Today was the Uchiha Clan's monthly assembly.
Inside the clan eting hall, nearly all of the Uchiha Clan's elites had already gathered. The atmosphere was heavy and noisy at the sa ti, with low discussions constantly echoing throughout the room.
At the front sat Uchiha Fugaku, his expression solemn as he slowly swept his gaze across the gathered clan mbers.
"Since everyone is here, the clan eting will now begin. If anyone has opinions or proposals, speak."
As he spoke, Fugaku could not help sighing inwardly.
As expected, soone would probably bring up the matter of searching for Zoro again.
It was not that Fugaku had refused to search for him after his disappearance six months ago. In fact, during the past half year, he had secretly dispatched quite a few trusted clan mbers to investigate Zoro's whereabouts.
But every single one of them had vanished without a trace.
Not one useful clue had been brought back.
And with the forr leader of the Dove faction gone, the Hawk faction's influence within the clan had expanded rapidly over the past six months.
"Clan Head, regarding the matter of the Uchiha Clan being assigned to guard the village gate, don't you think Konoha is looking down on us too much?"
"That's right. Why should our Military Police Force be reduced to guarding the entrance? Shouldn't gate security be handled by the Hokage's forces?"
"Our Uchiha Clan is actually being treated like gatekeepers now?"
The mont the topic was raised, dissatisfaction imdiately erupted throughout the eting hall.
Most of the complaints were directed toward the humiliating gate duty assigned to the clan.
Fugaku lightly rubbed his temples.
"I will report the matter to the Hokage. As for whether anything changes afterward, I cannot guarantee it. Is there anything else?"
Truthfully, even Fugaku himself found the arrangent inappropriate.
The proud Uchiha Clan being stationed at the village entrance like watchdogs was indeed humiliating.
At that mont, a sowhat cold voice suddenly rang out from below.
"Clan Head, half a year has already passed. Regarding the position of Second Elder, perhaps it is ti for a replacent."
The room instantly quieted sowhat as several people turned toward the speaker.
The one speaking was also one of the clan elders, though his prestige was far inferior to Setsuna and Muneyoshi.
"Do not bring up this matter again," Fugaku said coldly. "As long as there is no confird news of Zoro's death, the position of Second Elder will remain his."
His firm response caused many mbers of the Dove faction to quietly relax.
Muneyoshi had only died half a year ago. Fugaku naturally understood that replacing the Second Elder so soon would practically be equivalent to denying Muneyoshi any peace, even in death.
Moreover, Muneyoshi's forr supporters would absolutely oppose it.
"Hmph. I really do wonder what this elder is thinking. Why are you so obsessed with the position of Second Elder?"
Uchiha Inabi looked at the elder coldly, undisguised hostility visible in his eyes.
This elder also belonged to the Dove faction.
However, ever since Muneyoshi's death, he had beco increasingly restless.
During the six months of Zoro's disappearance, Inabi had openly stepped forward to support him without hesitation. As a squad captain within the Military Police Force, he naturally possessed considerable influence within the clan.
Originally, Inabi had belonged to the neutral faction.
But now, he had decisively beco one of Zoro's loyal supporters.
Especially during the previous proposal raised by the Second Elder, Inabi had personally persuaded several neutral clan shinobi to support Zoro.
The elder rely smiled politely.
"You misunderstand. I have no interest in the position of Second Elder myself. I'm simply worried that the Dove faction is becoming weaker and weaker without a leader, isn't that true?"
His expression was calm and refined, but inwardly, everything was developing exactly according to his expectations.
"That's why I said earlier," Inabi replied indifferently, "if you have sothing to say, then say it directly."
He did not believe this old bastard was about to propose anything worthwhile.
"As everyone can clearly see, the Dove faction has been declining day by day. Its leader, Zoro, has already been missing for half a year. Therefore, I believe we should appoint soone capable of standing alongside Zoro to temporarily stabilize the faction."
As he spoke, the elder slightly raised his chin.
"In my opinion, Uchiha Shisui is the most suitable candidate."
The mont those words fell, the atmosphere inside the eting hall instantly changed.
"What?!"
"We absolutely refuse!"
"How is this any different from seizing power?"
Several of Zoro's loyal supporters imdiately stood up in anger. Even the clan mbers who had once followed Muneyoshi revealed ugly expressions.
Among the crowd, the few clan mbers who had personally seen Zoro yesterday instinctively wanted to announce that Zoro had already returned.
But before they could speak, the squad captain standing in front of them quietly raised his hand to stop them.
Yesterday, Zoro had personally issued a strict order—
No one was allowed to reveal his return.
Thinking of this, the squad captain looked toward the elder with unconcealed mockery in his eyes.
The more arrogantly this old man jumped around now, the more miserable he would beco once Zoro learned about it later.
After all—
The title "Three-Sword Death God" was not so empty joke.
"There's no need for everyone to beco so agitated," the elder said with a smile, raising both hands slightly. "My proposal is not the power struggle you imagine. Shisui will not compete for the position of Second Elder, so naturally this cannot be considered usurpation."
"Everything I'm doing is for the future developnt of the clan. Surely none of you truly wish for the Uchiha Clan to continue walking such an extre path forever, correct?"
As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced toward Uchiha Setsuna.
At that mont, Setsuna's expression had already beco sowhat gloomy.
Clearly, he understood exactly what the elder was trying to do.
Setsuna rely let out a cold snort but did not interfere.
This matter was ultimately an internal issue within the Dove faction. As the representative of the Hawk faction, it would indeed be sowhat inappropriate for him to intervene directly.
Seeing that Setsuna remained silent, the smile on the elder's face grew increasingly obvious.
"Everyone should already know Shisui's reputation and accomplishnts," the elder continued confidently. "The na 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' alone is enough to make enemy shinobi tremble."
"Furthermore, Shisui values bonds and prioritizes harmony in all things. I believe he is fully capable of leading the Dove faction and guiding the Uchiha Clan toward an even better future."
Uchiha Fugaku quietly watched the elder present his proposal without interrupting.
The clan assembly had always been an open forum for discussion. Since the proposal was, at least on the surface, beneficial to the clan, Fugaku naturally had no reason to reject it imdiately.
"Now then," the elder continued with a faint smile, "does anyone object to this old man's proposal?"
"I object."
Almost the instant he finished speaking, Uchiha Inabi coldly voiced his opposition.
The elder narrowed his eyes slightly before smiling again.
"Oh? And may I ask why you object? Or could it be that you simply do not wish to see the clan improve?"
The mont those words fell, Inabi's expression darkened considerably.
This old bastard was clearly using the clan's future to pressure him.
If he continued opposing the proposal now, it would easily make him appear selfish and narrow-minded in the eyes of the other clan mbers.
Seeing Inabi cornered, Uchiha Setsuna finally spoke from the side.
"I will offer a compromise regarding this matter," Setsuna said calmly. "Shisui may temporarily take charge of the Dove faction. However, if Zoro returns, authority must imdiately be handed back to him."
The mont Setsuna spoke, the atmosphere in the room shifted once more.
As the Great Elder and representative of the Hawk faction, Setsuna's stance carried enormous influence within the clan.
The fact that he had openly supported the proposal ant that nearly one-third of the Uchiha Clan already leaned toward agreent.
After all, even though Setsuna and Zoro stood on opposing ideological sides, he still regarded Zoro as one of the clan's rare talents.
Naturally, he did not wish to see Zoro's remaining supporters trapped in such an awkward and powerless position.
The mont he heard Setsuna's suggestion, Inabi's expression beca even uglier.
Wouldn't this still allow that old bastard to achieve exactly what he wanted in the end?
"The Great Elder's proposal is very reasonable. Naturally, we agree."
"That's right. We agree with the Great Elder's suggestion."
The Dove faction elder imdiately revealed a pleased smile and hurriedly led several supporters beside him in voicing their approval.
Seeing more and more people agreeing, Fugaku finally opened his mouth.
"Then regarding this proposal, does anyone else still object?"
Even now, Inabi still firmly cast his vote against it.
Unfortunately, his opposition alone was nearly insignificant against the overwhelming voices of agreent.
Many of the clan mbers who had always supported Zoro could not help feeling dispirited upon seeing this scene.
Without Zoro and Muneyoshi, the Dove faction truly seed to have lost its backbone completely.
At the sa ti, many of them could not help wondering—
Why had Zoro disappeared for half a year without any news whatsoever?
Could it be…
That he had truly abandoned the clan?
An oppressive silence gradually spread through the eting hall.
Seeing no further objections, Fugaku quietly sighed inwardly and slowly began to speak.
"In that case, this matter shall—"
"Wait."
A sudden voice interrupted him directly from the entrance of the eting hall.
"Sorry, but I disagree with this proposal."
The entire room instantly fell silent.
Everyone turned toward the entrance almost simultaneously, wanting to see exactly who had the nerve to interrupt a decision that had practically already been finalized.
At the doorway stood a figure dressed in a black cloak, his entire body hidden beneath the shadows of the robe.
The Dove faction elder frowned imdiately, undisguised displeasure appearing on his face.
"Who are you?" he said coldly. "Do you think your objection matters here?"
"Who am I?"
A mocking laugh sounded from beneath the cloak.
The next mont, the figure slowly stepped into the eting hall.
"Just the fact that I am Zoro—"
"The current Second Elder of the Uchiha Clan."
"Isn't that enough?!!"
The hood of the black cloak was abruptly pulled down.
Under the countless stunned gazes filling the room, a cold and handso face was revealed.
***
Advance chapters available on P@trè0n (Aki_sensei). Appreciate the support!
✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧
User Comments
0 comments from readers