Streetlamps circled the edges of the Uchiha square, their faint golden glow scattering the darkness. The light was not too bright, allowing the night to retain its quiet charm.
Aside from the Police Force shinobi on duty, nearly all of the Uchiha clan had gathered.
On the outer edge stood those who had yet to awaken their Sharingan; further in were the one-tomoe, then two-tomoe, and finally the three-tomoe elites.
Some ordinary clansmen also joined in. While the clan assembly was open to all, non-shinobi members had no right to speak. If they wished their opinions heard, they needed their ninja relatives to speak on their behalf.
These meetings were rarely about deciding every detail. They were for announcements, settling disputes, or strengthening cohesion through open discussion when nothing urgent pressed.
At the edge of the square, a figure landed silently before leaping across the gathered crowd. In the blink of an eye, Gen appeared in the center.
Every gaze snapped toward him.
"Oh Mom, Gen-nii's back!" a young Itachi exclaimed with sparkling eyes, kneeling dutifully behind his father.
"I see him," Mikoto said softly, smiling as she cradled Sasuke in her arms.
"Gen, why have you returned so suddenly?" Fugaku asked, unable to hide his surprise.
"Clan Leader. Elders." Gen bowed slightly in greeting before continuing, his tone steady.
"A matter of great importance has occurred. It concerns Konoha and it concerns us, the Uchiha."
The square quieted. Fugaku's brows furrowed. "What happened?"
The elders, the Police Force captains, Shisui, and dozens of Uchiha turned curious eyes toward him.
Gen spoke clearly, "On the Mist front, I encountered the mastermind of the Nine-Tails' attack."
The clan erupted in noise. Shocked voices overlapped in disbelief.
"Silence!" Fugaku commanded sharply.
The three elders joined in, steadying the crowd. Discipline returned swiftly, with only quick glances exchanged between shinobi.
"Tell us everything," Fugaku said, his tone grave.
To him, nearly anyone in the clan could suffer setbacks except Gen. He was more than a rising star; he was the clan's hope. Twin prodigy, commander, tactician… and most importantly, Orochimaru's disciple. That identity alone carried the weight of possibility.
Shisui's chances for Hokage had died with Minato. Now, all hope rested on Gen.
Gen's voice was calm. "The mastermind had someone impersonate a Konoha envoy to lure me into an ambush. I sensed the flaw and secretly warned Orochimaru-sensei. Together, we turned the trap against him."
"Well done!" barked Setsuna, stroking his beard, admiration flashing in his eyes.
Setsuna, who had once admired Madara's ambition for leadership, praised power and cunning above all. And Gen had shown both.
As the elder's approval rang out, Fugaku, the other elders, Shisui, and many more followed with their own praise.
Though it sounded simple, everyone present knew the truth; to uncover such deception against such an enemy, then reverse the situation, this was no small feat.
Gen remained composed. Though pleased inside, outwardly he showed neither arrogance nor false humility. His maturity and restraint only deepened the clan's esteem for him.
Even those who had once opposed him, the Second and Third Elders, looked at him differently now. He was their sole chance at producing a Hokage.
When the voices settled, Gen continued, his tone carrying weight.
"After a fierce battle, Master Orochimaru and I drove the mastermind back. At the same time, I recovered something of ours, the Uchiha clan's heirloom, the war fan."
He reached behind him, drew the massive fan, and presented it with both hands.
Fugaku rose solemnly, receiving it with the respect of someone handling sacred history. His fingers traced its cold edge.
Many of the younger Uchiha stared blankly. Few even knew the fan existed.
It was no surprise. More than forty years had passed since Madara had last wielded it. Many had never studied clan history at all. Some did not even know Madara had once been clan leader.
But Setsuna knew. His eyes trembled as he stepped closer, his voice shaking.
"It's the Uchiha war fan. Without a doubt. When I was young, I saw Lord Madara carry this himself. It hasn't changed."
"Madara took this fan when he left… Many of you don't know, but the war fan has been with us since the clan's birth. Our crest itself comes from it."
"It is our clan's symbol. And more than that, the elders used to say the war fan was indestructible. That it could deflect ninjutsu itself. The most formidable weapon in the world!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Deflecting ninjutsu? Few had ever even heard of such a possibility.
Gen's expression was steady as he added fuel to their awe.
"The elder speaks truth. In battle, I saw this fan turn aside jutsu with my own eyes. Even Master Orochimaru nearly suffered from it."
He had bent the truth, Obito hadn't shown that power in their fight, but the fan did indeed hold such abilities. And invoking Orochimaru's name only gave his words more weight.
The clan buzzed in excitement, some exchanging incredulous whispers, others staring at the heirloom in reverence.
The high officials of the clan themselves gathered closer to admire it, leaving the rest to chatter.
Finally, when the noise calmed, Shisui's thoughtful voice cut through.
"First Elder… who exactly was Lord Madara?"
At once, curiosity ignited. Dozens of heads turned toward Setsuna.
Some older members frowned, uneasy.
Madara's name was a quiet taboo in Konoha. They feared Setsuna would glorify him too much.
But Setsuna only gazed at the fan a moment longer before returning to his seat. His voice grew distant with memory.
"In those days… Lord Madara was our clan leader. Peerless in strength. A man who shook the shinobi world itself…"