Chapter Forty: Factions in Turmoil

After his match with Kakashi, Uchiha Li returned to his tranquil daily life. Each day he performed his usual training at home; time slipped quietly by, and soon the end of the month arrived.

This time, Yao accompanied him to the clan assembly, and the two arrived early at the shrine. Pushing open the wooden doors to the meeting hall, they entered, assuming they were ahead of schedule—only to find the room already filled with Uchiha clan shinobi.

Remembering how seriously the Uchiha always took these gatherings—especially one as significant as this—Li was not surprised. The assembled members seemed to be whispering among themselves, and the moment Li entered, some eyes flickered with a scrutinizing gaze. Still, no one said much.

Li paid it no mind, found a random seat, and chatted idly with Yao, occasionally greeting those around them.

"Yao, it seems you’re doing quite well in the Guard Division," Li remarked, watching yet another member approach Yao with a friendly greeting—something that had happened more times than he could count since he’d arrived.

When Li had served in the Guard, he’d been familiar only with his own squad. Yao, hearing his compliment, lifted her chin proudly and said, "Of course, you should see what I’m capable of."

"What kind of skills?" Li asked with interest. "Teach me sometime, I could use a few lessons."

At this, Yao’s gaze darted away, and she replied hurriedly, "It’s nothing special. As long as you work diligently, everyone will come to respect you..."

Li simply shook his head with a smile. He wasn’t amused by her words, but rather, he found them unrealistic. The Uchiha were a proud clan—especially the younger members. Without overwhelming strength to command their respect, no one would truly listen.

But this was to be expected. Awakening the Sharingan was difficult, but with their bloodline and numbers, the clan always produced prodigies. Not everyone could be like Shisui or himself, but there were those who awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan even in their thirties or forties. Add to that the various factions within the clan, and managing the Uchiha was always a challenge.

Li suspected Yao’s success in the Guard stemmed from other factors—perhaps her popularity within the clan, for instance.

He wanted to ask further, but just then, Fugaku entered the hall.

The arrival of the clan leader brought silence to the room, and the assembly officially began.

Uchiha Fugaku took his seat at the head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before speaking in a deep voice: "Now that everyone is here, let us begin the assembly. First, we will discuss some matters of clan administration..."

Perhaps because this meeting was held at the end of the month, the accumulated clan business was considerable. They did not dive straight into the main topic, but began by debating a number of trivial matters.

Li was not surprised; this was the norm for clan meetings. The one after the Nine Tails incident had been an emergency, and so the proceedings were uncharacteristically brief.

Yet, this time, Li sensed something different.

Normally, every minor issue touched upon the interests of various factions, sparking a flood of proposals and often heated arguments—scenes reminiscent of a bustling market, with elders haggling like seasoned merchants. This would force Fugaku to mediate single-handedly, wasting time with little effect.

But now, the meeting was noticeably quieter. Disagreements still arose, but each issue was settled in minutes.

"So this is the meaning of the Mangekyo Sharingan for the Uchiha: the influence of absolute power," Li mused, watching Fugaku at the head of the hall, invigorated by his newfound authority.

Time passed, and Li and Yao simply observed the assembly in silence, never once interjecting. Yet as the discussions grew more intense, even Fugaku’s presence could not fully suppress the clan’s factionalism.

There were three main factions. First, the radicals: unwavering in their conviction that the Uchiha, as founders of the Leaf, deserved greater rights. Most of these were stubborn elders whose views held sway over much of the clan, especially now that the village was weakened and the Uchiha stronger than ever thanks to the Mangekyo.

Still, for now, the radicals only voiced their opinions; few spoke openly of rebellion.

"It must be the outcome of the Nine Tails incident that changed their tune," Li thought, stroking his chin. "And perhaps the village’s recent concessions, too."

Second, the moderates: the peace faction, who hoped for reconciliation through dialogue between clan and village. Their leader had once been Kagami, and now it was the Shisui line—those who carried on the Will of Fire.

Li saw no great flaw in the moderates’ ideals, but felt they underestimated the village leadership’s animosity toward the Uchiha. If the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, held power—and if Hiruzen, Danzo, and the two advisors were powerless or gone—then their hopes might be realized, provided the clan could curb its pride and isolation.

But unfortunately, the Fourth was still "recuperating," with no sign of return, and the clan had yet to truly change. Thus, the moderates’ dreams—and Shisui’s hopes—were doomed to disappointment.

Lastly were the fence-sitters: those who shifted with the prevailing wind, sometimes leaning toward the radicals, sometimes the moderates. Simple-minded opportunists, these people followed wherever the clan’s momentum led.

These three groups, vying for influence, formed the Uchiha’s present ecosystem.

At last, the morning wore away, and with the clan still relatively stable, the assembly reached its climax—the most important agenda.

The hall fell silent, tension thick in the air.

Uchiha Fugaku stood and said, "I believe you are all aware of the recent matter concerning Kakashi’s Sharingan. It is time to discuss it."

Before anyone could speak, Fugaku continued, "Allow me to state my position first. Personally, I oppose reclaiming it. It was Obito’s dying wish, and we ought to respect that."

At the clan leader’s direct stance, the assembly members exchanged glances but remained silent.

Li was satisfied with Fugaku’s response. Unlike the fools within the clan, Fugaku understood the sensitivity of Kakashi’s eye for both the clan and the village.

But not everyone agreed.

Elder Uchiha Ryo, a radical, rose and objected: "Clan leader, the will of the departed is important, but the Sharingan is our clan’s deepest secret. Does that not matter? Besides," he paused, glancing at Li, "there is already precedent for reclaiming one..."