That evening, Yan, dressed in fresh attire, opened the door, nodded to Shisui and Itachi at the entrance, and headed towards the family shrine.
Shisui and Itachi followed him like loyal guards.
"By the way, Hokage-sama has given me a mission. You'll join me. Get ready; we leave tomorrow."
On the way, Yan briefly explained the mission concerning Hot Water Village.
"Yan!!"
"senpai!"
Along the way, the clan members they encountered all greeted Yan with smiles, and even those who were usually aloof nodded in acknowledgment.
Yan responded with a smile to each one.
Before long, the trio arrived at the family shrine, where some looked at Shisui with disapproval.
Fortunately, since Shisui was with Yan, the others kept their dissatisfaction to themselves.
More and more people gathered inside the shrine.
Enjin, with his carefree demeanor, walked up, bumped Shisui aside with his shoulder, and sat down beside Yan, chuckling.
Kaze stepped forward, gave Shisui a look that said, "Move aside or I'll make you."
Itachi bowed his head slightly, and Shisui had no choice but to step back quietly.
"Enough, you two, Shisui has turned over a new leaf; he's one of us now. No need for the cold stares every time you meet."
Despite everything, Shisui was now rolling with him, and Yan felt it necessary to maintain Shisui's dignity.
"Heh, definitely next time," Enjin chuckled, scratching his bald head.
Only Uchiha Enjin would dare to have a bald hairstyle among the Uchiha.
Shisui felt a warmth in his heart hearing Yan speak up for him, but he had no intention of arguing with Enjin, choosing instead to sit quietly in the back.
"It's not my fault; I just find him a bit irksome," Kaze shrugged, indicating he understood.
Yan said no more. It was up to them to sort out their relationships; he didn't need to worry about it.
In other words, if Shisui couldn't even manage personal relationships, that was his own problem.
Yan had given him a platform and saved face for him. If he still couldn't handle these issues, it could only mean there was something wrong with Uchiha Shisui himself.
The incident on Yan's side didn't attract much attention. The discord between Enjin and Shisui was nothing new, and the clan had grown accustomed to it.
As long as they didn't come to blows, it was fine.
Isn't bickering normal?
Even blood brothers have their fights, let alone members of a clan.
It wasn't long before Patriarch Fugaku arrived with the rest, heading straight to the main seat and gesturing for silence:
"The clan meeting isn't due yet, but I've moved it up a bit. Yan has a mission and needs to leave the village. It's uncertain how long it will take, so the elder's appointment needs to be brought forward."
At this, many clan members showed a dawning realization.
They had only heard that the clan meeting was moved up, not knowing the specifics.
Now the truth was clear.
The elder's appointment process was complex.
Of course, Yan didn't need to do anything. He just had to sit comfortably in his place and wait.
The trouble was all Fugaku's, the Patriarch.
Once the necessary procedures were followed and the elder's seal received, the appointment was concluded amidst the Patriarch's cheers.
"I'm honored to have the recognition of the Patriarch and our clan members.
Though I am young and feel the pressure of this position."
"Haha..."
Yan's words amused many, as his elder's appointment was a unique occurrence in Uchiha history.
"If there's anything I'm lacking, I hope my clansmen will stand up and point it out.
No one is perfect, and I have my flaws. I believe I'm quite approachable in private, so feel free to voice your concerns boldly. I won't put on airs just because I'm an elder."
"Really?"
Enjin and others teased, stirring up laughter in the family shrine.
Fugaku's mouth twitched a few times. What was supposed to be a serious affair had turned into this.
But he admired Yan's approach.
Letting the clan point out his shortcomings so he could correct them, rather than acting superior.
Whether or not anyone would actually do so, at least Yan's gesture would earn him considerable support.
"Of course, it's true."
Yan nodded with a smile, giving Enjin a look that said 'that's enough,' warning him not to stir up trouble, or else.
With Yan's warning, Enjin naturally didn't dare to continue his mischief.
"With the appointment of Elder Uchiha Yan concluded, we now move on to discuss matters concerning the family's assets."
The family shrine should be a place for serious discussion, not for lively atmospheres.
To prevent any deviation from the agenda, Fugaku quickly changed the subject to calm the excited clan members.
In the following time, it was mostly Fugaku's show, dealing with the management of the family's assets, while Yan remained silent, not meddling in these affairs.
This wasn't his forte; it's better to leave professional matters to the professionals.
Amateurs directing experts is something best avoided.
Once the patriarchal duties ended, Yan left immediately, and Shisui and Itachi also went home to prepare.
Becoming the family patriarch is a joyous occasion for others, but Yan didn't feel much about it.
After all, his focus had shifted away from the family; the small Uchiha clan was no longer his goal.
"Leaving tomorrow?"
Kurenai, slightly out of breath, curled up in Yan's embrace, resting with her eyes closed.
Seemingly recalling an unpleasant experience, Kurenai couldn't help but pinch Yan's waist twice:
"Can't you be gentler, like an old bull?"
"Can this sort of thing be gentle?"
Yan chuckled, "Yes, leaving tomorrow."
Opening her eyes and looking at the handsome face so close, Kurenai sighed:
"I can never figure out how I fell into your trap, Uchiha Yan.
If my father were still alive, knowing I've chosen someone from the Uchiha clan as my partner, he'd probably roll his eyes in anger."
Setting aside biases, Kurenai's father wasn't fond of the Uchiha.
The main reason was the conflict between certain strengths of both sides.
The Sunset clan excels in Genjutsu, and so do the Uchiha.
The Sharingan grants the Uchiha an unparalleled talent for Genjutsu.
In Konohagakure, only the Uchiha and Hyuga vie for the title of the strongest dojutsu clan, but no one cares about the strongest Genjutsu clan.
The fundamental reason is that there's no competition.
Families in Konohagakure skilled in Genjutsu are generally few in number.
With few people, it's rare for a family to produce a suitable heir to the Genjutsu legacy, unlike the Uchiha, who can quickly master it with the Sharingan.
"He'd probably chase me out with a stick."
Yan joked.
Kurenai rolled her eyes.
What are you saying, was my father that scary?
"Yes, yes, yes, my great elder fears being chased out with a stick the most."
Though she said this, Red was actually very happy about Yan becoming the family elder.
It meant her judgment was right, even if she fell for him somewhat cluelessly.
"Wait, I'm sleepy!"
"Just lie down then."
"...."
Isn't it said that men are the ones who find this sort of thing exhausting?
How come this guy is as unreasonable as a bull?
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