Chapter 3: The Top "Turtle Man" of the Women's Channel
The midday summer sun was slightly blinding, and Uchiha Anlan, stepping out of the house, narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Hachidai, let's talk as we walk."
Uchiha Yatsui, standing at the gate, looked at the young leader ahead of him—dressed in a dark Uchiha high-collared uniform, looking dashing in the sunlight as he formally assumed the leadership of the Hawk faction. Suppressing his excitement, he replied loudly.
"As you command, Lord Anlan!"
The two walked one in front of the other along the blue stone path within the Uchiha clan territory.
Walking a step behind, Uchiha Yatsui organized the intelligence he had gathered and reported it concisely.
"The Clan Leader is holding a clan meeting at the shrine. According to a reliable source, in addition to discussing the Third Shinobi World War, the meeting also concerns the selection of the next Clan Leader."
Hearing this, Uchiha Anran didn't slow his pace, but chuckled softly. "It seems our old clan leader can't hold back any longer."
Ever since Uchiha Madara's departure, the old clan leader had been in office, and by now, he was even slightly older than Uchiha Shisui.
Among the elders who survived the Warring States period, few could match the longevity of Konoha's high-ranking officials.
In the subsequent *Boruto: Naruto Next Generations*, even those in their seventies and eighties held positions as Konoha's advisory elders, while the leaders of the three Uchiha factions had all entered their twilight years and were prepared to hand over power and responsibility.
Now, a clan meeting is being held at the family shrine—one in which only Uchiha with three tomoe are permitted to participate.
Considering the current state of the ninja world and the clan's internal situation, it comes as no surprise that the hawkish faction of the Uchiha is being actively encouraged to take the field, with the position of the next clan leader as the incentive.
After all, over the years, Uchiha Fugaku—who is a full ten years younger than Anran—has suffered no shortage of setbacks at Anran's hands.
With Uchiha Anran setting his sights on the position of clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku needs more than just strength to turn the tide—he needs something else, such as... military achievements!
To be precise, he needs to secure greater influence for the Uchiha clan within Konoha, thereby gaining more support within the clan.
This has also been the policy long pursued by the clan leader and the dovish faction, who have sought to integrate into Konoha through peaceful means.
Uchiha Hachidai is one of the pillars of the hawkish younger generation and frequently consults with Uchiha Anran on various matters.
Having been exposed to these dynamics from a young age and possessing his own talents, he naturally understands the intricacies involved.
He pondered with a worried expression.
"In ordinary battles, relying on the strength of the Clan Leader and the dovish faction, it wouldn't be difficult to handle things. "
"But this time, they want to invite us to join them. You can imagine the pressure the Third Hokage has put on the Clan Leader, and who knows what kind of benefits the Hokage has promised."
At this point, Uchiha Yashiro suddenly hesitated. Uchiha Anran could tell immediately what he was holding back and snorted coldly.
"Given the old Clan Leader's tendency to cozy up to the Hokage, I'm afraid he'll end up with next to nothing in return, while we Uchiha are sold off as a package deal."
Exchanging the clan's interests for the Hokage's empty promises—this kind of cowardly behavior has long been rampant among the Clan Leader and the dovish faction.
In their words, it was like this: "One day, an Uchiha will become Hokage, and all of Konoha will belong to the Uchiha clan. There's no need to worry about short-term gains or losses."
It was akin to the most pathetic male lead in a romance novel—constantly watching the female lead cheat on him with her "white moonlight" (the Uchiha clan giving up their interests).
Then they discover the female lead is pregnant (making it impossible for her to become Hokage), immediately break down in tears (clan infighting), followed by impotent rage (shouting and raising a rebellion), and finally, in silence, choose to slink away in disgrace (being wiped out by the clan)—this idiotic mindset (a tragic ending) leaves Uchiha Anran speechless.
"He who cannot endure small annoyances will ruin great plans." Sacrificing the present for high returns in the future.
This line of thinking isn't inherently wrong, but it must be adapted to the situation—one cannot simply act on one's own wishful thinking!
It also depends on whether the high-ranking Konoha officials—who belong to the Senju clan and harbor hostility or exclusion toward the Uchiha—are willing to accept a Uchiha as Hokage, thereby relinquishing their current privileges!
Furthermore, the Uchiha clan, having awakened their Sharingan through the emotional trauma of "losing love," has become extremely stubborn—even bordering on obsessive and inflexible—fostering a clan atmosphere where the strong reign supreme and strict hierarchies prevail.
Uchiha Anran's primary focus is on strengthening his own position and uniting the hawks.
It's like the fan fiction I read in my past life—the idea of winning over other Uchiha factions with just a word or two is nothing short of a pipe dream.
Ninjas may not understand politics, but they follow orders!
The upper echelons set the example, and orders are strictly enforced. Konoha is a massive military organization, and each ninja clan is a smaller military faction within it.
Just as the Hyuga clan has a clear hierarchy between the main house and branch families, the three major factions within the Uchiha clan are also sharply divided.
Apart from a few high-ranking members, people from different factions are extremely cautious even in their daily interactions.
Consequently, even the children below them have formed an invisible yet palpable wall of tension.
The rifts within the Uchiha clan are, in some respects, even more pronounced than those within the Hyuga clan.
The elders of the clan are not blind to this lack of unity.
However, by the time they recognize the problem, it is already too late to turn the ship around.
No longer in the prime of their youth, they can only rely on their long-established prestige to persuade the stubborn middle-aged and elderly Uchiha to refrain from influencing the next generation.
Consequently, the hope of uniting the clan into a cohesive whole—much like when Uchiha Madara clashed with the Senju clan in his prime—rested on the shoulders of the younger generation.
In a Naruto world without Uchiha Anran, Uchiha Fugaku was the sole candidate, but the arrival of the time traveler changed everything.
Even Uchiha Hako, the Grand Elder of the dovish faction, wavered between the two.
Given the dovish faction's inherent pro-Konoha stance, this hesitation effectively leaned toward Uchiha Anran—the more capable and younger candidate among the hawkish faction.
This undoubtedly spurred the elderly clan leader, in his desperation, to consider a last-ditch gamble.
As the two spoke, more and more members of the hawkish faction fell in behind them.
Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Inaka, and over twenty other young and vigorous Uchiha.
Having grasped Uchiha Shana's intent from Uchiha Hachidai's low voice, their gaze toward Uchiha Anran grew increasingly respectful.
The aura of dozens of clan members of the same bloodline coalesced, gradually gathering into a surging torrent that marched majestically toward the Nanga Shrine.
The Nanga Shrine is situated at one end of the Nanga River, a waterway named after the shrine that flows through the entirety of Konoha. It has witnessed the conflicts between the Uchiha and Senju clans during the Warring States period, as well as the rise of the Shinobi Village era.
With the speed of jōnin, they soon left the vast Uchiha clan territory in the center of Konoha and approached the primeval forest used for the clan's daily training. Following a path created by ninjutsu through the woods, they arrived at the Nanga Shrine nestled within the forest.
The Uchiha clan's ancestral shrine was not much different from an ordinary shrine.
Climbing the steps and passing through the torii gate adorned with the clan's fan-shaped crest, a spacious plaza came into view.
At the shrine's entrance, two Uchiha—one from the clan leader's faction and one from the dovish faction—stood guard.
After bowing to Uchiha Anran, Uchiha Inaka stepped out of the ranks to take his post at the gate.
End of this chapter...