Chapter 4: The Uchiha Clan
After the hawkish faction filed in one by one, the three men at the entrance stared at each other in silence, none of them feeling like speaking.
They remained there not so much to keep outsiders out as to guard against their own kin.
Having endured the chaos of a clan-wide bloodbath caused by the abuse of the forbidden technique Izanagi, which severely weakened their strength, trust among Uchiha kin had long since begun to crumble.
At the height of the civil strife, even within the clan's territory, rival factions of Uchiha kept each other under constant surveillance; the hatred between the various factions was enough to leave outsiders speechless.
Had Uchiha Jiri not emerged out of nowhere to end the civil war with the forbidden technique Izanami, the Uchiha clan might well have vanished from the ninja world, just like the Senju clan.
After all, the Uchiha's greatest enemy resides within the Hokage Tower in Konoha.
As the group entered the shrine's main hall, the serene atmosphere instantly turned somber.
The interior was dimly lit, with only a single beam of cool, natural light streaming down from the soaring ceiling.
Dust swirled within the beam, casting a solemn, reverent glow upon the clan crest stand enshrining the Uchiha fan.
The hall was spacious enough to accommodate nearly a hundred people seated on the floor, yet at that moment, it was so quiet one could hear the rustle of clothing.
Under the watchful eyes of the doves and the clan leader's faction, the hawks took their seats on the vacant left side. To the astonishment of both factions—
Uchiha Anran was calmly taking his seat at the head of the hawks, representing Uchiha Shana. Beside him sat Uchiha Fugaku, his expression stern and his thick brows furrowed.
Behind them, kneeling, were Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Yakumi, both known for their "dumpling noses" and having displayed exceptional talent from a young age.
On the far right sat the members of the Dove faction, led by Uchiha Hako.
Behind him stood a young female ninja who was both dignified and beautiful, yet possessed a stern, heroic spirit—Uchiha Mikoto.
At her side stood Uchiha Hazuki, a mature, voluptuous female ninja who had married into another clan, awakened her Sharingan, and been invited to return to the clan.
She was none other than Uchiha Izumi's mother.
The total number of Uchiha present in the hall had soared to over fifty—a staggering figure amounting to a full quarter of Konoha's active Jounin force!
This was the true weight of the Uchiha clan—the most powerful family in the ninja world—a fact that the Konoha leadership feared deeply.
The hawkish faction made up half the group; after all, the martial faction held more sway over the Uchiha hearts than the conservatives or the appeasers.
Unfortunately, the Uchiha were ineffective in both internal and external conflicts, completely fragmented and disorganized.
Uchiha Anran's gaze swept across the room. Meeting the puzzled stares of the assembly, he spoke slowly, "Elder Shisui is advanced in years and finds it difficult to handle the clan's internal affairs. Therefore, I, as acting elder, will participate in this clan meeting."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
Only the shifting light divided the Uchiha clan crest into two halves, one bathed in light and the other in shadow.
Many Uchiha looked astonished at Uchiha Shisui's choice, yet simultaneously turned their gaze forward.
Speaking of age, there were two other venerable elders present.
And the Uchiha, above all, valued their reputation.
Their rivalry with the Senju clan over the position of Hokage was not without this underlying reason.
After all, the "Fire" in Hokage originally represented the Uchiha's "Fire"!
'Since Shisui has already made his choice… why should I cling to this empty title?'
Uchiha Hokaku lowered his gaze. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the heir beside him; a faint light flickered in his eyes as his resolve solidified.
Though Uchiha Mikoto's strength did not match that of the other two factions, her innate advantages as a woman, combined with Hako's years of guidance, made her more than capable of navigating the factional dynamics and serving as a mediator.
Or perhaps she could assist the Clan Leader's faction in counterbalancing the increasingly powerful hawkish faction—whichever way one looked at it, she was more than up to the task.
'As for Mikoto's own marriage… let her decide that for herself.'
Uchiha Hako reflected on Uchiha Shana's marriage proposal and the clan leader's subsequent intervention. Both were outstanding figures within the clan, and their successors carried immense influence.
No matter whom Uchiha Mikoto marries, it will inevitably cause turmoil within the clan.
To maintain stability, Uchiha Hako has remained firm in his stance while secretly observing Uchiha Anran and Uchiha Fugaku.
Over time, beyond their combat prowess, the differences in their political acumen and personalities have increasingly swayed Uchiha Hako's preference.
Stability is the prerequisite for a clan's peaceful development, but a stagnant stability, when faced with external pressures, will only lead to the abyss of ruin.
"Three years old shows the future, ten years old reveals the old."
Though the ninja world lacks this exact saying, it has a similar proverb.
Uchiha Fugaku was the spitting image of the clan leader; his future was plain to see.
But Uchiha Anran was different. He moved neither too fast nor too slow; behind his composed demeanor lay a very clear sense of purpose.
The proposals he has put forward during several clan meetings have brought significant benefits to the entire Uchiha clan, greatly easing tensions between the factions.
Uchiha Fugaku lacks this ability; making him the clan leader would merely be a repetition of the past.
"Besides, that child, Mikoto, likely already has someone in her heart."
Having come to this realization, Uchiha Hako raised his head and spoke directly, "Since he can't even attend important clan meetings, it seems Elder Shana is not only advanced in age…"
As he stood up, he looked at the Uchiha Clan Leader. "Clan Leader, I shall go on behalf of the clan to check on Elder Shana. For this clan meeting, let Mikoto represent me and make the decisions."
At these words, the Uchiha present in the hall looked up in astonishment. Uchiha Mikoto's lips twitched slightly as if she wanted to say something, but she met Uchiha Hokaku's gaze instead.
The old man smiled gently. "Mikoto, I leave the matters ahead to you."
Finally, he paused for a moment and said meaningfully, "Of course, you are also free to do as you please."
He gave a slight bow. "Lord Clan Leader, I shall take my leave now."
The members of the Dove faction immediately rose to their feet, bowing deeply to see Uchiha Hokaku off, then turned as one to pay their respects to Uchiha Mikoto.
The transfer of power within the Dove faction had concluded just as smoothly as it had for the Hawk faction.
Uchiha Mikoto took a deep breath and sat down at the head of the Dove faction, her gaze meeting Uchiha Anran's smiling eyes.
She blinked in response.
Uchiha Fugaku, seated in the center, remained calm and composed.
Seated cross-legged before the assembly, the Uchiha Clan Leader—his gaze sharp and his spirit vigorous—watched Uchiha Hokaku leave without hesitation, a shadow of unease settling over his heart.
The leaders of the Hawk and Dove factions had both relinquished their power simultaneously, effectively leaving him to stew in his own juices.
'So be it.'
'I never intended to continue serving as clan leader anyway; their departure isn't necessarily a bad thing.'
'But the departure of Hokaku, with whom I shared a tacit understanding, is definitely not a good thing.'
Whether the young Uchiha Mikoto, now the leader of the doves, would follow Hokaku's example by prioritizing stability and aligning herself with the clan leader's faction remained to be seen.
End of this chapter...