Chapter 38: We Will Reclaim What We've Lost

As Yuhara entered the room, he immediately began to observe everything inside. What surprised him was the presence of others besides Uchiha So. However, it wasn't entirely unexpected; Uchiha So was just one of the elders in the moderate faction, and there were others as well. They had gathered together, fully aware of the purpose behind Yuhara's visit—this was a confrontation.

Yuhara's initial scan of the room was to see if Uchiha So had arranged for any additional forces, anticipating a possible hostile response if their discussion didn't go well. However, it seemed there were no hidden forces. Even if there were, Yuhara was confident, except perhaps if Shisui were involved. Shisui, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, would be a difficult opponent, making victory uncertain.

"Welcome, Yuhara-kun," Uchiha So greeted him warmly, his demeanor a stark contrast to their previous meeting.

"Hello, Elder So, and greetings to the other elders," Yuhara replied with a smile, nodding to the assembled elders. He then noted with some surprise, "I didn't expect to see Elder Naoki here as well. It's quite an honor."

Uchiha Naoki, a man in his fifties, was from the hardline faction, a detail that Yuhara found intriguing. His presence here raised questions about the intentions of the hardliners and whether Uchiha So had communicated Yuhara's previous words to them.

Uchiha So addressed Yuhara's confusion, "No need to be surprised, Yuhara-kun. Though Naoki and I have differing stances, he is still my brother."

'Your brother's name should be Uchiha Kai,' Yuhara thought briefly, but he quickly shifted his focus back to the matter at hand. It was unexpected to learn that Uchiha So had a brother in the hardline faction, yet it wasn't entirely surprising given the frequent ideological splits within the descendants of the Six Paths.

This revelation shed light on the rapid shift of the moderate faction after Shisui's death, despite Itachi's presence. It seemed Uchiha Naoki might have influenced this transition.

"Ah, I see. My apologies for any misunderstanding," Yuhara said, taking a seat. "You all know why I'm here. After questioning Shisui, I learned that the attackers were Root ninjas. I'm aware of what Root is and what they do. The impact of this attack is clear to you all, the leaders and key figures of the clan, correct?"

The elders nodded, aware of the internal strife this incident had caused over the past month. It had led them to this point, where they decided to meet the young man who, along with Shisui, possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan and had unique insights and perspectives.

"We understand your concerns, Yuhara-kun. The incident has made us acknowledge your perspective," a moderate elder spoke up. "However, while we agree with your ideas, we do not support you becoming the clan leader. You are too young and lack the experience to lead a clan. We know your thoughts but not your specific plans. What makes you think we should trust you?"

Yuhara was not offended by the elder's pointed questions. They were legitimate concerns, and he understood their hesitation. The fact that they were even willing to sit down and talk was a significant concession, likely due to the influence of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"I know you all consider yourselves experienced and capable. But would you have thought of these ideas if I hadn't mentioned them?" Yuhara began, smiling confidently. "Even if you had, would you have dared to act? Clearly, as things stand, you wouldn't have."

Yuhara's candid remarks were met with silence, the elders acknowledging the truth in his words. "This is the difference in vision and the vigor of youth, something you seasoned veterans lack."

He continued, "As for my plans, I may have been vague before, but let me clarify. Both the moderates and hardliners are too extreme. The moderates are too compromising, and compromise for peace will eventually lead to destruction. If you aren't firm when necessary, others will take advantage of you. On the other hand, the hardliners are overly aggressive and somewhat arrogant. I don't know why they believe we alone can challenge Konoha. Their goal might be to target Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Konoha's reaction is unpredictable. Who would help us?"

"The extremes of both sides lead to ruin. If I were the clan leader, I'd combine the strengths of both perspectives. In matters that don't concern the clan's core interests, we can adopt a moderate approach. But when it comes to the clan's interests, we must respond with the hardline approach."

Yuhara paused, then concluded meaningfully, "We are all one family, aiming for the betterment of the clan. When Madara Uchiha wanted to leave, we refused. Now, leaving isn't an option, and our people wouldn't want to either. The Uchiha and Senju built Konoha together. We've lost much, but we must strive to reclaim everything we've lost."