"But... who will the clan choose next..."
Rika felt a bit at a loss.
With the loss of Elder Shikora, the Uchiha Race of Konoha didn't know what it would become.
"Fugaku will do. Leave it to him. From this moment on, he is the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Race."
Hearing Elder Shikora say this, Rika always felt that the appointment of the Clan Leader was arranged too casually.
"Does Fugaku have that capability?"
Rika wasn't doubting Fugaku's strength. In fact, Fugaku was stronger than him.
But Fugaku's personality was not suited for leading the radicals; he was more suited for the conservatives.
The issue was that the radicals currently possessed the greatest power within the Uchiha Race.
"For the radicals to covet the status of Hokage is a path to destruction. Fugaku might have a slight chance to obtain the position of Hokage because, like Uchiha Kagami, whom I killed, he is one of the few in the clan who respects the Will of Fire. Senju Hashirama's will still impacts the current Uchiha. It depends on whether Fugaku knows how to take advantage of it."
Elder Shikora recalled some unpleasant past events and snorted coldly.
Rika sighed, saying nothing, but it was he who was the one toiling and bearing the hardships.
"Take this too. I no longer need such power."
Elder Shikora placed a medicinal glass bottle containing a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan into Rika's hands.
After receiving it, Rika left Elder Shikora's residence.
The rain had completely stopped, the sun slowly revealed its face, and there remained some moisture in the air.
Elder Shikora looked up at the gradually clearing sky, thinking that Ruri and those clan members were probably in a safe place by now.
At this moment, Konoha couldn't assemble a decent pursuit team; just handling the war had already overwhelmed them.
This timing was just right.
"The future of the Uchiha, I'll entrust it to you, Ruri..."
Senju Hashirama's will was too weak, while Uchiha Madara's will was too extreme.
However, those who could overcome the chains of that curse and maintain unwavering belief in the face of supreme power would never become slaves to power, allowing their spirit to be sullied.
"People with a dark mindset will never see the radiance of humanity, only criticizing the world from a dark and pessimistic perspective. The Sharingan is the Eye of Mind Reflection; advance on the path firmly in your heart, Ruri. This so-called curse, one day it will... but perhaps I won't live to see that day."
Elder Shikora sighed with a chuckle, wondering why he was thinking about so much.
This new era was no longer one he, a relic of the past, could interfere with.
Konoha had many shortcomings, but it was perfectly suited for him to spend his later years here.
In this village that left not a trace of the Uchiha's presence and suppressed the innate nature of the Uchiha, life and death, prosperity and decline, Elder Shikora was indifferent.
He only laughed at the thought that the village was likely being eroded by power, witnessing the will of Senju gradually sinking into the abyss was supreme joy for him as an Uchiha.
Upon reflection, there was nothing more worth celebrating.
He headed inside the house, closing the door tightly.
◎
The Hyuga Family.
In the corridor, Hiashi sat there calmly.
In front of him was a birdcage, inside which a bird was confined.
When he opened the cage, the bird, possibly having forgotten how to soar in the sky, remained indifferent to the open door, pecking lightly at the food within.
"Aren't you leaving? She's already gone, there's no meaning in you staying here... Fly away, leave this place."
Hiashi's question received no response.
He vaguely remembered that the day he bought this bird was the same day he first met Ayane.
He had never imagined that Ayane would one day truly break free from her cage and fly away from the familial cage.
But... why couldn't this bird fly out?
Why did it obediently remain?
"The person left yesterday, you're free now, you can fly away."
Hiashi urged the caged bird to leave once more.
The bird only pecked lightly at the food.
"Brother, no matter how it is, the bird can't respond to such questions."
A young man resembling Hiashi walked along the corridor and spoke.
It was Hiashi's younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi.
"I know, what's caged is only the bird, not a person. The biggest difference between humans and birds is that humans are creatures that break free from the shackles of destiny."
Hiashi turned his head, meeting Hizashi's gaze as he spoke.
Hizashi was slightly surprised, not expecting Hiashi to say such words.
"Is that guard so important to you?"
"She was quite a special existence."
"It's best not to say such things to the elders. Last night when she left, she killed many clansmen."
"I understand. I am the Clan Leader of the Hyuga. But last night so many birds flew out free, and there will be more in the future, right? I can't imagine it. Once a person's innate freedom is unleashed, it's an invincible will and spirit, and death seems not to frighten or stop them."
Hiashi spoke in an almost reverent tone.
He closed the cage's door.
If it doesn't want to leave, then let it stay.
One day, this bird will want to fly away.
"The biggest difference between humans and birds is that humans are creatures that break free from destiny."
Hiashi stood up, lifted the cage, repeating this phrase, and walked toward the end of the corridor.
—Only those unwilling to resign to fate can depict colorful paintings in the world.
Will the future Hyuga Clan be able to paint such a colorful blue sky? To let these birds soar freely together... Hiashi looked at the clear sky, a big question buried in his heart.