After the tense confrontation at the village gate, Uchiha Dohan—having secured what he came for—returned to the clan compound with the rest of the Uchiha.
Along the way, a few of the more hardline clansmen seemed eager to speak, but at the sight of Dohan's back, they wisely kept their mouths shut.
Once they were back, Dohan turned to the group.
"I know many of you have questions. Since we're all here, let's hold a clan meeting."
No one objected. Soon, lanterns were lit in the clan's ancestral shrine. When they took their seats, Dohan—without hesitation—sat in the position directly beneath Uchiha Fugaku, the seat of the clan's first heir.
The elders exchanged glances but said nothing. In the Uchiha clan, strength spoke loudest. Dohan, having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, had the qualifications to claim leadership. If he truly wanted to become clan head, they would support him.
Fugaku, who had remained silent the entire way back, simply looked at Dohan once, then said nothing.
"All shinobi at or above Chūnin rank are present?"
Dohan looked around.
"All here," replied Inabi without hesitation.
"Good," Dohan nodded. "Then first—let's address the most important matter."
"I intend to become the head of the Uchiha Clan. Who supports, and who opposes?"
He dropped the bombshell without the slightest hesitation.
Rather than engage in political maneuvering like those around the Hokage, Dohan preferred a more direct, brutal approach when it came to clan affairs.
Chaos broke out instantly. Even Shisui and Itachi looked at Dohan in disbelief.
A pacifist elder was the first to find his words.
"Dohan, with your Mangekyō Sharingan, you certainly qualify to lead the clan. But you've barely participated in clan meetings all these years and know little of our internal affairs. Isn't this too sudden?"
"Indeed. You should familiarize yourself with the clan's issues first. Give it a year or two before stepping up," added a hardliner. After Dohan's speech at the village gate, it was clear he wasn't aligned with their faction.
Dohan sneered.
"I know exactly what's going on in this clan. That's why I haven't been attending these pointless meetings."
He leaned forward, bracing both hands on the table, and scanned each elder in turn.
"After all these years of meetings, what have you actually decided? Rebellion by force? Or groveling for forgiveness from the village?"
"If you had any plan at all, I wouldn't be the one sitting here today."
"Endless squabbling only drags the clan deeper into chaos. What Uchiha needs now isn't another meeting. It needs a leader—a single voice—to guide us out of this darkness!"
His words rang out like thunder.
The room fell silent. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
Then Uchiha Inabi stood up.
"I support Dohan as our clan head!"
Today's events—Dohan wiping out nearly a hundred Root operatives by himself—had turned him into Inabi's personal idol.
"He has the Mangekyō Sharingan! I support him too!" Yashiro added.
With their support, the younger generation of Uchiha quickly followed suit.
"Enough."
Fugaku's voice finally cut through the noise.
He looked at Dohan.
"Since you've come this far, I assume you already have a plan."
"If I didn't, I wouldn't be standing here," Dohan replied. "And with your insight, Clan Head, I'm sure you've seen what future lies ahead for our clan."
Though Dohan phrased it carefully, Fugaku understood exactly what he meant: Dohan knew he also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Fugaku could have revealed his own eyes and retained his position—but at what cost?
If there was only one Mangekyō user, the clan might still hold itself together. But if two appeared? The last vestiges of reason would be shattered. At that point, rebellion would be inevitable—whether they wanted it or not.
Fugaku stared at Dohan for a long while before speaking.
"So be it. The clan's current troubles are due in part to my own failures as leader. Dohan, I entrust the Uchiha to you."
"Clan Head!"
"Father!"
Both Itachi and Shisui cried out in shock. Unlike the others, they knew just how dangerous Dohan truly was. Though he had spoken in favor of peace earlier, Shisui hadn't forgotten a single word of the terrifying things Dohan had said the night before.
Fugaku ignored them. He simply placed a hand on Dohan's shoulder and stepped aside.
Before heading to the village gate, Fugaku had used his Mangekyō to glimpse fragments of the future. Dohan's presence had already altered everything—though the outcome remained unclear, it was better than the complete hopelessness he had once foreseen.
He felt no attachment to the title anymore.
"Let it be as you wish."
Dohan stepped into the position of clan head but did not immediately sit down. Instead, he looked out over the assembled Uchiha elite.
"The Uchiha have always been a proud and noble clan. Today, we face hardship—but I will lead us to reclaim our honor. And that glory won't be mine alone."
"Obey the Clan Head! Loyalty!"
Inabi saluted, copying Dohan's salute from the village gate.
With someone taking the lead, the younger clansmen—all except Shisui and Itachi—rose and saluted in unison.
"Loyalty!"
Seeing this, the elders who still had doubts fell silent.
Dohan looked down at the crowd, satisfied. The Uchiha, though often obstinate and proud, were fiercely loyal once they had someone to follow.
"All right. I have two announcements to make."
He raised a hand, signaling for silence.