After Clan Head Fugaku officially opened the discussion, Uchiha Isshin—who had clearly prepared his words beforehand—imdiately stood up and spoke.
"Clan Head, regarding the rumors currently spreading throughout the village…"
Isshin's expression was grave.
"I believe they have already seriously affected the daily lives of our clan mbers."
Uchiha Isshin was none other than the Chūnin guard who had sparred against Zoro several years ago.
Back then, he had been completely overwheld by Zoro despite the boy using nothing more than a wooden sword.
That battle had fundantally changed Isshin's ntality.
Zoro had conquered him through sheer strength.
And ever since then, Isshin had willingly chosen to stand beside him as one of his supporters.
The mont Isshin brought up the topic, Fugaku's expression imdiately beca more serious.
Right from the very beginning, the eting had jumped directly into the most explosive issue.
Clearly, this was the true reason the clan gathering had been convened today.
"Does anyone else have thoughts regarding this matter?"
Fugaku did not imdiately express his own opinion.
Instead, he calmly observed the reactions of the clansn seated below and pushed the matter back toward the assembly.
"If everyone already understands why this clan eting was called, then I won't waste words."
Uchiha Setsuna stood up first.
His voice carried the sa domineering aggression as always.
"Recently, countless rumors regarding Zoro have spread throughout Konoha."
"I believe we should organize a large-scale operation and properly teach those villagers who enjoy spreading gossip a lesson they won't forget."
The mont Setsuna finished speaking, many mbers of the Hawk Faction behind him imdiately nodded in agreent.
Quite a few of them had survived the Chūnin Exam incident years ago only because Zoro stepped forward and drew all attention onto himself.
So now that Zoro was being buried beneath overwhelming public condemnation, there was no way they would simply sit back and watch.
Fugaku helplessly glanced toward Muneyoshi sitting opposite him.
Under normal circumstances, Muneyoshi would have imdiately opposed Setsuna's proposal without hesitation.
But this matter involved Zoro's reputation.
And this ti—
Muneyoshi remained silent.
That silence itself already revealed his stance clearly enough.
Not opposing Setsuna was practically equivalent to silently supporting him.
"I think the First Elder's words make sense…"
Fugaku's confidant, Uchiha Yashiro, slowly stepped forward.
"But if we really do that, won't Konoha's resentnt toward the Uchiha Clan only deepen further?"
"There's another issue as well."
Uchiha Inabi, one of the Konoha Police Force captains, also voiced his concerns.
"There are simply too many villagers involved. Even if we wanted to suppress the rumors, how exactly would we control everyone?"
"And what exactly do you propose instead?"
Setsuna's sharp gaze imdiately landed on Inabi.
"You want us to simply sit there and let those fools continue insulting one of our own?"
This issue had to be resolved.
No matter what thod was used, it could not simply be ignored.
Cold sweat faintly appeared on Inabi's forehead.
Without Muneyoshi restraining him, there were very few people present capable of enduring Setsuna's overwhelming pressure directly.
"Since this matter concerns Zoro himself…"
Inabi cautiously spoke again.
"Shouldn't we first hear what the person involved thinks?"
His words instantly drew everyone's attention toward the young man seated beside Muneyoshi.
Because the matter concerned his own grandson, Uchiha Muneyoshi had remained unusually silent throughout the discussion.
But his silence alone already made his position obvious.
At the very least, he was not stopping Setsuna.
"I actually think the solution to this issue is very simple."
Zoro finally spoke calmly.
Despite being the person at the center of the storm, he appeared far calr than the rest of the clan.
"Ti."
"Ti is capable of washing away everything."
His voice remained steady and indifferent.
"I believe Konoha's stance toward this matter will loosen sooner or later."
Hearing even Zoro himself speak so calmly, several clansn who had originally intended to argue further suddenly froze with complicated expressions.
Objectively speaking—
This truly was the simplest and most effective solution.
The only person who would suffer because of it was Zoro himself.
Even Setsuna looked toward Zoro with a trace of surprise.
Seeing the atmosphere finally calm slightly, Fugaku secretly released a breath of relief.
What he feared most was the clan suddenly erupting and proposing sothing outrageous like rebelling against the Hokage.
Just as everyone thought the matter had finally settled—
A voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Any other thod is acceptable."
"But if you expect ti alone to make this disappear…"
"I absolutely cannot agree."
The aged voice carried an unmistakable trace of ferocity.
Everyone stared toward the usually gentle Second Elder in shock.
None of them had expected Muneyoshi to reveal such ruthless determination.
"Second Elder…"
Even Setsuna revealed a faint smile for the first ti.
"Do you have another idea?"
"Heh. My idea?"
Muneyoshi slowly stood up.
"Before discussing that, I have an announcent to make."
His previously aged voice suddenly beca firm and powerful.
"From this day onward…"
"Zoro will succeed as the Second Elder of the Uchiha Clan!!"
Silence.
The entire eting hall instantly fell deathly quiet.
The sheer weight behind Muneyoshi's declaration left countless people stunned.
"Second Elder… what exactly do you an by this?"
A massive question mark practically appeared on Fugaku's face.
Second Elder…
Please tell you're joking.
Your grandson isn't even ten years old yet.
A child not even ten becoming the Second Elder of the entire Uchiha Clan?
What kind of absurd joke was this?!
"Ahem… ahem…"
Apparently realizing his announcent had been slightly too shocking, Muneyoshi awkwardly coughed twice before continuing.
"I beca emotional for a mont."
"Zoro succeeding does not an I will imdiately retire completely."
"I will remain by his side and assist him for the ti being."
"That way…"
"If outsiders continue attacking him through rumors, our clan will possess a legitimate reason to intervene directly."
A dangerous light flashed through Muneyoshi's eyes.
"Personally, I wouldn't mind reducing the number of villagers who enjoy spreading gossip."
After a brief pause, he added calmly:
"After all…"
"Konoha still has plenty of civilians."
The final sentence carried faint but unmistakable killing intent.
For a mont, even mbers of the Dove Faction felt as though they had returned to the bloody battlefields of years past, fighting beside Muneyoshi once again.
"This matter is too important."
Fugaku's expression clearly darkened.
"I cannot casually approve sothing like this."
This was absurd.
Making a child not even ten years old into the clan's Second Elder?
If word of this spread outside, wouldn't the entire shinobi world laugh the Uchiha Clan into humiliation?
People would say the Uchiha had no capable adults left.
"I understand that."
Muneyoshi slowly glanced toward Zoro beside him.
"For the sake of so-called peace, I've already sacrificed too many things."
His voice gradually turned colder.
"But when it cos to my grandson…"
"I will not continue compromising."
"Let's vote."
"I support the Second Elder's proposal."
"I agree as well."
"I support it too."
…
Out of the twenty-six people attending the clan eting, eight imdiately raised their hands in support.
However, the proposal still lacked several votes to pass.
Seeing that Setsuna himself had not supported the motion, Muneyoshi's expression darkened slightly.
anwhile, Uchiha Setsuna deliberately pretended not to notice Muneyoshi's gaze.
Of course he would not support Zoro becoming the Second Elder.
If that happened, then in the future, wouldn't he end up directly opposing Zoro himself?
"In that case…"
Fugaku sighed lightly.
"My apologies, Second Elder. This proposal will—"
"Excuse , Clan Head."
Before Fugaku could formally reject the proposal, Zoro suddenly spoke.
"Allow to say sothing."
Fugaku's gaze shifted toward him.
"As for the Second Elder's proposal…"
Zoro calmly raised his head.
"I support it."
The mont those words left his mouth, Fugaku frowned slightly.
Although sowhat displeased at being interrupted, he still sighed helplessly.
"Zoro, even if you support it yourself, there are still only nine votes."
"No."
Zoro slowly glanced toward Muneyoshi beside him.
The old man had already done far too much for him.
It was about ti Muneyoshi began enjoying his retirent instead of continuing to carry burdens for the clan.
"Apologies, Clan Head."
Suddenly, Uchiha Inabi—who had maintained a neutral position until now—raised his hand.
"I also support Zoro becoming the Second Elder."
And that was only the beginning.
After Zoro publicly declared his position, more and more clansn began raising their hands one after another.
"I support Zoro becoming the Second Elder."
"I agree as well."
"Sa here."
Seeing the rapidly changing situation, Fugaku's mouth twitched slightly.
Since when had this brat gathered such terrifying support within the clan?
Not only was Setsuna stunned—
Even Muneyoshi himself was completely shocked.
What was happening?
Since when had so many people within the clan begun standing on Zoro's side?
"Hey, you two brats…"
Setsuna stared at the two Hawk Faction ninja behind him who had unexpectedly voted in favor as well.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
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