Fortunately, that Uchiha clan member had a sudden inspiration and said with a forced laugh, "So... so handsome. Hiromi, you really are so handsome."
Hearing this, the other clan members spoke up one after another.
"Right, Hiromi is really handsome."
"He's the most handsome in our Uchiha."
"Bullshit! He's the most handsome in all of Konoha."
"He's the most handsome in the world."
Hiromi's expression turned somewhat odd.
Why did these clan members suddenly seem to have wised up? Why so guilty?
He glanced at Shisui, Fugaku, and Itachi. Seeing the confident smiles on their faces—especially Fugaku's, which held a hint of smugness—he roughly understood what was happening and withdrew his gaze.
"Enough."
A single, quiet sentence instantly silenced the Uchiha Clan Members who were incessantly praising Hiromi.
The atmosphere should have been oppressive, but seeing Hiromi no longer pursuing the matter and looking calm, they all breathed a sigh of relief and showed a hint of a smile.
Up ahead, Shikaku still wanted to reject the proposal for a village-wide celebration, but he was ultimately brushed off with the excuse that "Jiraiya is back, so let's just celebrate together."
Having no choice, he looked toward Hiromi.
Seeing Hiromi's indifferent look, he felt much more at ease. This proved that the actions of Koharu and Homura had not disrupted any of Hiromi's plans. It also indicated that Hiromi would not take any extra action, which was a good thing.
However, regarding the future he had predicted, he couldn't feel happy at all.
"Sigh."
'I hope more people will believe me.'
—
The first day back in the village: rest.
The second day: the whole village celebrated Konoha's grand victory in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
The meritless Koharu and Homura sat loftily in the seats of honor. This was nothing. After all, they were Hokage Advisors and the most senior.
And in the secondary seat sat Jiraiya, not the commander of this operation, Shikaku. This was also nothing. After all, Jiraiya was Hiruzen's student and one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, his status was not low.
After them were Shikaku and the others, which was all very reasonable.
But placing the Uchiha clan over with the Chunin...
Even the dullest ninjas kept their heads down, not daring to speak.
Outside, the villagers were incredibly joyful. Inside, the ninjas were oppressed and awkward.
No matter how Koharu and Homura tried to liven up the atmosphere, it remained awkward, as everyone feared Hiromi would slam the table and erupt like a volcano. They ate with hearts pounding in fear, sweat soaking through their clothes.
In such a strange atmosphere, the Uchiha clan was actually eating quite comfortably.
It was because Itachi said one sentence—"They won't be able to jump around for much longer."
Now, the Uchiha Clan Members were all looking forward to seeing how they would die.
As for Hiromi, he didn't go.
Shisui and the others came to ask, worried that if he didn't go, people would gossip, which wouldn't be good for Hiromi.
But Hiromi said: "Konoha is too small."
They didn't quite understand, but they didn't press him, assuming he had already made up his own mind.
—
Two days had passed since the whole village celebrated the great victory in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
The remnants of the celebration remained, but they were overshadowed by black and white as a sense of sorrow permeated the entire village.
Konoha held the funeral for the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, who died during Sunagakure's Konoha Crush Plan.
The whole village paid their respects. The scene was grand, and the sound of weeping was incessant.
Kakashi had originally thought that the Uchiha clan, who had wiped out the Sarutobi Clan, would not attend, as they were so arrogant and proud. But contrary to his expectations, they all attended, and each one of them looked sorrowful, which left him stunned.
You were the ones who killed him, so what are you crying for?
Some ninjas who knew that the Uchiha hated Hiruzen asked Uchiha Clan Members they were familiar with: "Why did you come?"
"Attending a collective assessment."
"???"
They were confused, their minds filled with question marks.
They didn't know that some Uchiha Root Members were hiding nearby, watching these clan members, holding clipboards and pens, scoring and evaluating them.
"The crying is quite good, but the corners of your lips are turned up too much. Bad review."
"Full of emotion, ten points out of ten, but you and Hiruzen are not related at all. Why are you asking where his distant relatives are! Bad review."
Facing this group of clan members who were constantly acting out, Shisui and the others felt mentally exhausted.
They had thought that after being lectured by Fugaku, they would suddenly see the light. But they didn't expect that while these guys did realize their mistakes, they refused to change, only becoming more subtle in their antics.
Now they understood a little bit of Hiromi's irritation towards the Uchiha clan. Sometimes, they really just want to destroy them and be done with it.
This clan is truly annoying.
However, their thinking was still relatively positive. They only occasionally felt exhausted, and when such an irritable thought flashed through their minds, they would immediately erase it and pull themselves together again.
Unlike Hiromi, who would only constantly ask himself: "Should I wipe out the clan? What would be the impact if I did? Would I be sad if I did? Is there any necessity for the Uchiha to exist for me? If I wipe out the Uchiha..."
Previously, the answer Hiromi reached was: "There is some affection, so I won't wipe out the clan. I'll spare their lives, and splitting the branch family will suffice."
As for now, the Uchiha have become sensible. Although they are still a bit mischievous, the problems are not major.
If things continue like this, Hiromi's idea of splitting the branch family will probably disappear too.
Shisui felt a bit relieved. He really didn't want to see conflict between Hiromi and the Uchiha clan.
On the day of Hiruzen's funeral, everyone spent it differently.
The villagers wept endlessly, and the atmosphere was oppressive.
Shikaku, Kakashi, and others twitched their lips.
The Uchiha Clan Members cried happily.
Shisui and the others were dumbfounded by their own clan members.
Hiromi watched with cold eyes, forcing himself not to go and overturn Hiruzen's grave.
And one day after Hiruzen's funeral, Konoha finally began to welcome the election of the Hokage.