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"So you're Lord Kitsune! I can't believe it—I've always been one of your greatest admirers!"
"The orphan stipends must be paid on time!"
"If you hadn't introduced those protections for orphans, someone with my background would never have had the chance to become head of the Uchiha Clan!" Uchiha Sa's voice trembled with excitement.
The gratitude and admiration in her eyes were impossible to miss.
"IT REALLY IS HIM..." Uchiha Gen stared at Kitsune in disbelief. "The Lord Kitsune who crossed the river in funeral white and changed the course of the Shinobi world. I've admired you for as long as I can remember."
Just moments before, Kitsune looked so tired and uninterested that it was hard to believe he was the legendary warlord from the stories. He seemed more like a worn-out old drifter by the side of the road.
Who would have thought he was so powerful?
"Lord Kitsune certainly deserves his reputation." Uchiha Jin regarded him with open respect. "I only knew you through the clan records. The reforms you introduced broke apart many of the Uchiha's oldest customs, and their influence can still be felt in the clan today."
Senju Tsuru rubbed his chin and studied Kitsune for a moment before adding, "His swordsmanship was impressive too. Powerful, disciplined, and exceptionally well-constructed!"
Senju Shima's opinion could not have been more different. He jabbed a finger at Kitsune and snapped, "THIS IS THE VILLAIN WHO STARTED IT ALL! The moment he ignored every rule of warfare and crossed the river in funeral robes, the other clans began abandoning all restraint. From then on, wars became uglier, crueler, and far more ruthless. He dragged the entire Shinobi world's standards into the gutter!!"
Uzumaki Yū gave a lazy yawn, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "He's just a notorious bastard. Nothing more."
Then, after a brief pause, he added, "The Uzumaki never cared for him either. Still, credit where it's due—he was a good clan head. Whatever else he did, he brought stability and prosperity to the Uchiha."
Praise, condemnation, awe, disgust—every opinion around him seemed to contradict the last.
"Hah..." Uchiha Kitsune responded with a faint smile, his expression never changing.
He had heard every accusation and every tribute many times before. After a life full of success, defeat, betrayal, and regret, praise and insult no longer meant much to him.
"Oh? You defeated Asura's reincarnations twice?" Indra's lips curved with approval. "Now that is a pleasant surprise. You did well, Kitsune. You can stand before me with your head held high."
Black Zetsu continued the introduction, though his voice now carried a hint of regret. "Next is Senju Uzuki. She and Uchiha Kitsune were once in love, but the divide between their clans eventually drove them apart. Later, Kitsune killed the woman he loved to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"..." Uzuki closed her eyes and remained silent.
Everyone else turned toward Kitsune in disbelief.
"Lord Kitsune really did that?" Uchiha Sa stared at him, her expression caught between shock and unease. "The clan records never mentioned any of this..."
"Of course they didn't." Senju Futen's voice was cold. "No clan would preserve a disgrace like that in its official history."
"You killed the person you loved just to awaken your eyes?" Uchiha Senichi frowned at Kitsune. "That's monstrous."
Senichi's own Mangekyō had awakened when he witnessed the death of someone close to him. Given the choice, he would rather never have possessed those eyes at all.
Most Uchiha awakened the Mangekyō through tragedy forced upon them.
Kitsune had chosen his tragedy.
Even Indra and Asura were taken aback by what they heard. Whatever their differences, both had been raised and educated by Hagoromo himself. Their moral standards had been shaped by his personal guidance.
Indra could be ruthless when circumstances demanded it, but if gaining power required him to murder Manji or someone else he loved, he would never have done it.
Uchiha Kitsune folded his arms and looked at them without shame. "None of you came from the bottom."
His voice remained level, but a trace of old bitterness lay beneath it.
"You were born into powerful families. You had parents, teachers, resources, and people ready to protect you. You've never seen the things I saw, so don't pretend you understand what it took for me to survive."
..............
The Uchiha Clan compound.
Inside the council hall, the clan's elders and senior leaders were locked in a heated debate.
"The clan head is dead! Our first priority is choosing his successor!"
"Of course—but who should it be?"
"What about the late clan head's son?"
"No. The Uchiha have always respected strength above bloodline. The strongest candidate should become clan head. I support Lord Jin's uncle. He has the power and experience for the position."
"I believe Tajima should be considered. He's young, but he has proven himself capable."
Uchiha Tajima sat upright among the candidates, trying to hide his unease as the elders argued around him.
He wanted the position, but he knew the odds were against him. He was still young, his supporters were few, and most of them belonged to his own generation. Their voices carried little weight in a room ruled by old men.
Not one senior elder had openly endorsed him.
Most favored Uchiha Jin's uncle.
'Looks like I'll have to wait a few more years.' Tajima suppressed a sigh.
Then a voice rang out from the entrance.
"THE CLAN ELDER HAS ARRIVED!"
"..." The room fell quiet.
Several Uchiha guards entered first and stepped aside with deep bows. Manji followed behind them, leaning on a cane as he made his way into the council hall.
The moment the elders saw him, their expressions changed.
Every senior member of the clan rose to greet him.
"Welcome, Clan Elder!"
"Clan Elder!"
Elders and commanders alike bowed with respect.
Some of the younger Uchiha exchanged confused looks.
"Who is he?" one whispered.
An older man leaned closer and lowered his voice. "He is the oldest living member of our clan. Even my grandfather addressed him as the Clan Elder. They say he has lived for a hundred years..."
The younger Uchiha stared at Manji in shock.
In an age where most people never reached thirty, surviving to one hundred was almost beyond belief. A man who had lived that long wasn't just old—he was living history.
"Clan Elder, there was no need for you to come all this way." The First Elder approached with a respectful smile. "Choosing a new clan head is a small matter. You should leave such work to us."
Manji smiled slightly. "Age hasn't put me out to pasture yet."
"I came for two reasons. First, to see how everyone is doing. Second, to help settle the matter of the next clan head."
He continued toward the head of the hall, his cane tapping against the floor with each step.
"There are moments when the Uchiha reaches a crossroads. At times like those, someone old enough to remember the previous ones must steady the clan."
With that, Manji sat in the seat of honor.
'It's settled. I've got this.' Tajima's heart leaped.
The First Elder bowed his head. "Then what is your opinion, Clan Elder?"
Manji lifted his eyes. "Jin's uncle is too old. He is not suitable."
His gaze shifted toward Tajima.
"I recommend Uchiha Tajima!!"
The hall went silent.
The elders looked at one another, each waiting to see who would respond first.
Only Uchiha Jin's uncle, Uchiha Takeru, failed to hide his resentment.
"Clan Elder, I object. Forgive my bluntness." He faced Manji, frustration written across his face.
"You are already advanced in years. You should no longer involve yourself in clan politics. The affairs of the Uchiha should be handled by those of us still serving at the center of the clan. Please return home and enjoy your retirement."
Then he turned toward the council, searching their faces for support.
"Elders, surely you agree?"
Uchiha Takeru looked from one man to the next, growing more anxious by the second. He had already charged into the fight. Was no one going to back him up?
"..." Manji's gaze passed calmly over the council.
What happened next left Uchiha Takeru staring in disbelief—
"We would never presume to oppose the Clan Elder."
"We will follow your decision!"
Every elder in the hall bowed to Manji.
Uchiha Takeru remained standing alone in the center of the room.
Manji looked at the isolated man and smiled.
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