https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-466-Little-Tsunade-and-Lord-Mu-Yue/12558643/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-468-When-in-Doubt-Consult-Mu-Yue/12558645/
Chapter 467: Can the Uchiha Clan Regain its Glory?
Chapter 467: Can the Uchiha Clan Regain its Glory?
After a day of training, Itachi took the initiative to invite Obito to walk back to the Uchiha clan's land with him.
Along the way, Itachi asked, "Obito, do you plan on attending the clan meeting at eight o'clock later?"
The Uchiha clan always gave advance notice before holding a clan meeting, and Itachi had received the notification the previous evening. Logically, Obito should have received the same notice.
The Uchiha clan had only one criterion for attending their meetings: one had to be a ninja.
Whether one was a genin, chunin, or jounin, as long as they were a ninja, they could participate in the clan meetings.
On the other hand, ordinary people or students from the Ninja Academy had no right to attend. That was why Itachi had not rebutted when he was besieged at the previous clan meeting; he had indeed violated the rules of the Uchiha clan.
"The clan meeting," Obito said, suddenly remembering that there was a meeting that evening. "I forgot about it. The Eighth Elder mentioned it to me yesterday."
"I don't really feel like going," Obito replied. "It's boring. I'd rather spend that time training some more."
Obito had only attended one clan meeting, and that was with Itachi. He found the Uchiha ninjas at the meeting dull and self-important; they only wanted to hear themselves talk.
Itachi had expected this response from Obito, as their last clan meeting had left a bad impression on them both.
If it weren't for his desire to change the Uchiha clan, Itachi probably wouldn't have wanted to deal with those clan members who were immersed in the clan's past glory either.
They gave Itachi the feeling that the Uchiha clan was everything and that nothing outside the family mattered.
Itachi believed this mindset to be incorrect and extreme, as the Uchiha were also a part of Konoha.
"If possible, would you mind coming with me? I'd like to attend one more clan meeting," Itachi invited, wanting Obito to accompany him.
It wasn't that Itachi was socially anxious and needed company; he wanted to borrow Obito's influence to increase his own voice at the meeting.
Alone, Itachi was just a genius. But if Obito was willing to go with him, then they would be seen as a small group, and their strengths would be combined.
"Sure, why not? It is a bit lonely going alone," Obito readily agreed.
He didn't overthink it; he simply agreed since his friend had invited him.
Obito had a method for dealing with situations like this. When he was in a class he didn't like, he would focus his attention on fantasizing about something else, effectively blocking out whatever he didn't want to hear. By the time he snapped out of it, the class would be over.
Obito planned to use this same strategy of 'mysterious art' to deal with the clan meeting; if he didn't like what was being said, he simply wouldn't listen.
"I'll come find you when it's time," Itachi said with a smile.
Upon reaching the Uchiha clan's land, the two parted ways. Obito went straight home, while Itachi headed to the nearby market to buy groceries.
Itachi lived alone, and having just returned from the battlefield, he didn't have any ingredients at home. If he wanted to cook, he had to buy some first.
After buying the groceries, Itachi returned to his quiet home, where the only sounds were his soft footsteps and the clatter of pots and pans as he prepared the evening meal.
Knock, knock.
Just as Itachi was cooking, someone knocked on his door.
"Who could it be at this hour? Could it be Obito with some last-minute issue?" Itachi wondered as he put down his utensils, untied his apron, and headed for the door.
It was dinnertime, and usually, no one would come looking for him at this hour. Having just made plans with Obito to attend the clan meeting, Itachi wondered if something had come up on Obito's end.
When Itachi opened the door, he was surprised and delighted to see the person standing there.
"Uncle, you're back," Itachi greeted him.
It was none other than his uncle, Uchiha Nobuhira.
"Yes, I just returned today, so I thought I'd drop by and see how you're doing," Uchiha Nobuhira replied with a smile.
Having lost his parents at a young age, Itachi was often looked after by his uncle, who would check in on him whenever he could.
Recently, Uchiha Nobuhira had heard some news about Itachi and was excited and relieved to learn that his nephew had earned the title of 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' on the battlefield.
Compared to his grandfather, Uchiha Izumi, who had only gained fame in his youth, Itachi, at the same age, was already making a name for himself.
"Have you eaten dinner yet? If not, I can make something for you," Uchiha Nobuhira offered.
Itachi invited his uncle into the house and shook his head. "No, I haven't eaten yet, but I was just about to start cooking. Don't trouble yourself, Uncle."
Uchiha Nobuhira had come all this way, and Itachi didn't want to burden him further.
Shisui appreciated the offer, and Nobuhira was willing to accept, as the Shisui before him was no longer the child who needed his care but a formidable warrior known as the 'Teleportation Shisui'.
During the meal, Shisui shared some of his experiences from the Eastern Front.
Usually, it was Nobuhira who recounted his mission stories, so Shisui wanted to share some of his own.
"It was truly perilous, encountering ninjas of the level of the Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist," Uchiha Nobuhira exclaimed after hearing Shisui's tale of the clash.
While the Wood Leaf Report portrayed the encounter as a valiant Wood Leaf ninja slaughtering the Hidden Mist ninjas, Shisui's firsthand account was far more harrowing. He described how each member of their team had to push themselves to the limit and beyond just to barely withstand the enemy.
If it weren't for Mu Yue's timely arrival, Shisui's entire squad might have perished there.
Although he had never crossed paths with the Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist himself, Nobuhira had heard of the elite squad's vicious reputation. He felt that even he would be hard-pressed to defeat more than one of them.
"It truly is a blessing that you encountered Teacher Mu Yue," Uchiha Nobuhira said between bites.
A good teacher could provide students with much help, not only in cultivation guidance but also in networking and resources.
Nobuhira noticed the similarities between Shisui and Uchiha Kagami; both were geniuses and had the fortune of having excellent teachers.
While Mu Yue was not a Kage, Nobuhira believed that with her demonstrated abilities, she would surely rise to become a high-ranking member of the Leaf in the future.
"Meeting Teacher Mu Yue was indeed my good fortune," Shisui agreed with a nod.
He couldn't imagine what his life would have been like without her influence. Would he have been able to free himself from the radical teachings of the Uchiha clan? Would he have had the strength he possessed now? Would his life be as joyful as it is?
Shisui tried to envision it but found that he couldn't, as the mere thought of it filled him with such dread that he refused to dwell on it any longer.
After Shisui finished speaking, Nobuhira shared some of his recent mission experiences, only stopping as the time for the clan meeting drew near.
"Uncle, will you be attending the clan meeting tonight?" Shisui asked, glancing at the time.
Having just returned, Shisui wasn't sure if Nobuhira would be interested in attending.
"Yes, would you like to come with me?" Uchiha Nobuhira replied with a nod.
Whenever he was in the Leaf, Nobuhira made it a point to attend the clan meetings to observe the mood and dynamics of the clan, ever vigilant to prevent a recurrence of the Uchiha Sasuke incident.
"Sure, but first I need to call a friend. We had plans to go together," Shisui explained.
"Then let's head out now and pay your friend a visit. We're almost out of time," Uchiha Nobuhira suggested.
The two set off together to meet up with Tobirama.
"This is my uncle, Uchiha Nobuhira," Shisui introduced briefly.
"Nice to meet you, Uncle Nobuhira," Tobirama greeted him with a cheeky smile.
Before Shisui could introduce Tobirama, Nobuhira spoke up with a smile, "Tobirama, it's nice to meet you too. I've heard of you, our Uchiha's great genius."
"Hehe, I'm just an average genius," Tobirama scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed but pleased by the compliment.
He liked Nobuhira's straightforward and honest nature.
On their way to the Southern Blessing Shrine, the three chatted and got to know each other better.
As they neared the shrine, Tobirama spotted a familiar face, Uchiha Inabi, whom he barely considered an acquaintance.
Upon entering the shrine, the trio found some empty cushions and seated themselves.
There were no strict seating arrangements during the clan meetings, except for the clan leader, who always sat at the front, facing the rest of the clan.
"Elder Sajo, shall we begin?" Uchiha Fugaku looked towards the front row, addressing a stern-looking middle-aged ninja.
The Uchiha clan had two types of clan meetings. The first was a regular monthly gathering held at a fixed time.
The second type was convened either by the clan leader or the elders, or upon the strong request of a significant number of clan members.
This particular meeting had been called by an elder named Uchiha Sajo.
Uchiha Sajo nodded slightly, stood up, and took a seat beside Uchiha Fugaku, facing the gathered Uchiha ninjas.
"Today, I would like to first commend two of our clan members, who are a source of pride for all Uchiha.
"I doubt it's Inabi. I remember him working very hard," one ninja whispered.
"Unlikely," another ninja replied. "Why would they single him out for praise in the clan meeting for that reason?"
The Uchiha ninjas discussed amongst themselves, those more attuned to news from the battlefield fixing their gazes on Itachi Uchiwa and Tobirama Uchiha.
Although it sounded far-fetched, the two Uchiha who had gained recent fame were Itachi and Tobirama, featured in the Konoha newspaper for their exploits.
As most Uchiha ninjas worked in the police force, only a handful had participated in the current war, and even fewer were considered powerful, which had led to this situation.
"These two are Itachi Uchiha and Tobirama Uchiha," Nobuhira declared, his voice echoing through the hall. "On the battlefield of Kirigakure, they displayed the might and prowess of our Uchiha clan. Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, one of the most formidable and notorious squads, was the fearsome Mangostine Dolphin, who met his end at Tobirama's hands in the recent conflict."
Some of the Uchiha ninjas, unaccustomed to keeping up with war news, wore looks of surprise as they turned their attention to Tobirama and Itachi.
While the younger ninjas might not have been aware, the more experienced Chunin and Jonin were well-versed in the reputation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Each member of that elite squad was a highly skilled Special Jonin, formidable on their own and nigh unstoppable when united.
"Tobirama actually killed Mangostine Dolphin," Inabi Uchiha thought, astonished.
Inabi had been engrossed in his work and training lately, paying little attention to outside news, and he never imagined that Tobirama's abilities had reached such heights.
"Actually, it wasn't just me," Tobirama interjected, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "It was a joint effort between me and Kakashi Hatake."
While he relished the astonished looks on his clansmen's faces, Tobirama didn't want to take all the credit. He and Kakashi had barely managed to defeat Mangostine Dolphin, pushing themselves to their limits and beyond.
Tobirama had a penchant for minor vanity, but he wouldn't claim the efforts of his teammate, even if it was Kakashi.
"I'm sure it was due to your efforts, Tobirama, that Kakashi Hatake was able to assist you in taking down Mangostine Dolphin," Nobuhira said, his tone unwavering.
Tobirama wanted to explain that their contributions had been roughly equal, and if anything, Kakashi had played the more significant role.
However, he decided against elaborating, thinking it unnecessary to split hairs over their respective contributions.
Itachi frowned slightly, recalling that the newspaper report had clearly stated that Kakashi had delivered the final blow to Mangostine Dolphin. He wondered why Nobuhira insisted on emphasizing Tobirama's greater role, creating a hierarchy between the two.
"Now, they have both become Jonin of Konoha," Nobuhira continued, turning his attention to Itachi. "Itachi has even broken the record for the youngest Jonin in Konoha's history, achieving the rank at the mere age of eight."
"These two are prime examples of the talent within our Uchiha clan," Nobuhira declared, his voice rising with enthusiasm as he stood and pumped his fist in the air. "We Uchiha have never lacked geniuses; we have only lacked the stage and the opportunities to showcase our prowess!"
The seated Uchiha ninjas couldn't help but applaud, caught up in Nobuhira's fervor.
"We Uchiha have always been the strongest ninja clan, and that is proof!"
"If given the chance, we Uchiha will surely reclaim the glory we held during the Warring States period!"
Many Uchiha ninjas voiced their agreement, causing Itachi's frown to deepen.
Unconsciously, he glanced at his uncle, Izuna Uchiha, and felt a measure of relief as he saw the same furrowed brow on his uncle's face. At least his uncle, he thought, remained level-headed and unaffected by Nobuhira's rhetoric.
Tobirama's expression also soured, and he found himself disliking Nobuhira more with each passing moment. Moments ago, he had thought the elder was alright, but now he found him rather distasteful.
Their achievements, he thought, had been due to their hard work and collaboration, not because the Uchiha clan was inherently overflowing with geniuses.
(End of Chapter)
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