The night was as dark as ink. A thin mist shrouded the streets of Konoha Village.
The light from the street lamps blurred and spread through the fog, appearing particularly hazy.
Uchiha Chiya and Tsunade walked side by side on the quiet street. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty alley.
Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest. Her gaze was fixed straight ahead. Her golden hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze.
"What happened earlier, thank you."
Tsunade suddenly spoke. Her voice was several shades softer than it had been during the meeting.
Chiya glanced at her sideways.
"I only spoke the truth. The importance of medical ninja is unquestionable."
Tsunade stopped walking. She turned to face Chiya. Her bright brown eyes flickered with complex emotions in the night.
"But, to be honest, I did not expect someone from the Uchiha clan to step forward and support me."
Chiya shrugged, his tone indifferent.
"The Uchiha are also part of Konoha, are they not? Besides, I only did what I thought was right."
Tsunade stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly gave a light laugh.
"You're quite different from the other Uchiha."
"Perhaps."
Chiya looked up at the night sky, his voice low.
"Those who have experienced loss always know how to cherish more."
Tsunade froze slightly. The emotions in her eyes rippled.
"You... have also lost someone?"
Chiya was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"A few days ago, on a mission to Amegakure. His name was on this casualty list..."
Tsunade's expression gradually softened. She sighed softly.
"War... is truly a detestable thing." Chiya looked at Tsunade.
"Therefore, I can understand your feelings very well."
Hearing this, Tsunade's fists subconsciously clenched, but quickly loosened again. She tried hard to keep her voice steady.
"He was so young. He clearly could have survived..."
Chiya knew Tsunade was talking about her younger brother Nawaki. He did not reply. He stood quietly beside her, letting the night wind brush past the corners of their clothes.
Sometimes, silent companionship holds more power than any words.
A moment later, Tsunade seemed to have adjusted her emotions. She looked sideways at Chiya. The corner of her mouth lifted into a faint smile.
"However, meeting you today actually put me a little more at ease."
Chiya smiled too.
"Putting you at ease is my honor."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Smooth talker, you little brat. You should call me Lady Tsunade!"
"Brat? I'm not that little anymore."
Chiya said with a smile.
"And, speaking of age, you're not that much older than me, right?"
Tsunade gave a light humph, but did not refute it.
The two continued walking forward. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.
"It's very late. Let me walk you home."
"Huh? Is that okay?"
Tsunade was taken aback, thinking about the locations of the Senju clan district and the Uchiha clan district...
They didn't seem to be on the way.
"Forget it. It's so late. Making you go out of your way..."
"It's fine. I actually wanted to walk around a bit more, to take a stroll anyway."
The two strolled along. The night wind blew past, bringing a slight chill. Chiya took off his own jacket and gently draped it over Tsunade's shoulders.
Tsunade was momentarily stunned, but did not refuse.
"Thank you."
She said in a low voice.
Along the way, neither of them spoke again, but the atmosphere was not awkward. Only when they reached the front of the Senju clan's residence did Tsunade stop.
"We're here."
She turned around.
"Thank you for walking me home."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, then suddenly spoke.
"If you're free tomorrow at noon, I'll be waiting for you at the barbecue restaurant."
Chiya was stunned. Was this...
Tsunade noticed Chiya looking straight at her. Her gaze shifted somewhat evasively.
"It's just a simple meal, my treat."
Chiya nodded.
"Okay. It's a promise."
Tsunade waved her hand, turned, and walked into the residence. Chiya watched her figure disappear, then turned to leave.
However, he had only taken a few steps when several black shadows in the darkness vanished instantly.
Uchiha Chiya could naturally sense this.
But he didn't mind. He strode towards the clan district.
Just as he reached the clan district.
"Uchiha Chiya."
A low voice came from the shadows.
Chiya stopped walking. He slowly turned around and saw Uchiha Yashiro standing not far away, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"Senior Yashiro, you've been waiting a while, right?"
Chiya's tone was flat. Uchiha Yashiro looked at him coldly.
"The clan has matters to discuss with you. Come with me."
Chiya narrowed his eyes. He was silent for a moment.
"I'll trouble you to lead the way, senior."
He did not refuse.
Following Uchiha Yashiro, they passed through deep, winding corridors. The lanterns on either side were swayed by the night wind, casting mottled light and shadow.
Deep inside the estate, a spacious traditional room came into view.
Pushing the door open, a stern, murderous aura rushed to meet them.
Inside the room, it was brightly lit.
Over a dozen sharp gazes shot towards Chiya in unison, as if trying to pierce through him.
The various elders of the clan were seated on both sides. Displeasure was written on each of their faces.
"Uchiha Chiya, do you know your offense?"
An elder with white hair and beard took the lead in challenging him, his voice cold as a blade.
Chiya's expression remained unchanged. He bowed slightly in greeting.
"I am unaware of how I have offended you elders."
"Insolence!"
Another elder slapped the table and stood up, glaring angrily at Uchiha Chiya.
"Today, at the meeting, you openly supported the proposal of the Senju clan. What about the stance of our Uchiha clan? Have you forgotten the grudge between us and the Senju clan?"
Chiya lifted his head. His gaze swept calmly over everyone present.
"Grudge? I dare to ask the elders, what is the greatest threat Konoha faces now?"
"Naturally, external enemies!"
Someone snorted coldly.
"Correct."
"Now the Second Great Ninja War has already erupted. Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Amegakure are all watching covetously. If something goes wrong in Konoha, it will become a situation of being attacked from all sides. If we are still stuck on past grudges, wouldn't that be digging our own grave?"
"Nonsense!"
An elder cut him off sharply.
"The Senju clan has always marginalized our Uchiha. Your actions today will only chill the hearts of our clansmen!"
Chiya responded neither arrogantly nor humbly.
"Chill their hearts? Then I ask the elders, what is the position of the Uchiha clan in Konoha?
Have we truly integrated into the village's core? Haven't we always been guarded against as outsiders?"
These words left everyone speechless for a moment.
Chiya seized the opportunity to continue.
"When the First Hokage founded Konoha, he once said, 'The village is our common home.'
But now, our Uchiha clan is gradually being marginalized. Why? I believe it is precisely because of our stubbornness and closed-off nature!"
"Are you blaming our clansmen?"
Uchiha Fugaku, who was standing to the side, spoke up to question him. Chiya looked at him and spread his hands.
"Cousin Fugaku, I am not blaming. I am hoping the clan can see reality clearly. With the war at hand, Konoha needs unity. Just take the First Great Ninja War, for example. How did our old rivals, the Senju clan, face the war? Their clansmen bravely went to the front lines. Who knows how many died.
And our Uchiha, we became the police force guarding the village. We avoided the war's impact. Now the clan's population is several times, even more than ten times, larger than the Senju clan's.
Now, Tsunade's medical ninja proposal is even more crucial. It concerns whether all of Konoha can achieve victory. If it succeeds, it will not only save countless ninja lives, but also enhance Konoha's overall strength and prestige in the ninja world.
In recent years, what accomplishments can our Uchiha show that we can be proud of? If we can seize this opportunity to contribute to Konoha, use this to ease relations with the Senju,
and even achieve cooperation, then perhaps our future position in the village will certainly be different!"
"Cooperation? With the Senju?"
An elder laughed coldly.
"You are too naive!"
Chiya shook his head.
"Those who stubbornly cling to preconceptions are naive. Have any of you elders ever considered, if the Uchiha clan takes the lead in establishing the medical system, or even like the Senju clan, can achieve great merit in the war, then this Hokage position, can't our Uchiha also strive for it?"
The four words "Hokage position" struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.
The room instantly fell silent.
Chiya struck while the iron was hot.
"Konoha's current top brass, the Third Hokage is conservative and steady. His partner Danzo is ambitious. And those Hokage advisors... They all have truly inherited the Second Hokage's teachings. They are very wary of our Uchiha. This is what has kept our Uchiha always excluded from the center of power.
If we Uchiha continue to be arrogantly self-important, focusing only on the clan, with no regard for the village, in the long run, the Uchiha and Konoha will eventually become opposed to each other.
The clan's future will ultimately head down a dead end! Instead of passively waiting, we should take the initiative!
My support for Tsunade today was precisely to show the village the Uchiha's breadth of mind and foresight!"
His voice grew more impassioned.
"Everyone, the times have changed! Past grudges should not become shackles binding us.
The glory of the Uchiha clan should not remain only in the fame of the Sharingan.
It should also be embodied in our contributions to the village! Elders, you always talk about the Senju, the Senju.
Why don't you compete with the Senju on this issue? Could it be that our Uchiha can't even surpass the Senju clan's contributions to the village?!"
His words fell. The room was utterly silent. Shock flashed in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes. He had never imagined his younger cousin had such profound insight.
The elders looked at each other. For a moment, it was difficult to refute.
Uchiha Fugaku looked at Chiya with a complex gaze.
"Your words... are not without reason. But this matter is of great importance. It requires careful deliberation."
Chiya gave a slight smile and bowed.
"Everything I have done is for the future of the clan."
An elder snorted coldly, but his tone was no longer as forceful as before.
"Hmph. Let's hope you're not just making excuses for your own selfish gain."
Chiya responded frankly.
"If you do not believe me, you may wait and see. Time will prove everything."
The meeting finally ended amidst a stretch of silence.
When Chiya left, he could feel the complex gazes of his clansmen on his back.
He knew today's war of words was just the beginning. The real challenges were still ahead.
Walking out of the estate, the night wind brushed his face Chiya let out a long breath.
He looked up at the starry sky. A confident curve lifted the corner of his mouth.
Having lived in the Uchiha clan all these years, how could he not know the thoughts of most people in the clan?
The current Uchiha were not the Uchiha distrusted after Konoha's Nine-Tails incident.
Everything could be changed!
"The future of the Uchiha... later, when I have the strength, I'll rewrite it myself!"