The strong rise, the weak step aside

By the time Shinji returned home, the others had long since returned from sounding people out. A group of hot-blooded Boiling young people had gathered in his house.

Shinji sat on the floor and glanced around.

Seated near the front were Kei Uchiha, Chiba, Ryuka, Shigetsu, Shusui, and Kika.

Together with the other young elites around twenty years old who possessed three tomoe, there were forty-one people in all.

As for Shisui...

He had his own mission.

His task was to use the advantages of being Kagami Uchiha's grandson to persuade the clan's peace faction—or, rather, its surrender faction...

In short, these people were Shinji's current core supporters.

They accounted for roughly two-thirds of the three-tomoe users in their generation. The old hands from the previous two generations did not mingle with them.

Shinji gave no rousing speech. He simply said, "Tell me. What's the situation?"

Kei Uchiha frowned. "A lot of the elders didn't show any resistance... Most of them lived through the aftermath of the Warring States period. The capable rise, the weak step down—that's the principle they follow, though it doesn't explain why those old geezers didn't leave with Madara Uchiha back then..."

"But for now, their stance is clear. If you can make Clan Head Fugaku bow his head, Shinji, they'll support you without hesitation. The reverse holds true too."

Uchiha Shigetsu folded her arms over her ample chest.

Her pretty face was stern. "In the end, the strong command respect. Strength has to do all the talking... I believe in Shinji."

Uchiha Ryuka crouched on the low table, twirling a kunai. "The strong command respect? They're a bunch of fence-sitting old fossils! They certainly know how to make themselves look good."

Uchiha Kika finally lost patience and yanked him down, her brows drawn sharply together. "Can't you behave yourself? Get down here!"

Uchiha Ryuka yelped and fell flat on his face.

But no one cared.

Chiba planted his hands on his hips, his expression scornful. "Well! It makes sense. Cowards who managed to survive from the Warring States period until now are bound to treasure their lives!"

Shinji raised a hand to cut off their nonsense. "Give me a proper list. Pick a few influential, respected representatives. We'll settle this in one go."

Kei Uchiha nodded. "It's ready."

He handed Shinji a slip of paper.

Shinji merely glanced at the first name before crossing it out with a pen. "Don't bother with Uchiha Yashiro. He's Clan Head Fugaku's staunch supporter in the Konoha Military Police Force. Unless Fugaku explicitly announces that he's abandoning the clan, Yashiro won't voice support for replacing the clan head."

"Tekka... Inabi. We can win those two over."

"As for the rest, the first is... Uchiha Shimei, a staunch supporter and leader of the coup faction? Let's meet him first!"

"As for the surrender faction, Shisui has already gone to negotiate. If negotiations fail..." Shinji narrowed his eyes and gave a gentle smile.

Everyone present shivered instinctively and avoided his gaze.

"Now... move out!"

A sizable buffer zone separated the Uchiha's relocated compound from Konoha, but Uchiha Shimei's home stood in a corner of the compound.

It was not far from Naka Shrine.

At that moment.

In an old residence that was strikingly plain compared with the Clan Head's mansion, beneath a withered cherry tree.

Three old men with baleful eyes sat on the ground, drinking tea and talking.

Uchiha Shimei was a very thin old man, older even than Hiruzen Sarutobi. His loose clan robes looked particularly ill-fitting on him.

"Those restless little brats from the clan came to see me this morning."

To his left, a broad-faced elder, powerfully built but slightly younger, said in a rumbling voice, "They came to see me too."

The elder on his right agreed. "Same here."

Uchiha Shimei took a sip of tea. "Do you think that youngster, Shinji Uchiha, could serve as clan head?"

The broad-faced elder, Uchiha Huo Xuan, chuckled. "Supposedly, he's the strongest fighter in the clan? He's made something of a name for himself on the battlefield too, but no matter what, he's still just a seventeen-year-old brat!"

On the right, Uchiha Xuanming raised his head, his gaze dark. "Brother, they threatened me. Those brats have no respect for their elders. Five or six three-tomoe users surrounded me with defiant looks, practically itching to attack... I'm afraid they're serious."

Uchiha Shimei said calmly, "Actually, it isn't out of the question."

"Brother?"

Uchiha Xuanming asked in confusion, "Do you really believe a seventeen-year-old brat can lead the clan back to glory?"

"Remember, even Madara Uchiha couldn't do that!"

"Elder Xuanming, perhaps I can accomplish what Madara Uchiha could not?"

Suddenly, a gentle voice came from outside the gate.

A tall, straight-backed youth in a combat vest walked slowly toward them, his medium-length black hair fluttering in the wind and a warm smile on his face.

"What do you think, Elder Shimei?"

Uchiha Huo Xuan slammed his hand on the table and sprang to his feet. "Boy, you're far too arrogant!"

Shinji watched him with a smile.

Uchiha Shimei raised a hand.

"Huo Xuan, sit down. Don't be rash."

Then he looked at Shinji. "Shinji, Clan Head Fugaku has lost his edge, but words alone won't make you clan head. Besides, what would your succession bring the clan? We have no idea!"

Shinji Uchiha nodded. "They won't. I've always understood that, in this world, all schemes and plots are meaningless. Underhanded tricks crumble before pure strength. That's why I'm here, in accordance with our clan's rules..."

Shing!

His tachi slid from its sheath.

Beneath the withered cherry tree, the gently smiling youth faced three elders whose gazes had grown grave.

"The strong rise, the weak step aside!"

The howling north wind swept up the withered leaves.

It only deepened the bleak, murderous stillness.

"All of you... come at me together."

Two minutes later.

Uchiha Huo Xuan sat with his head lowered, saying nothing, his fiery temper nowhere to be seen.

Uchiha Xuanming had been carried back inside and lay groaning on a bed, while Shinji sat casually across from Uchiha Shimei.

With a clack, he laid his tachi horizontally before his knees.

"Elder Shimei, what advice do you have?"

Uchiha Shimei stared blankly at Shinji's tachi, a flicker of reminiscence passing through his eyes.

His clouded gaze gradually cleared. "Your strength has convinced me. We can support you at the Clan Meeting, but that still isn't enough."

"You'll have to face Fugaku!"

"For years, he's never truly shown his hand. No one knows how strong he's become. Perhaps..."

Uchiha Shimei did not continue.

"Are you referring to the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Shinji picked up where he had stopped, lowering his head in thought. "What if I told you there's already someone in the clan who can stand against him?"

Uchiha Huo Xuan froze, his face changing in shock. "Impossible! You..."

Uchiha Shimei froze as well.

He stared blankly at Shinji.

Shinji raised his head and smiled. "Now, now! Don't misunderstand. It's not me, but it amounts to much the same thing. Same difference..."

Uchiha Shimei came back to his senses and said quietly, "I understand. But... what path you intend to lead the clan down is what matters most to our people. We don't want another Madara Uchiha to appear in the clan, and they... won't let you become another living Madara Uchiha either. At the same time, we cannot accept the clan continuing to cower like this!"

"Yes... I understand what everyone wants. As for exactly what I'll do, I'll reveal it at tomorrow evening's clan meeting. Please look forward to it!"

"This brat really knows how to keep people guessing..."

Uchiha Huo Xuan muttered under his breath, supporting his lower back as he asked, "Brother Shimei, who do you think he meant? Or is he still hiding his strength?"

Uchiha Shimei closed his eyes.

"I don't know. But the Uchiha Clan has been silent for too long. It must make its voice heard, whatever that voice may be. As long as something changes, that's good."

"Otherwise... this powder keg is about to explode!"

Root.

Shimura Danzō stood before rows of cultivation tanks, watching the chunks of flesh bob up and down in the bubbling liquid, fanaticism and greed gleaming in his eyes.

Behind him.

A Root ninja knelt on one knee.

"Commander, news from the Hokage Building!"

"Speak!"

"..."

After hearing the Root ninja's report, Danzo sneered. "Understood. Go back and tell Hiruzen that I'll keep a very close eye on Shinji Uchiha. He can just sit tight on his Hokage throne."

"After all, I am Konoha's root..."

Just then, Aburame Torune rushed in, his face solemn.

Danzo frowned and waved an arm. "You may leave!"

"Yes!"

The Root ninja departed, and Danzo turned to Aburame Torune. "What is it? What happened?"

"Lord Danzo! There's news about the Uchiha..."

Inside the Secret Chamber.

As Danzo listened to Aburame Torune's account, his eyes gradually widened. Then wild delight spread across his face. "Quick! Assemble every member of Root. Every last one!"