The Next Night — Uchiha Clan Territory, Naka Shrine.
Within the sacred halls of Naka Shrine, the heart of the Uchiha clan pulsed with tension.
All available Uchiha jōnin had gathered here under the cover of darkness. Even the Konoha Military Police Force had only a handful of chūnin left to maintain patrol. Tonight was not a night for guarding the village; it was a night for deciding the clan's future.
Standing at the front of the hall was the Uchiha Nanada—one of the clan's remaining pillars of seniority and wisdom. His expression was grave as he addressed the seated jōnin below.
"The position of Uchiha clan head has been vacant ever since Fugaku's assassination more than two years ago." he began solemnly. "And because of this, our clan has lacked a unified voice. That is the root of our current disarray."
He let those words settle before continuing. "Today, we are here to finally resolve this. The goal of this clan meeting is to choose a new leader for the Uchiha."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the crowd of jōnin erupted into debate.
"Ever since Captain Fugaku's death, our funding for the Police Force has dried up. We've been neglected for two years!"
"The Nanada-sama should just take over as clan head! He has the seniority, the wisdom, and the qualifications! Only he can restore our lost glory!"
"Glory? Is that what you want? You think challenging Konoha again won't get us all killed? At least Shisui has been working to keep the clan safe!"
"Safe? Don't make me laugh. The Fourth Hokage is Jiraiya's student—Jiraiya is a disciple of the Third Hokage! That whole line has hated us since the Second's time!"
"Wrong. The Fourth is different. Shisui once said—our only chance lies with him. The village is finally stable. We can't afford another war."
"He wants to use us. Shisui already dances to his tune, and now he wants the entire Uchiha to become the Fourth's blade?"
"Watch your mouth! Shisui did this to protect all of us!"
"Protect? Don't make me laugh! The Fourth Hokage is just manipulating him like a tool!"
"Enough! What have you done for the clan, huh?"
…
The arguments escalated. Veins bulged. Hands clenched. Voices grew hoarse with fury. It was as if the ghosts of past resentments had crawled back to life.
Toward the rear of the hall, Uchiha Yun and Uchiha Itachi sat in silence, observing the chaos.
"There are barely thirty or forty jōnin left in the clan." Yun muttered, rubbing his temples. "And even that small number is split into factions ready to tear each other apart. Add to that our clan's famous genetic mental instability… Are these people seriously planning a coup with this?"
Itachi's voice was low. "If we combine the strength of Shisui and yourself… two Mangekyō Sharingan are enough to make Konoha hesitate. If we wait for the right moment, we may not need a full coup. We may actually succeed."
"…What?"
Yun turned to him with narrowed eyes. Was this really Itachi speaking?
This was the same boy who, in another timeline, murdered his entire clan to prevent a coup. Was this the same Itachi?
As if answering his thoughts, Itachi continued, "Shisui told me everything. About what you and he have been doing for the past two years… and about the recent events, especially the Uchiha Setsuna one."
Yun's expression stiffened.
Didn't Shisui promise Namikaze Minato to keep that secret? But judging from Itachi's tone, this was an attempt at reconciliation, not betrayal.
Itachi's gaze was steady. "A naive person might still become a great leader. But once you are a leader, you can't afford to be naive anymore. Yun… If Sasuke is to have any future in Konoha, the Uchiha must gain real power."
"Only when we are strong enough to stop Konoha from acting rashly—or until whatever plan you've been weaving succeeds—can the Uchiha be safe."
Yun studied him for a long moment before chuckling quietly. "So you finally understand. Guess you didn't read enough when you were younger. You need to go through some things to really understand this village. Read more books next time. If you don't have a good brain and you're still into philosophy, you'll go crazy sooner or later."
*BOOM BOOM BOOM!*
The Uchiha Nanada struck the table with his hand, silencing the hall once more.
His voice rang out, calm yet commanding. "I nominate Uchiha Shisui as the next clan head."
The silence lasted less than a heartbeat.
"WHAT?! Shisui?! Why him?!"
"Is the whole clan meant to become the Fourth Hokage's tools now?!"
"Fugaku was killed in an instant! Who besides the Fourth Hokage could've moved at that speed?!"
"As the clan that helped found Konoha, why can't we ever rise to Hokage?!"
"Uchiha pride won't let me bow to anyone!"
*BOOM BOOM BOOM!*
The old Uchiha stood again, his Sharingan surveying the jōnin.
"You are all experienced ninja, trained in intelligence and deduction. So answer me this—will Konoha ever allow an Uchiha to become Hokage?"
Silence.
"The Daimyō must approve, and the jōnin council must vote. Can we pass that vote?"
Still silence.
"Of course not!" he roared. "The merchants fear us. The clans distrust us. Thanks to Madara's legacy and the Police Force's role, we are seen as thugs in armor."
"Do you plan to kill half the village just to force them to recognize us through fear? Because that's the only way they'd ever accept it."
"And if we do that… when the village is weakened, Sunagakure and the others will pounce. Can we resist a multi-front war with weakened forces?"
At that moment, one of the more militant jōnin stood up. "Then are we supposed to just lie down and die?! Ever since the Second Hokage's time, we've been treated like traitors!"
"Nanada-sama, your analysis is sharp, but don't think just because you believe Shisui is fit to lead, we all do!"
"I will never acknowledge Shisui!"
He turned on his heel and stormed toward the exit.
But before he reached the door—
*Swish!*
A flicker. A blur. A cold flash.
His sleeve dropped to the ground, severed.
Everyone's eyes locked onto the exposed tattoo on his shoulder.
"…Anbu mark? Directly under the Third? Or the Fourth? Or maybe… Root?"
The man turned sharply, blood rushing to his Sharingan, now spinning with three tomoe.
Genjutsu ∙ Binding Illusion!
A wave of chakra erupted—but nothing happened.
*Swish!*
Yun sidestepped the kunai, then casually slashed the man's shoulder open. The limb fell with a dull thud.
Curse Seal of Self-Karma!
Black marks erupted across his body, paralyzing him in agony.
"Why… why isn't my genjutsu working?"
"…Genjutsu?"
Yun blinked, genuinely confused.
*Buzz!*
His eyes spun—Mangekyō Sharingan.
"You mean your little three-tomoe genjutsu? I didn't even notice."
The man's expression turned to horror.
"W-who are you?!"
Yun sheathed his blade. "Still in the Academy. You probably don't know me. Uchiha Yun. Nice to meet you."
—
"STOP!"
"WHO IS HE?!"
"DON'T LET HIM LEAVE!"
But Yun merely raised his hands.
"Relax. I'm not killing him—yet. Just showing you this." He pointed to the exposed seal.
Then he pried open the man's mouth, slapped the back of his head, and forced his tongue out—revealing another seal.
Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
A Root remnant. Danzo's leash.
"Looks like Danzo's leftovers. I had heard that people from Uchiha were also part of Root. This might be one of them."
Shisui now stepped forward. "I brought him here. This is Uchiha Yun. And he is a key piece in stabilizing Konoha."
The Uchiha Nanada added, "Two pairs of Mangekyō are enough to make Konoha listen. A coup will destroy us. But now… we have a real chance."
Shisui and Yun's eyes ignited with their Mangekyō chakra, chilling the air.
From the back, Itachi rose and joined them.
"I've heard the truth about my father's death. I trust Shisui. As Uchiha Fugaku's son… I support him as clan head."
Three stood united. And silence filled the room.
Even the bound traitor, tongue hanging uselessly, could do nothing but glare.
The Uchiha Nanada looked at Yun with a gaze full of trust.
Yun shivered. That kind of look was the most dangerous.
Was this… Kotoamatsukami?
'The legendary power, huh? No wonder Shisui was killed off in the original history. No wonder he leapt into the river.'
The sheer weight of this genjutsu… was terrifying.
He glanced at Shisui's right eye. It was pale. That power likely wouldn't return anytime soon.
But tonight—under the veil of moonlight—Uchiha Shisui officially became the new head of the Uchiha clan.
…
Later, under moonlight, Shisui was officially declared clan head.
Nanada served as his deputy. Yashiro, Inabi, and Tekka pledged loyalty.
Afterward, a smaller strategic meeting was held.
Shisui's first decree was shocking.
"Within one year, the Uchiha will relinquish control of the Police Force."
Nanada hesitated. "That authority has been ours since the founding. You're abandoning it?"
Yun answered for him, smirking. "If your goal is rebellion, it's convenient. If you want Hokage, it's poison."
"What about the jōnin in the Guard?"
"They'll transfer." Shisui said. "To search squads, Anbu... or most critically — become teachers at the Ninja Academy."
"Teachers?" Nanada raised a brow. "That's the Third's restricted zone."
Shisui replied, "We're not the only ones who want change. Within a year, the gates will open."
"For now, have them study these."
Yun handed over a thick manual.
It read:
1. Personal glory belongs to Uchiha, but Uchiha's glory does not belong to individuals.
2. A genius never brags about his clan. Only the weak rely on their name.
3. True power forces negotiation.
4. Politics isn't about bloodshed. It's compromise.
5. Only when the Uchiha unite the many, can they rise again.
6. Psychological patterns and the hereditary madness of the Uchiha — an analysis.
*****
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