The Clan Meeting ended, and the moon gradually climbed into the eastern sky.
Uchiha Gen and Mikoto walked side by side, following at the Great Elder's side.
"Do you understand my intentions?"
The Great Elder asked suddenly, leaning on his cane.
"Yes, you want to elevate my status within the clan."
Uchiha Gen nodded.
The Great Elder asked again, "Hisaku cannot remain as Clan Head for much longer; he can only hold on for a while. Who in the clan do you think is capable of shouldering the position of Clan Head right now?"
After a brief moment of thought, Uchiha Gen replied, "If we are talking about opportunities, the Second Elder likely has the best chance, followed by the Third Elder. Then there is Fugaku. Although his influence in the Police Force is a grade lower, Clan Head Hisaku is ultimately just incapacitated, not dead. This ensures that most of the foundational resources can be transferred to Fugaku, so he is not without a chance to compete."
"I am not talking about becoming Clan Head, but about shouldering the responsibilities of the Clan Head. All three of them have a chance, but their capabilities are another matter."
"I watched both Yu and Hai grow up. They have occupied the position of Elder for many years, and I know exactly what they are capable of."
"Hisaku is merely a competent keeper of the status quo. During the clan's decline, managing to barely maintain the clan's prestige and prevent further collapse was already the best he could do. Yu and Hai have been suppressed by Hisaku all these years. While this is partly because I supported Hisaku for the sake of internal stability, it also clearly shows that their abilities are not much higher than Hisaku's."
"Then, does the Great Elder think Fugaku is viable?"
Uchiha Gen asked, looking at the Great Elder.
He remembered that in the original timeline, Uchiha Itachi was sent to the battlefield by Fugaku during the Third Ninja World War, where he killed an Iwagakure Ninja with his own hands.
At that time, he was already the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan.
This meant that in the original timeline, the Great Elder had bet everything on Uchiha Fugaku, even marrying off his granddaughter, Mikoto, to provide full support.
With the foundational resources inherited from his father, if he had the Great Elder's support, he would likely be able to surpass the other two Elders.
It is just a pity that he entrusted the wrong person. Uchiha Fugaku had limited ability and even raised a weasel. At a critical historical juncture, as the helmsman of the clan, he steered the vast Uchiha Clan into its grave.
The events of the original timeline have already proven that Uchiha Fugaku is also not up to the task.
"I do not know, but if this were two years ago, I might have been willing to try. But now, there is no need."
The Great Elder looked at Uchiha Gen with piercing eyes.
He did not ask the latter to become a second Madara; as long as he possessed the abilities of Izuna or Tajima, it would be enough to reintegrate the Uchiha Clan and return it to the right track of history.
Furthermore, even if he took a step back, having the strength of Uchiha Kagami alone would be enough to barely suppress those Uchiha with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan within the clan.
At the very least, with his support, he would do no worse than Uchiha Hisaku.
And as for these, the only thing Uchiha Gen lacked was time.
Given the strength and talent he currently displayed, perhaps it would not take many years for him to reach the day he envisioned.
With a clearer and better choice already available, he was, of course, unwilling to let one of the "tall ones" chosen from among the short ones become Clan Head.
Therefore, the incident with Uchiha Hisaku at this stage was not a good thing for him. Hence, he had no choice but to bring Uchiha Gen forward prematurely, to first secure a certain status and influence for him within the clan and the village.
Fortunately, Uchiha Gen had already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and possessed sufficiently powerful strength and achievements, meeting the most basic requirements to compete for the position of Clan Head.
Even though his age was young and his seniority and political capital were insufficient, with the Great Elder's full support, these could be compensated for.
However, even so, he would only be standing in the same position as the others, or perhaps even at a disadvantage.
Like Uchiha Fugaku, he met the requirements regarding basic conditions like strength, but he would only barely have the power to compete by borrowing the influence of his elders.
"Your foundation is currently insufficient. Even with me, you will have little chance of winning. However, I will utilize the connections I have accumulated over the years to stabilize the situation within the clan and buy you time to continue growing."
The Great Elder looked at Uchiha Gen with eyes full of encouragement and expectation.
As a four-generation veteran who had lived through the era of Uchiha Tajima, Uchiha Xian had experienced the prosperity of the era of Madara and Izuna, and had also watched with his own eyes how their clan had gone from prosperity to decline in just thirty years.
No one was more eager than him to see the clan regain its glory.
"The position of Clan Head..."
Uchiha Gen fell silent.
To be honest, he was not prepared for this at all.
Before today, he hadn't even considered such things.
Yet, the Great Elder told him at this moment that he had to be the one to take the position of Clan Head.
He could not help but feel the pressure.
"Well, what are your thoughts? If you are unwilling, I will not force you to be this Clan Head."
"Just like twenty-some years ago, when the previous Clan Head passed away."
"Your uncle, Uchiha Kagami, was originally the more suitable candidate, but he had no interest in the position of Clan Head, which is how Hisaku came to power."
Uchiha Gen shook his head slowly.
"Fugaku cannot be this Clan Head. His talent and capacity are not enough to shoulder the glory and heritage of the clan in the increasingly turbulent Ninja World of the future."
Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared on the Great Elder's aged face.
"Very good. I knew I hadn't misjudged you. You are not like Kagami, having been brainwashed by that old ghost Tobirama."
"However, you need not feel too much pressure."
"I admit that I want to push you forward, but I do not intend to push you up there immediately. I will certainly secure enough time and a transition period for you."
"Having served as the Great Elder in the clan for so many years, I still have that much ability."
"And it is not just me; the Clan Head is the same."
"They will certainly drag it out as long as possible. Even if they truly cannot drag it out any longer, I have enough ability to step in for a year or two. I am only in my seventies; I am not yet too old to be incapable of action."
The Great Elder's tone carried a hint of confidence.
His foundation within the clan was far deeper than anyone else's.
It was just that he was too old now, his strength had declined, and he could not suppress the injuries left from his youth.
If he were even ten years younger, with Uchiha Hisaku unable to be Clan Head, he would have taken the position himself long ago.
Although he was a bit old now, it would not be impossible for him to come out and serve as a temporary transition.
Others would certainly object, and if it were a year ago, with his frail health, there would indeed be nothing he could do.