After hearing Ryosuke's full account of the incident, his grandfather's expression darkened with fury.
"Kumogakure is truly audacious—using the pretense of peace talks to attempt abducting the Hyuga heiress?"
"This was clearly an attempt to steal the Byakugan—Hyuga's bloodline limit!"
"They were never here to negotiate peace. Ryosuke, you did the right thing."
"For us to sacrifice one of our own to appease an enemy's aggression… that would've been an utter disgrace."
"I'll speak to the clan head on your behalf."
Ryosuke nodded in acknowledgment. He agreed it was necessary to explain things to the clan. At the same time, he understood that mere reasoning wouldn't be enough—if he wanted the clan to listen, he had to back his words with power.
After all, he was well aware that Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head, had secretly awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. While Fugaku rarely revealed this fact—probably to avoid alarming the village elders or emboldening radical elements in the clan—Ryosuke knew the truth.
Fugaku was careful not to display that level of power openly. He feared doing so might spur the clan toward rebellion or arouse suspicion from the village leadership.
Ryosuke knew that unless he could show comparable strength, his influence within the clan would remain limited. His current Four Gates weren't enough to confidently say he could surpass Fugaku. But if he could unlock the Fifth Gate—Dōmon, things would change.
After his grandfather left, Ryosuke returned to his training.
He began channeling chakra to break open the Dōmon, the gate located along his spine.
As he surged chakra into the point, an explosion of pain wracked his body, and his internal pressure surged—but gradually, the gate began to give.
Each breakthrough brought an intense spike in aura and physical might.
But the searing pain soon overwhelmed him, and he had to scale back the chakra flow, causing the surging power to recede.
Still, he wasn't one to quit easily.
After resting a moment, he began again.
This grueling back-and-forth training lasted over two hours, leaving him sweat-soaked, exhausted, and aching from head to toe.
Had it been anyone else, the pain alone would have forced them to stop. But Ryosuke endured it all. By the end, he had successfully unlocked half of the Dōmon—just a little more effort would do it.
After resting, bathing, and restoring some strength, Ryosuke prepared for what came next.
Two Days Later – Nightfall
Tonight was the Uchiha Clan Assembly.
Held at the traditional meeting hall before the Uchiha Naka Shrine, nearly every Sharingan-wielding clan member had gathered.
At the front of the hall sat the three key figures of the clan:
Clan Head: Uchiha Fugaku
First Elder: Uchiha Jin (Ryosuke's grandfather)
Second Elder: Uchiha Hachidai
Along with several other council members and elders.
Everyone was waiting for one man: Uchiha Ryosuke.
He had made a major decision on behalf of the entire clan—promising the Hokage that the Uchiha would fight against the Cloud Village if war broke out.
He hadn't consulted the clan, hadn't sought approval.
Whether they were moderates, radicals, or neutrals, all were deeply displeased.
Even though Elder Jin had explained Ryosuke's motivations, many were unconvinced.
The moderates especially were enraged.
In their view, avoiding war was preferable. If sacrificing a single Hyuga could ensure peace for the village, why not?
Who was Ryosuke to drag the Uchiha into another conflict?
Some even planned to demand punishment for him.
On the other side, the radicals—those dissatisfied with how Konoha's leadership was suppressing the Uchiha—still disagreed with Ryosuke's unilateral decision.
They believed sacrificing Uchiha lives to protect another clan, like the Hyuga, was foolish.
Why should their clan suffer for someone else's problems?
Even Elder Hachidai, normally a supporter of Ryosuke, was now showing signs of frustration.
Among those present were also Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi.
Tension filled the air as everyone waited for Ryosuke to appear.
Elder Jin could sense the pressure. Though he had defended Ryosuke, the clan clearly wasn't swayed. He sighed quietly to himself, wondering if his reputation would be enough to soften Ryosuke's punishment.
But Ryosuke? Still hadn't shown up.
As minutes turned into an hour, anger began to simmer.
Some clan members were visibly furious—this wasn't just defiance, it felt like disrespect.
Just because he was the grandson of a clan elder didn't mean he could act above the rules.
Izumi, noticing the sharp gazes, couldn't help but worry.
She turned to Itachi, who stood quietly at her side.
"Itachi… do you think Ryosuke-niisan made the wrong call?"
Itachi answered without hesitation.
"Yes. He was wrong."
"Every shinobi of Konoha must be prepared to sacrifice their lives for the safety of the village. That's our duty."
"Ryosuke ignited a war. That's his greatest mistake."
Izumi mulled over his words. They made sense… logically.
But emotionally, she was still angry at how the Cloud had behaved.
"Still… isn't what the Cloud did disgusting? Coming here under the guise of diplomacy just to kidnap the Hyuga heiress?"
"Doesn't that count for something?"
Itachi gave a resigned nod.
"Yes, their actions were inexcusable. But now is not the time for war. Sometimes, we must sacrifice the few to protect the many."
Izumi couldn't refute him… but deep inside, she resented that logic.
She was secretly relieved that Ryosuke hadn't caved to the cowardice of appeasement.
Still, she said nothing. She knew Itachi disliked emotional decisions.
His ideals were lofty—too lofty for her to follow.
Finally… Over an Hour Late
Ryosuke arrived at the shrine.
Still groggy from a deep sleep, he had accidentally overtrained while attempting to open the Fifth Gate and had passed out during meditation.
He had been pushing his body to the absolute limit—nearly unlocking the full Dōmon Gate.
Because of that, he had trained well beyond what he intended.
Now, fresh from a bath, with damp hair clinging to his forehead, he entered the meeting hall.
Dozens of cold, unfriendly stares locked onto him.
Only Izumi, his grandfather Elder Jin, and interestingly, Clan Head Fugaku, remained neutral.
Fugaku, especially, seemed intrigued rather than upset.
He knew Ryosuke's strength.
He suspected Ryosuke might already rival him—or soon would.
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