Chapter 20 – The Summons
The first sign came not from the elders, but from the children.
Akira noticed it immediately.
Where once his presence had drawn curious stares, now it brought whispers. The younger Uchiha boys who used to train beside him avoided eye contact, and some even shifted nervously when he approached. Their mothers spoke in hushed tones at the market. He could feel their gazes on his back — not of dislike, but of uncertainty.
Akira knew why.
The Byakugan.
A dojutsu that belonged only to the Hyūga, yet one that had manifested in him, a child of the Uchiha bloodline. His golden eyes — so striking when active — had been seen by too many. Word had spread.
And now, the clans moved.
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The Uchiha Council
The chamber smelled faintly of old wood and ink. Lanterns burned low, casting long shadows over the assembled elders.
Fugaku sat with his arms folded, his dark gaze steady, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his irritation. Beside him, Elder Naori leaned on her cane, watching the discussion with narrowed eyes.
"He is of Uchiha blood," one elder declared firmly, slamming his hand on the table. "The son of our clan leader's elder daughter. His mother's line is unquestionable. His blood is unquestionable. His Sharingan will bloom one day—"
"—And yet," another interrupted, voice sharp, "those eyes. The Byakugan. A Hyūga dojutsu, shining gold. Can you not see the danger this brings? The Hyūga will not stay silent. Nor should we ignore what this child represents. If they demand him—"
"They will not take him," Fugaku cut in coldly. His voice carried a weight that silenced the room. "Akira is Uchiha. He carries our name. His talent already surpasses his peers. To hand him to the Hyūga would be weakness. And weakness will destroy us."
A murmur rippled through the elders. Some nodded. Others frowned.
Elder Naori tapped her cane against the floor. Clack. Clack.
"Do not forget," she said, her voice slow but cutting, "the village watches. The Hokage watches. This boy is not merely Uchiha. He is a storm on the horizon. The question is not whether he belongs to us… but whether he can be controlled."
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The Hyūga Council
Across the village, another council burned with anger.
"How dare they hide this from us?" shouted one elder, his pale eyes flashing with fury. "The Byakugan belongs to the Hyūga. It is ours, by right and by tradition. For it to appear in an Uchiha child—unacceptable!"
The patriarch, Hiashi's father, raised a hand, silencing the storm. His gaze was calm but cold.
"We will not act rashly. But make no mistake: this cannot be ignored. The boy will either be claimed… or eliminated."
Gasps filled the chamber, but none openly opposed him. For the Hyūga, the Byakugan was more than a tool — it was their pride, their heritage. To see it in another clan's child was an open wound.
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Whispers in the Streets
Akira listened to these whispers in fragments, overheard through walls, carried by gossiping lips. He did not need to see the councils to understand them.
Inside, his transmigrator's mind remained steady.
So it begins. The clans moving, the darkness of Konoha stirring. Just like I always knew it would.
But he felt no fear.
Instead, a strange calm filled him, sharper than steel.
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The Hokage's Decision
The tension reached the Hokage's office before long.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled deeply, pipe smoke curling in the air. Danzo stood nearby, arms crossed, his one visible eye narrowing in thought.
"The Uchiha will not yield him," Hiruzen murmured. "And the Hyūga will not accept his existence."
"Then force the choice," Danzo replied bluntly. "Summon the boy. Make him declare his loyalty. Uchiha or Hyūga. His answer will bind him, and whichever clan loses will have no ground to contest it."
The Hokage's gaze darkened. He disliked such games, but the storm could no longer be ignored.
"…Summon him."
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The Chamber of Decision
The great hall was heavy with silence when Akira entered. Uchiha elders lined one side, their dark eyes sharp and expectant. Hyūga elders filled the other, pale eyes cold and unyielding. At the head, the Hokage sat in solemn stillness, his robes heavy with authority.
Danzo stood in the shadows, watching.
Akira's footsteps echoed against the wooden floor. He did not falter. His small frame moved with a composure that unsettled even grown men. His golden Byakugan flickered faintly, just for an instant, and a ripple of murmurs filled the room.
Fugaku's gaze softened — pride and concern in equal measure. The Hyūga elders stiffened, some glaring, others whispering furiously.
The Hokage's voice finally broke the silence.
"Akira Uchiha. You are called here because your existence has raised a matter of great importance. You carry the blood of Uchiha. And yet, within you manifests the Byakugan of the Hyūga. Both clans lay claim to you."
The words fell like stones in water.
"Therefore," Hiruzen continued, his eyes heavy, "you must answer. To which clan do you belong? Whose path will you walk?"
The room held its breath.
Uchiha pride. Hyūga arrogance. The weight of the Hokage's authority.
Akira raised his head slowly. His eyes, calm and sharp, swept across the chamber. For a heartbeat, he seemed less a child and more a figure beyond his years. His lips parted, his voice ready to speak—
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To be continued…
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