Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

Zhi Shui was somewhat tempted.

If he could reverse his family's terrible reputation in the village, it would undoubtedly be a welcome thing for him.

"I can't guarantee anything, but it's always good to try. Whether we succeed or not, we have to learn to move forward. If we remain stagnant like before, nothing will change even in a hundred years," Zongxian said.

But deep down, I understood.

This is definitely not going to go smoothly.

But as he said, regardless of the final outcome, the Uchiha clan must try to make changes.

While the village's suppression was the main reason for the Uchiha clan's declining reputation, we cannot ignore the fact that the Uchiha clan is indeed unpopular. Unless you're a masochist, most people don't like dealing with those arrogant guys.

"The Department of Justice, that's the name I've given to the new department, a department specifically for formulating, revising, and improving laws and regulations... Shisui, how about you become the first director of the Department of Justice?" Zongxian extended an invitation to Shisui.

"I know absolutely nothing about making laws and regulations!"

Shisui, on the contrary, seemed somewhat hesitant at this moment.

He was worried that he might mess up this job that could affect the future of his family. If his mistake caused his family to be unable to integrate into the village... he estimated that he would not rest in peace even after he died.

"It's alright. It's not like I'm asking you to do it all by yourself. If you don't understand something, you can go and ask someone who knows about it. If you don't have it in the village, then look outside the village. If you can't find it in the Land of Fire, then search in other countries... You'll always find something."

"This is a long-term project, and I don't expect any results in a short period of time. In the end, I will be the one to oversee it, so you can just do it with peace of mind, Zhishui."

"I understand, clan leader. I will do my best to establish a legal department."

Zhi Shui gritted his teeth and solemnly nodded in agreement.

“That’s more like it! That timid guy from earlier wasn’t the Shisui I know.” Zongxian smiled and patted Shisui’s arm. “Also, just call me by my name in private. To be honest, it feels a bit strange to be called clan leader by someone you know.”

Zhi Shui shook his head and smiled bitterly.

How could someone be indifferent to something so serious?

However, Zongxian does have a strange ability to reassure people. Even though he hasn't even settled the matter of leaving the Dark Division, he has already started to consider the Legal Affairs Department, which doesn't even exist yet.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but mention, "Clan... Zongxian, if it's not possible for me to leave the Anbu, I can go to the Hokage. I think that considering my past achievements, he shouldn't make things too difficult for me."

Zongxian remained silent.

Shisui always harbored an unrealistic and naive fantasy about the Third Hokage and his group of old guys.

However, he's gotten used to it by now. As long as Shisui doesn't foolishly reveal his trump card, 'Kotoamatsukami,' he's fine. He doesn't expect Shisui to charge into battle against the Third Hokage; it would be good enough if he could stay in the rear and cheer for his team.

"This is no longer just your own business."

After a moment of silence, Zongxian finally spoke.

"If nothing unexpected happens, this matter will escalate into a conflict between the village and the clan... Don't get excited, I'm not prepared to go to war with the village, but I think the Third Generation and his people won't sit idly by and ignore the changes in my clan and the police department. They will definitely come looking for trouble with me next."

Zongxian squinted and turned his head to look in the direction of the center of the village.

"Whether or not you, Shishui, have caused this incident, it won't change the outcome. The sharp conflict between the clan and the village will inevitably erupt at some critical juncture. This time, it just happened to coincide with my succession as clan leader. To be honest, Shishui, your matter is just a small thing and won't affect the overall situation at all."

correct,

Although he unexpectedly succeeded as clan chief and barely gained control of the police department.

But this is just the beginning.

Pulling the Uchiha clan out of the vortex of their annihilation will be a difficult journey. The suppression and hostility from the Third Hokage and others are just the visible difficulties. The real trouble is Obito Uchiha, the ghost hiding in the shadows.

"I need to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan as soon as possible!!!"

Zong Xian slowly closed his eyes, feeling the full, surging power within them. He had a vague premonition that, given the right opportunity, the power in his eyes would transform according to his will. As for when that opportunity would arrive…

It's hard to say.

However, I feel it won't be too far off.

Moreover, even if they don't get that opportunity, with Samehada's help, the transformation of their eyes' power will only be a matter of a little longer.

“Zhishui, if you’re really worried, you can come with me these next few days. To be honest, the Justice Department thing is still just a pipe dream. I’ll probably be able to set up the Justice Department’s framework after I’ve thoroughly sorted out the Police Department.”

Zongxian opened his eyes, looked at the anxious Shisui beside him, and shook his head. Whenever it involved conflicts between the village and the clan, Shisui was always in this state of confusion. "Go and rest now! In the morning, come with me to meet the Hokage and report the change of the head of the police department. At the same time, we will also finalize your departure from the Anbu."

"This morning?"

Suddenly, for some reason, Shisui felt a toothache.

An inexplicable intuition told him that the morning a few hours later might not be so pleasant.

[Chapter 36 The Calm Before the Storm (Please vote! Please recommend!)]

Hokage Building

"Fugaku Uchiha is no longer the head of the Uchiha clan, and Munechika Uchiha has become the new head of the Uchiha clan... Kakashi, are you sure you're not joking?" The Third Hokage, who hadn't slept all night, stared wide-eyed at Kakashi, who was kneeling on one knee in front of the table, with disbelief.

"Yes, this is what Fugaku Uchiha told me personally. There were also hundreds of Uchiha clan members in the police department present at the time, so they wouldn't make such a joke."

Kakashi honestly reported what he had seen and heard on his trip.

to be frank,

If he hadn't experienced it firsthand, he would have found it unbelievable. To be precise, as someone who experienced it firsthand, he was also full of doubts at the time, and those doubts have never been dispelled to this day.

After questioning Kakashi repeatedly, the Third Hokage finally confirmed that Kakashi was not lying and that there was no sign of him being under a genjutsu. In other words, the Uchiha clan had truly undergone a change of power. The mature and prudent Uchiha Fugaku stepped down and was replaced by the fifteen-year-old Uchiha Munen as the clan head.

"This is... really not good news!"

The third generation head started to throb, and the blood vessels near his temples were throbbing.

To be honest, the old Fugaku Uchiha looked fierce, but once you figured him out, he wasn't actually that hard to deal with. But now, it's Uchiha Mugen who's in charge... Recalling the confrontation in the forest not long ago, that boy, although young, was much harder to fool than Fugaku Uchiha.

This is not,

Kakashi's retirement notice is the best evidence of this.

Uchiha Shisui... This is Kagami's descendant. He originally intended to take this child under his wing, but unfortunately, the child was never able to transcend the limitations of his clan identity. Although he cared about the village, he could not abandon his clan, which deeply disappointed him.

Fortunately, they later discovered the child named Itachi.

His talent and aptitude are no less than Shisui's, and his understanding of the Will of Fire is clearly more profound than Shisui's. It's just that he is a little younger, and it will probably take a few more years before he can put it to use.

To be honest, he doesn't really care whether Uchiha Shisui will leave the Anbu. Although Uchiha Shisui has not transcended the limitations of his clan, he believes that it is unlikely that Uchiha Shisui will become an enemy of the village. There is no need to be too wary of such a person.

In contrast,

What he was more concerned about was what new tricks this troublesome young man, Uchiha Sogen, would pull. He had a feeling that this young man was definitely not the obedient type like Uchiha Fugaku. Once he secured his position as the head of the Uchiha clan and the head of the police department, he would definitely cause him a lot of trouble.

"No, we can't just sit idly by... A fifteen-year-old boy becoming the head of a clan is utterly absurd..."

The third generation leader frowned.

He secretly began to plan. This matter could not be left unresolved. He had to find a way to get rid of this troublesome kid, Uchiha Munen. Even if he couldn't kill him, he had to find a way to remove him from the position of Uchiha clan leader.

However, he can't accomplish this on his own alone.

Interfering in the internal affairs of a clan is a taboo act. Even if the Uchiha clan is disliked, it is necessary to win over as many supporters as possible beforehand, especially the support of clans such as the Hyuga and Aburame. Fortunately, the Uchiha clan is not well-liked in the village and has a history of the Nine-Tails attack, so it is not difficult to gain the support of many clans.

"Kakashi!"

The Third Generation called out to the boy who was kneeling silently on one knee in front of the table like a scarecrow.

"Go find the two advisor elders and tell them that I have something urgent to discuss with them, and ask them to come to my office as soon as possible."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Kakashi accepted the order and went.

The Third Hokage summoned another Anbu member and issued a similar order, but replaced the two advisors with the Hokage's assistant, Danzo.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the moon sets in the west, and the eastern sky turns a pale white. Unexpectedly, the sun rises above the horizon, and the bright and dazzling dawn dispels the remnants of the night, awakening the village that has been sleeping all night.

Good morning! Very good morning.

As Sogen was retie his loosened belt, he greeted Uchiha Chihaya as she entered through the door.

"They're already up!"

Chihaya Uchiha glanced with considerable regret at the sofa, which still bore the marks left from her sleeping.

"I'm not a child anymore!"

Zongxian shook his head helplessly.

When he was a child, he had a hard time getting up, whether it was because his body hadn't fully developed or for some other reason. No matter the season, he would stay in bed every morning. Fortunately, he had a childhood sweetheart who loved to wake him up. She would come over early every morning to wake him up, treating it like a game.

"Where's Zhishui? Has he gotten up yet?"

Last night, they all stayed at the police department instead of going back to their homes in the clan territory. Zongxian slept for a while on the sofa in what is now his office. As for Shishui... such a large police department naturally has more than one sofa.

"do not know!"

Uchiha Chihaya answered frankly.

She was only keen on waking Zongxian up; it was a habit she had developed since childhood. As for others... they were none of her concern.

"I don't know... Oh well! Chihaya, go get me some breakfast. I'm going to brush my teeth and wash my face first."

Zongxian picked up a brand new set of toothbrush and towel to wash up.

After quickly getting ready, Zongxian returned to his office to find breakfast already laid out on his desk: two slices of golden-brown toast, a strip of fried bacon, a round fried egg, and a steaming cup of milk. In addition, Zhishui was sitting on the sofa, munching on a slice of bread.

"Zhishui, how does it feel to sleep on the sofa?"

"It's pretty good, much better than the tents we used to sleep in on the battlefield."

"That's true."

Zongxian chuckled. After experiencing the battlefield, he honestly didn't find most hardships too difficult. Back then, he would sleep with one eye open and the other closed, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, always ready to fight.

"By the way, where's Chihaya? Have you seen her?"

"He went out to practice his swordsmanship."

"They're really hardworking, not even taking a single day off!"

"Zongxian, shall we leave after we finish eating?"

Shisui chewed on his bread, his voice a little muffled, but at least you could understand what he was saying.

"Yes, the sooner we go and the sooner we come back, the more reassured we'll feel if we resolve this trouble quickly..."