Seeing that Xia Yu truly had no intention of resisting, Sasuke replied coldly, "Fine! Let's hear what you have to say!"
Xia Yu took a sip of tea, displaying a thoughtful expression, and asked, "Sasuke, what do you think the Uchiha clan needs most right now?"
"Revenge!" Sasuke bit out the word with a clear, sharp tone.
"Revenge? Hmph..." Xia Yu shook his head slightly and pushed the other cup of hot tea towards Sasuke.
Feeling the disdain in Xia Yu's tone, Sasuke snarled, "How is that wrong? My brother, no, Uchiha Itachi, made our clan fall into ruin. I must kill him with my own hands. The fallen clan members would want me to do so!"
"Revenge requires time and resources. With your current strength, do you really think you can kill him? Even if you could, you don't know where he is. How can you talk about revenge?" Xia Yu countered.
Sasuke was momentarily speechless. He wanted to argue but couldn't find the words. His eyes, however, still held a stubborn resolve. "I will train hard, and with my talent, I will surpass him! Then, I will search every corner of the world until I find him!"
"Have you considered that it might take five, ten, or even more years? What will happen to the Uchiha compound in the village? Will it remain a desolate wasteland, overgrown with weeds?" Xia Yu pressed.
"I...!" Sasuke wanted to retort but couldn't find the right argument.
He had never considered Xia Yu's perspective. Since that night, his mind had been consumed by revenge, disregarding everything else.
Xia Yu continued, "Do you know what I believe the Uchiha clan needs most right now?"
"What?" Sasuke asked, genuinely curious.
"People!" Xia Yu declared.
"People?" Sasuke hadn't expected that answer.
"Only with enough people can the Uchiha clan regain its former glory. Strength in numbers isn't just about power; it's about status, wealth, resources, and even political influence. We can reclaim our place in Konoha, perhaps even surpass it."
Sasuke was stunned. He didn't fully understand but felt there was some truth to Xia Yu's words.
"The most urgent task for the Uchiha is to quickly replenish our numbers, to restore the clan's vitality and economy," Xia Yu explained.
Sasuke thought for a moment and then asked, "So, you summoned all these people to increase our numbers?"
Xia Yu nodded, "Exactly."
"Hmph... That's ridiculous," Sasuke sneered. "What use are they? They don't have Uchiha blood and aren't fit to be part of our clan!"
Xia Yu's eyes narrowed, and he replied meaningfully, "They may not be Uchiha by blood, but what if they bear our children?"
Sasuke was taken aback. The idea dawned on him, and he realized Xia Yu's true intention.
"I see now... You're trying to continue the Uchiha bloodline by having children with these women," Sasuke muttered.
"Exactly," Xia Yu affirmed. "For now, I'll bear this burden alone. You're too young. In ten years, maybe, but not now."
"Your talent surpasses mine, and I know your heart is set on revenge. So, leave the task of rebuilding our clan to me. You focus on your training," Xia Yu continued.
Sasuke sighed in relief. He preferred training to dealing with women.
"Sorry, Xia Yu... I mean, brother. I misjudged you. I thought you were still just a lecher, but you have a far-sighted plan," Sasuke apologized.
Xia Yu smiled, "What did you call me?"
"Brother... Xia Yu," Sasuke repeated.
For the first time, Xia Yu felt the warmth of being called 'brother' by Sasuke. Their shared Uchiha blood made the title all the more meaningful.
Xia Yu pulled Sasuke into a hug, promising, "Don't worry, little brother. I will make the Uchiha clan the largest and strongest once more."
Sasuke nodded firmly, "And I will kill that man and avenge our clan!"
"Then it's settled. You focus on revenge, and I'll focus on rebuilding our clan. Though our paths are different, our goal is the same!" Xia Yu declared.
Facing each other, they both shouted in unison, "Revive the Uchiha!"
Xia Yu decided not to tell Sasuke the truth about Itachi. It wasn't necessary. This was Itachi's decision, and it was now Sasuke's mission. Their fate was theirs alone to decide.
Understanding Xia Yu's plan, Sasuke seemed transformed. He even took it upon himself to organize the crowd outside, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
With Sasuke's help, the chaos outside dissipated. The women fell into orderly lines, disputes ceased, and the atmosphere calmed.
As night fell, Xia Yu and Sasuke, exhausted but determined, sat together under the lamplight. They mapped out the Uchiha compound, assigning homes to the women who had passed the interview.
That day, they interviewed 188 women, accepting 120. Xia Yu's standards weren't excessively high, but he did reject those whose appearance or age was beyond his acceptance.
"Get some rest, Sasuke. You need to recover. Let me handle the clan matters," Xia Yu suggested.
"I'm strong, brother. Don't worry about me. Tomorrow there might be more women coming for interviews," Sasuke replied.
"Yes, the announcement was just made today. Interest should remain high for a while. And there are many women I've been with who haven't shown up yet. They will come eventually," Xia Yu said confidently.
"You think so? What if they're already married?" Sasuke asked skeptically.
"They won't be interested in other men after being with me. That's my unique skill, unmatched by anyone," Xia Yu boasted.
Sasuke blinked, confused. "I don't quite understand, but it sounds impressive."
Xia Yu chuckled, ruffling Sasuke's hair. "One day, you'll understand. But even if you do, it won't matter to you. You have other priorities."
As they continued their work, planning the future of the Uchiha, they felt a renewed sense of purpose and unity, ready to face the challenges ahead together.