16-20

*Chapter 16: Like Willows Bending in the Wind (Seeking Support!)*

What is a clan leader?

Simply put, it’s the person in charge of managing the clan’s affairs.

Depending on history, culture, customs, and traditions, the power of a clan leader varies between different families. In the Uchiha clan, the clan leader was undoubtedly the highest authority, able to make final decisions on all matters in the clan in the past.

However, ever since Uchiha Madara, the former clan leader, defected from Konoha...

The clansmen who refused to follow Madara’s lead decided, after multiple discussions, to limit the power of the clan leader. They enhanced the authority of the clan elders to counterbalance the absolute power of the leader, hoping to prevent another similar disaster. After all, Madara's defection nearly led to the clan’s destruction.

At that time, the future Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, proposed wiping out the entire Uchiha clan. Fortunately, the First Hokage was merciful and, instead of punishing the Uchiha, praised them for not leaving Konoha with Madara.

Still, the elders of that generation were terrified.

Thus, the changes followed.

The elders gained the power to interfere with the clan leader’s decisions, and in certain circumstances, with the majority support of the clan, they could even replace the leader. Of course, this has never happened yet—since Madara, the clan has only gone through two clan leaders.

Fugaku Uchiha was the second leader after that period.

As long as the clan leader didn’t show signs of betraying the clan, no one would dare replace them lightly.

In the original history, even when resentment within the clan ran high, they didn’t remove their indecisive clan leader. Instead, they applied pressure through a collective petition, forcing Fugaku Uchiha to begin plotting a coup... Honestly, if they had just removed Fugaku, the Uchiha's annihilation might not have been as disgraceful as it ended up being!

"I didn’t expect even Hokumaru to support you. With this, the chances of the plan succeeding have increased significantly!" Uchiha Sougen sat in the courtyard of his house beneath an old cherry blossom tree, which had been planted by his ancestors at the founding of Konoha. When the clan relocated, the tree was moved using Earth Release jutsu.

A large blue stone sat under the tree, where Uchiha Sougen sat with his favorite bottle of Ruby Port wine, enjoying the blossoms and sipping his drink.

"Old man, Ryuji, Hokumaru... half of the six elders support you. Along with the young ones you've recruited, more than half of the clan's Jonin are on your side... Sougen, how much longer are you going to prepare?"

"It won't take much longer."

Sitting cross-legged on a mat laid out on the lawn not far from the tree, Sougen joined his grandfather, enjoying the blossoms and secretly plotting.

"I rejected the Third Hokage's invitation this time. If I don’t become the clan leader soon, we’ll likely face another attack soon enough. Grandpa, to be honest, I’m considering pulling Fujika out of the academy. It just doesn’t feel safe there."

"You don’t have to worry about Fujika. I’ve arranged for someone to protect her. If you're still uneasy, you can pick her up yourself after school. But it’s best not to pull her out. You’ve said it yourself—Uchiha must not isolate themselves. We need to interact with other families, and the ninja academy is the best way to foster those connections. If you pull her out, how will you convince the clan to send their children to the academy in the future?"

"I never said everyone had to go to the academy—just the well-behaved, good-looking ones... Okay, I get it. I’ll personally take Fujika to and from school for the time being."

"Don’t spoil your sister too much. If you do, it'll be your problem later."

A breeze blew through.

The branches of the old cherry tree swayed, sending beautiful pink petals drifting down like delicate cakes, carried by the wind toward a nearby bamboo grove, resembling a shower of cherry blossoms.

After finishing his wine, Uchiha Genshi couldn't help but admire the scene and applauded. "So beautiful!"

"Fujika’s a girl. She deserves some extra spoiling."

Sougen chuckled but thought to himself, You’re the one who dotes on her the most, Grandpa! I didn’t even know you had someone protecting her... I didn’t get this kind of treatment when I was on the battlefield fighting Mist ninjas!

Of course, these thoughts remained private, and his expression didn’t betray a thing.

"By the way, Sougen, what’s going on with Shisui? From last night’s events, it seems like you’ve won him over?" After the cherry blossom rain subsided, Uchiha Genshi reluctantly shifted his gaze back to his grandson and brought up Shisui.

It wasn’t exactly out of the blue—Sougen had been expecting this question.

Uchiha Shisui, despite being the same age as Sougen at fifteen, was already known as "Shisui of the Body Flicker," a name so prominent that even the Cloud and Stone ninja recognized it. His influence among the younger generation in the clan was nearly as strong as Sougen’s own title, "Flame Demon."

Moreover, though Uchiha Kagami had died young, there were still followers within the clan, even among the elders.

Shisui’s stance indeed had significant influence on Sougen's success or failure.

"More or less."

Sougen nodded lightly and took a sip of tea. Ninja under twenty weren’t allowed to drink alcohol, and the Uchiha clan adhered strictly to this rule. Alcohol is poison to the body; lust is like a sharp blade... both are harmful to young ninja.

In fact, no matter your age, indulging too much in either is never a good idea.

"Strictly speaking, Shisui supports me because he’s come to see the harsh reality—he has no other choice. He could try to act independently, but his personality just isn’t suited for that."

"Don’t get too complacent."

Uchiha Sougen took another sip of his wine, his cheeks flushed, and said drowsily, "In the end, Sougen, your plan to save the clan doesn’t hinge solely on you. If Fugaku changes his stance, his influence within the clan would make it hard for you to defeat him. Remember that, and don’t let your near-success breed arrogance."

"I’m not too worried about that."

Sougen laughed carefreely. "There’s an old saying: ‘A person’s nature is hard to change.’ Our clan leader is indecisive, like a willow bending in the wind—that’s not something he can easily fix. Besides, Uchiha ultimately respects strength. As long as my fists are strong enough, the clan will naturally know whom to follow."

After that, he looked up at the sky and stood.

"Grandpa, enjoy the cherry blossoms at your leisure. I’m off to visit our clan leader."

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 17: The Clan Leader*

On a spring afternoon, under a canopy of vibrant cherry blossoms, Sōgen walked, listening to the faint sound of wind rustling through the branches. He arrived in front of an imposing mansion. The two large gates were open, and inside, the carefully manicured plants looked exquisite. Following the path paved with bluish-gray stone bricks, his eyes were drawn to a sliding door at the end.

Without hesitation, he walked in and pulled open the door, calling out, "Is anyone here?"

No one responded.

At the entrance, Sōgen took off his shoes and stepped onto the wooden floor of the corridor. This wasn’t his first visit to the clan leader. With a grandfather who was an elder, he had been a guest at this house several times before. Otherwise, Sasuke wouldn’t address him as "Big Brother Sōgen."

While he couldn't claim to know the layout of the house intimately, he was familiar enough with the guest areas. On the right side of the hallway was the kitchen and dining room, where he saw no activity—likely, the clan leader’s wife wasn’t home.

On the left was a six-tatami room with low tables and cushions neatly arranged. Sitting in the center was none other than the current leader of the Uchiha clan—

Uchiha Fugaku.

He was a man of great authority. With short blackl hair and a long, stern face, his expressionless features exuded an indescribable sense of pressure. He wore a dark blue robe with the symbol of the flame fan on the back.

"Sōgen, come in," Uchiha Fugaku spoke.

"Clan leader, sorry for the intrusion," Sōgen replied, stepping into the room and sitting on the cushion opposite Fugaku.

On the low table between them was a teapot and two teacups, the tea inside still steaming, with floating green tea leaves.

"I’ve heard recently that you want to replace me as clan leader?" Fugaku asked, bluntly.

"Oh? Clan leader, you already know? I was hoping to surprise you when the time came!" Sōgen responded with mock innocence.

"A surprise? More like a shock, right?" Fugaku retorted.

"Well, isn’t that the point? Whether surprise or shock… the important thing is to catch someone off guard."

"Enough with the nonsense, Sōgen. You’ve always been a troublemaker, even as a child," Fugaku said, staring at him with a cold, stern expression.

"Since you already know… aren’t you angry?" Sōgen asked, curious.

It wasn’t surprising that Fugaku had discovered his intentions. The Uchiha clan wasn’t that large—just over a thousand people—so it was impossible to keep such things hidden, especially as the plan neared its final stages. Sōgen hadn’t planned to use any tricks; he intended to take the clan leader position from Fugaku openly and directly.

"If this were five years ago, I might have strung you up and beaten you, then sent you to guard the border so you wouldn’t have time to cause trouble for the rest of your life."

"Five years ago? The Nine-Tails incident?" Sōgen mused. It was true that Fugaku’s furrowed brow had deepened over the years, and a heavy, gloomy aura hung around him.

"Now, though… if you’re truly capable of replacing me, it might not be a bad thing for me or the clan," Fugaku said, rubbing his brow. The dark circles under his eyes hinted that he hadn’t slept the previous night.

It probably wasn’t just last night. Fugaku had likely not slept well for a long time. With tensions between the village and the Uchiha clan escalating, how could he rest easy? If not for this, perhaps the clan leader would have had more than just two children, Itachi and Sasuke—perhaps a third child would have been born by now.

"Of course, this is all dependent on whether you truly have the ability." Fugaku stared at Sōgen and said slowly, "If you want the clan leader position, fine—come and take it. Show me what you’re capable of."

"I won’t keep you waiting long."

"I’ll be watching," Fugaku replied.

With that, both fell into silence. Sōgen picked up his cup of tea and sipped it slowly, his gaze drifting to the lush garden outside. Bathed in the spring sunlight, the plants in the garden thrived, meticulously pruned. Every branch and leaf was orderly, and the entire garden was harmonious, with no hint of chaos.

Just like—

A clan leader who strictly followed the rules.

"Did you bring me here just to expose my ambitions, Clan Leader?" Sōgen broke the silence, refilling his cup from the teapot.

Fugaku pushed his empty cup toward Sōgen, who filled it again with green tea. The surface rippled as Fugaku gently lifted the cup.

"I brought you here…" Fugaku began, staring into his cup. "Last night, I met with the Hokage. He subtly expressed that you, Sōgen, shouldn’t get too close to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. More precisely, he suggested that the Uchiha clan should maintain some distance from the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

"A threat?"

"Exactly. It was a threat. And it wasn’t just the Hokage there—Hyūga, Aburame, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Kurama, Inuzuka… the heads of all those clans were present. None of them want to see the Uchiha getting too close to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. That night five years ago is still fresh in their minds."

"Hyūga… I thought they’d harbor resentment toward the Hokage after the death of Hyūga Hizashi!"

"The Hyūga branch family exists to protect the main family. To the Hyūga main family, Hizashi’s death was inevitable," Fugaku said with a rare hint of disdain.

"So what do you plan to do, Clan Leader? Punish me for this? The Third Hokage personally praised me last night for protecting the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

Sōgen asked, intrigued.

"The Hokage praising you doesn’t mean you can’t be punished," Fugaku replied.

"That’s shameless!"

"I need to offer the village an explanation," Fugaku continued. "The Uchiha are part of the village, and when it comes to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, this isn’t just an internal clan matter anymore. Other clans are watching us closely. If we don’t give them an explanation… even those who claim neutral might turn against us."

"Neutral clans?" Sōgen laughed mockingly. "I didn’t realize there were any neutral parties left in the village. Aren’t most of their members serving in the ANBU or Root? And you call that neutrality? Maybe the only ones not involved are the declining Kurama clan."

"Don’t confuse individuals in the ANBU or Root with their entire clan. Those people don’t represent their clans. Shisui joined the ANBU—does that mean he represents the Uchiha?" Fugaku countered.

"…Alright, fair point. So, what’s the punishment, then?" Sōgen asked.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 18: Tomorrow*

"Five million ryō as a fine."

Uchiha Fugaku replied.

"That simple?"

Sōgen raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Five million ryō might seem like a huge amount, but to Sōgen, it was nothing more than taking on a few more high-difficulty missions. Plus, his family had a private workshop that produced explosive tags. At worst, he could spend some extra time there and make a batch of high-quality explosive tags. Gathering five million ryō would be easy.

Creating explosive tags required a ninja skilled in fire-style jutsu to inject refined fire chakra into the tags. When used, the sealing technique on the tags would release the sealed fire chakra, turning it into an explosion to harm enemies.

The Uchiha clan proudly claimed to be the second-best in the ninja world when it came to fire-style jutsu, with no one daring to claim the top spot.

Manufacturing and selling explosive tags had been the Uchiha clan’s business since the tags first appeared in this world. It was their largest source of income. Even without taking on missions, the Uchiha could make a fortune just by producing and selling explosive tags.

After all,

The price of a single explosive tag ranged from 2,000 ryō to 12,000 ryō, depending on the skill of the maker. There were several grades, with the most powerful tags able to blow a person to pieces, while the weakest would merely injure. The tags produced by the Uchiha were undoubtedly the finest in the ninja world.

A single tag crafted by Sōgen, who earned the nickname “Flame Demon,” could sell for the highest price of 12,000 ryō.

Sōgen also had a special ability called "Mana Burst (Flame)," which allowed him to create explosive tags at a speed several times faster than others. If it weren't for the limit of his chakra, making tens of thousands of tags in a day wouldn’t be out of the question.

To be honest, Sōgen suspected that Konan's six billion explosive tags were made by first using a secret technique to mass-produce the tag paper, then having Nagato infuse them with fire-style chakra.

The Uzumaki clan, known for their massive chakra reserves, could probably produce hundreds of thousands or even millions of explosive tags in a single day.

Otherwise,

Six billion tags would be impossible to gather, even if the Akatsuki sold everything they had.

And it's unlikely they could even purchase that many.

Strictly speaking, explosive tags were critical military supplies, regulated as strategic materials in every country and village. Small-scale sales were fine, but large-scale purchases would definitely draw attention. No one would sell that many explosive tags to some unknown party.

"We're not done yet! That fine is just a small part of it!"

Uchiha Fugaku rubbed the clear glass teacup in his hand. "I'm planning to send you to the Border Guard Unit."

"Whoa, whoa, clan leader, didn’t you say only your past self from five years ago would do something like that?"

"I never said my present self wouldn’t... But I'm just the head of the Police Force. I don't have control over the Border Guard Unit. I'll submit an application tonight, saying that the Uchiha are willing to serve the village by sending someone to guard the border. Your name will be at the top of the list. The village will likely approve this application."

"If things move quickly, you may have to pack your bags for the border by noon tomorrow. No, the approval will come quickly. If the application is submitted tonight, you might be leaving as early as tomorrow morning."

At this, Sōgen realized that the clan leader was indeed quite clever.

He could reject a verbal invitation from the Third Hokage, but he couldn’t disobey an official order issued in the Hokage's name. Originally, he had a nominal position in the Police Force, a power granted to the Uchiha by the Second Hokage himself. While the Police Force was a cage for the Uchiha, it also acted as their shelter.

At the very least, even the Third Hokage couldn’t interfere in the internal affairs of the Police Force, as it was the exclusive domain of the Uchiha clan.

But now, Uchiha Fugaku, the head of the Police Force, intended to kick him out of the unit as a show of loyalty to the village by sending him to the Border Guard Unit. Once there, he would be at the mercy of the Hokage’s faction, shaped however they wished.

This way,

Fugaku didn’t have to personally deal with him, the potential usurper, and he could also placate the village. It was a masterful move, killing two birds with one stone—or rather, three!

"Tomorrow, huh?"

Sōgen muttered, reflecting on the word that Fugaku kept repeating.

Suddenly,

His mind cleared, and he realized something.

By informing him in advance, Fugaku was giving him a chance to struggle. If Sōgen failed to seize this opportunity, he would have no right to cause trouble over the order tomorrow.

This truly was killing three birds with one stone!

"Clan leader, I used to think you were an irresponsible leader. Honestly, I still do. But… it seems you still care for the clan. At least for now, you haven’t abandoned it like it’s worthless trash."

As he said this, Sōgen stood up and walked briskly toward the veranda. When he got there and realized his shoes weren’t there, he turned back, stomping loudly on the wooden floor as he hurried back.

"You’re spouting nonsense again. I have no idea what goes on in that head of yours!"

He heard the sound of the sliding door opening and closing behind him. Uchiha Fugaku shook his head, not understanding why Sōgen had such a bias against him. He knew he wasn’t perfect, but abandoning the clan? That was too much.

Soon after,

Footsteps echoed from the corridor outside.

A woman dressed in a beige apron entered the room.

"Fugaku, are you really planning to hand over the clan to that boy?"

This graceful, gentle-looking woman with an air of refinement was Uchiha Mikoto, the clan leader's wife. She hadn’t left, as Sōgen had guessed, but was sitting in the next room, listening to the conversation between her husband and Sōgen.

"Everything is for the sake of the clan."

Uchiha Fugaku sighed.

"This time, the Hokage has caught us interacting with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He’s using that to bring the neutral families of the village onto his side, forcing me to deal with Sōgen. But the clan’s anger and resentment are almost impossible to suppress. If I deal with him now, even if I have a legitimate reason... the clan will still revolt."

"Besides, Sōgen… that boy is strong. Neither Shisui nor I can be sure we could defeat him in battle. If he really has the ability to take the clan leader’s seat tonight, then... letting him experience how difficult it is to sit on that volcano won’t be a bad thing. The clan is like a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment... Lately, I’ve spent every night thinking about the future of the clan, but I haven’t found any solutions..."

Since their children were away—Itachi on a mission and Sasuke at the academy—the clan leader, burdened by the pressure, found solace in confiding his worries to his wife. He set aside the strong image he projected to the village and the clan, revealing his inner weakness and suffering.

Uchiha Mikoto sat beside him, quietly listening, her gentle presence offering comfort to the endless sorrow and frustration within him.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 19: Usurpation Begins! (Please Recommend!)*

As the saying goes, plans can't keep up with changes. Life’s journey is always filled with unpredictable surprises. However, Sougen didn’t dislike these surprises. A future that could be seen clearly at a glance was boring and drained his motivation. Only an unknown, unpredictable, and chaotic future was worth looking forward to!

No matter what others thought, Sougen enjoyed this thrilling, adventurous lifestyle. It made him feel truly alive.

"You’ve really surprised me, Patriarch. A triple-play move, quite brilliant..."

Sougen walked briskly along the stone-paved path. Above him, cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, and the air was filled with a refreshing fragrance. Yet, inside, he felt like a fire was burning, igniting his fighting spirit. His crimson eyes shone with determination.

After leaving the Patriarch's residence, Sougen didn’t go home right away. Instead, he took a detour along the stone path, following the shortest route in his mind. One by one, he gathered his staunchest supporters: Uchiha Arashiyama, Uchiha Chihaya, Uchiha Akitaro, Uchiha Futaba, Uchiha Jun, Uchiha Hokuto...

Finally, even Shisui joined the team.

“Sougen, isn’t this... a bit too fast?” Shisui asked, feeling a bit anxious. Although he had made up his mind, it didn’t mean he had completely shaken off his doubts. He was naturally the kind to overthink things.

“We don’t have time to wait.”

Sougen shook his head slightly. "If we miss tonight, we might end up at the border, either eating sand or fish from the sea."

“I hate seafood.”

Uchiha Chihaya, a serious and overly focused young woman, frowned. As Sougen’s childhood friend, they had fought side by side on the Eastern Front. When they were cutting down Mist ninja after Mist ninja, they were also force-fed endless seafood.

Mainly because the chefs were terrible.

Everything was carelessly prepared and cooked, and they had no choice but to eat whatever was put in front of them. Over time, everyone naturally grew to hate seafood. Sougen was no exception.

“So, to avoid seafood, we must succeed in tonight’s coup! Otherwise, it’s either eat seafood or grab our swords and fight those old fools,” Sougen said, rallying everyone.

“I’d rather take out that old geezer, Danzo,” Uchiha Hokuto, a fiery hothead, tightened his grip on his sword, a look of excitement spreading across his face. This kid didn’t know fear; he was always ready for a fight, like a battle-ready rooster.

“What are you talking about? Sougen is definitely going to become Patriarch tonight. After that, we’ll have plenty of ways to deal with that old jerk, Danzo,” Uchiha Arashiyama said, smacking Hokuto on the back of the head to keep him in line.

On the stone-paved road under the cherry trees, a group of young people strode through noisily, drawing the attention of many clan members at home. Noticing that all these youths were Jonin, some sharp-eyed observers began to suspect that something big was about to happen, perhaps even a plan to overthrow the Patriarch.

Sougen ignored the clan members’ speculations. After gathering his core team, he led them straight back home. By this time, his parents were at the workshop, and his sister was at the Ninja Academy. The only one home was his grandfather, Uchiha Genshi, sitting beneath the old cherry tree, admiring the blossoms.

“Grandfather.”

Sougen approached.

“Are you ready to begin?”

Uchiha Genshi, as if unaware of the group following his grandson, calmly poured wine into a clay bowl from his flask, watching the deep red liquid swirl.

“Yes. The Patriarch has given me a difficult challenge. If I don’t achieve my goal tonight, tomorrow I’ll be sent to the Border Guard. Knowing how the village’s upper echelons operate, if I leave, they won’t let me live to see the border,” Sougen said seriously.

“Clever tactic. It seems we weren’t entirely blind in supporting Fugaku as Patriarch back then.”

“No, the more skilled the Patriarch, the greater the damage he’ll cause if he chooses to abandon the clan,” Sougen said, resolute as always. Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito’s successful massacre of the Uchiha clan had a lot to do with Fugaku’s decision to not resist.

The clan had many Jonin, seasoned fighters who could rival even Kakashi in his prime. However, the lack of leadership from the Patriarch caused the clan to scatter and fight individually, resulting in their easy defeat. In the end, the Konoha village’s most powerful clan was wiped out without much resistance.

“Sougen, why are you so sure that Fugaku will abandon the clan?”

“Just a hunch.”

Sougen answered frankly.

Though some events hadn’t happened yet, it didn’t mean he could completely let down his guard against Fugaku and his son, Itachi. To put it bluntly, he didn’t like either of them.

Uchiha Genshi stared at Sougen for several seconds, then broke his gaze, raising his bowl to down the wine in one gulp. He set the empty bowl on the stone next to him and asked, “What’s your plan?”

“Grandfather, I need you to convince Elders Ryūji and Homaru to use their authority to summon a clan meeting at Naka Shrine.”

“That’s not enough.”

Uchiha Genshi shook his head and held up three fingers.

“The three of us won’t be enough. If the other three elders don’t support it, and if the Patriarch opposes it, the request for an emergency meeting will be denied. We need at least one more elder to prevent any unexpected problems.”

He looked over at Shisui, standing a little distance away.

Currently, the Uchiha clan had six elders assisting the Patriarch. Uchiha Genshi was Sougen’s grandfather, so his support was natural. Elder Ryūji, a close friend of Genshi, was the grandfather of Uchiha Chihaya, Sougen’s childhood friend. And Elder Homaru had already expressed his support for Sougen the previous night.

That made three.

“Shisui, I need you to help me convince Elder Jun to support me.”

Sougen turned to Shisui, looking him straight in the eye as he made his request.

Though Shisui didn’t have many close friends in the clan, he had the backing of Elder Jun, the famed younger brother of Uchiha Kagami. Unlike his ill-fated older brother, Elder Jun had lived to this day and was a key figure in the clan.

“I... I understand.”

Shisui hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

“Thank you, Shisui.”

Sougen didn’t waste time with further discussion. The meeting at Naka Shrine was only the beginning. To successfully replace the Patriarch, he needed the support of more clan members. Such a significant event couldn’t be decided by a few elders alone—the Uchiha clan, with its long-standing traditions, valued the opinions of its members.

Of course, only ninja clan members could participate in such meetings. Non-ninja members had no say in these matters.

To gain an advantage at the meeting, Sougen needed to rally as much support as possible before it began.

Fortunately, his core team could help him reach out to many supporters.

(Chapter End)

If you think this book is decent, please recommend it! Even one recommendation would be great! Your support is my motivation to keep writing!

*Chapter 20: The 180 Steps of the Naka Shrine*

(Please Recommend!)

The question of which deity was enshrined at Naka Shrine had puzzled Sougen for a long time in his childhood. As a public meeting place for the Uchiha clan, the shrine was considered part of their family’s property. Unlike their ever-moving clan grounds, the Naka Shrine remained steadfast in the village’s corner.

Interestingly enough, after two relocations, the Uchiha clan’s grounds were now closer to the shrine.

“Sougen, I remember when you were little, running around trying to figure out which god the Naka Shrine worshipped. You’d climb up and down the shrine every day, and the old man guarding the place used to complain about how much you annoyed him,” said Uchiha Ranzan, standing under the torii gate of the shrine, gazing at the ancient structure with nostalgia.

Being secluded in the corner of the village wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

At least during the Nine-Tails incident, the Naka Shrine wasn’t affected at all.

“It’s a shame, but I still haven’t figured out which deity the shrine honors,” Sougen reminisced about his joyful childhood before he was sent to the battlefield. Back then, his life was carefree and full of fun.

To maximize the power of the invisible treasure known as "Knights Never Die Empty-Handed", he led his friends—Uchiha Chihaya, Uchiha Futaba, Uchiha Jun, and Uchiha Beidou—on treasure hunts, hoping to uncover hidden treasures from the Uchiha clan’s grounds.

Of course, their efforts were in vain.

With sensor ninjas as sharp as radars, any treasure would have been discovered long ago. There was no chance for them to pick up any easy finds.

But during these hunts, the question of what deity Naka Shrine worshipped unintentionally stuck with Sougen, leaving him confused for a long time. Even now, he hadn’t found an answer. The shrine’s statues had been destroyed and disappeared at some unknown time.

He had asked his grandfather, “Why shrine dont have any deities?” The reply he got was dismissive: “It’s always been like that!” Dissatisfied, Sougen had searched through the family’s library, but the Uchiha clan was more about cold-hearted killers than scholars. Other than outdated and old ninjutsu scrolls, there were very few legitimate historical records.

“Sougen, you always noticed things others didn’t. If it weren’t for you asking why the shrine doesn’t have any gods, I might never have thought the Naka Shrine was strange at all,” Ranzan chuckled.

“That’s because you lack curiosity.”

“Curiosity, huh? Maybe you’re right. I’ve never been particularly interested in the gods the shrine might worship.”

“You’re so old-fashioned!”

“Say what you like, but I think people should live practical lives.”

“You’re only 18, Ranzan, but why do you sound like an old man of 80?”

“If I could live to 80, that would be a future I’d gladly welcome!”

As the sun set behind the mountains, standing on the shrine’s 180 steps, they could see the Uchiha clan’s houses with smoke from their cooking fires slowly fading.

“It’s about time.”

Uchiha Ranzan straightened up.

For some reason, Uchiha clan meetings were always held after dinner. Maybe it was just a convenient time for everyone? No one could answer Sougen’s question; the clan members simply followed tradition without questioning why it existed in the first place.

“Oh! I see people coming.”

Figures were appearing on the stone steps of the path below.

“They sure came quickly!” Sougen remarked. Turning to Ranzan, he said, “It seems like the clan members really enjoy these meetings. Every time we have one, those forced to stay behind and guard the clan grounds always look as if they’ve stepped in something nasty.”

“Don’t ask me—I don’t know. You can figure out those odd questions yourself. I can’t answer them.”

Ranzan shrugged.

He truly didn’t know. Sougen had always been the clever one, known for his quirks in the family. He constantly asked strange and puzzling questions no one else ever thought of, and no one could ever answer.

Sougen didn’t push the matter further because the figures climbing the stairs were getting closer.

“Ranzan, Sougen, you two sure came early!”

A clan member climbing the steps waved to them.

“Uncle Hachiyo, you’re early too.”

Sougen frowned slightly. The first person they ran into was Uchiha Hachiyo, a staunch supporter of Uchiha Fugaku. As a seasoned jonin with considerable strength, Hachiyo was also highly trusted in the police force due to his vast experience.

He would undoubtedly be an obstacle in tonight’s meeting.

“Sougen, let me give you some advice. Don’t let the praise from outsiders get to your head. You’re still young. If you want to lead the clan forward, give it another ten years. Then, I’ll fully support you. But for now… Fugaku is more stable, more reliable...”

“Uncle Hachiyo, I’ve already made up my mind. Please don’t waste your breath,” Sougen resolutely interrupted before Hachiyo could finish.

Uchiha Hachiyo didn’t get angry. His composure, earned through years of service in the police force, wasn’t so easily rattled. Seeing Sougen’s determination, he gave up trying to persuade him and simply headed toward the secret chamber beneath the shrine’s main hall.

Soon after, more clan members arrived.

Sougen and Ranzan would step forward to greet their loyal supporters, exchanging a few words to solidify their bonds and ensure their stance remained firm before sending them to the chamber.

As for those who seemed hesitant or weak-willed, they were still allowed in, but once they were out of earshot, Ranzan would quickly make a note of them in his notebook.

“Ranzan, how’s it looking?”

Once most of the clan members had entered the chamber, Sougen glanced at the now-empty steps and opened the conversation again. “How many supporters do we have?”

“It’s a bit tricky.”

Ranzan flipped through his notebook. “Even with Elder Jun’s people on our side, compared to Fugaku’s supporters… it’s about fifty-fifty. We haven’t gained a clear enough advantage to command respect. If only we had a bit more time, even just a week…”

“The problem is, we don’t have that much time.”

Sougen sighed. Taking over wasn’t as easy as he had hoped. He hadn’t intended to use forceful measures to achieve his goal, but now it seemed inevitable. “So… in the end, we’ll have to use force, won’t we?”

“It looks that way.”

Uchiha Ranzan scratched his head. “Sougen, maybe that’s not a bad thing. The clan respects strength. Once you defeat the most stubborn opponents, and become clan leader, you won’t have to worry about anyone causing trouble.”

---

(Please Recommend!)