rigid! Understood?"
Something flickered in Kei's eyes. "Understood!"
Shinji felt fairly confident about Kei Uchiha. If he had to assign Kei Uchiha a role in an ancient government, he would be a military strategist.
He was one of the few highly intelligent members of the Uchiha Clan who liked using his brain.
Something like a Nara Clan crossbreed.
"Ryuka, Chiba! You'll follow Big Brother Tekka and Big Brother Inabi respectively. Watch closely, learn well, and don't cause trouble!"
The two brats, Chiba and Liuguang, had been feeling dejected that their turn hadn't come yet. At those words, they perked up.
"Yes! We won't disappoint you, Clan Head!"
Shinji turned. "Big Brother Tekka, Big Brother Inabi, sorry for the trouble!"
"No problem. We're all brothers here. We look after our own, not outsiders."
As he spoke, Inabi's narrow, shadowed eyes glanced toward Uchiha Itachi, seemingly by chance.
Shinji ignored his pointed insinuation. "There's another very important matter. Aside from the commander and squad leaders, all members of the police force will be selected from those with two tomoe. Get them moving instead of spending every day shut away in the clan's Training Ground, training in isolation. As for those with three tomoe, Uncle Fugaku, I have another very important task for you!"
Fugaku had been looking down, pondering something. He started. "Me? But I..."
"Enough!"
Shinji cut him off. "No matter how I became Clan Head, I'm still your junior. The uncles and brothers in this clan are all family. If someone's useful, I'll use them! If we followed that idea of every new ruler replacing all the old officials, wouldn't Uncle Yashiro, Big Brother Tekka, and the others all have to die?"
Yashiro and the others looked awkward.
Fugaku's spirits lifted. "Tell me!"
"Recall everyone in the clan with three tomoe, including those guarding the borders! Select the strongest two hundred and establish the Uchiha Self-Defense Force. Fifty per company, five per squad, with squad leaders appointed. During intensive training, you'll serve as chief training commander. Uncle Fugaku, I need you to use every means at your disposal to drill them. Make them stronger than ANBU and Root!"
"Can you do it?"
Fugaku clenched his fists. "I can!"
"Good!"
Shinji paused, his gaze falling on Uchiha Itachi before quickly moving away. "Shigetsu, Shusui, Kika, you three..."
"Hey! Shinji! What are you hesitating for!"
The fiery-tempered Kika patted her unremarkable chest. "We may be girls, but don't underestimate us!"
Shusui Uchiha was gentle as water, her personality somewhat like Mikoto's.
Well, her figure was similar too.
At that moment, she clasped her hands before her chest, a trace of solemn devotion appearing on her pretty face. "Shinji, believe in us! We can do it, whatever it is!"
Shigetsu, an emotionless girl of few words, wore a cold, expressionless look. "Mm!"
Shinji nodded.
"All right. Uncle Fugaku, I'm counting on you. These three will serve as acting company commanders, but choose on merit! Keep the best and weed out the rest! If they can't handle it, replace them immediately. Don't let personal feelings get in the way!"
Fugaku glanced at the three eighteen- or nineteen-year-old girls and sighed. "Understood, Clan Head."
Shinji smiled. "Uncle Fugaku, don't be so resentful! You're still young. Keep putting your talents to work for the clan and strive to make the Uchiha Clan better."
"That's everything!"
Shinji clapped his hands. "Shisui, get to work! The sooner, the better!"
"Yes!"
Those who had received assignments left brimming with excitement, ready to show what they could do.
Only Shinji Uchiha and Itachi remained in the Secret Chamber.
For the moment, however, Shinji Uchiha had no desire to talk to him. He plopped down beneath the Stone Tablet.
He silently commanded the Purple Chest to open.
"Congratulations! Kekkei genkai derivation unlocked! Obtained 1,000 gold coins! Obtained an SS Promotion Card for nature transformation or innate skills!" "Choose two of five purple items: Flying Thunder God Technique, Uzumaki bloodline, complete Uzumaki Sealing Technique compendium, one-tenth of the Nine-Tails' chakra (juvenile Nine-Tails form, can grow by consuming tailed beast chakra), summoning beast: Lava Behemoth (Shinobi World revised version)!"
?
Shinji stared at the words before him in bewilderment.
Kekkei genkai... derivation?
After a moment of stunned silence, Shinji's expression shifted. Could it be?
"Open the panel!"
Kekkei genkai currently available for derivation: Mangekyō Sharingan. Requirements: Three-Tomoe Sharingan (currently three tomoe), Yin Release SS (currently S), spiritual energy 5,000 (currently 5,300) Gold coins required: 5,000 (currently owned: 2,651)
"How much?!"
Shinji stared at the panel, his brows tightly furrowed. He could meet all the other requirements. The Promotion Card he had just obtained could raise his Yin Release to SS, too.
But...
Wasn't 5,000 gold coins a bit much?
Upgrading an SS-rank talent or SS-rank mastery of ninjutsu in all five elements only cost 2,500 gold coins!
"It's terrible value. I'll wait a little longer, a little longer... What if developing Yin Release to its limits and increasing my spiritual energy lets me awaken it?"
Reluctantly, Shinji set the matter aside for now and looked at the other rewards. Of course... the main reason was that he didn't have enough gold coins.
Otherwise, he probably would have struggled to restrain himself.
Choose one of five... Sealing Jutsu?
"Itachi, how much do you know about the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu?"
Itachi had been looking down, pondering something. Shinji's sudden question startled him. "Nothing. I've never studied Sealing Jutsu."
Tap, tap, tap.
Shinji Uchiha tapped his index finger against the stone slab, staring at the options for the Nine-Tails' chakra and the Uzumaki bloodline as he sank into thought.
Before you continue