The day of the Uchiha Clan meeting had finally arrived once more. This time, unlike her usual habit of arriving late or sleeping in, Izumi made it a point to get there early. She arrived at the Nanga Shrine well before most others and found a quiet corner to sit, gathering her thoughts while awaiting the rest of the clan's arrival.
One by one, the other Uchiha clan members trickled in, their faces carrying the familiar mix of concern, tension, and pride. Among them were some of the younger generation—fellow ninjas like Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui, who arrived shortly after. Itachi caught sight of Izumi, and though he greeted her politely, she responded with a sideways glance and a casual wave, signaling a cool but friendly acknowledgment.
Feeling a bit awkward under her gaze, Itachi nodded in return and took his seat quietly.
Soon, the elders and the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, arrived. Their presence was a signal that the meeting was about to begin. The room filled with murmurs, whispers of past grievances and present uncertainties. Izumi quietly licked her lips and sighed under her breath, thinking, Here we go again. It's going to be the same old argument.
As expected, the moment the meeting commenced, the voices in the room quickly rose in intensity, boiling into a heated quarrel.
Uchiha Inabi was the first to speak loudly, his tone sharp with frustration. "Clan Head! The Village's hostility toward us grows more severe by the day. We can't just sit back and watch. We must find a way to communicate with the Village—open the lines and clear the misunderstandings!"
Others quickly chimed in, their words heavy with anger and resentment.
"That's right! The villagers look at us with nothing but cold, distrustful eyes, even though we are all part of Konoha."
An elder sighed deeply, his face creased with years of worry. "Alas, we shouldn't have accepted the position of the Konoha Military Police Force back then. That so-called glory from the Second Hokage's era—maintaining order in the Village—has gradually driven a wedge between us and Konoha. It's created this poisonous rift that grows wider every day."
Another elder spoke next, shaking his head. "It's too late to cry over spilt milk now. The Village has always been wary of us. This tension will only deepen if we don't act. We need to communicate properly with the Village, and Fugaku—you are the Clan Head. When facing them, you can't always bow your head and accept their oppression. You need to show strength. You must be tougher."
Uchiha Fugaku listened to the barrage of words, but in his mind, a growing dissatisfaction brewed. It's easy for them to say that, he thought bitterly. All those other clans are cozy with the Konoha higher-ups. They are enjoying the show, watching us suffer. How am I supposed to be tougher when the entire Village seems set against us?
He forced himself to respond calmly. "Alright, I will do my best to communicate with the Village."
But this appeased no one.
"Communicating like this won't work! We need to stand united, to show the higher-ups our determination!"
"Exactly! If we don't display our strength, they will continue to oppress us!"
Uchiha Fugaku glanced around at the agitated faces of his clansmen. He sighed heavily, realizing that words alone would not soothe their anger. Yet, he had no better solution. The Village's actions were becoming increasingly intolerable, and his people's frustrations were justified.
At that moment, Uchiha Tekka raised his voice. "Itachi, you serve in the Village's Anbu. What's your opinion?"
All eyes turned toward Itachi, waiting for his answer. The room grew silent.
Itachi took his time before speaking, his voice calm but deliberate. "Perhaps the Village's hostility toward the Uchiha is not as severe as everyone believes."
His words were met with disbelief and immediate backlash.
"What?" Uchiha Yashiro shouted angrily. "You serve in Anbu and are shielded from the Village's disdain. But do you understand how it feels for the rest of us? We maintain the Village's public order day and night, yet all we receive is contempt from those we protect."
Itachi met his gaze steadily. "Such problems are inevitable in public order work. But if you are not arrogant or overbearing, the villagers will not look down on you."
His calm tone only fueled the fire.
"Arrogant? How else can I keep order without being strict?" another clan member shot back.
"Exactly! Are you suggesting we should be gentle when killing enemies in Anbu? That would just make it easier for them to infiltrate and attack us!"
"That's not the same!" Itachi shouted in return.
"We all serve the Village, so how is it different?" they yelled back in unison.
"You've been brainwashed by the higher-ups!" one accused him fiercely.
Uchiha Fugaku slammed his fist on the table. "Enough! Stop this quarrel at once. We all serve the Village; there's no need for this divisiveness. We must maintain public order well. Itachi's intelligence and insight are valuable for understanding the Village's movements. Let's not waste energy fighting amongst ourselves. If there are problems, I will take them to the Village leadership."
Izumi looked around at the still agitated, chaotic crowd and sighed, her voice barely audible. "It's so noisy… they just can't stop fighting."
Eventually, Itachi's patience wore thin. After debating fiercely with his clansmen, he rose in anger and left the meeting abruptly, his departure leaving a heavy silence behind. The clan meeting dissolved into disarray, everyone dispersing unhappily, weighed down by frustration and uncertainty.
"Izumi!" a voice called out suddenly.
She turned to see Uchiha Shisui approaching her.
As they walked together, Izumi took the chance to ask, "I heard you have a good relationship with that Kurenai Yuhi. Are you two close?"
Shisui chuckled lightly. "She's on my team. I'm just helping her refine her genjutsu techniques. That's all."
Izumi nudged his arm playfully. "She's really beautiful. Don't you have any feelings for her?"
"How can I be thinking about that now? Things are too serious," Shisui replied quickly.
"By the way," Shisui continued, "I've thought carefully about what you told me last time. You're right. We do need to communicate directly with the Village—and with the Hokage himself."
Izumi nodded. "Yes, but that depends on whether the Village truly wants to communicate. If Hokage-sama and Danzo remain stubborn and insist on extreme measures, no matter what we say, it will be useless—and we could even be in danger."
Shisui shook his head. "That's not possible. The Third Hokage wouldn't allow something like that. Losing the Uchiha's fighting strength would be a disaster for the Village."
Izumi's eyes darkened with memory. "Have you forgotten? A few years ago, after the Nine-Tailed incident, the Fourth Hokage died. That event sparked suspicion and constant suppression of the Uchiha.
Because of his death, the Village was damaged and went to war with Kumogakure. The fighting dragged on for years until a fragile peace was made.
Not long ago, when Kumogakure sent a delegation, the Hyuga Clan incident occurred. The higher-ups disregarded the Hyuga Clan's grievances and ordered the death of Hizashi from the branch family for the sake of peace.
The current Village leaders are all old men who have lost their former strength. They are willing to do anything to maintain stability—even if it means sacrificing clans."
Shisui's face grew serious. "Izumi, you might be going too far… We are a clan, not just one person like Hizashi. I believe they won't harm us. I will do my best to communicate with them."
Izumi smiled faintly. "I hope you succeed. I will help you however I can."
Shisui nodded. "Thank you."
After parting ways, Izumi returned home and recounted the clan meeting to her mother.
"What? It's already that serious? Could there even be talk of a coup?" Hazuki asked, alarmed.
Izumi stretched out on the sofa and said confidently, "Possibly, but don't worry, Mom. I feel my Sharingan is about to evolve again. Once that happens, I will be able to display even greater power. Then, anyone who dares threaten the Uchiha Clan will have to think twice. I'm determined to resolve this peacefully."
Hazuki raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? So you're about to awaken your Mangekyo Sharingan? But doesn't that require intense emotional stimulation?"
Izumi looked surprised. "How do you know that?"
Hazuki smiled knowingly. "Don't underestimate me. Our ancestor was a woman who invented forbidden jutsu. She was incredible. I'm not ignorant of the clan's secrets."
Izumi laughed. "I see. No wonder you know so much."
Hazuki chuckled softly. "Of course."
Izumi leaned closer. "Mom, I have my own unique way to evolve my eyes."
"Really? Can it be used widely?"
Izumi shook her head. "No. Unless someone takes out their eyes and transplants them into mine."
Hazuki immediately shook her head with a grin. "Then forget it. That's just not practical."
But inside, Hazuki thought quietly, Is that so? Maybe it's time I give her what she needs. I had planned to wait until she was older, but her talent and strength have grown so quickly... Perhaps these gifts should come to her sooner rather than later.
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