Chapter 135

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After Yōichi returned, Mikoto was still kneeling at the entrance to welcome him. Although the lights were not on, Yōichi saw the elegant figure of this beautiful woman kneeling at the door as soon as he entered.

"Yōichi-kun, you're back."

"It's over. I will be busy with clan leader duties from tomorrow. The thing you were worried about didn't happen."

Yōichi directly scooped Mikoto into a princess carry, holding this beautiful woman in his arms as he spoke. Although he had wanted to kill Fugaku during their encounter, it was not the right opportunity.

Therefore, he let Masahito take care of it, and even though the cut from Susanoo was blocked, Fugaku was still severely injured.

At least a few days of treatment would be necessary.

Upon hearing this news, Mikoto felt relieved. She knew if she spoke on behalf of Fugaku, it would seem like she hadn't completely let go. But Mikoto was not thinking about Fugaku; she was considering Itachi.

If their father died following their parents' divorce, it would be a massive blow to Itachi. Mikoto felt she was no longer a competent mother and didn't want Itachi to suffer any further.

However, now that she heard Fugaku had not died, the relief in her heart finally eased, and she leaned into Yōichi's embrace, wrapped her arms around his neck, suppressing her shyness, and said, "...Yōichi-kun, let me serve you tonight."

"Hmm? But didn't you say you wanted to rest yesterday? Are you feeling better now, Mikoto?"

"Yōichi-kun, you'll know soon."

After hearing this, Yōichi asked no further and carried Mikoto upstairs.

Yugito who lived on the first floor and hadn't completely fallen asleep yet heard the noises outside and disdainfully curled her lip, then reached for the earplugs on the table.

However, she stopped halfway through, recalling the sounds she had heard a few days ago, and couldn't help but rub her legs together, "These earplugs are useless."

After picking up the earplugs, Yugito slightly blushed and put the earplugs back into the drawer. She then turned over and lay down in bed, covering herself with a blanket. Although she didn't cover her head with the blanket, her little ears stuck out and occasionally twitched like a kitten.

———————————————————

The next day, Yōichi mustered great willpower to rise from his tender nest. At that moment, he suddenly realized that being the clan leader was not as glamorous as it seemed, with the responsibility of the entire clan weighing on him from today onward.

However, Yōichi still got dressed and after giving Mikoto a good morning kiss, he stepped out of the house; Mikoto might sleep for a long time today, given yesterday's battle had been quite intense.

If not for Yōichi's exceptional constitution, which possessed Godzilla-like recovery abilities and could absorb natural energy, nearly entering a Sage Mode, he would have found it difficult to sustain such a colossal Susanoo.

"Clan Leader!"

"Yōichi-sama!"

"Good morning, Clan Leader."

"Morning, Clan Leader."

Just overnight, Fugaku's status as clan leader had become history. Now, as Yōichi walked within the clan, passing clans people greeted him as their leader.

It seemed that the ninjas who attended last night's clan meeting had spread the news to their families.

After greeting the clans people he met on the road, Yōichi proceeded to the main hall of the Naka Shrine's secret chamber. By the time he arrived, many had already gathered.

Soon after Yōichi's arrival, more people continued to trickle in. Aside from those out on missions, all clan members of the captain level in the guard squad had arrived.

"Everyone, I've summoned you today to continue yesterday's clan meeting. It's quite simple; my vision and plan is to make the Uchiha the foremost in the ninja world!"

Yōichi sat at the head of the hall, with all division leaders down to squad leaders seated below.

"This vision is both difficult and simple. I already have a plan and have been actively implementing it. Establishing an Uchiha welfare system to relieve all clan members of living worries is the first step."

"During wartime, it's not advisable to make significant changes, but I can reveal a bit to you all. The next step I plan to reform the guard squad; Uchiha should not be limited to a mere guard squad. Any place, any position, should have the presence of our Uchiha.

However, the guard squad must also be maintained. Otherwise, a shortage of hands might lead to dereliction of duty. So, I plan to allow ninjas from other clans to join the guard squad; you can recommend trustworthy friends, but only after the war."

A guard squad captain suddenly raised his hand, and after Yōichi signaled him to speak, he asked, "Clan Leader, are we to give up our Uchiha-exclusive guard squad?"

"The guard squad will still be under Uchiha's leadership, but relying solely on our clan's ninjas, it's challenging to support Uchiha becoming the number one in the ninja world. The Uchiha welfare system is to encourage more clan members to become ninjas or produce more offspring, Arashi-kun."

Yōichi said, achieving the same outcome by changing the wording to give the clans people a different understanding.

The leadership of the guard squad by Uchiha hasn't changed, but the current manpower shortage means that if we cannot produce more offspring or train more ninjas, then the addition of outsiders cannot be altered.

The peace faction within the clan had no objections, and although the hardliners were reluctant to let the guard squad, unique to Uchiha, be interfered with by outsiders, since the hardliner leader, Yōichi himself had spoken, they had to comply.

The morning's topics weren't numerous, just announcing the new role of clan leader and discussing future plans. And with Uchiha's business growing, more manpower was definitely needed.

The Impure World Reincarnation was just a guard, but many business matters definitely couldn't be handled by an Impure body.

"Clan Leader, do you need to change your residence?"

Masahito suddenly asked, "Your current residence is at the very edge of our clan territory. Would you like to move to the center of the clan territory, making it easier for you to commute to and from the guard squad?"

That area was nearly out of the clan territory.

"No need, I'm quite happy where I live. Just empty an office for me in the guard squad building."

Yōichi shook his head, his current residence was quite satisfactory—spacious and rarely disturbed by others. One day, after he learned the Earth Grudge Fear technique at Ryūchi Cave, he would build a passage under his house where he and Lady Mikoto currently lived.

This would allow Mikoto to come over stealthily every day.

After the clan meeting, Yōichi also went to the Hokage Building and informed Hiruzen that Fugaku could no longer serve as captain due to health reasons, and he was the new guard squad captain.

Hiruzen just smiled and nodded, indicating he was already aware of the matter. He then briefly mentioned that some civilians wanted to inquire about their husbands' affairs but said nothing further.

Yōichi knew who Hiruzen was referring to—just some foul-mouthed civilians. After acknowledging this, he left the Hokage Building.

Dealing with foul-mouthed civilians was simple; Uchiha Yōichi planned to build a notice board in the most crowded part of the village center upon returning.

He would post about the future plans of the guard squad and various warnings, including penalty notices, clearly stating the reasons.

If Yōichi were more ruthless, he could even post photos of those two civilians, with the reason being defamation of frontline heroes, thus subject to punishment.

This would definitely cause those two families to be socially dead. In a situation where everyone was talking, moving out of Konoha would be the best choice for them. If things got severe, they might even hang themselves amid the nightly finger-pointing of all villagers.

The guard squad, although under the Hokage's jurisdiction, had a high degree of autonomy, managing everything except for the Hokage and the Anbu.

They even had the authority to set village rules, and after establishing them, they could arrest people, truly playing both the soccer player and the referee.

Back at the guard squad, Yōichi also began to try handling the squad's affairs. Although there were many tasks, none were particularly difficult.

Assigning patrol duties, deciding on punishments—essentially, a lot of minor tasks, all of which he eventually delegated to the guard squad captain.

Yōichi sat in the guard squad office for a while, then felt that the squad must undergo reform; how could they still be using the methods first established thirty years ago when the village was smaller and the guard squad had less to do?

Back then, personal governance didn't matter, but now with more people in Konoha, leaving everything to him as the guard squad captain was foolish.

There must be a set of complete punishment regulations established. Whatever the offense, a specific fine and detention duration should be set. Once sentencing standards were established, subordinates could make decisions on their own.

Moreover, with clear punishment regulations, law enforcement would also be more precise, preventing the village's ignorant civilians from saying that Uchiha enforced the law arbitrarily.

Yōichi planned to call over the four division leaders and then have them set a reasonable punishment standard.

However, before Yōichi could call them, Masahito found him first.

"Clan Leader, there's a problem—Fugaku is missing."

"What did you say?"

Yōichi furrowed his brows and asked urgently, "What happened, Elder Masahito? Fugaku needs at least two to three days to recover. Do you think someone took him away?"

"The two clan members I assigned to guard Fugaku were both under the influence of the Sharingan's genjutsu. I just found out Fugaku is missing, and those two are still unconscious."

Masahito reported, and as to who did it, there were already some clues.

Only a few in the clan could hypnotize two clan members with the two-tomoe Sharingan.

"Elder Masahito, leave this matter to you. I need to step out."

After Yōichi spoke, he prepared to leave, but as he reached the door, Masahito called out, "Clan Leader."

"What is it?"

"Nothing much, I will handle things here."

"Thank you, Elder Masahito."

Afterward, Masahito sighed. He had just remembered his father's decision to relinquish power the previous night and realized Yōichi was no longer the junior he once was—he was now the clan leader of the Uchiha.

He now knew better than to casually advise Yōichi, a man of strong convictions, as his father had warned him yesterday.

Yōichi quickly arrived at Hachidai's home after leaving the guard squad.

After knocking, it didn't take long for Hachidai to open the door, but seeing him, he showed no surprise: "Clan Leader!"

"You should know why I've come to see you, Hachidai-san."

Yōichi spoke emotionlessly, his eyes already transformed into the three-tomoe, slowly rotating.

"Shall we talk inside? Or just here?"

Hachidai stepped aside and said, "Clan Leader, please come in."

After Yōichi glanced at him, he walked straight into the house. However, upon entering, he saw two people walking out from inside; one he had seen before, a junior named Shisui, and the other was Fugaku's son, Uchiha Itachi.

"Clan Leader."

Shisui, upon seeing Yōichi, quickly greeted him and even patted Itachi, signaling him to follow his lead.

"Clan Leader."

So, Itachi also greeted him properly, though he was a bit puzzled inside. Just a few days ago, he was the clan leader's son, but that had changed today.

"Shisui, could you please buy me some yokan? Thank you."

Hachidai came over and spoke to Shisui, who nodded and said, "Understood, Elder Hachidai."

Although it was clear he was sending the two away, Yōichi wasn't worried about Itachi leaving—being a rogue ninja wasn't so easy these days.

After Shisui took Itachi away, Yōichi got straight to the point: "Where is he?"

"Fugaku... has left Konoha."

Hachidai lowered his head and said, "After he woke up, I asked a medical ninja to use medical ninjutsu to speed up Fugaku's recovery, giving him the ability to move. After that, he left Konoha."

"Harsh on enemies, favorable towards clan members, have I misled you, Hachidai-san?"

Yōichi slowly tapped his finger on the table, his eyes already displaying the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan; and Hachidai increasingly felt the pressure emanating from Uchiha Yōichi, the atmosphere in the room growing more tense.

"Where did he go? I'll only ask this once!"

Hachidai's mind was in turmoil, facing this oppression, his prepared excuses lost all effectiveness.

'Sorry, Fugaku, I'm afraid I'll have to let you down, this is also for Itachi's sake.'

This thought flashed through his mind, and Hachidai quickly made a decision. Pulling out a saline bottle from his pocket, he suddenly relaxed and spoke to Yōichi.

"Clan Leader, I don't know where Fugaku has gone, but he poses no threat to you anymore, and he entrusted Itachi to me before leaving. I'm willing to die to atone. Please don't take your anger out on Itachi."

Hachidai bowed to Uchiha Yōichi in apology.

On the table, the saline bottle held a pair of eyes— Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan.

(End of Chapter)