Setsuna was instantly enraged. Obito was just a kid who didn't know any better, being arrogant was one thing. But how could the little follower beside him be even more arrogant than him?
Was there no justice in the world anymore? No rules to follow?
He was just about to unleash the imposing might of a clan elder and properly teach Obito's lackey a lesson.
But suddenly, he noticed something about this follower… How to describe it?
Dominance.
An overwhelming aura of dominance.
It was a presence he yearned for but could never attain.
A presence he had dreamed of.
In that instant, the words he originally intended to spit out in anger turned into something that baffled everyone present.
"You're right."
The moment he finished speaking, even Setsuna himself was stunned.
Was that what he was supposed to say? Why did it sound so polite? So respectful?
The other Uchiha members all turned to look at him.
Was this still the same Setsuna Elder they knew? Could it be an imposter?
Setsuna coughed a few times and lifted his head to look at Obito's follower. He wanted to salvage his dignity, but for some reason, a deep-seated fear gripped his heart.
The words that came out of his mouth turned into, "Alright, stop arguing. Let's continue discussing the previous topic."
This ambiguous attitude from Elder Setsuna sent a signal to everyone. It seemed even he acknowledged this so-called "Elder Eight."
And this was no small matter.
In a typical Uchiha clan meeting, anything approved by the conservative faction led by the Great Elder would be opposed by the radical faction led by Setsuna.
Or vice versa.
There had never been a matter that both the Great Elder and Setsuna agreed upon.
The crowd turned their eyes toward Uchiha Fugaku, thinking to themselves, 'This clan leader is no ordinary man. No wonder he became the leader.'
Uchiha Fugaku, however, was deeply embarrassed. Internally, he was screaming, 'I don't know anything! What are these looks you're giving me?!'
Still, having both the conservatives and radicals recognize Obito was not necessarily a bad thing. He quickly followed Setsuna's lead and shifted the topic.
"In any case, our Uchiha's situation in Konoha does need improvement. But it can't be improved by fighting over petty benefits. I have already started taking action on this matter, and in time, you will see results."
Because of what had just happened, Fugaku's authority as clan leader mysteriously rose. Normally, people might question him, but at this moment, everyone believed him without doubt.
The Sixth Elder, who rarely spoke and remained neutral between both factions, said: "So the clan leader has already been implementing his own plan. That puts us at ease."
He sighed, "The reason we've been discussing these issues so frequently lately is because we all vaguely feel a heavy pressure looming over us."
At these words, the room fell into silence.
A young clansman spoke up, "Yeah… We are one of Konoha's founding families, so why haven't we gotten what we deserve?"
This sentiment resonated strongly. Many others echoed: "Exactly! The Senju Clan produced two Hokage. Shouldn't it be our turn by now?"
"Yeah, and now even the Police Force's power is being reduced…"
As he watched the clan members grow inexplicably passionate, the Third Elder suddenly showed a look of nostalgia. Tears began to flow from his eyes.
The Great Elder noticed and asked, "Third Elder, what are you thinking about?"
The Third Elder looked around at the gathered clansmen, hesitated for a moment, then said, "I shouldn't say it."
The Great Elder frowned, "Why not? If you want to say something, just say it."
The Third Elder let out a long sigh, "I miss Lord Madara."
For a moment, the entire Naka Shrine fell silent.
Some of the younger members were confused. But the older ones sighed deeply.
If the previous mood had belonged to the youthful passion of the younger generation, this moment belonged to the sorrowful reminiscence of the elders.
People only cherish what they have lost.
"Indeed… Under Lord Madara's leadership, our Uchiha were so strong."
"Ah… If only we had listened to him back then and followed him, we might have built a village just as prosperous as Konoha."
"Yeah… But back then, I was still young, and the decisions were in the hands of my father. They were too stubborn. Otherwise, I would have followed Lord Madara to the death."
Fugaku watched these elders openly voicing such treasonous thoughts and suddenly didn't know how to stop them.
Setsuna, in particular, was the most agitated, "I never believed Lord Madara was wrong. It was Senju Tobirama who pushed us too far. If only I had succeeded back then, the Third Hokage wouldn't even be in power now!"
Seeing this, Fugaku quickly announced, "Meeting dismissed! If you want to reminisce about someone, do it privately. Do not discuss it in public."
If this continued, who knew if these people would move from reminiscing to plotting the assassination of the Third Hokage or Danzo?
Only then did the clan members come back to their senses. The elders who had just been caught up in nostalgia exchanged awkward glances.
The mood to continue the meeting was completely gone, and everyone dispersed.
Once most of the people had left, Uchiha Obito turned to look at Madara and noticed that his expression was completely calm. However, the hand hidden beneath his robe seemed to tremble slightly.
Obito spoke softly, "Madara, you do still care about the clan, don't you? Even if it's just a tiny part of your heart… You've still kept it, haven't you?"
Madara snorted but said nothing.
Obito continued, "You see, they aren't as heartless as you thought. Back then, they were just lost in their happiness and didn't want to leave. That's only natural. But even after all this time, many of them still secretly miss you."
Madara glanced at Obito, "I understand why you're saying all this today. No need to say more, I'll see for myself."
Obito nodded. Having experienced hell himself, he understood that even when someone falls into the abyss, if there's a hand reaching down from above, there's always a chance they can be pulled back.
A person's heart always has two sides. Even if one side is completely shrouded in darkness… perhaps the light is just on the other side.
At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku approached. Worried about Obito, he had keenly noticed something unusual about his interaction with Madara. He asked, "Obito, who is this?"
Obito smiled, "I happened to have something to discuss with Clan Leader Fugaku. This man is actually an elder of the Uchiha clan, but he has been away for decades. I just happened to meet him and brought him back."
"He no longer has a home in the clan. Clan Leader, could you arrange a place for him?"
Fugaku was stunned. He and all the others at the meeting hadn't doubted Madara's identity. Simply because the chilling chakra he exuded was undeniably that of a true Uchiha.
But he had assumed Madara was just an ordinary elder. He hadn't expected such an extraordinary backstory.
Curious, he tried to get a better look at the face hidden beneath the hood.
"Greetings, I am Uchiha Fugaku, the current clan leader. May I ask your name, elder?"
Seeing this, Madara didn't bother hiding anymore. He lifted his hood and spoke coldly: "I am Uchiha Madara."
[T/N: And I Am Iron Man 🫰🏻]
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