"Clone Technique."
Uchiha Yusuke formed hand seals. After a puff of smoke, two identical clones appeared at his side.
"Bring Inabi and Tekka here to see me."
With a calm command, the two clones vanished at once.
If he wanted to save the Uchiha, he had to become clan head first.
And becoming clan head was far more than simply defeating Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Yusuke also needed the support of the clan.
However, if he personally went around making contact, it would inevitably diminish his standing. This kind of work was better entrusted to two people he could absolutely rely on.
Yusuke held considerable prestige within the clan. Secretly gathering a group of supporters was hardly difficult for him.
Ever since the Nine-Tails Incident, the hawkish faction within the Uchiha clan had been advocating for an armed coup.
Unfortunately, Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku was a textbook dove. He repeatedly delayed, indulging in superficial peace and never able to make up his mind.
Because of this, there were quite a few within the clan who were dissatisfied with Fugaku—what they lacked was a proper leader to rally behind.
To compete for the position of clan head, strength, reputation, and qualifications were all indispensable.
Yusuke had participated in the Third Shinobi World War and served as the vice-captain of the Konoha Police Force.
He was known as the "Flame Demon of Konoha," wielding the Uchiha clan's inherited swordsmanship and Fire Release to near-perfection.
He was fully qualified to run for Uchiha clan head. His only real shortcoming was probably his age.
After all, Uchiha Yusuke was only sixteen years old.
…
After washing his face, Yusuke brushed aside his tangled thoughts.
Facing the mirror, he began tidying his hair and adjusting his expression.
The Uchiha clan's looks were basically at the ceiling of the shinobi world—and Yusuke was the ceiling among ceilings.
If the shinobi world had an entertainment industry, he could have climbed to the peak of life on looks alone.
Yusuke secured his jet-black, flowing long hair with his ninja forehead protector, making himself look as mature as possible.
He already stood over 1.8 meters tall, and coupled with his naturally steady temperament, it was easy for people to forget his true age.
After carefully dressing himself, Yusuke put on a brand-new jōnin flak jacket and slung his finely crafted sword across his waist before leaving the bathroom.
His current appearance was refined and spirited—anyone who saw him would instinctively nod in approval.
When Uchiha Yusuke arrived in the first-floor hall, Inabi and Tekka were already waiting.
"So you finally decided to show yourself, Yusuke!"
"Calling the two of us over this late—what's going on?"
Seeing him, Inabi and Tekka greeted him warmly.
Yusuke smiled slightly and waved a hand at them. "We're brothers—no need to be so stiff. Sit. Let's talk."
Inabi and Tekka were Yusuke's direct subordinates in the Police Force and also his former comrades-in-arms.
During the Third Shinobi World War, the three of them had frequently teamed up on missions, working in perfect coordination and earning no small number of merits.
Seeing how politely Yusuke treated them, a flicker of emotion passed through both their eyes. There was a clear difference in status between them and Yusuke, yet he had never once put on airs around them.
Both Inabi and Tekka possessed jōnin-level strength and had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Uchiha Yusuke got straight to the point.
"No one else knows you came here, right?"
His expression turned solemn. What he was about to say concerned the fate of the entire Uchiha clan—there was no room for carelessness.
"Don't worry. You specifically instructed us—of course we wouldn't expose our movements."
"Yusuke, what exactly is this important matter you called us here for?"
Seeing how serious Yusuke looked, Inabi and Tekka grew tense as well.
Back at the clan head's banquet, they had already noticed something off about Yusuke's demeanor.
Calling them over at a time like this could only mean one thing—something big was coming.
Uchiha Yusuke silently observed the two of them, not rushing to speak.
Their friendship was solid, yes—but the issue of the clan head was not a matter of personal ties. It concerned the future destiny of the entire clan.
He needed them to follow him of their own free will.
Inabi and Tekka exchanged a glance, remaining silent. They could both sense that Yusuke's presence today felt subtly different from usual.
Several minutes later, Yusuke took a deep breath and finally broke the silence.
"I've decided that at tomorrow's clan meeting, I will challenge the clan head."
His expression was grave as he spoke each word clearly.
The clan meeting was a monthly affair of the Uchiha. Any jōnin in the clan without active missions would attend.
"What?!"
Inabi and Tekka shot to their feet, faces filled with disbelief.
"Yusuke plans to challenge the clan head?"
"Did I… just hear that wrong?"
From Yusuke's expression alone, they had already known this wouldn't be anything simple.
But they never imagined he would intend to challenge the clan head himself.
What challenging the clan head meant within the Uchiha clan—they understood all too well.
Unlike other clans, the Uchiha had always revered strength. The position of clan head belonged only to the strongest.
"Strength above all" was carved deep into the bones of every Uchiha.
And with how serious Yusuke looked now, this was clearly no joke.
"Th-this… Yusuke, shouldn't you think this through a bit more?"
"Clan Head Fugaku won't be easy to deal with."
Uchiha Tekka forced a bitter smile.
Yusuke's strength—he knew it very well. The absolute ceiling among elite jōnin, an existence capable of effortlessly one-shotting other jōnin…