Chapter 25: Chapter 19 : Seijiro and Setsuna!!
Uchiha Kai was very successful in manipulating the two 18-year-olds.
Although both of them were more mature than their peers, especially Minato Namikaze, who had already become the number one ninja among the younger generation, they were still completely under Uchiha Kai's control.
This was because both of their personalities were typical of family-oriented heroes. They were willing to do anything for their families, and their families were their weakness.
Uchiha Kai directly outlined the issues they would need to consider when starting a family, and mentioned that this was how the major clans in Konoha operated.
This helped lower their resistance, and by using various methods, he made them feel at ease about the idea of starting a business with him.
In reality, Uchiha Kai wasn't lying. Minato's home was indeed small, and it was perfectly fine for two people to live there. However, once a third person moved in, it would feel cramped, and with a fourth, it would be extremely tight.
At that point, they would inevitably have to follow the path of Uchiha Sakura as in the future and take out a loan to buy a house.
Honestly, this was ridiculous—how could a newly minted Sannin-level medical ninja still need to take out a loan for many years just to buy a house?
Wasn't the housing market in Konoha a bit out of control?
This could only mean that, in Konoha, where there were many ninja clans and over 95% of the resources were controlled by the big clans, the living conditions of common ninjas were truly difficult.
Of course, this was the result of looking at the situation through Uchiha Kai's perspective. From the locals' point of view, this was simply the way things had always been.
Konoha was considered as good as it could get, even to the point where it could be described as a time of prosperity, political harmony, and peace.
At least in Konoha, commoners didn't have to worry about being randomly killed by a group of rogue ninjas or bandits suddenly appearing, nor did they have to fear taxes being imposed a hundred years in the future, or a local tyrant randomly picking on an innocent civilian and destroying their life.
In a world worse than this, it was unreasonable to demand too much from the so-called "era of prosperity." If you said otherwise, someone would probably call you crazy.
Of course, the more likely scenario was that you'd be reported, with people thinking that you were a spy sent by another country.
Uchiha Kai didn't have the great ideals or abilities to change all of this, so he chose the path of "if you can't beat them, join them."
Of course, if this period happened to bring about some "small" changes, Uchiha Kai couldn't be blamed for it.
After all, what bad intentions could Uchiha Kai possibly have? He was just trying to promote the game and complete the system tasks more effectively.
As the night grew late, Uchiha Kai and Minato Namikaze accompanied the Uzumaki sisters back home.
It was the same kind of small apartment, and it was not far from where they were. It was practically a haven for Konoha's orphans, a place chosen by destiny.
Although Uzumaki Kikyo did not live under the same roof as Uzumaki Kushina, the house arranged for her by Konoha was right next door to Kushina's.
Therefore, saying that the two Uzumaki sisters lived together isn't entirely wrong.
At the same time, when Uchiha Kai and Namikaze Minato sent the Uzumaki sisters back home, a clan meeting of the Uchiha high-ranking members was beginning in the core area of Konoha, inside the Uchiha clan's territory.
The current head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Seijiro, who was already in his fifties, sat in the main seat. His face, which resembled Uchiha Fugaku's by about seventy percent, showed a cold and serious expression.
Although the faint signs of weakness and the grayish hue on his face seemed to hint that this dignified clan leader had only a few years left to live, as long as he was still alive, he was undoubtedly the leader of the Uchiha clan.
To the right of Uchiha Seijiro, Uchiha Fugaku sat properly, with his back straight and a cold, serious expression, almost as if he were copying his father's demeanor and presence.
Opposite them sat the elders of the Uchiha clan and the influential figures possessing the three-tomoe Sharingan, arranged according to their ranks.
However, these individuals, who should have had equally serious expressions, were now showing faces full of shock and disbelief.
After all, the information just relayed by Uchiha Fugaku was so astonishing that it left them stunned.
Then, an elderly figure, his hair completely white, face wrinkled with age, and already over seventy years old, spoke up.
He was Uchiha Setsuna, the representative of the Uchiha faction that leaned towards hawkish ideologies, and in the shinobi world, he was known as one of the longest-living figures.
His voice was hoarse and aged as he asked, "Fugaku, is what you're saying true? Is this genjutsu game really that extraordinary?"
Facing this elder, Uchiha Fugaku, despite being the clan's second-in-command, spoke respectfully, "Yes, this is the conclusion I reached after personally experiencing it this afternoon. In fact, during the genjutsu game, I even felt that my Sharingan had changed."
"However, perhaps because I know that the genjutsu game is an illusion no matter how intense the stimulus, I was unable to cross that crucial boundary."
Upon hearing this, the Uchiha members trembled—first a little, then more intensely, and finally, they could not suppress their shock and excitement.
Although Uchiha Fugaku did not directly explain how his eyes had changed, his Sharingan was already the highest-level three-tomoe.
What kind of change could it have undergone?
What crucial boundary could he have crossed?
Everyone present was aware of the secrets of the Uchiha clan. While the existence of the Mangekyō Sharingan might be a secret to ordinary Uchiha members, it was no secret to them.
The legend of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara, had only been gone for a little over forty years, and Uchiha Setsuna, who had walked through the Warring States period, was an ancient relic. Some things really do click with just a slight nudge.
In an instant, all the Uchiha high-ranking members present widened their eyes, their three-tomoe Sharingan glaring intensely.
Under the surge of emotion, the tomoe began to slowly spin—honestly, the fact that these tomoe could spin was quite absurd, leaving people puzzled about the mechanism behind it.
On Earth, countless ophthalmologists and scientists would certainly be eager to study it.
After more than forty years of storms in Konoha, having followed Uchiha Madara, witnessed his glory, and then experienced the silent suppression of the Uchiha clan under the hands of two Hokage, the elder Uchiha Setsuna, despite being in his twilight years, exuded a powerful aura that one wouldn't expect from a man of his age.
"Fugaku, can you confirm that what you're saying is true?"
His intense three-tomoe Sharingan fixed on Uchiha Fugaku, putting immense pressure on him.
However, years of refining his mental composure were not in vain. Even if his heart was racing, Uchiha Fugaku's exterior remained as steady as a mountain, giving off the impression of being naturally tough and resolute.
Then, with a calm voice, Uchiha Fugaku responded, "Elder Setsuna, do you think I would lie about something like this?"
The question was met with the same three-tomoe Sharingan being revealed, and Uchiha Fugaku locked eyes with the truly powerful elder. The air seemed to crackle with tension, the atmosphere heavy with restraint.
The Uchiha members standing by observed this exchange, clearly impressed by Uchiha Fugaku's composure. They marveled at how, even when facing the elder, Fugaku remained so dominant.
Truly, Uchiha Fugaku was a born leader!
They also thought about how Fugaku might one day awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the excitement was overwhelming. Some of them even trembled in anticipation.
After all, they were reminded of the previous Uchiha legend who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan—Uchiha Madara!
A young genius, someone who had once been the clan's heir and was destined to become its head, and who also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Could it be that the Uchiha clan was about to see another member rise to become a Shura of the ninja world, just as Madara had?
The mere thought of it sent their minds into a frenzy.
At this very moment, Uchiha Kagami, the current clan leader, smiled with a sense of deep satisfaction, his eyes filled with pride.
If this were another scene, he'd probably be shouting everywhere, "My son Fugaku, destined to be a great leader!"
Then, Uchiha Setsuna closed his Sharingan, revealing a look of old-age satisfaction. With a smile full of emotion, he said, "It's wonderful. The Uchiha clan finally has an outstanding leader again. Seijiro, you've raised a good son."
Although Uchiha Seijiro was the clan leader, his position and authority within the clan couldn't compare to that of the elder in front of him. Hearing these words, he quickly bent forward, saying, "You flatter me, Elder. My son is still young and has much to grow."
Of course, these words were merely humble; no one in the room took them seriously.
What everyone was really praising was Uchiha Fugaku, and some of the younger Uchiha—like Uchiha Hachidai—gazed at Uchiha Fugaku with fervent eyes, deeply moved.
They began to imagine the future, following Uchiha Fugaku and witnessing the revival of the greatness of the Uchiha clan.
At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku's authority as the young clan leader was fully established among the Uchiha high ranks. Even now, with a calm expression, unshaken by glory or disgrace, he impressed everyone even more.
They believed his temperament was flawless, and with the potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, his future was boundless.
Everyone was confident that he could lead the Uchiha clan to greatness once more.
But only Uchiha Fugaku himself, facing the passionate and amazed gazes of the Uchiha high ranks, appeared perfectly calm on the surface.
Deep inside, however, he was in a panic—he had almost collapsed under the overwhelming presence of Elder Setsuna just moments ago, and he still felt uneasy.
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