The excited Uchiha elders

But now that Mikoto was here, the clan members who had been left disabled all had a chance to recover.

That could just barely count as a blessing in disguise.

"Everyone, let's give a warm round of applause to welcome our heroes who returned alive from the battlefield."

Fugaku motioned for Seiichi to step forward and speak.

Fugaku knew he wasn't cut out to be clan leader.

Things had been fine when he first became clan leader. It had felt quite impressive.

But later, he had grown more and more tired and irritated, while the clan members had become increasingly disobedient.

Everything felt difficult. Whoever wanted this lousy clan leader position could have it. He had long since wanted to quit anyway.

But there was nothing he could do. A clan leader couldn't simply be replaced on a whim.

Even if he didn't want the job, he had no choice.

So, ever since Fugaku learned how strong Seiichi was, he had deliberately begun pushing him toward the position.

Seiichi had strength and, more importantly, brains. He could absolutely lead their people to a better life and bring the Uchiha Clan to new heights.

So, after he had a brief "chat" with the ten elders about Seiichi's accomplishments, the elders wholeheartedly agreed with Fugaku's decision.

"I won't say any more than necessary. I hereby announce the following for all clan members who returned alive from the battlefield.

Those with minor injuries will receive three times the original allowance.

Those with serious injuries will receive six times the original allowance.

Those left disabled will receive ten times the original allowance.

As for the clan members who died, their bereavement payments will be ten times the original amount.

The clan will pay to raise their children until they turn fifteen.

The clan will provide for their family members over fifty in their old age.

Let me make this clear beforehand. Everyone likes money, and so do I. In the future, I'll lead our people in making money.

So no one is to touch these clan members' money. Anyone who violates this rule will be stripped of the Uchiha name and killed!"

Seiichi's stern warning at the end instantly wiped away the greedy little schemes that had begun forming in certain clan members' minds.

With a Young Clan Leader like Seiichi, who could turn stone into gold, there was no reason to take such a huge risk for that little bit of money.

Seiichi's words were very plain, but they still sent every clan member into a frenzy, chanting his name.

The allowances and bereavement payments Seiichi had originally introduced for Uchiha combatants were already the highest in Konoha, and even the entire Shinobi World.

Now they had been multiplied several times over.

Even if they did nothing but lie around at home, they wouldn't have to worry about food or drink for at least a decade or more.

Seiichi needed someone to compile the relevant figures first.

So he told the clan members to wait for the clan's announcement, which he estimated would take three to five days.

None of the clan members who had fought had any objections.

They watched the clan members disperse.

Fugaku, Seiichi, and the ten elders went to the building in the center of the clan grounds, where the clan usually held its meetings.

They sat down around the table.

Seiichi no longer sat at the lower end of the table.

He sat right beside Fugaku, on his left.

This also represented the change in his standing within the clan.

"Young Clan Leader, at this rate of spending, our clan won't be able to hold out much longer."

The Third Elder, Uchiha Gangmu, who managed the clan's finances, spoke with a worried expression.

"Third Elder, how much longer do you estimate we can last at this rate?"

Seiichi hadn't expected the money the clan members had raked in from across the Shinobi World with food and potions over the past few years to run short so soon. Were they really spending it that quickly?

"I estimate we can hold out for another five years at most!"

The Third Elder looked down and counted on his fingers for a while before coming out with that answer.

That immediately left Seiichi speechless.

The way you put it, I thought our people wouldn't have food tomorrow.

And now you're telling me we can keep burning through money for another five years.

"Then there's no hurry. I expect this will only continue for about a year. That's plenty."

Seiichi waved a hand. On to the next topic.

"Young Clan Leader, have you really awakened those eyes?!"

Although Fugaku had told them earlier, they still felt a little uneasy without seeing them for themselves.

"Looks like you still don't believe it!" Seiichi sighed softly. Since that was the case, he would give them a little demonstration.

Everyone present sensed an enormous amount of eye power gathering around Seiichi's eyes.

Then they saw the scarlet Sharingan in his eyes slowly rotating, their patterns intricate, and felt the suffocating, overwhelming pressure radiating from him.

Everyone seated there widened their eyes. They knew what this meant.

"Now you believe me, right?" Seiichi said calmly after deactivating his Sharingan.

"Yes, yes!" the elders said excitedly.

Suddenly, the Elder sprang to his feet.

Pointing at Seiichi with a trembling hand, he said through quivering lips, "Th-this... this isn't the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

The other elders present were rather confused.

Wasn't the Mangekyō Sharingan the stage above the Three-Tomoe Sharingan?

If that pattern wasn't the Mangekyō, could his eyes have mutated from some eye disease?!

Seiichi and Fugaku exchanged a glance, each seeing surprise in the other's eyes.

This Elder really knows his stuff.

"I've seen the Mangekyō Sharingan with my own eyes. Its patterns aren't this intricate. And its eye power isn't this immense, either.

"So these are the same eyes as the former clan leader's, the evolved form of the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!!! Am I right?"

He watched Seiichi nod in tacit acknowledgment.

"Hahaha... Heaven truly smiles upon our Uchiha Clan!

"A ten-year-old wielder of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan! The Young Clan Leader's talent has already surpassed the former clan leader's. Our Uchiha Clan will surely regain its former glory!" The Elder threw his head back and laughed.

The other elders had already been thrilled to hear that Seiichi had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Now they were almost mad with joy.

Hadn't the Sixth Elder already climbed onto the table and started dancing?

To think that Seiichi had awakened the same eyes as Madara Uchiha—the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!

The Uchiha Clan once again possessed an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan like Madara's, but Konoha no longer had Wood Release like Hashirama Senju's!

Tell me, how could the Uchiha possibly lose this time?!!!

Seiichi nodded to Fugaku.

Since things had already reached this point, there was no need to keep it from them anymore.

Fugaku activated his own Mangekyō Sharingan as well.

It was as if someone had pressed pause on the celebrating elders.

"A-another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan?!"

"Yes. Look carefully. These are the Mangekyō Sharingan. Their eye power is on a completely different level from Seiichi's."

"Open your eyes wide and take a good look. You're clan elders, yet you don't even recognize your own clan's abilities. I'd be embarrassed for you if word got out!"

The Elder was utterly calm. Now that the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared, the Mangekyō Sharingan was... just so-so.

After that interruption, no one felt like continuing.

All right, they had enough money, Seiichi had his own plans as Young Clan Leader, and on top of that, he had the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

With all that, what the hell was there to worry about? Even thinking about what to eat for dinner would be more useful!