At the Naka Shrine, two temporary pavilions had been erected, one large and one small, allowing the ordinary members of the Uchiha Clan and the Elders a place to rest.
Sparse snowflakes drifted from the sky, but the snowfall gradually intensified. It was already December in Konohagakure, and judging by the thick dark clouds overhead, a relentless blizzard was inevitable.
Uchiha Hikari stretched out his hand and caught a snowflake. His fingers were dry and wrinkled like dead branches, enough to reveal his age without words.
He slowly closed his palm, feeling the coldness melt against his skin.
In less than half an hour, the Clan Head succession ceremony would begin.
Back in his younger days, Hikari possessed excellent relationships throughout the Uchiha Clan. With his seniority and reputation, he should have long since become one of the clan's core Elders.
However, after Uchiha Kagami died, Hikari completely withdrew from the center of power. He avoided the endless conflicts and struggles within the clan, living quietly for years. Because of that, his sudden return now felt surprisingly welcomed.
Even many old acquaintances who had rarely spoken to him in recent years greeted him warmly.
Among them were the recently retired Third Elder, Uchiha Hiroshi, and Uchiha Kan, the former Vice Captain of the Military Police Force who had been stripped of authority the previous year.
This group of old men, people who either once possessed power or still held influence within the clan, spoke freely without restraint. Hiroshi in particular openly cursed the soon to be Clan Head, Hayashi.
Reforms were one thing.
But even the Military Police Force, the authority the Uchiha had controlled for decades, had been handed away.
Was Hayashi the Clan Head of the Uchiha, or the Village's puppet?
Hiroshi had only recently stepped down from power, and everyone knew his temper was explosive.
As he continued grumbling, the surrounding Elders remained silent. Not a single person agreed with him openly.
Even Kan, who once served as Uchiha Yama's right hand, did not dare respond.
Hiroshi cursed for nearly a full minute without stopping. His anger only grew stronger. Just as he was about to drag Yama's death into the conversation, he noticed Kan desperately winking and motioning toward him.
Before he could react, a fist slammed directly into his face.
Bang.
Hiroshi froze.
He turned around in shock, only for another punch to land squarely on his cheek, instantly swelling half his face.
Only then did he realize the attacker was Hikari.
That old bastard.
Hiroshi immediately exploded with rage.
He swung his own fist into Hikari's head and shouted furiously.
"Uchiha Hikari, I've wanted to beat you for years!"
"What nonsense were you spouting back then?!"
"You kept talking about leading the clan into a new era together, but after the First Great Ninja War ended, you hid away like a cowardly turtle!"
"And now you're defending that brat Hayashi? I can curse him if I want! He's not even the Clan Head yet!"
The surrounding Elders hurriedly separated the two old men before things escalated further.
But while everyone restrained him, Hikari secretly lifted his leg and delivered several vicious kicks straight into Hiroshi's groin.
His face was red with anger as he shouted back.
"Don't drag Hayashi into your nonsense!"
"You dare insult him? Then answer me this!"
"During the First Great Ninja War, who saved your life?!"
"It was Kagami!"
"And who was the one who swore he would support Kagami back then? Who was it that said if he ever had a granddaughter, she'd marry into Kagami's family?!"
"After Kagami died, Yama bought you off with the position of Third Elder, and you forgot everything!"
"You've sat in that seat for so many years that you actually think you're important!"
The surrounding pavilion fell completely silent.
Hikari did not stop there.
"And your son, what about him?!"
"Using the Military Police Force for personal gain, seizing clan mines, extorting merchants, oppressing civilian ninja, disgracing the name of the Uchiha everywhere he goes!"
"The entire clan knows about it!"
Hiroshi's eyes widened in disbelief.
His three tomoe Sharingan spun violently.
"That's impossible!"
"My son would never do such things!"
Hikari broke free from the others restraining him and punched Hiroshi in the face again.
"You senile old fool, you're the only one who doesn't know!"
Silence swallowed the pavilion once more.
Hiroshi slowly looked around.
Kan lowered his head and remained silent.
Several Elders deliberately avoided eye contact.
That alone was enough.
The old man's lips trembled uncontrollably.
He waved away the hands trying to support him and collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
Hikari was still furious and nearly rushed forward to kick him again.
The Sixth Elder panicked and tightly grabbed him.
If Hikari actually landed another kick, today's succession ceremony might become Hiroshi's funeral instead.
The entire clan would turn into a joke.
Fortunately, Hikari finally exhaled deeply and stopped struggling.
The Sixth Elder slowly released him.
Hikari sat down across from Hiroshi and stared at the heavy snowfall outside.
After a long silence, he sighed softly.
"Hiroshi, people like us already have one foot in the grave."
"We keep talking about restoring the Uchiha Clan to the glory of the Warring States Era."
"I know you aren't obsessed with power for selfish reasons."
"And I know you don't truly want to exploit the clan."
"What you're afraid of is the Uchiha declining like the Senju did."
"You formed factions, pushed away the other clans of Konoha, and even opposed the Third Hokage at every turn."
"But the more we did that, the further we drifted away from the village."
Hikari slowly turned his gaze toward him.
"You've seen what Hayashi has accomplished these past few years."
"You aren't blind."
"Tell me honestly, has he ever disgraced the Uchiha on the battlefield?"
"He invaded Kirigakure."
"He captured Hanzō alive."
"He defeated Iwagakure."
"Who else in this clan can achieve that?"
"Could Yama have done it?"
"Or you, a Third Elder who couldn't even control his own son?"
Hikari's voice gradually softened.
"Kagami never owed the clan anything."
"And Hayashi owes the clan even less."
"If we old men cannot lead the clan properly, then we should stop standing in the younger generation's way."
"At the very least, don't become their burden anymore."
After speaking, Hikari stood up.
He reached down and helped Hiroshi back to his feet before brushing away the footprints on the old man's chest.
Soon, Hikari, Hiroshi, the Sixth Elder, and the Seventh Elder walked together toward the entrance.
Outside, the snowfall had become fierce.
Hundreds of Uchiha ninja stood in formation on both sides of the shrine path.
Genin.
Chūnin.
Jōnin.
Each rank stood in orderly rows, creating an overwhelming sense of discipline and pressure.
Inside the pavilion, Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Kyoko, and Uchiha Obito watched silently toward the Naka Shrine, their eyes filled with anticipation.
The shrine itself stood empty.
At its center rested only a large gunbai war fan.
Below the shrine stairs stood the Grand Elder, Uchiha Kumo, holding a simple bamboo lantern engraved with the Uchiha crest and the tomoe symbol of the Sharingan.
Moments later, a young man wearing formal Uchiha attire appeared beneath the torii gate.
Hayashi.
He walked steadily through the path formed by the gathered clan members until he reached the Grand Elder.
Kumo handed him the lantern.
This tradition had existed since the Warring States Era.
The lantern symbolized the fragile flame of the clan's legacy, passed from one leader to the next through generations of bloodshed and chaos.
It represented the duty to guide the Uchiha toward survival and prosperity.
Hayashi accepted the lantern and slowly ascended the shrine steps.
Kumo watched his back with a faint smile hidden beneath his sleeves.
Reaching the center of the shrine, Hayashi drew the gunbai with one hand.
His Mangekyō Sharingan instantly appeared.
The crimson eyes reflected against the raging snowfall.
Then he raised the war fan high and shouted:
"Uchiha!"
"Uchiha!"
Hundreds of voices roared back in unison.
The blizzard intensified.
Snow scattered from the shoulders of the gathered ninja as their overwhelming presence surged across the shrine grounds.
At the end of Konoha Year 39, after remaining vacant for five years, the position of Uchiha Clan Head finally welcomed its new successor.
That winter, the Land of Fire experienced one of the heaviest snowstorms in its history.