Xuandou looked up. The clan's three elders were already seated at the head of the hall.
In the center sat Elder Uchiha Somen, his features imposing. He wore a dark gray haori over a plain kimono.
He had looked noticeably more spirited these past few days.
There was no other reason: Xuandou had led the Uchiha to a decisive victory over Sunagakure and ended the war, finally allowing the clansmen, long burdened with the label of the "problem clan," to hold their heads high in the village.
Seated on the left was the second elder, Uchiha Shingen.
He was in his early fifties, with a short mustache above his lips and shrewdness in his narrow eyes.
He had managed the clan's finances for over forty years.
Every transaction and every property in the clan passed through his hands for inspection.
Behind Shingen stood Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku stood straight, his expression solemn. As Xuandou entered, their eyes briefly met before he calmly looked away.
On the right sat the only woman among the three elders, Uchiha Chie.
She was already seventy-three, with a kindly face and smile lines like chrysanthemums at the corners of her eyes.
She wore traditional shrine maiden attire, a white robe and crimson hakama. A jade pendant bearing three tomoe hung around her neck, the token passed down through generations of shrine keepers.
Elder Chie oversaw the clan's rituals and the affairs of Naka Shrine. Whether blessings, funerals, or invocations at clan assemblies, she presided over them all herself.
Xuandou stepped forward and bowed to the three elders, neither servile nor overbearing.
Elder Zongyan raised a hand with a smile, unable to conceal the gratification in his eyes.
"Xuandou, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"
"You did extremely well in this war!"
Beside him, Elder Shingen cleared his throat.
"Zongyan, leave the reminiscing for later. Everyone is here. It's time to get down to business."
Zongyan nodded and turned his gaze toward Elder Chie.
"Chie, sorry for the trouble."
Elder Chie slowly rose.
She walked to the statue of the Sage of Six Paths in the center of the shrine and took an ancient-looking gohei from her sleeve.
It was a ritual implement made from verdant sakaki branches and white paper streamers.
She waved the gohei three times to either side before her, her movements slow and solemn. A reverent silence filled the room.
"Amaterasu Omikami, Izanagi no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto..."
Her aged voice echoed softly.
"The Sage of Six Paths manifested here; myriad blossoms turn, and the Sharingan inherits the light. Today, the descendants of the Uchiha Clan gather before the gods to establish a new leader, inherit the fan crest, and safeguard the legacy of our people. May the gods bear witness, and may our ancestors hear us."
She returned the gohei to the altar and turned to face the assembled clansmen.
"Let the clan council begin."
Elder Zongyan rose, took Fugaku and Xuandou by the hand, and led them to the center of the hall.
"Today's selection of the clan head will be decided between these two."
"Shingen, Chie, and I will each cast one vote. Whoever receives two votes will become the new clan head."
He paused, then raised his voice.
"Uchiha Xuantou is young and accomplished, courageous and resourceful. In leading our clansmen against Sunagakure, he achieved a decisive victory without a single death, upholding our clan's prestige and protecting our people. Therefore, I cast my vote for Xuandou!"
Elder Shingen cleared his throat and began slowly.
"I see things differently."
His gaze swept over Xuandou before settling on Fugaku.
"Xuandou does have military achievements, but he has only been a Jōnin for a short time. Has he ever helped manage clan affairs? Has he ever mediated disputes between ninja clans? Has he ever headed the Konoha Military Police Force?"
He paused, his tone firm.
"Being clan head is not merely about fighting on the battlefield. One must also hold the position steadily and manage affairs clearly. Fugaku is ten years older and has held important posts in the Konoha Military Police Force. Before his death, the previous clan head personally entrusted him with the succession. Such steadiness and experience cannot be matched by a young newcomer."
"Therefore, I cast my vote for Fugaku!"
As soon as he finished, everyone's gaze turned to Elder Chie.
Two of the three votes had been cast. Elder Chie's crucial vote would decide who became the next clan head!
Elder Chie was silent for a moment before her aged voice slowly rang out.
"The previous clan head fell on the battlefield, sacrificing himself for the clan. I believe his successor needs not only administrative ability, but also great personal combat strength."
"Therefore, I have decided that Fugaku and Xuandou will compete. The winner will receive my vote."
An uproar broke out.
The hall instantly erupted in a clamor.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Isn't it obvious? Lord Fugaku! He's so much older than Xuandou. All those years in the Police Force weren't for nothing. He has the experience!"
"Experience is one thing, strength is another! Lord Xuandou led the team that wiped out Sunagakure's main force!"
"Either way, I believe in Lord Fugaku."
"Then I'm betting on Lord Xuandou!"
Elder Chie cleared her throat, and the hall gradually quieted.
She looked at Fugaku and Xuandou.
"Do either of you object?"
The two exchanged a glance, then both shook their heads.
Elder Chie nodded.
"In that case, please step outside."
Outside the shrine lay an open expanse of sand and gravel, surrounded by ancient trees. The night wind passed through the treetops, stirring the bronze bells beneath the eaves.
The clansmen moved back of their own accord, forming a wall of people around the clearing.
Elder Chie stood before the steps.
"This match is solely to determine whose combat strength is greater. You are both outstanding talents of our clan. Remember, you must not strike to kill. Anyone who does will be disqualified from the selection!"
Seeing them both nod, Chie raised her hand.
"Begin!"
The instant she spoke, both men were already rapidly forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Two blazing fireballs collided with a roar in the center of the clearing. Waves of flame burst outward before both fireballs dissipated.
Without the slightest pause, the two continued forming hand seals.
Fugaku's hands moved so fast they were almost impossible to follow.
In the end, the more experienced Fugaku finished his hand seals first.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A vast sea of fire surged from his mouth, blanketing the area like raging waves. Wherever the flames passed, the sand and gravel blackened.
Xuandou, however, had yet to finish his hand seals.
He could only dodge while continuing to form them rapidly.
Fortunately, Xuandou had already quietly activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Rapidly analyzing what he saw with his dynamic vision, he finally rolled clear of the flames by a hair's breadth before the sea of fire reached him.
Xuandou still did not stop forming hand seals.
Fugaku already knew the clan's ninjutsu inside out, yet the seals Xuandou was forming differed from every set of clan hand seals he knew!
What ninjutsu was this?
Among the spectators, the Uchiha clan members were stunned by such an intense opening.
Seeing Fugaku take the upper hand, his supporters began cheering.
Those supporting Xuandou broke into a cold sweat.
Even the elders watching nearby looked puzzled.
Why were Xuandou's hand seals so unfamiliar?
Zongyan's brow furrowed slightly.
Shingen narrowed his eyes without speaking.
Chie watched the clearing in silence.
Just then, Xuandou finally completed his hand seals.
"Yin Release: Heart's Divergent Gate!"
The unknown ninjutsu finally put pressure on Fugaku.
He instantly activated his own Three-Tomoe Sharingan and looked toward Xuandou, trying to detect a weakness in the ninjutsu.
Yet the moment his eyes met Xuandou's, Fugaku's pupils contracted sharply.
No! It's genjutsu!
He never could have imagined that Xuandou would actually use genjutsu against him!
Who would be foolish enough to use genjutsu against an Uchiha?
Fugaku was alarmed but kept his composure.
His Sharingan immediately went to work, attempting to reflect the genjutsu.
Yet that cold chakra clung like a disease eating into his bones, piercing straight through the Sharingan's defenses and invading his consciousness.
It didn't work!
Impossible!
What kind of genjutsu is this?!
Cold sweat immediately began pouring from Fugaku.
A violent wave of dizziness struck.
Fugaku bit through the tip of his tongue, the pain barely allowing him to retain a thread of clarity.
At that very moment, Xuandou was already charging toward him with a kunai.
In Fugaku's vision, Xuandou's face suddenly changed.
It was not Xuandou.
It was Itachi.
His four-year-old eldest son was walking toward him, those quiet, precocious black eyes open.
Fugaku knew perfectly well that this was genjutsu.
He knew it was Xuandou, not Itachi.
Yet strangely, no matter what he did, he could not raise his fingers to form hand seals.
What powerful genjutsu...
Fugaku knew this was because his opponent's genjutsu was already extraordinarily advanced.
Even though he had reflected it with his Sharingan, negating most of its effects.
The genjutsu had still deceived his subconscious.
It looks like I'll have to use that move!
Cries of alarm rose from the spectators.
"Why has Lord Fugaku stopped moving?"
"It's genjutsu! Lord Xuandou's genjutsu has immobilized Lord Fugaku!"
"Even the Sharingan can't reflect it? That's impossible!"
Xuandou had already reached Fugaku and raised his kunai to stab him.