Chapter 12 — Attending the Clan Meeting
Uchiha Tendo's face was bright with an easy smile.
"Mikoto, thank you for going through the trouble."
Uchiha Mikoto gently placed little Akihō onto the bed, carefully tucking the blanket around her. Two faint dimples appeared on her cheeks as she straightened up, blinking at him playfully.
"Tendo-kun, you're being too polite," she said softly. "Didn't you help me earlier?"
She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward just a little, her tone teasing.
"Tell me~ if you hadn't needed my help today… would you still have stepped in to save me?"
Tendo reached out without hesitation and placed a hand lightly atop her head.
"Of course I would."
The answer came so naturally that Mikoto froze for a split second.
A warm palm rested against her hair. For a moment, her heart skipped, and heat rushed to her cheeks. She quickly puffed up in mock indignation and shot him a glare.
"Tendo-kun! I'm not a child!"
Tendo calmly withdrew his hand. At the same time, the toes he had secretly been standing on lowered soundlessly back to the ground.
Details like that didn't matter.
After some lighthearted bickering, and under Tendo's exceedingly "sincere" invitation, Mikoto finally "reluctantly" agreed to stay for dinner before returning home.
The small house soon filled with warmth and quiet laughter.
---
Night
Long after the lights had gone out and the village had settled into silence, Uchiha Tendo's tightly shut eyes suddenly opened.
In the next instant, his figure flickered—
—and he appeared soundlessly on the rooftop.
"As expected of the genius of our Uchiha clan. Your perception is sharp indeed."
A steady voice rose from the courtyard below.
Tendo's gaze followed the sound. Under the moonlight stood a familiar figure—a clan Jōnin.
He relaxed slightly, though the vigilance in his eyes did not fade.
"Who are you?" Tendo asked coolly. "It's this late. What business do you have at my house?"
The Jōnin stepped forward into clearer view.
"By order of the Clan Head and the Grand Elder, Uchiha Tendo is to proceed immediately to the clan shrine and attend the clan meeting."
Without waiting for a reply, he vanished in a Body Flicker.
The courtyard fell silent once more.
Tendo rubbed his chin, thoughtful.
"Only Jōnin are qualified to attend clan meetings… yet they're summoning me?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"This must be about what happened this afternoon."
After making a few quick preparations, Tendo set off toward the clan shrine.
---
The Uchiha clan shrine stood solemn and imposing beneath the night sky.
When Tendo arrived, the hall was already filled.
More than thirty Uchiha Jōnin were present.
It must be remembered—Jōnin were not cabbages growing in a field. At this time, Konoha had barely over a hundred in total. For more than thirty to belong to a single clan spoke volumes about the Uchiha's strength.
Tendo walked quietly to an empty seat at the very back and sat down without drawing attention to himself. He folded his hands calmly and waited.
It didn't take long before whispers began circulating through the hall.
"Hey, what's going on? Why is there a kid here?"
"How should I know? No one told me anything."
"Don't tell me he already has Jōnin-level strength?"
"Are you insane? That's Uchiha Tendo. Sure, he's the clan's top genius—but he's still just a Ninja Academy student."
"Ohhh… so that's him."
The murmurs grew louder.
Suddenly—
"Enough!"
Uchiha Setsuna stood abruptly, his face dark with anger.
"What are you all barking about?!" he roared. "This is the clan shrine! We are holding a clan meeting!"
His sharp gaze swept across the room like a blade.
"You are Uchiha Jōnin—the elite of this clan! Yet you chatter like children in a marketplace?!"
The reprimand struck hard.
The gathered Jōnin lowered their heads one by one, none daring to meet Setsuna's eyes.
"Alright, alright, Setsuna. Your temper is still as explosive as ever."
Second Elder Uchiha Yashiro chuckled lightly as he pressed Setsuna back into his seat. Then he turned to the assembly.
"Everyone, Tendo was summoned tonight because this matter directly concerns him."
Only then did the crowd begin to understand.
Seeing the situation under control, Clan Head Uchiha Syoma gently tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention.
"Before anything else," he began gravely, "I would like to apologize—on behalf of my son."
With that, he rose from his seat and bowed deeply to the entire hall.
Aside from Tendo, Setsuna, and Yashiro—who were already aware of the truth—the rest of the Jōnin were utterly stunned.
"Clan Head, what are you doing?"
"Why are you apologizing to us?"
A young Jōnin couldn't help but ask.
Before Syoma could answer, Setsuna shot to his feet again.
"Uchiha Syoma, stop putting on a show!" he said coldly. "Do you think a few words will cover up the fact that Uchiha Fugaku attempted to kill Uchiha Tendo?!"
"—Rustle!"
The entire hall erupted.
"What?!"
"The Clan Head's son tried to kill Tendo?!"
"Has he lost his mind? Tendo is one of our own!"
"Trying to eliminate a clan genius—this is unforgivable!"
Shock quickly turned to anger.
Syoma's eyes flashed coldly toward Setsuna, but he forced his fury down and maintained a solemn tone.
"Everyone, Fugaku's actions were indeed grave. There is nothing to deny."
He paused.
"But I hope you can give him an opportunity to repent. I will personally ensure he is imprisoned in Konoha Prison, where he will reflect properly on his mistakes."
Yashiro lightly tapped the table, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"Clan Head, whether he deserves that chance is not for us to decide. The victim is Tendo."
Syoma's lips twitched slightly.
Old fox.
With so many eyes watching, if he mishandled this matter, not only would Fugaku suffer—his own authority as Clan Head would be shaken.
He turned toward Tendo.
"Tendo… about this matter…"
Before he could continue, Tendo spoke calmly, his voice cutting cleanly through the hall.
"Clan Head, Fugaku tried to kill me."
His tone was steady, but the implication was sharp.
"Just because you ask, I should simply give him a chance?"
The hall fell silent.
Tendo's gaze was level, neither submissive nor aggressive.
In truth, he would very much like to eliminate Uchiha Fugaku—the coward who would one day lead the Uchiha clan toward destruction.
But now was not the time.
He shifted his tone slightly.
"Of course, since Fugaku did not actually succeed in harming me… if Clan Head is willing to offer some compensation, I would not insist on pursuing the matter further."
The implication was clear.
You want mercy? Then pay for it.
After intense back-and-forth discussions—and under the subtle cooperation of Setsuna and Yashiro—
Uchiha Tendo ultimately "reluctantly" accepted a compensation of 35 million ryō.
By the end of it, Syoma's expression was stiff, and Tendo looked almost tearfully grateful.
Thirty-five million ryō.
For a single evening's performance at a clan meeting, that was more than worth it.