"Quiet!"
Uchiha Yue's voice echoed through the grand assembly hall like a hammer striking an anvil, its resonance slicing through the chaotic excitement that had overtaken the crowd. The Uchiha, once seething with confusion and uncertainty, were now energized by recent events. But sensing the growing fervor verging on fanaticism, Uchiha Yue raised his voice again, suppressing the wave of emotion with the force of his authority.
"I understand your excitement. We all feel the urge to act—to make things right immediately," he began, his Mangekyō Sharingan scanning the crowd. "But now is not the time for rash action. There are still deep problems within the Uchiha that must be resolved, and as for Konoha… it is far from weak. Its roots are deeper than many of you realize."
His words caused many to pause. Even now, though Danzo had been slain and the Third Hokage had been forced into retreat, Yue reminded them of a harsh truth: the Senju, the Sarutobi, and the foundations of Konoha's power still endured.
"And more importantly," he continued, his tone shifting into something almost reverent, "we are not some rogue faction, nor are we mere rebels. We are the Uchiha Clan—one of Konoha's founding pillars. Even if we must punish the corrupted elite and restore the village to its true ideals, we must do so not as traitors—but as its saviors."
The crowd quieted further, their eyes burning with a shared, solemn light. Uchiha Yue stood tall, clad in the traditional black flak vest of the clan, his tomoe eyes gleaming with resolve. He could feel their attention solidifying, their minds aligning with his vision. The moment was his.
His tone hardened again. "We will fix our own house before we seek justice elsewhere."
The crowd, rather than balk at his commanding tone, nodded with solemn excitement. His harshness was not arrogance but conviction—and the Uchiha responded to strength.
Indeed, they were Uchiha. The bloodline of Madara, the clan that once stood beside the Senju Hashirama himself. To be rebels was beneath them; to be redeemers, that was their destiny. A fire surged within their chests—not for vengeance, but for restoration.
With that wave of emotion settling into purpose, Uchiha Yue pressed forward. "Good. Now that you all understand, let's address the internal rot that's been festering within our clan."
His voice dropped slightly, but the weight of his next words bore down heavily. "Before that, I invite to the stage the current clan head—Uchiha Fugaku. And with him… Uchiha Itachi."
As all eyes followed Yue's gaze, the crowd shifted to the left flank of the hall, where several elite Uchiha shinobi stood watch over a reserved area. There, sitting calmly and without resistance, were Uchiha Fugaku and his family—Mikoto, Itachi, and a brooding Sasuke.
Though Fugaku's face showed little expression, and Mikoto's was calm and dignified, their eyes betrayed an undercurrent of complex emotion. They had not been mistreated; if anything, there was a glint of reluctant gratitude in how they looked at Yue. He had, after all, prevented a true massacre from taking place.
But the youngest, Sasuke—barely six or seven—stared with open hostility. His fists clenched tightly, his face tense with suspicion and hurt. Still untouched by the harsh truths of the world, Sasuke could not understand betrayal. To him, Itachi was perfect. A model brother. The idea that his beloved niisan could ever harm the clan—could ever be part of a plot—was unthinkable.
Yue caught the sharp look from the boy and narrowed his eyes, understanding the anger instantly. In Sasuke's mind, this was his fault. Yue was the usurper who had stolen his brother's eyes, twisted the clan's beliefs, and humiliated their family.
"Sasuke, don't act out. This time… your brother truly was in the wrong. Don't place blame where it doesn't belong."
Mikoto's voice was soft, her fingers curling around Sasuke's small hand. But Sasuke's jaw tightened, and he shook her off.
"I don't believe it. I don't believe Nii-san would do that. That man's lying! He's tricking everyone!"
The hatred in Sasuke's voice was sharp, his eyes practically glowing with fury as he glared at Yue. It was a look of someone who had not yet learned the cost of truth.
"Foolish boy."
Yue exhaled through his nose, unmoved by the boy's emotion. He released a flicker of killing intent, subtle but powerful, and directed it solely at Sasuke.
Hum…
For a second, Sasuke's vision blurred. The world twisted. Uchiha Yue's figure seemed to balloon, becoming a monstrous silhouette cloaked in an aura of absolute dread. Sasuke's legs trembled, his throat tightening as fear surged uncontrollably. The crushing weight of a warrior who had seen death and dealt it out swept over him.
But just as quickly as it came, it vanished. Sasuke blinked, and the world returned to normal. Pale and wide-eyed, he said nothing more. Yue had made his point.
Seeing the change, Fugaku remained composed. He gave Sasuke a brief glance—seeing no lasting damage—and then stood.
"Let's go, Itachi."
Itachi, still silent and composed, rose with his father. Despite being under watch, he moved as if unshackled, his movements graceful, almost regal. Together, the two made their way to the high platform.
Once there, Yue stepped aside slightly, offering space. "So, Clan Head Fugaku… is there anything you'd like to say to your people?"
The question was a formality. Yue had already spoken with Fugaku and the clan elders before this meeting began. He'd secured their agreement not through manipulation, but by presenting results: Danzo's death, Sarutobi's retreat, and the preservation of the clan's honor. Many elders who had once doubted him now viewed Yue as their beacon.
He had been thorough—he knew that if he didn't win over the elders, their weight within the clan would challenge him publicly. Better to avoid that mess entirely. So Yue had offered them certainty: power, protection, and legacy.
As for Fugaku, his condition had been simple—Yue would protect Itachi's life, and in exchange, Fugaku would relinquish the title of patriarch. Yue did not agree blindly. Instead, he placed the burden on Fugaku to convince the clan. If the people forgave Itachi, Yue would not interfere. But Yue would not personally plead for him.
Now, under the gaze of every living Uchiha, Fugaku stepped forward.
"…Thank you."
His voice was quiet at first, directed at Yue. But then he turned, his voice rising for all to hear.
"Brothers and sisters of the Uchiha Clan! I, Uchiha Fugaku, owe you all an apology. As your leader, I have failed. I failed to foresee the danger in our midst. I failed to protect our unity, and that failure nearly cost us everything—our lives, our legacy, our future."
His voice cracked slightly, but he continued without hesitation.
"Yet even in our darkest moment, a light emerged. Uchiha Yue—who many of you once doubted—has proven not only his strength but his loyalty. He stopped the massacre. He defeated Danzo, forced the Hokage into retreat, and restored dignity to our clan."
Murmurs of agreement spread throughout the crowd. Many Uchiha nodded, faces grim but respectful.
"But our trials are not over," Fugaku warned. "The village is still fractured. Its leaders still blind. And we must remain strong and united if we are to rebuild what was lost and prepare for what lies ahead."
He turned to Yue once more.
"I can no longer lead us. I lack the vision—and the strength—to carry our clan into the future. So today, I relinquish my position. In the name of the Uchiha Patriarch, I declare Uchiha Yue the next clan head. I believe in him—and I ask all of you to believe in him too. He will lead us to a new dawn."
The crowd roared in approval, cheers rising like a tide. For the first time in many years, the Uchiha had hope—not in the past, but in the future.