At the tea table, the host and guest sat down.
Uchiha Kai poured a cup of tea for each of them, then quietly sat to the side, waiting for Uchiha Fugaku to speak.
Fugaku's expression was solemn.
Looking at this composed younger clansman, for a moment he felt almost disoriented—as though he weren't facing a typical Uchiha at all, but a calculating Nara.
Yes.
He might not always be decisive, but his eyesight was still sharp.
Even though this was his first real conversation with Kai, he could already tell—this man was unlike any other Uchiha.
After some thought, Fugaku finally spoke.
"This may seem a bit abrupt. But the Mangekyo Sharingan is too important to our clan. Before we talk further, I need to see it with my own eyes."
He was direct.
Just as he said, the Mangekyo Sharingan was the Uchiha's ultimate mark.
Even though Kai had slain members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, without confirmation, Fugaku could not make promises.
Kai nodded, said nothing, and opened his Mangekyo.
The moment Fugaku saw it—even though he had mentally prepared—his whole body still trembled.
That cold, oppressive aura—without a doubt, it was Mangekyo.
"Good. You can close it." Fugaku took a deep breath before continuing.
"Our clan has always revered the strong.
I know you've had your conflicts with the clan. I don't expect you to reconcile with the radicals.
But strength is what matters—those who can rise, rise; those who cannot, fall.
From today onward, you will be promoted to the rank of Uchiha Elder.
You will have voting rights in all clan matters.
In terms of family industries, every elder—including myself—will contribute a portion. You will receive roughly a tenth.
Converted into silver, that's about four hundred million ryō a year, just under five hundred million.
From today, your branch is elevated—you will be recognized as part of the Uchiha main family.
Your descendants will be raised and trained as the main family shinobi.
Also, the Konoha Police Force.
Within the force, strength rules. Since you've awakened the Mangekyo, I will step aside. From now on—you are the captain of the Police Force."
—Hiss!
As Fugaku spoke, Kai was stunned.
He had never expected this. They hadn't even discussed terms yet—and Fugaku had already handed him such an enormous package.
Good grief!
Every single line was packed with immense weight.
Elder status. Voting rights. Profit shares. Recognition as the main family.
And most shocking of all—the captaincy of the Konoha Police Force.
Yes, the force was considered the weakest of Konoha's seven departments.
But that was only because the Uchiha had been too straightforward to wield it properly.
In Kai's hands? He could topple Konoha with it.
The only problem—
He didn't want to accept it.
If he swallowed all of this, he would be completely tied to the Uchiha.
"Uh… Clan Head," Kai said quickly. "I'm a laid-back guy. You'd better give all this to someone else. I think my life's already good enough.
I'm not good with responsibility—I'd only mess it up."
Fugaku was silent.
Even though Kai had refused, his expression remained calm.
After a long pause, he finally sighed.
"You truly don't seem like an Uchiha. More like Nara."
Kai's mouth twitched—and suddenly his back went cold.
Nara Kazama had said the same thing. He hadn't taken it seriously then. But now even Fugaku was saying it, and alarm bells rang in his mind.
If even the notoriously blunt Uchiha could see this—
How could Hiruzen Sarutobi not?
Kai fell silent.
But Fugaku could not read his thoughts. He continued speaking on his own.
"These things—you must accept.
The Uchiha are fair in their judgments. Everything follows the clan rules.
What I offer is not to draw you into my faction—it is what the rules already decree.
So there's no need for fear.
Even if you accept, it doesn't mean you must stand on my side.
But rights come with duties.
As an Uchiha, you must strive for the clan's future.
Kai-kun—do your best."
"All of this is—for the Uchiha!"
Kai's head ached badly.
Looking at Fugaku, he had a stomach full of complaints but didn't know where to begin.
What could he say?
This clan head was far too straightforward.
Clan rules—were they really that sacred?
As clan leader, didn't he have final say?
But then again—it was the Uchiha.
If they had that kind of cunning, they wouldn't have fallen to such a state.
Thinking about it, Kai couldn't help but admire the forebears who had set these rules.
"The strong rise, the weak fall."
As long as you had strength, the clan would grant you everything.
And once you were tied to the clan by such benefits, when trouble came, how could you possibly abandon them?
The yearly dividends alone were staggering.
A clan full of straightforward men like this—if they were ever wielded properly, they could be a terrifying force.
Sigh.
Thinking of Nara Kazama's plan, Kai hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes. I accept." he said directly.
Fugaku smiled.
"Good. One more thing.
I understand the reality of our clan's relationship with the village.
I did inform the Hokage about your Mangekyo awakening. Many in the clan weren't happy about it.
I don't intend to explain it to them. But to you—I will.
The relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha is delicate. And we do not have the strength to suppress the village outright.ṣ
Showing weakness when necessary—I consider it normal.
But don't worry about the village targeting you. The moment you became an elder, you automatically forfeited your qualification as a shinobi.
When Konoha was founded, there was an agreement between the village and the clans.
No elder of any clan could be conscripted by the village. If, for some reason, an elder was truly indispensable, it could only be by negotiation, never by command.
So you needn't worry.
Once we return to the village, focus only on growing stronger.
Ignore everything else.
Unless the Uchiha are destroyed, the village cannot order you around."
"..."
To read 200+ Advance chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554