Yuki Seisui's words were clear—he came for an explanation.
The servant glanced at the body on the ground, swallowed nervously, then respectfully ushered Seisui inside.
Matters between such powerful figures were not something a lowly servant dared comment on.
Seisui followed him to the living room and took a seat.
After serving him, the servant carried away Uchiha Renka's body.
Seisui didn't care. He had brought the body himself, and he didn't fear the servant would destroy it.
Anyone with half a brain wouldn't dare.
=======
After a short wait in the living room, Uchiha Setsuna emerged, face grim, holding Renka's corpse.
"Apologies."
His first words were an apology.
"This fool actually went to cause you trouble!"
"Idiot!" Setsuna's anger was evident.
"Who is he?" Seisui frowned at Setsuna's expression.
From the start, he had activated the Kagura Mind Eye to sense Setsuna's emotions.
It was clear this was not his doing.
Anger and doubt could be faked, but true confusion could not.
Setsuna sat down as well.
"This man is Uchiha Renka, one of my subordinates," Setsuna's face darkened.
It seemed that, with his long absence, the subordinates had grown restless.
He should have expected this.
Members of the Uchiha clan were all insane.
Especially the powerful ones—most had the three-tomoe Sharingan, and their emotions were extremely unstable.
"Two days ago, he insisted on discussing the clan's relationship with Konoha. He wanted a coup, aimed to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Setsuna glanced at Seisui.
"I opposed it, but perhaps he was angry and decided to kill you, trying to force me into a coup."
Seisui's frown deepened. Then he looked up at Setsuna.
"There are many like him in the Uchiha clan."
Setsuna nodded and exhaled.
"Yes, many. Under my command."
He let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Old age… I can't even control those below me anymore."
"But I will give you an explanation."
"Good!" Seisui nodded. Although this old man had once tried to kill him and separate his love life, he chose forgiveness.
I can't very well kill Haru's own grandfather.
Besides, the old man bore no hostility toward him now.
Seisui sat at the table, seemingly lost in thought.
"Forgive me for saying this, but having so many like him isn't good for the Uchiha."
He stopped there. A simple reminder was enough; no need to overstep.
Seeing Seisui's calm demeanor, Setsuna frowned in thought, then asked seriously,
"How likely are you to become Hokage?"
Seisui looked surprised, then stretched out his hand, flipping it casually.
"As easy as flipping a hand."
Setsuna exhaled and frowned, deep in thought.
Seeing this, Seisui merely nodded and left.
Setsuna had promised an explanation—he would deliver it.
No rush.
If no explanation comes, he'd give one to himself.
As Seisui departed, silence fell over the living room.
After a long pause, Setsuna laughed.
"That's how it should be!"
"A tree needs pruning, and so does the clan."
Tears streamed down Setsuna's face as his Mangekyo Sharingan unconsciously activated.
After a while, he stood, carrying Renka's corpse out.
The night was still dark, yet through Setsuna's eyes, it was as bright as day.
"Clang!"
Kicking open the door, he entered swiftly. The servants, alerted by the noise, froze upon seeing the clan elder holding a body.
They recognized it—Uchiha Renka, a jonin of the clan with a three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Elder Setsuna… you…" The servant stammered. It was too dark to see Setsuna's Mangekyo, but the body was unmistakable.
Setsuna ignored him and walked straight to the living room.
"Go summon the clan leader."
This time he didn't call out Uchiha Hikae by name but addressed him as the clan leader, signaling urgency.
The servant ran immediately to wake Uchiha Hikae.
Soon, Uchiha Hikae emerged, face stern.
"What matter requires you to kill Renka and come here in the middle of the night?"
"I killed him?" Setsuna laughed, as if hearing a joke.
"He was killed by Yuki Seisui!"
He turned, revealing the Mangekyo Sharingan to Hikae.
Seeing this, Hikae sighed and sat opposite him.
"I knew you had awakened those eyes."
"Why did Yuki Seisui kill Renka?" Hikae asked.
"They had no prior connection."
"None, yet this fool went to create one."
"He attempted to assassinate Yuki Seisui in the dead of night!"
"What?!" Hikae slammed his palm on the table, furious.
"He tried to assassinate Yuki Seisui?!"
He kicked Renka's unmoving body on the floor.
"A fool whose death is well-deserved!"
The Uchiha had four elders and a clan leader. Except for him and Setsuna, the other three held no real power.
Plans for the clan's future were already discussed: he was the moderate, Setsuna the radical, but both aimed for the clan's benefit.
All of this depended on Yuki Seisui becoming Hokage.
Setsuna had explained this in a secret meeting:
Once Seisui became Hokage, the Uchiha's situation would improve drastically, and future Hokage would likely be of their lineage.