Night of the following day.
Within the Uchiha compound, the Naka Shrine stood solemn beneath the moonlight. Tonight, every Uchiha jōnin had gathered here. Even the Police Force had left only a few chūnin on duty—every other shinobi of rank was present.
From the platform, Uchiha Nanadaime gazed down at the clan.
"Two years ago, after Fugaku's death, the position of clan head has remained vacant. Because of this, the Uchiha have lacked a unified voice to present to the village."
His words echoed through the shrine.
"And as for who should become the next clan head, opinions have differed. The debate has dragged on for two years. Tonight, this gathering is once again to decide that very matter."
At once, voices rose from the seated jōnin, each declaring their stance.
"Since Captain Fugaku was assassinated, the Police Force has been starved of funding for two years straight."
"Lord Nanadaime, you should simply take the seat of clan head. Your seniority speaks for itself. Only you can restore the Uchiha's former glory!"
"Glory? Don't you mean a death sentence? How can you ignore everything Shisui has been working for all this time?"
"Hmph… The Fourth Hokage was Jiraiya's student, and Jiraiya was the Third Hokage's disciple. From the Second onward, that line has opposed the Uchiha."
"The Fourth is different. Shisui has said it himself—our only chance lies with him."
"Or perhaps he simply wants the Uchiha as his blade. Shisui has proven useful these past years, and now the Hokage wants our entire clan to serve under him."
"You dare say that?! Shisui has acted for the sake of the clan!"
"Has he? To the Hokage, he's just a tool!"
"You bastard! And what have you done for the clan all this time?!"
The voices grew heated, teetering on the edge of violence.
At the very back, Uchiha Yun and Itachi exchanged glances as the clan's elite nearly came to blows.
"Counting all our jōnin, we have maybe thirty or forty at best," Yun muttered, rubbing his temples. "And instead of uniting, they're splitting into factions and bickering endlessly. Add in the Uchiha's hereditary insanity, and these guys think they can pull off a coup?"
Itachi answered calmly, "But if you and Shisui stand together? Two Mangekyō Sharingan. That alone would make Konoha hesitate. With the right timing, success isn't impossible."
"…What?" Yun turned to him, incredulous. What's gotten into him? Did this kid take the wrong medicine?
This was the same Itachi who, in another life, had cut down his entire clan. To hear such words from him now was surreal.
Meeting Yun's gaze, Itachi continued, "Over the past two years, I've watched what you and Shisui have arranged. And with the recent incidents—the matter of Uchiha Hono—Shisui has explained everything to me."
What? Yun stiffened. Didn't we promise Minato not to tell anyone? Still, perhaps Itachi was simply reframing what he knew.
Itachi's voice grew solemn.
"Naïve men aren't necessarily unfit to rule, but those who rise to power can never remain naïve. Yun… if Sasuke is to live safely in Konoha, the Uchiha must grow stronger. Strong enough that the village dares not move against us—or strong enough to see through the plan you and Shisui are weaving."
Yun gave a crooked smile.
"That's what I've been saying—you just didn't read enough books. Only after experiencing things firsthand will you truly understand this village. Read more, Itachi. You're bad at thinking straight, yet love waxing philosophical. Keep it up and you'll end up a lunatic."
Knock, knock, knock.
Uchiha Nanadaime tapped the table firmly. The arguments cut off at once.
Looking over the clan, he declared,
"I nominate Uchiha Shisui as the new clan head."
The words detonated like an explosion.
"What?! Why Shisui?!"
"Does that mean the entire clan is to become the Fourth Hokage's sword?!"
"Captain Fugaku died so suddenly. Who else in the entire shinobi world has such speed? None but the Fourth Hokage himself!"
"We were one of Konoha's founding clans—why should we not aim for the Hokage seat ourselves?!"
"We are Uchiha! Our pride will never bow!"
The hall erupted with fury until Nanadaime struck the table again.
"You are all jōnin—capable of clear analysis. Tell me, then: would Konoha truly allow an Uchiha to become Hokage?"
His gaze swept the shrine.
"The Daimyō's approval, the jōnin council's trust vote. Do any of you believe the Uchiha could pass?"
Silence. Not one voice answered.
Nanadaime pressed on.
"Of course not. The Police Force has long soured relations with merchants. The other clans view us with suspicion. There is no chance of winning a jōnin trust vote. And because of Uchiha Madara's legacy, the Daimyō will never approve one of us as Hokage. Unless…" His voice dropped cold. "Unless you plan to slaughter half of Konoha's shinobi. Only then would the survivors, trembling in fear, accept us."
He paused, letting the horror sink in.
"But if Konoha's strength is gutted, Sunagakure will strike from the Wind Country. Surrounded on all sides, how would we resist?"
A militant Uchiha stood abruptly.
"So we're to lie down and accept humiliation? Since the Second Hokage, Konoha has treated us as enemies! Your analysis is sharp, Nanadaime, but Shisui convincing you doesn't mean he convinces me. I will never acknowledge him as clan head!"
He spun toward the door—
Only for a shadow to appear behind him.
Shing!
A flash of steel, and his long sleeve split open. His shoulder bared, revealing a tattooed curse mark.
"An Anbu seal? Direct under the Third? The Fourth? Or perhaps Root?"
The man whirled, Sharingan blazing—but Yun's three tomoe had already spun into place.
Genjutsu: Shackling Stakes!
The illusion snapped down, yet it faltered uselessly.
Shing!
A kunai thrust forward. Yun tilted his head aside and answered with a single stroke. An arm hit the ground with a thud.
Self-Curse Seal.
Black markings crept up the traitor's body, binding him motionless despite his agony.
"Why? Why doesn't my genjutsu—?!"
"Genjutsu?" Yun arched a brow. "That was genjutsu just now? Didn't even feel it."
His eyes shifted, tomoe twisting into blades of light.
"Mangekyō Sharingan."
The captive's pupils shrank in horror.
"Impossible… a brat like you… Who are you?!"
Closing his eyes briefly, Yun smiled.
"Still in the Academy. So you wouldn't know me. Uchiha Yun, at your service."
"Stop him!"
"Who is he?!"
"Restrain that boy!"
Shouts rang out, but in the mere seconds it had taken, Yun had already turned calmly to the crowd.
"Relax. I only took his arm to show you something—not to kill him."
Confused, the clan looked to the severed arm. The Anbu seal burned clear upon it. Then Yun forced open the captive's mouth, slapped the back of his head, and made him spit out his tongue.
Tongue Eradication Seal.
Gasps filled the shrine. Root. Danzō's men.
Shisui stepped forward, taking his place beside Yun.
"I brought him. This is Uchiha Yun. From today forward, his power is one of the reasons we can hold Konoha at bay."
Nanadaime nodded gravely.
"With power like this, we can negotiate. A coup would mean destruction. But with two pairs of Mangekyō, we can return to the table of diplomacy. Shisui has convinced me—this is the only path to give the Uchiha a chance at greatness again."
As his words fell, Shisui and Yun's eyes shifted in unison, Mangekyō power filling the shrine with a suffocating chill.
From behind, Itachi finally rose. He walked forward, standing with them.
"My father's death… Shisui has told me much. I trust him. As Fugaku's eldest son, I support Shisui as clan head."
Silence swept the shrine.
The traitor, gagged by his own curse seal, could not utter a word.
Nanadaime's gaze fell on Yun, filled with a trust that chilled him to the bone. Beneath the Mangekyō's gaze, something unnameable seemed to spread.
"The elder has always spoken with reason," Yun thought uneasily. "And he's right—Konoha will never permit us the Hokage seat. A coup would only see the village shattered by the other great nations. Only Shisui, so close to the Fourth, can mislead the leadership long enough."
Murmurs rippled among the clan.
"If Nanadaime accepts it, why should we resist?"
"Shisui is Uchiha. Yun is Uchiha. Their power is ours."
"Perhaps the Fifth, the Sixth… even the Seventh Hokage one day could be Uchiha."
"With Yun's potential, our greatness is assured!"
The tide had turned.
And yet Yun shivered inwardly. Kotoamatsukami… this power is monstrous. No wonder Shisui was written out in the old story. Without that plot armor, how could the Uchiha ever have fallen? This is absurd.
He glanced at Shisui beside him, the ever-smiling comrade. He wouldn't use it on me… would he? But when his eyes shifted to Shisui's right eye—already paling, its chakra drained—he realized there would be no second use. Not soon, at least.
By night's end, Uchiha Shisui had been named clan head. He also retained command of the Police Force, with Nanadaime as deputy. His son Uchiha Hachidaime, along with Tekka and Inabi, pledged their loyalty as well.
After the assembly, the inner circle convened. Shisui's first declaration as leader shocked even the elders.
"Within one year, the Uchiha will relinquish control of the Police Force."
Nanadaime frowned deeply. "Since Konoha's founding, the Police Force has been ours alone. To abandon it now—?"
Yun chuckled.
"If we were planning rebellion, the Force would be invaluable. But if we ever hope for an Uchiha Hokage, it's a pitfall. Everyone here knows why."
Hachidaime asked, "Then where will our people go?"
"Into other divisions," Shisui answered. "As jōnin instructors. In the Intelligence Division. In Anbu. And most importantly… as teachers at the Academy."
"Teachers?" Nanadaime was skeptical. "The Academy isn't easy to enter. And jōnin instructors—that territory is Sarutobi's stronghold…"
Shisui raised a hand to silence him.
"There will be negotiations, yes. And other clans also seek those roles. That's why it will take a year. But the Police Force must be abandoned. In the meantime, let our people study Yun's regulations."
Yun handed Nanadaime a thick tome.
"Here. Some knowledge Konoha lacks. Read more, old man. It'll do the clan good."
He turned to Itachi.
"You too. Between missions, study this. You'll benefit."
Itachi frowned. "Do I really need to—?"
Shisui smiled. "You should. I'll be rereading it as well. Yun's writings are invaluable."
Curiosity piqued, Nanadaime opened the book. The table of contents read:
Personal honor belongs to the Uchiha, but the clan's honor does not belong to the individual.
A true genius never flaunts the clan name; only the weak need their surname as crutch.
Only overwhelming strength can force your enemy to sit calmly at the table.
The goal of politics is never annihilation, but compromise.
Only by uniting the majority can the Uchiha rise to greatness again.
On the nature of Uchiha mental illness…
Nanadaime blinked, then looked up slowly.