69: Lions and Sheep
The Uchiha clan meeting finally wrapped up around 9 p.m. that evening. Uchiha Kei slowly stepped out of the small building, his expression as calm and composed as when he had arrived.
But beneath that calm facade, Kei wasn't nearly as tranquil. In fact, he was quietly pleased.
Because through this clan meeting, he had managed to show his presence within the Uchiha's inner circle. More importantly, he had caught the attention of Uchiha Fugaku himself.
Kei had always viewed the clan like a game of chess: those with average strength were mere pawns; the stronger ones could become knights or cannons.
Those with intellect but lacking power were guards, while those with both brains and strength were rooks—the most versatile and powerful pieces on the board.
Kei knew where he stood. Though he'd once thought being a "guard" would be enough, the current situation left him no choice but to aim higher—to become a "rook."
And if the opportunity ever arose, he would strive to become the "king," because only at that position was one truly safe. Everyone—pawns, knights, rooks, guards—would fight to protect him.
But now wasn't the time for that. He lacked both the strength and the voice to command such power. Everything was still in its early stages. Kei had a clear understanding of his place and goals.
Of course, his actions had already begun to step on some toes. The hardliner faction, in particular, seemed to loathe this newly returned clansman.
Ironically, the first person he clashed with upon returning was Uchiha Horoki—who now appeared to be a key member of that very faction.
And during this clan meeting, Kei had directly offended the brothers Uchiha Shuu and Uchiha Yuu.
That kind of confrontation was unlike Kei's usual approach—he generally remained polite to everyone, even those he disliked.
At worst, he'd just put on a cold poker face and keep his distance.
Openly making enemies was dangerous—it could lead to a stab in the back on the battlefield. But Kei had a plan now, and that plan would inevitably put him at odds with the hardliners.
"Life and death may very well be on the table," Kei muttered, rubbing his chin as he walked. "And in my plan, those hardliners have to die. Since we're going to clash sooner or later, I might as well stop pretending to care."
Indeed, those hardliners needed to be eliminated. Internally or externally, their arrogance was a liability.
None of them even had Mangekyō yet they acted like kings, and with a brainwashed Itachi Uchiha in their ranks? They were practically handing Konoha's ruling quartet a golden opportunity.
If Itachi was hateful for being so blindly loyal, the ones truly dragging the Uchiha into the abyss were even worse.
And the most detestable of all? Konoha's so-called Four Elders.
"You're quite impressive, Kei-kun." A voice suddenly pulled Kei out of his thoughts. "No wonder you survived such a dangerous battlefield. We underestimated you."
"No need to be polite. You guys didn't just underestimate me—you ignored me completely," Kei replied, lifting his eyes to see Shuu and his brother Yuu. "I used to be a nobody. Unlike you, the well-known war heroes."
"No need to be so combative," Shuu replied casually, unfazed by Kei's tone. Yuu, however, was clearly bristling with anger.
"We're all part of the same clan. Who knows, maybe someday we'll have the chance to cooperate more deeply—for the good of the family, of course."
"The future's unpredictable," Kei said with a faint smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, Shuu-kun. After a full day of training and then this meeting, I'm absolutely starving."
With that, Kei turned and walked away, uninterested in wasting words on someone he already saw as doomed.
His attitude made Yuu clench his fists, and if Shuu hadn't stopped him, he might've rushed after Kei to confront him then and there.
Ever since returning from the Land of Hot Springs battlefield, the two brothers had been treated with respect by everyone. And now this brat dared to talk down to them?
Yuu couldn't take it.
"That arrogant bastard," Yuu grumbled. "He just got lucky. We awakened our Sharingan long ago, and reached the third tomoe far earlier than he did."
"But he is a genius," Shuu said as he watched Kei's retreating figure.
"The mission he pulled off—if you or I had been sent at his age, we might not have made it back. Maybe it was luck, maybe not. But awakening a three-tomoe Sharingan right from the start? That's unheard of in our clan. His talent is real."
"Tch, talent's just potential," Yuu scoffed. "He hasn't had the time to truly develop or master it."
Then, after a pause, he looked a little nervous. "Brother… we failed this time."
"It's fine," Shuu said calmly. "I'm sure the Elder Council will understand.
But you were right about one thing—he's too proud. And pride always leads to downfall, especially when he has no idea what's really going on.
The resentment from commoners and other shinobi? Hah. Since when can lions coexist peacefully with sheep?"
Lions couldn't live alongside sheep. Because to lions, sheep were nothing more than food.
To Shuu and the hardliners, the Uchiha were the lions—born to rule. The other clans and civilian ninja? Just sheep to be used.
And this ideology was popular among their faction.
But what they didn't know… was that behind those "sheep" stood a pack of starving wolves.
And within their own pride, a rebellious lion had already risen.
Back at home, Kei ignored Shuu's invitation and headed straight in—his stomach was rumbling.
He was fairly sure there wasn't much food left at home, so he planned to grab some money and go out to eat.
What he didn't expect was that both Uchiha Keisuke and Uchiha Ryoko were waiting for him.
From their faces, it was obvious—they were overjoyed.
Their son had been invited to attend the clan council. That was an honor they had never experienced in their lives.
And now, their child had made it. How could they not feel proud?
Seeing their smiles, Kei sighed inwardly.
They had no idea that this very council would one day become the catalyst for the Uchiha clan's downfall…