Land of Fire.
Konohagakure.
Uchiha District.
Outside the Uchiha ancestral hall, where generations of their clan were honored, several members stood in anticipation.
The Uchiha were a clan of secrecy. Discussions of family matters rarely left these walls, and to ensure that, strict confidentiality was always in place.
Now, however, the atmosphere inside was tense.
Uchiha Fugaku stood at the front, his expression composed but undeniably weary.
Bai Ye hadn't arrived yet.
On either side of the room, clan members were already locked in heated arguments, their voices overlapping into a chaotic uproar.
Many voiced their dissatisfaction at Bai Ye's tardiness. Clan meetings were held with strict adherence to tradition, and being late was seen as disrespectful.
Yet, they conveniently forgot that before Bai Ye rose to prominence, he had never been expected at such meetings at all. No one had cared for his absence back then.
The truth was simple—they valued Bai Ye's growing influence in Konoha.
The Uchiha were divided into two factions.
One side, led by Uchiha Monzaemon, sought to expand the clan's power within the village, advocating for greater autonomy and influence.
The other, headed by Uchiha Yashiro, comprised those who wished to maintain the status quo and avoid further conflict with the village's leadership.
Every clan meeting devolved into the same predictable battle.
As the patriarch, Fugaku often found himself caught in the middle. Rarely did either side seek his direct opinion, instead pushing their own agendas without restraint.
This was the Uchiha's long-standing problem. No unity, no single vision—just individuals clinging to their own interests.
"Ridiculous!"
A sharp slap against the table silenced the room.
Uchiha Monzaemon, his expression hardened with discontent, scanned the hall but saw no sign of Bai Ye.
His displeasure deepened.
As a key figure among the hawkish faction—a faction that had existed since the days of the Second Hokage—Monzaemon held considerable sway within the clan.
Yet, for all his influence, the fact that a junior like Bai Ye could openly disregard him was infuriating.
He prided himself on carrying Uchiha Madara's will, always seeking to strengthen the clan's voice in Konoha. But despite his efforts, their influence remained restrained.
"What does Uchiha Bai Ye think he's doing?"
"How many times has this happened?"
"Ignoring the traditions of our family—does he believe the Police Force belongs to him alone? That the Uchiha's will means nothing?"
Monzaemon's words carried a dangerous weight, subtly framing Bai Ye as a traitor to the clan.
For an Uchiha, such accusations were no small matter. A single label could turn the entire family against him.
"Do none of you see what he's doing?"
Another voice joined the discussion—Uchiha Hōnō, another elder of the hawkish faction.
He stepped forward, his tone measured yet firm.
"Perhaps you haven't noticed, but ever since Bai Ye became Captain of the Police Force, its members have stopped attending clan meetings—including the patriarch's own son, Uchiha Itachi."
"This isn't simple disobedience. It's deliberate separation. Bai Ye is pulling away from the family, carving his own path—what's next? Declaring himself the second patriarch?"
A hushed silence spread through the room.
The implications were clear—Bai Ye was reshaping the Uchiha's internal power structure.
The person most affected by this should have been Fugaku himself.
And yet, the Uchiha Patriarch remained composed.
"Don't look at me," Fugaku said finally, his tone even. "Bai Ye told me he'd be here today to address the family himself."
Truthfully, Fugaku had long since stopped trying to control his son's actions.
Itachi was independent-minded. His role in the Police Force came with obligations, and he followed those obligations strictly. The timing of the clan meetings often clashed with police duties—wasn't it natural for him not to attend?
Bai Ye, on the other hand, could ignore his duties. But the same couldn't be said for Itachi.
That Bai Ye had even agreed to attend today's meeting was already surprising.
Fugaku only hoped things wouldn't escalate too far.
Because when Bai Ye had left his house yesterday, the killing intent in his eyes had sent a rare shiver down his spine.
---
"Patriarch, as head of this clan, you must act!"
Monzaemon spoke again, this time directing his words at Fugaku.
"Uchiha Bai Ye has ignored our laws, disrespected our traditions, and overstepped his authority! As our leader, it's your duty to issue a warning—or even punishment. If we allow this behavior to continue, we risk losing our unity forever!"
His voice carried the weight of an elder's authority.
Had he been younger, perhaps even the title of patriarch would have belonged to him instead of Fugaku.
"He's a traitor!" Hōnō added, his voice sharper.
They had discussed this before coming here. Their goal was clear—corner Bai Ye and force Fugaku's hand.
With Bai Ye out of the picture, they could reclaim control over the Police Force.
Regret filled them. They had underestimated the Guard's importance. But regret didn't mean they would accept their loss.
They wanted Bai Ye to hand over power. With the Guard under their influence, they could climb higher in Konoha's hierarchy.
---
"Yo—who's talking nonsense over here?"
A clear, almost lazy voice interrupted.
A shadow appeared at the entrance.
Bai Ye stepped forward, his justice cloak draped over his shoulders, his sharp gaze sweeping the room.
He stopped at the threshold, not immediately entering, but instead observing the clan members inside with mild amusement.
Uchiha Monzaemon?
Uchiha Hōnō?
Bai Ye had assumed they were simply names in an adaptation, but now, standing before them in reality, he found their presence oddly amusing.
Especially Monzaemon, whose face practically screamed scheming ambition.
A man who claimed to carry Madara's will yet had never followed in Madara's footsteps.
Wasn't that just ridiculous?
"Uchiha Bai Ye!"
Monzaemon stepped forward immediately, his voice filled with righteous fury.
"As a clansman, you ignore our traditions! You lead the Police Force as if it were yours alone! Do you even acknowledge our clan? Do you respect the authority of our leader?"
Righteous indignation.
It was easy to wield. Easy to weaponize.
Like Uchiha Itachi—who, in the name of righteousness, had slaughtered his own parents, only to be called a hero.
What a joke.
Bai Ye exhaled a long breath. Ignoring Monzaemon's words, he casually reached into his sleeve, retrieved a cigarette, and lit it.
A slow inhale.
Then, he exhaled a cloud of smoke—directly into Monzaemon's face.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Funny. I always made the rules for others. Never thought I'd be the one being told to follow them."
His eyes narrowed.
Then, without hesitation, his hand shot forward.
Monzaemon barely had time to react before Bai Ye's fingers gouged into his face.
A howl of agony filled the hall.
Blood splattered.
Bai Ye stepped back, casually tossing two eyeballs onto the floor.
A wet crunch followed as he crushed them underfoot.
A chuckle.
Wiping the blood from his hands onto Monzaemon's robe, Bai Ye tilted his head.
"Now, you're not Uchiha anymore."
He turned, stepping past the frozen crowd.
His Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed—scarlet and gold intertwining.
"Don't break the law."
"Otherwise—the prison's waiting."
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