Chapter 20: Becoming a Bridge for the Clan
The Uchiha Clan.
As soon as Uchiha Yosuke left the Hokage building, Tsunade unceremoniously abandoned him. He turned around and headed home, only to run into a visibly anxious Uchiha Fugaku.
"Yosuke, is it true you're with Lady Tsunade?!"
At the door, Fugaku stared at him in shock. Having received the news in the middle of the night, Fugaku was stunned and dumbfounded. The clan had assigned him to get close to the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina, but in such a short time, he skipped right past her and ended up with Tsunade, the princess of the Senju Clan?
This wasn't just completing the mission—it was going above and beyond! Between Uzumaki Kushina and Tsunade, it was obvious to everyone in the village who had more influence.
"Captain Fugaku, listen to me!"
Seeing Fugaku's expression, Uchiha Yosuke felt miserable, trying to wave it off with an explanation.
But Fugaku shook his head, saying, "Yosuke, no need to explain. I understand. The clan sees your sacrifice."
At that moment, Fugaku looked at Yosuke's handsome face and thought to himself that it was no wonder his father and the elders had sent him on this mission. In this particular skill, he couldn't compare to the younger Uchiha.
"Yosuke, the clan head and the elders urgently request to see you."
Hearing Fugaku's words, Yosuke was full of frustration. This was unbelievable! He'd just returned, and the rumors had already spread; by tomorrow, the entire village would know. He admired Tsunade's strength, sure, but he still felt like he couldn't handle it yet; the risk was too high. In the original story, both Dan Kato and Nawaki… it was all so complicated, and he felt a lingering fear.
Without enough power, he only wanted to join the collective, not stand out.
But! This was all spiraling beyond his control!
**
Clan Meeting Room
Under the dim candlelight, the Uchiha clan head and elders sat solemnly at the head of the room, saying nothing. They were still in shock—this kid had surpassed their expectations. They had only intended for him to get closer to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but now he had gone directly to Tsunade. That was not something they had foreseen.
"Clan Leader, Elders!"
Facing these two old men, Yosuke gritted his teeth and reluctantly began to explain. He didn't say much—only that Tsunade was using him as a cover, and that nothing was real.
The clan head and the elder known as Setsuna, however, seemed to think otherwise, and Setsuna's face took on a thoughtful look.
"Tsunade represents the Senju Clan. For her to do this openly must carry a deeper meaning," he said.
The clan head nodded, "Yes, it's likely about White Fang."
They exchanged a glance, seemingly realizing something. Many clans in the village supported White Fang; even the Senju clan did, indicating some dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage's faction. Meanwhile, the Uchiha had always tried to foster a good relationship with White Fang, though they hadn't fully succeeded. If the Senju Clan was extending a hand, it was a clear signal for the Uchiha to join in.
The clan head and the elder both looked at Yosuke with an intense expression.
"This is a gesture of goodwill from the Senju Clan. The Uchiha cannot ignore it. If the clan aligns itself with others, it could ultimately earn the trust of the village."
As Yosuke listened to these old men's interpretations, he widened his eyes, wanting to speak up, but after a moment's thought, he realized that this actually worked in his favor and was beneficial to the clan as well.
"Yosuke!"
Suddenly, the clan head and elder turned toward him with respect. Yosuke responded in a firm voice, "Clan Leader, Elders!"
"Your burden has grown heavier. The clan needs you. If necessary, we hope you will be willing to make sacrifices for the clan and the village in front of Lady Tsunade."
Yosuke took a deep breath, seeing the meaningful look in the old men's eyes, and put on a determined face of noble sacrifice.
"Clan Leader, Elders, rest assured. For the honor of the Uchiha, I, Uchiha Yosuke, am willing to become a bridge between our clan and the village."
On the side, Fugaku bowed his head, unwilling to lift it. Was this sacrifice genuine? After all, they were proud Uchiha. Glancing at Yosuke's righteous, selfless expression, Fugaku couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration—he couldn't compare to Yosuke.
"This is Tsunade's intel."
Suddenly, Fugaku's father, the Uchiha clan head, looked over at him, and Fugaku jolted, quickly pulling out an intel scroll. Tonight's events had been unexpected, but the clan's quick response skills applied to intelligence gathering as well.
Opening the information they had collected on Tsunade, the clan head and elder examined it seriously.
Drinks heavily? Obsessed with gambling?
They exchanged glances and broke into a smile.
"Yosuke, your dual bloodlines are the clan's most precious asset. The clan will provide you with sufficient funds. We hope you'll go all out to gain Tsunade's trust."
"That's right. What you're doing is for the clan. Once you have Tsunade's trust…"
The two old men seemed to fear he'd resist the idea, so they continued with a mix of persuasion and big promises.
On the side, Fugaku lowered his gaze and remained silent, though his eyes revealed his discomfort. This was basically telling Yosuke to get as close as possible to Tsunade and, if necessary, use himself as a "sacrifice." The proud Uchiha were being asked to lower their heads.
Growing more and more uncomfortable, Fugaku went from embarrassed to outright angry.
"Father!"
Finally, the younger, less composed Fugaku gritted his teeth and lifted his head, showing a stubborn expression.
"What about the honor of the Uchiha? What will outsiders think of us?"
Fugaku's words left the clan head speechless. The elder, Setsuna, raised an eyebrow, silently suggesting to the clan head that this was his doing. They were experienced enough to know when to bend and adapt, understanding that some strategies were necessary.
"Captain Fugaku! This is for the clan; I'm willing to do this," Yosuke interjected, wide-eyed as he quickly tried to keep the situation on track. Good grief, Fugaku was about to ruin his big opportunity.
The two old men had made a valid point: he really could use the strength of both the Uchiha and Senju clans as leverage. Tsunade had already confirmed that she was using him as a cover. Drawing strength from both sides would help him grow faster.
The saying "fortune favors the bold" came to mind.
Understanding this, Yosuke stood up, facing the clan head and elder with conviction. "Although our clan sits at the center of Konoha, the Uchiha are like a lone flame in the night. This is a rare opportunity. My bloodline illness gives me a legitimate reason to be near Lady Tsunade, and…"
He explained at length that his bloodline would allow him to approach Tsunade under the pretext of his condition.
In other words, he would be able to approach Tsunade in a way that upheld Uchiha pride.
Hearing this, the clan head and elder were filled with satisfaction. Here was a young man ready to give everything for the clan's benefit. Fugaku, however, felt a pang of guilt. Yosuke was sacrificing so much and was even twisting the Uchiha's proud image.
(End of Chapter)
***
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