Within the Uchiha compound, tension simmered like a barely contained storm.
No sooner had Uchiha Shihō and Uchiha Hien returned than they were met with an official scroll:
An invitation from the Daimyō's heir, requesting both Uchiha Shihō and Uchiha Soren attend the banquet that evening.
"Our turning point may very well lie with the Daimyō."
The four elders gathered with Soren inside the clan head's residence. Shihō and Hien gave their pessimistic assessments, detailing the shifting political winds.
This time, Soren did not hold back.
In a few crisp sentences, he relayed the intelligence Juno had brought — including the Daimyō's plan to propose a marriage alliance — and his own initial thoughts.
He withheld only what needed to sound modest.
"Fortune is finally on our side," Elder Hien declared.
"If our Young Lord marries the Daimyō's daughter, then with the Daimyō supporting us, no clan will dare oppose us in the Third Hokage election."
"As for Tsunade being adopted as a princess? Merely a sentimental gesture for the Forest Senju. Nothing to fear."
In the Warring States era, shinobi lived under feudal rule. Even now, the Daimyō's authority cast a long shadow. Lesser clans obeyed instinctively.
Uchiha Shana exhaled and bowed slightly toward Soren.
"Young Lord, we may have to trouble you."
"It's no trouble."
Soren did not revere noble ranks. If Princess Minamoto Kaori turned out spoiled, difficult, or delusional… well, his Mangekyō Sharingan was not for decoration.
Any normal woman could be brought to heel.
He merely said:
"Everything is for the clan."
Shihō nodded.
"Since the marriage talk hasn't spread yet, we need to stay quiet, avoid stirring the waters, and wait to see how events unfold."
Then he continued:
"Tomorrow, Elder Hien and I will visit the Hokage Building again. We'll test Uzumaki Mito's stance on the forbidden technique she promised. After that, we'll—"
But Soren's internal irritation snapped into clarity.
(Discuss further? We've already met three or four times in two days.)
(Why does it feel like the more power I gain… the more hesitant I become?)
(When did this start going wrong?)
He looked up.
"Clan Head Shihō, our pace is too slow."
All three elders turned.
Soren's voice was calm — dangerously calm.
"Whether Uzumaki Mito hands us the Flying Thunder God technique or not, we cannot keep creeping forward like this. We need to apply pressure."
His eyes deepened.
"If you seek peace through struggle, peace survives.
If you seek peace through compromise, peace dies."
"If the Forest Senju think the Uchiha are gentle, predictable, willing to 'play fair'—then the Hokage seat will never be ours."
Shihō opened his mouth, but Soren cut across him like a blade.
"We must show strength."
A cold light tore through his eyes.
"I suggest we strike directly at the Sarutobi clan."
The room chilled.
"The Sarutobi have ties to the Monkey Summon Tribe. Who knows what hidden methods they have to infiltrate the Paradise World? We cannot leave loose ends."
"Cut off one of the Senju's wings. Kill one, warn a hundred. Let any clan wishing to support the Senju ask themselves whether their bodies can endure our blade."
Shihō began carefully:
"The Police Force only has authority over civilians—"
Soren interrupted sharply:
"Who said we can only police civilians?"
He stood.
"Tobirama defined our jurisdiction: aside from the Hokage and ANBU, we have authority over everyone in Konoha."
"Whether the arrest is 'correct' is irrelevant. If they're enemies, we arrest them.
And the dead don't complain."
Shihō's eyes brightened with sudden fire.
"Young Lord is right! The other clans will fold one by one. Without Uzumaki Mito propping them up, the Forest Senju are finished."
Elder Hien nodded slowly.
"The only issue is degree. Push too hard, and other clans might rally behind the Senju… and we would be the ones paying the price."
And that — finally — illuminated the problem.
Soren realized it all at once:
These three thought too much…
and acted too little.
They had lived under the shadow of Hashirama and Tobirama too long. Suppressed. Muzzled. Made cautious.
And because they treated Soren with respect, Soren had unconsciously slowed himself to their pace.
He felt disgust spark inside him.
(What was I thinking the moment I killed Tobirama?)
(Was it to play by their rules? Participate in a 'fair' election?)
(Absolutely not.)
(I intended to take a blade—
and send every dissenter straight to the Pure Land.)
(Even Uchiha were no exception.)
(These three old fossils are turning me into them!)
A violent clarity snapped through him, fierce and liberating.
He stepped forward.
"Leave it to me. If the Senju can't stay calm—then we fight."
He let his killing intent ripple.
"Aren't we already prepared for slaughter?"
He stared at the elders.
"Or are the great elders afraid?"
"Afraid?!"
Shana slammed the table and rose.
"Us?!"
He glared at the others.
"I support the Young Lord. What are your choices?"
"Agreed," Hien said at once.
Shihō met Soren's eyes.
"From this moment, the Young Lord is the Captain of the Police Force. All external decisions belong to him."
Shana hesitated, then voiced what all three elders were thinking:
"If real conflict erupts… should we teach the clan the forbidden Uchiha ocular technique?"
He didn't say its name.
He didn't need to.
Izanagi.
The jutsu that makes death meaningless.
One minute of invincibility per eye.
One eye sacrificed per use.
A forbidden miracle… and a curse.
Because nothing stated the eye sacrificed had to be your own.
Any Uchiha carrying a pouch of Sharingan could be unkillable.
Silence fell like snowfall.
At last, Shihō said:
"The clan holds ten pairs of preserved three-tomoe eyes.
We elders will each take two pairs.
The rest go to the Young Lord."
"As for teaching the others—after we erase the Sarutobi."
Shana nodded gravely.
"For us, mastering Izanagi takes seconds."
Elder Hien added:
"Young Lord, before the banquet, visit the clan archive if you have time. It holds our full history — our victories, our grudges — and every ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, and ocular technique left by our forebears."
Shana and Shihō exchanged looks — then nodded, agreeing to share even their deepest kept personal techniques.
(Even we cannot match his clarity.)
Shihō bowed.
Everything is for the clan.
Those words struck him painfully.
He suddenly felt unworthy of being clan head.
Soren waved casually.
"The archive can wait. Elder Shana has already taught me plenty."
He rolled his shoulders, relaxed.
"There's still time before the banquet."
His smile sharpened into something savage.
"Perfect time to round up the entire Sarutobi clan."
He strode out.
"I hope the banquet still happens.
I want to see the Forest Senju's faces."
He didn't look back.
"Enough talk. I'm heading out now."
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL