After the incident at the village entrance was over and he had obtained what he wanted, Uchiha Seiryu followed the other clan members back to the clan's territory.
On the way back, some of the more radical clan members wanted to say something, but when they saw Seiryu's back, they wisely kept their mouths shut.
Once inside the clan grounds, Seiryu finally turned around and said, "I know you all have many questions, so since everyone is here, let's hold a clan meeting."
Naturally, no one objected. Lamps were lit in the family shrine, and when Seiryu sat down, he unhesitatingly took the seat right below Fugaku.
The clan elders exchanged glances, tacitly accepting this fact. After all, in the Uchiha clan, strength is everything. Now that Seiryu had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, even if he wanted to become the clan leader, they would support him.
As for Uchiha Fugaku, who had remained silent all the way, he just glanced at Seiryu and continued to say nothing.
"Have all the chunin and higher-ranked ninja of the clan gathered?" Seiryu asked as everyone took their seats.
"We're all here," Inaho replied first.
"Good. Then, the first matter—I want to become the head of the Uchiha clan. Who supports, and who opposes?" Seiryu threw down a king's gambit right at the start.
Rather than scheming against the Hokage's faction, Seiryu chose the most direct and forceful approach for internal clan matters.
At his words, the clan members fell into chaos. Among the crowd, Shisui and Itachi looked at Seiryu in disbelief.
At this moment, a dovish clan elder organized his thoughts and spoke: "Seiryu, now that you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, it's reasonable for you to become clan leader. However, you've hardly participated in clan meetings over the years and aren't very familiar with the clan's issues. Taking over as clan leader so hastily might be too rash."
"That's right, Seiryu, you should first learn about the clan's situation. Wait one or two years before becoming clan leader," a radical elder also chimed in. From Seiryu's earlier words at the village entrance, it seemed he wasn't on their side.
Seiryu sneered, "I understand the clan's situation very well. That's exactly why I don't come to these meetings."
"Tell me, after all these years of holding clan meetings, what have you accomplished?" Seiryu leaned on the table, scrutinizing each elder sitting at the front. "Is it to rebel by force, or just surrender to the village? If you could ever reach a conclusion, I wouldn't be sitting here today."
"Disorderly arguments only drag the clan into chaos. The Uchiha don't need endless meetings, but a leader who can guide us out of this predicament. The clan only needs one voice!"
His words rang loud and clear. The clan members looked at each other in silence.
"I support Seiryu as clan leader!" Inaho stood up, breaking the silence first.
Seiryu's feat of effortlessly slaughtering nearly a hundred Root ninjas earlier had made Inoka a fervent follower.
"Seiryu has the Mangekyō Sharingan! I support him as clan leader too!" Zaito echoed.
Soon, many of the clan's young and strong followed suit, voicing support for Seiryu.
"Enough!" Fugaku suddenly spoke, silencing the hall. He then looked at Seiryu and said, "Seiryu, judging by your attitude, you already have a plan, don't you?"
"Since I'm standing here, of course, I have a plan. With your insight, Clan Leader Fugaku, you should be able to see the future of our clan." Seiryu looked Fugaku straight in the eyes.
Although Seiryu spoke vaguely, Fugaku understood—Seiryu must have guessed that he, too, possesses a Mangekyō.
If he revealed his own Mangekyō now, he could keep his position as clan leader. But could he afford to expose it? If there was only one Mangekyō, people might remain calm. But if his Mangekyō was also exposed, even the last bit of calm would disappear—the clan would have no choice but to rebel.
Fugaku looked at Seiryu meaningfully. After a while, he finally spoke: "Very well. The clan's predicament is my fault as a leader. Seiryu, I'll leave the clan to you."
"Clan leader!"
"Father!"
Itachi and Shisui were both anxious. Unlike the others, they knew exactly how crazy Seiryu could be. Although his speech at the village entrance seemed rational, Shisui still remembered Seiryu's wild words from the night before.
"Don't let the clan down, Seiryu." Fugaku ignored Shisui and his son, gently patted Seiryu's shoulder, and vacated his seat.
Earlier, before heading to the village entrance, Fugaku had used his Mangekyō, which could glimpse fragments of the future. Seiryu's appearance had changed things in ways he couldn't fully see, but at least, it was better than the hopeless future he saw before. Fugaku no longer had any attachment to being a clan leader.
"As I wish," Seiryu took Fugaku's seat but didn't sit down immediately. He looked at the elite Uchiha gathered before him and spoke slowly: "The Uchiha clan has always been a clan of glory. Now, we're just facing some difficulties. I will lead you all to restore our honor—and I won't enjoy that honor alone."
"We obey the clan leader! Loyalty! Devotion!" Inaho, already Seiryu's biggest fan.
With someone to lead, the young Uchiha—except Shisui and Itachi—all stood and saluted.
"Loyalty! Devotion!"
Seeing this, some elders who still had doubts remained silent.
Seiryu looked at the crowd with satisfaction. Though most Uchiha weren't the sharpest, as long as there was a leader, their loyalty could be trusted.
"Next, I have two announcements." Seiryu signaled for quiet.