NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: New Clan Head
After the incident at the village entrance was resolved, Kuragami Uchiha, having obtained what he wanted, returned to the clan grounds along with his fellow clansmen.
On the way back, some of the more radical members of the clan wanted to say something, but upon seeing Kuragami Uchiha's back, they wisely chose to keep their mouths shut.
Upon returning to the clan grounds, Kuragami Uchiha turned around and said: "I know many of you have questions, so while everyone is here, let's hold a clan meeting."
No one objected.
The lights were lit in the clan's shrine, and when Kuragami Uchiha took his seat, he sat without hesitation in the first position beneath Fugaku Uchiha.
Seeing this, the clan elders exchanged glances but ultimately accepted it.
In the Uchiha Clan, strength determined status, and with Kuragami Uchiha having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, they would support him even if he wished to become the clan head.
As for Fugaku Uchiha, who had remained silent the entire way back, he simply glanced at Kuragami before continuing to stay silent.
"All the Chūnin and above-ranked ninjas in the clan are present, correct?" Kuragami Uchiha asked after everyone had taken their seats.
"We're all here." Inoka Uchiha was the first to respond.
"Good, then; the first matter is that I want to become the head of the Uchiha Clan. Who is in favor? Who is against it?"
Kuragami Uchiha dropped a bombshell right from the start.
Rather than getting caught up in political games with the Hokage's faction, he chose the most direct and forceful approach within the clan.
His words threw the assembled clan members into chaos. In the crowd, Shisui and Itachi Uchiha looked at him in shock.
At this moment, a more moderate elder carefully organized his words before speaking: "Kuragami, with your newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, there's no question that you have the qualifications to become the clan head. However, you've rarely participated in clan meetings over the years and are not familiar with the clan's internal affairs. Taking over so hastily seems too reckless."
"That's right, Kuragami. You should first familiarize yourself with the clan's situation and wait a year or two before assuming leadership."
A radical elder added. After hearing Kuragami's speech at the village entrance, it seemed he wasn't entirely on their side.
"Heh."
Kuragami Uchiha sneered. "I know the clan's situation very well, and that is precisely why I haven't bothered attending these meetings."
"Tell me, after all these years of clan meetings, have you reached any conclusions?"
He pressed both hands against the table and scanned each elder seated before him. "Have you decided on rebellion? Or have you chosen to submit to the village? If any of you had come to a decision, I wouldn't be sitting here today."
"Endless arguments will only drag our clan into chaos and ruin. What the Uchiha need is not endless debates but a leader who can guide us out of this crisis. The clan only needs one voice!"
His words were like a clap of thunder. The clan members looked at one another before falling into silence.
"I support Kuragami as the new clan head!"
Inoka Uchiha was the first to stand and break the silence.
After witnessing how Kuragami single-handedly slaughtered nearly a hundred root ninjas with ease, he became a devout follower.
"Kuragami has the Mangekyō Sharingan! I support him as well!" Saito Uchiha also voiced his support.
Soon, following their lead, many of the younger and stronger members of the clan began voicing their approval for Kuragami to become the new leader.
"Enough!"
Fugaku Uchiha suddenly spoke, silencing the room. He then turned to Kuragami Uchiha and said: "Kuragami, from your words, it seems you already have a plan."
"If I'm standing here, it means I have a well-prepared plan. With your keen insight, clan head Fugaku, you should be able to see the future of our clan."
Kuragami said while locking eyes with him.
Although Kuragami's words were subtle, Fugaku understood the implication; Kuragami had likely guessed that he also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.
If it were just one person possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan, the clan might still remain composed. However, if he revealed his own Mangekyō Sharingan as well, it would push the entire Uchiha Clan past the point of no return, leaving them no choice but to rebel.
Fugaku gazed at Kuragami meaningfully for a long time before finally speaking: "Very well. The current crisis the clan faces is partly my responsibility as head. Kuragami, I will entrust the clan to you."
"Clan head!"
"Father!"
Itachi Uchiha and Shisui were visibly alarmed. Unlike the other members of the clan, they knew full well how extreme Kuragami's ideals were. Although his speech at the village entrance seemed to align with the village's perspective, Shisui still vividly remembered his radical statements from the previous night.
"Do not disappoint the clan, Kuragami."
Ignoring the protests from Itachi and Shisui, Fugaku gently patted Kuragami's shoulder and stepped aside.
Before heading to the village entrance, Fugaku had already used his Mangekyō Sharingan, which could glimpse fragmented visions of the future.
Kuragami's presence had caused an unforeseen shift in fate; though the future was still unclear, at least there was now some hope compared to the previous path, which offered none at all. For that reason, Fugaku had no attachment to his position as clan head.
"It is as I wished."
Kuragami stepped into Fugaku's seat but did not sit down immediately.
Instead, he looked at the gathered Uchiha elites and spoke in a calm yet commanding tone. "The Uchiha Clan has always been a proud and noble lineage. We are merely facing a temporary crisis, but I will lead us to restore our former glory. And that glory, I will not claim for myself alone."
"Follow the clan head's command! Loyalty!"
Inoka Uchiha, already a devoted follower of Kuragami, saluted in the same manner as Kuragami had done at the village entrance.
With a leader stepping forward, the younger Uchiha members, except for Shisui and Itachi, stood up and saluted.
"Loyalty!"
Seeing this, even the hesitant elders could only remain silent.
Satisfied, Kuragami Uchiha looked over at the gathered clan members. The Uchiha Clan might lack strategic minds, but once they had a central figure to rally behind, their loyalty was unquestionable.
"Now, I will announce two things."
Kuragami said, signaling for everyone to quiet down.