Even hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto couldn't shake the instinctive feeling that something troublesome was brewing.
But this many members of the Uchiha clan...
Naruto knew well that shinobi from these prominent families were often exceedingly proud. Their arrogance stemmed not just from their individual strength, but also from the weight of the bloodline they carried. The Uchiha bloodline was truly unique across the entire ninja world. Countless shinobi coveted it, and growing up under such scrutiny fostered a natural disdain among Uchiha members towards ordinary shinobi. They believed that ninja without a Kekkei Genkai were inherently inferior. Even among those who possessed one, few bloodlines were considered as noble as their own.
Perhaps the only clan that the Uchiha acknowledged as rivals, worthy of competing against, was Konoha's Hyuga clan. Whether considering the length of their family history or the nature of their Kekkei Genkai, the Hyuga stood on similar ground. Thus, the Uchiha regarded them as their sole equals.
However, the current Hyuga clan certainly couldn't keep these fiercely proud, untamable Uchiha in check.
Only Sasuke could.
As an Uchiha himself, Sasuke possessed standing that none of the others could haughtily dismiss. Furthermore, Sasuke's power was more than sufficient to quell these clansmen.
Sasuke turned his gaze towards several of the Uchiha clan heads who had arrived from the past.
Yet, before Sasuke could even speak, these so-called patriarchs voiced their opinions.
"It seems the Uchiha clan of today has become the Hokage's trusted confidants!"
"While that might seem advantageous, it also suggests the Uchiha have declined, wouldn't you say?"
Since when did the Uchiha need to become the Hokage's lapdogs? This was unprecedented in the clan's history. While some members might have aligned themselves with the Hokage's faction, the clan head, or even the clan head's brother, should be staunch supporters of the family first and foremost. Seeing Sasuke acting so intimately with the Hokage gave the distinct impression he had become a mere tool, a lapdog.
How could an Uchiha willingly stoop to being the Hokage's lapdog? The position of Hokage rightfully belonged to the Uchiha! Only an Uchiha was worthy of becoming Hokage.
The visiting patriarchs seemed profoundly displeased with Sasuke's behavior. Initially, upon hearing he was the current clan head's younger brother and apparently the son of the previous head, their gazes had held a measure of friendliness. Now, however, their looks turned cold and indifferent. An Uchiha willing to be a lapdog wasn't just unworthy of the clan name; he was certainly unfit to be the brother of the clan head!
"It appears the current Uchiha clan, under the leadership of a failed patriarch, has already fallen into decline!" one sneered.
"Normally, we wouldn't interfere, understanding that the clan head of this era has his own ideas," another added smoothly.
"But seeing things as they are now, it seems necessary for us old-timers from the past to step forward and lead the Uchiha once more!"
With just that statement! One patriarch, seemingly calculating and shrewd, directly attempted to strip Sasuke and Itachi—the Uchiha of the present—of their authority. And he did so with such self-righteous pomposity.
Even the other Uchiha clansmen present seemed to find logic in his words. After all, the leader of a declining era arguably lacked the qualifications to contend for leadership against patriarchs who had once guided the Uchiha to glorious heights.
"Alright," declared the shrewd patriarch, taking charge. "The current situation is roughly this: we Uchiha, from various eras, have all gathered here."
"Though the reason remains unknown, the safety of our clansmen is paramount! We must ensure it!"
"We may be from different times, but ultimately, we are all Uchiha!"
"We need to select a temporary Great Patriarch to lead the clan!"
As one proposed, the other past clan heads quickly voiced their agreement. How many who rose to become the Uchiha clan head were ever simple individuals? Practically none were uncomplicated figures. Now, more than one of them coveted the title of Great Patriarch.
This gathering represented thousands of Uchiha! Should one person unify them as the Great Patriarch, overturning the entire world wouldn't be unthinkable. The combat prowess of the Uchiha clan was formidable. Once an ordinary member awakened the Sharingan, their fighting ability soared dramatically. While not all would reach the pinnacle of power, most would surpass the Chunin level, and talented individuals could often easily attain the strength of a Jonin.
This potential is precisely why the Hokage had always been wary of the Uchiha clan within Konoha. They could mobilize a large force of Jonin-level shinobi practically at will. Which Hokage wouldn't be apprehensive of a power capable of destabilizing the village at any moment? More importantly, the clan had always coveted the position of Hokage itself.
Fugaku, listening to the pronouncements of these past leaders, found the situation almost laughable. They vastly underestimated his sons. Setting aside the fact that Itachi was now the clan head, the relationship between Sasuke and Naruto alone was clearly far from simple. Moreover, if it were merely personal sentiment driving Sasuke, even a close relationship with the Hokage wouldn't explain the current dynamic.
Sasuke, though not the Hokage, seemed to operate on par with him, treated almost as an equal. Crucially, the other Konoha shinobi appeared to have no objections to this. This alone spoke volumes about the unique status the Uchiha held in this era. And it was highly probable that his sons were the reason for this status.
Furthermore, Itachi had once shouldered the blame for annihilating the Uchiha clan. Neither the surviving Uchiha nor Konoha would have simply let that go, at least not publicly. Itachi should have been branded a rogue ninja. Yet, here he was, not only appearing openly in Konoha but also serving as the Uchiha clan head. Wasn't this evidence enough that things were far more complex than these patriarchs understood?
These clan heads from bygone eras simply couldn't grasp the reality.
"Distinguished former Patriarchs!" Several contemporary Uchiha members attempted to clarify on Sasuke's behalf. "You must misunderstand! Lord Sasuke... he is not only the strongest Uchiha currently, but the strongest Uchiha clansman in all of history!"
However, the visiting patriarchs weren't inclined to listen. In their eyes, these descendants were weak, ignorant of the Uchiha's former glory. They had no concept of what 'strongest' truly meant. When speaking of the strongest Uchiha, that title belonged to Lord Madara Uchiha – a legend in Konoha, indeed, a legend across the entire ninja world. The mere mention of Madara's name could send shivers down any ninja's spine. This Uchiha Sasuke... by what right could he be called the strongest?
"Hehehe! The strongest clansman in history, you say?" one scoffed. "You youngsters probably don't even grasp the true meaning of strength!"
"Allow me to correct you!"
Suddenly, Shikamaru descended from the Hokage tower, accompanied by a large contingent of Konoha shinobi. Having overheard the Uchiha patriarchs' declarations, he felt it necessary to enlighten these fools, lest an angered Sasuke unleash something terrifying.
He cut them off sharply.
"Sasuke... isn't just the strongest in your Uchiha clan. Right now, he's also the strongest shinobi in the entire world! Bar none!"
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 30 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin