Konoha.
In the dimly lit underground chamber of the Root, two large squads of elite members were deployed. When they returned, only seven survived, a sight that nearly turned Shimura Danzo's face green with fury.
Barely containing his roaring anger, Danzo's voice was hoarse and trembling, "A perfectly laid plan, so detailed, and yet! Only one eye! And an eye on the verge of exhausting its power at that!"
Two elite squads from the Root, along with specialized sensory and medical ninjas, in total he had dispatched thirty-seven elites, and only a handful returned?
The loss of thirty elites was a heavy blow to the Root. Most of Root's strength was built on intelligence gathering and various experiments. Resources were already strained for combat, and now they had lost their high-end combat power.
"Waste!"
Suppressing the urge to kill these seven survivors, the only eye visible on Shimura Danzo's face was filled with fierce bloodshot veins.
"Danzo!"
Just then, the door was violently pushed open with a loud bang. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, walked in furiously, followed by Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. They, too, looked dissatisfied with Danzo.
"Danzo. You've gone too far this time."
The Root ninjas wisely retreated, and a soundproof barrier was quickly erected around them.
"Danzo, who gave you the audacity to ambush the head of the Uchiha clan? Do you realize the impact it would have if this were exposed!"
First the grief of losing a child, then the incident at the Fire Temple, and now an ambush on the Uchiha clan head - all these events made even the usually composed Third Hokage roar in anger.
The Third Hokage's roar only fueled Danzo's anger. He felt wronged. Wasn't everything he did for the village?
After all the painstaking efforts for the village, no one appreciated the sacrifices, and here they were, scolding him right as they entered. It was too much.
"Hiruzen! How much weaker can you get! It's because of your leniency that the Uchiha clan developed the Mangekyo Sharingan without your knowledge. Do you want the village to experience another Nine-Tails' attack?"
Since it was already discovered, Danzo was furious and defiantly displayed the spoils of the recent mission, confidently confronting them.
"Mangekyo Sharingan!"
As the ferocious Mangekyo Sharingan was revealed in the test tube, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado's expressions changed drastically. Their dissatisfaction with Danzo vanished instantly upon seeing it.
Even the sight of the Mangekyo Sharingan brought back oppressive, suffocating memories to their minds, stirring fear.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked, looking at the test tube in Danzo's hand. Danzo, at this moment, was more determined, his face grim as he faced the three.
"I've long said the Uchiha clan harbors ill intentions. If it weren't for this ambush, this Mangekyo Sharingan would still be hidden among the Uchiha, and who knows, another Nine-Tails' attack might occur any night."
"The report of this operation is here. Do I need to spell out the horrors of the Mangekyo Sharingan!" Danzo grimly threw the battle report that his subordinates had handed him to Hiruzen.
Since the Mangekyō Sharingan has already been exposed, the loss of the Root must also be made known.
"Danzō! You've gone too far this time!"
It was clear that the Uchiha clan's hidden Mangekyō Sharingan had stirred up their long-buried fears, allowing their anger towards Danzō to be alleviated.
"Gone too far?" Shimura Danzo, looking at the Third Hokage who was still scolding him, coldly said with an ugly face, "What I regret now is being careless, which led to such a huge loss for the Root."
"The existence of the Mangekyō Sharingan, I suppose, needs no reminder."
At this moment, Shimura Danzo, with one eye exposed, was filled with gloom and dread, "Now the Uchiha clan still possesses a Mangekyō Sharingan, which means they have the capability to instigate the Nine-Tails' disturbance again."
Faced with Shimura Danzo's alarmist talk, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Koharu Utatane, and Mitokado Homura, who all came from that era, naturally knew the severe consequences.
"Order given, increase the guard for the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. If any member of the Uchiha clan approaches the Jinchūriki, they may be executed first and reported later!"
Clearly, the fear of the Mangekyō led the usually composed Sarutobi Hiruzen to immediately overlook Danzō's punishment, step outside, and shout solemnly to the Anbu members outside the barrier.
Although there was a barrier, with lip reading and the Third Hokage's trembling finger secret signals, the Anbu members outside immediately nodded solemnly to acknowledge the order.
…
The Uchiha Clan.
In a secluded area, the Uchiha clan hung up white sails, showing expressions of anger and grief throughout the clan.
The clan head of the Uchiha was ambushed and killed on his way back, a bolt from the blue that shook the entire clan.
At the Uchiha family Head's memorial service, many Uchihas came to pay their respects, along with other major clans and Jonin from the village, as the clan head's demise was a shock to Konoha.
As night fell, the scent of burning candles wafted through the mourning house, while the courtyard was filled with people.
Each one dressed in black clothing adorned with the Uchiha clan's fan emblem, their faces a mixture of cold indifference, sadness, and anger. The elite of the Uchiha clan in the village were all gathered here.
All eyes were on an elder with white hair, yet an imposing demeanor — Elder Setsuna.
Elder Setsuna stepped up to the spirit platform, with Uchiha Mikoto in black, sorrowful attire, and the young Uchiha Sasuke and Itachi beside him.
"Sit!"
With a whoosh, all the elite Uchihas, from inside the house to the courtyard, simultaneously sat down cross-legged. The Uchiha clan, unlike other families and in control of the police department, almost had the quality of a military unit.
Elder Setsuna, imposing yet holding back his grief and anger, hoarsely raised his hand.
"Let's not discuss the clan head's demise for now, but with no second shadow in the village, the Uchiha clan needs a new head that can command respect and bear the clan's responsibilities!"
As his aged voice echoed, most people looked gravely towards the front few. The position of clan head was not for them; only the strongest within the clan were eligible.
However, Elder Setsuna surveyed everyone and solemnly said: "Before his death, the former head, Uchiha Fugaku, entrusted the clan to Uchiha Yoru, and even recommended him as the new clan head!"
With Elder Setsuna's words echoing, shock appeared on everyone's faces.
Uchiha Yoru! Barely eighteen, a disciple of the Sanin Orochimaru, and the most outstanding genius of the clan. His strength was unparalleled in the clan, but not everyone was convinced due to his age.
His youth was a concern, and there were other viable candidates with sufficient age and experience among the strong Jonin of the clan.
"Uchiha Yoru, step forward!"
In a voice aged yet powerful, Uchiha Yoru, dressed in black, emotionlessly stood up. Under everyone's gaze, he slowly moved beside the elder and sat down facing everyone.
"Elder, Uchiha Yoru may be the strongest genius in the clan, but isn't his experience too limited?"
The Uchihas were always proud and outspoken, admiring the strong and not hesitating to voice their concerns.
As someone spoke up, all eyes turned, some showing dissent.
With Uchiha Fugaku dead and his son Itachi only nine, he couldn't inherit the clan head position. Thus, a new clan head needed to be chosen.
"Before his death, the head entrusted Yoru, and we nominated him!"
Just then, the four elite Uchiha accompanying the clan Head as guards raised their arms in agreement. After all, they had witnessed everything and were thoroughly convinced by Uchiha Yoru.
"Lord Yoru is the most talented ninja in our clan with enormous potential. I agree."
"I also agree."
Gradually, one after another, the ninjas of the Uchiha clan raised their arms in agreement. In just a short moment, a third of them expressed their support.
It's undeniable that despite his young age, Uchiha Yoru's prestige had garnered him so much support.
This also revealed the Uchiha clan's reverence for the strong.
Watching the clan members, Uchiha Yoru's expression remained unrippled. This scene was quietly observed by Elder Setsuna, who nodded in approval.
A clan Head needs more than just strength; temperament is even more crucial. Uchiha Yoru had already proven his administrative capabilities while assisting Orochimaru, and now he demonstrated a maturity beyond his young age.
"Experience!" Elder Setsuna then sneered, looking around at everyone.
"Since when did our Uchiha clan rely on experience? Uchiha Yoru, at 14, joined Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin. Since then, he has managed affairs for a ninja corps of over a thousand on the frontlines. After returning to the village, he was responsible for the seventh police squad and Orochimaru's affairs, handling everything efficiently."
"He later rushed to the frontlines, serving as the commander in the Whirlpool Country battlefield, becoming the youngest commander in Konoha's history. He led over a thousand ninjas against the Mist ninja, often holding the upper hand, and even defeated the Suikazan Fuguki from the Mist."
At this point, Elder Setsuna coldly chuckled and said, "Is the experience of defeating the Suikazan Fuguki enough? Once could be luck, but twice, three times? He maintained dominance on the frontlines for a full year."
Though it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone understood the implication: who else in the clan could match such achievements? Probably not even the former clan Head, provided the Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't revealed.
"I support Lord Yoru."
"I agree."
Following Elder Setsuna's rallying, more hesitant people gradually raised their arms in agreement. At this moment, nearly half of the clan expressed their support.
With the former clan Head's dying request for recommendation and Elder Setsuna's support, Uchiha Yoru's position as the Uchiha clan Head was almost certain.
At this moment, all eyes were on the young man who had just turned eighteen. The most brilliant prodigy of the Uchiha clan was about to become the Head of the clan.
Meanwhile, Elder Setsuna respectfully bowed and stepped back from the main seat, giving Uchiha Yoru the opportunity to shine.
Uchiha Yoru slowly stood up under everyone's gaze, first bowing to the crowd to express his gratitude. All the elite Uchiha nodded in acceptance. Although some were still reluctant and hesitant, the decision was now final, and they could only nod in acceptance.
Then, Uchiha Yoru turned and bowed to the widow Uchiha Mikoto, who, with a face of sorrow and hurt, also bowed in return.
After the death of Uchiha Fugaku, she knew what was about to happen and now just wanted to protect her two children.
The new clan Head's ascension meant the previous Head's young children were potential threats, as the son of the former Head had the right to inherit the position of the next clan Head.
Therefore, Uchiha Fugaku's final entrustment before his death was also partly due to Uchiha Yoru's role as Itachi's teacher.
This was also why Uchiha Mikoto had almost no objections. Currently, within the family, probably only Uchiha Yoru had a lesser chance of harming her two children, although this was only a relative comparison.
No ruler would watch a potential threat exist right before their eyes.
In the end, Uchiha Yoru nodded slightly to the elder. It wasn't that he didn't understand the rules, but now that he was the clan Head, a nod to the elder was sufficient as a form of etiquette.
The two previous formalities were for the support of the people and the wife of the clan Head, both in line with etiquette.
The final formality was when Uchiha Yoru turned around and bowed at ninety degrees towards the spirit hall behind him.
Uchiha Yoru, turning around without hesitation, sat cleanly and neatly in the main seat, surveying everyone.
"Greetings to the Clan Head!"
With a unanimous shout, all members of the Uchiha clan bowed to greet the new clan Head, including the elder, Uchiha Mikoto, Sasuke, and Itachi, each bowing in thanks.
Facing everyone prostrating at his feet, Uchiha Yoru felt a complex mix of emotions, both light and heavy.
This was different from his previous positions, such as the 7th Captain of the Police Department or the frontline commander. Those were just official titles, but becoming the head of a clan meant having complete control over the life and death of the entire family. In the family, his word was law.
He could even kill without the Hokage's approval.
Below one person, above tens of thousands! Although not literally tens of thousands, the feeling was the same.
As everyone gradually raised their heads, Uchiha Yoru naturally saw the worry in some people's eyes. After all, his age was a disadvantage, and it was normal for some to worry about the future of the clan, especially since the family's situation in the village was not good.
There were also a few who were clearly dissatisfied, as Uchiha Yoru, despite his rising fame in recent years, was not universally accepted as the strongest in a clan known for its powerful members.
~~~
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