While Kaen slept peacefully beside Hitomi…
The Uchiha compound remained awake.
Lights burned late in the clan leader's manor.
Not unusual during wartime.
But tonight's discussion carried a different weight.
Inside the council chamber sat:
The clan leader.
Senior elders.
Several influential jōnin representatives.
Faces serious. Voices measured.
And at the center of discussion:
Uchiha Kaen.
The clan leader opened calmly:
"His battlefield performance is now confirmed by multiple sources. Sakumo's report. External observers. Even Hokage-level attention."
Silence followed.
Because that combination was rare.
And politically sensitive.
One elder spoke first.
"His potential reminds me of… Madara."
The name alone shifted the room's atmosphere.
History still lingered.
Respect mixed with caution.
Sometimes fear.
Another elder frowned.
"That comparison is premature."
"Perhaps," the first replied.
"But power emerging quietly within the clan always deserves scrutiny."
A younger jōnin spoke next.
"I've watched him train before deployment. He's disciplined. Stable. Not pride-driven."
That earned a few approving nods.
But opposition surfaced quickly.
"He's still a war orphan," another elder said bluntly.
"No lineage influence. No political backing. No traditional grooming."
That mattered deeply in clan hierarchy.
Bloodline prestige still shaped leadership expectations.
Someone else added:
"Strength alone doesn't make a leader. Tradition matters."
Agreement murmured.
Yet support existed too.
"He survived neglect without resentment," a middle-aged shinobi argued.
"That suggests resilience. Possibly fairness."
Another voice:
"And the Hokage himself took interest. That shouldn't be ignored."
The debate sharpened.
Not hostile.
But intense.
Core question emerging:
Could Uchiha Kaen someday become clan leader?
Not immediate.
Future possibility.
Supporters argued:
Exceptional strength.
Emotional control rare among young Uchiha.
Independence from political factionalism.
Potential bridge between clan and village.
Opponents countered:
Unknown long-term loyalty.
Lack of traditional upbringing.
Risk of elevating someone without established clan roots.
Fear of internal power imbalance.
And beneath it all…
An unspoken sentiment:
Some didn't like the idea of a former neglected orphan leading them.
Status pride ran deep.
The clan leader listened mostly.
Observing.
Weighing.
Finally he spoke:
"It is too early to discuss leadership."
Pause.
"But ignoring his development would be unwise."
Another pause.
"We monitor. We support where appropriate. We do not pressure."
Balanced approach.
Strategic.
One elder asked quietly:
"And if he becomes… another Madara?"
The room went still again.
The leader answered carefully:
"Madara wasn't created by strength alone."
Subtle statement.
Historical nuance.
Some nodded knowingly.
Others remained silent.
Decision reached without formal vote:
Observe Kaen closely.
Offer inclusion gradually.
Avoid alienation.
Avoid premature elevation.
A cautious middle path.
Typical Uchiha politics.
As the meeting ended, opinions remained divided.
Respect growing.
Suspicion lingering.
Curiosity increasing.
Meanwhile, miles away emotionally though only streets apart physically…
Kaen slept peacefully.
Unaware that his future position within the clan was already being debated.
Unaware that comparisons to Madara had begun.
Unaware that both support and resistance were forming simultaneously.
But if he had known…
He likely wouldn't have changed much.
Because Kaen's path was never about titles.
It was about autonomy.
And he intended to keep it that way.