"Ahem… Yuzuru, since you bring it up, why don't you share your thoughts."
At Tarou's signal, Yuzuru spoke evenly: "If we want the Uchiha to grow stronger and raise our influence, there's a simple and effective way."
Seeing how serious he was, everyone couldn't help adopting a serious look themselves.
Then Yuzuru said, slowly, "Have children."
Have children…
Huh?
Have children?!
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
Then they looked at each other, faces twisting into odd expressions.
Have children…
How was that a solution?
Ignoring the looks, Yuzuru went on: "I propose that from now on, clan members must marry before the age of twenty."
"We marry early, have more, and go above and beyond."
"Only then can the Uchiha grow ever stronger."
Hearing Yuzuru's shocking proposal, quite a few felt insulted.
Fugaku couldn't help rising to his feet. "Yuzuru, watch your words. This is a clan assembly, not a place for your nonsense!"
As soon as he spoke, voices chimed in: "Exactly. Are you looking down on us—pinning all hope on the next generation?"
"I thought you had backbone, but you're soft at the core!"
"The Uchiha won't sink to relying on babies to prove ourselves."
Seeing tempers flare, Tarou quickly raised a hand to stop them.
Once the hall quieted, he said to Yuzuru, "Explain your reasoning. Everyone is waiting to hear it."
Yuzuru wasn't surprised by the reaction.
Asking a proud clan to stake its future on childbearing did bruise their pride.
With that in mind, he chose his words and continued.
"Population is the foundation of a shinobi clan. The more people, the stronger the clan."
"In the Warring States era, many clans raided other regions to seize people—purely to boost their numbers."
"Take Konohagakure as an example. When the village was founded, the Senju and the Uchiha were the undisputed great houses. But what about now?"
"The Senju has vanished, and the Uchiha clan can only barely maintain appearances based on our past glory."
"Meanwhile, the Sarutobi Clan, Shimura Clan, Utatane Clan, and Mitokado Clan…"
"The very families we once stepped over have become powers Konoha cannot ignore."
"The reason Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō dare to aggressively suppress Shinobi Clans now is precisely because of the confidence given to them by their clan members, isn't it?"
Power and strength go hand in hand.
Even with Tobirama's endorsement, without strong clan support they could never have kept such a grip on authority.
The hall fell silent under Yuzuru's questioning.
Everyone knew he wasn't wrong.
Four clans without even a kekkei genkai had used sheer population to become behemoths the Uchiha hesitated to provoke…
Seeing their silence, Yuzuru shifted tone. "If Sarutobi and Shimura could rise on numbers, the Uchiha can do it even better."
"Compared to them, we possess a powerful bloodline limit and far greater talent for becoming shinobi."
"Given equal numbers, which clan could stand against the Uchiha?"
Flattered without it being obvious, many faces around the hall showed a hint of pride.
"Come to think of it, he's not wrong. Having more children isn't so hard to accept."
"He could've just said 'increase population'; saying 'have children' is a bit… blunt."
"I didn't process it at first, but Yuzuru's point checks out."
Seeing the clan members become active again, Yuzuru continued: "Therefore… getting married and having children is not a shame, but the centennial strategy for the revitalization of our Uchiha clan—it is our fundamental policy!"
"Without population as the bedrock, everything else is a castle in the air."
"For the prosperity of the Uchiha, I, Yuzuru, am willing to lead by example!"
For many, hearing such a theory for the first time sent shockwaves through their hearts.
They'd never considered strengthening the clan from this angle.
Yet the more they thought about it, the more it made sense—hard to refute at all.
Only… leading by example on this particular matter felt a bit odd…
Seeing their reactions, Yuzuru didn't push further.
He'd floated marriage and childbearing now to prime a clan obsessed with fighting. To make it a formal rule would probably have to wait until he held real power.
"Ahem… Yuzuru's idea is unconventional. We won't force everyone to marry before twenty like he suggested, but we can all make an effort in that direction."
"All right, that concludes today's assembly."
Before dawn's first light, Tarou adjourned the meeting.
The Uchiha filed out one after another.
Just as Yuzuru was about to rise as well, Tarou said quietly, "Yuzuru, you and Fugaku, stay a moment."
Much as he wanted to test his new power, Yuzuru wasn't in a rush.
He followed to Tarou's residence and sat opposite him, with Fugaku facing them both.
Tarou poured tea for the two and smiled.
"Yuzuru, your strength surprised me. I didn't expect even Fugaku would no longer be your match."
He gave Yuzuru a measuring look, genuine astonishment on his face.
As Fugaku's father, Tarou knew his son's power well.
With a three-tomoe Sharingan, Fugaku was a standout even among jōnin.
Who'd have thought he'd lose to Yuzuru so easily?
Yuzuru didn't explain much. He just smiled. "You're not here to make trouble for me on your son's behalf, are you, Clan Head?"
Fugaku couldn't take that. His face flushed. "Yuzuru, my father isn't that petty!"
"I lost because I was outmatched. As your rival, I will defeat you fair and square one day!"
Yuzuru laughed lightly and downed his tea. "An enemy who loses to me is never regarded as an opponent. I will give you time to catch up, until you can no longer even see my distant shadow."
As his words fell, Uchiha Fugaku was stunned for a full ten seconds before recovering, then he felt like ants were crawling all over him.
He couldn't beat the smug brat, and he couldn't outtalk him either…
'Infuriating little punk. He's so annoying!'
Seeing Fugaku's composure wobble, Tarou cleared his throat and cut in at the right moment. "The reason I asked you both to stay is to hear your thoughts."
"What are your views on the next Hokage candidate?"