Naruto: I Am Uchiha Shirou [12]

Uchiha Naka Shrine.

In the dimly lit chamber, Elder Setsuna, who had lived here since his release, sat quietly.

Cough, cough...

"So, you're the kid Mikoto spoke of. Not bad," the elder's voice echoed as Shirou, seated respectfully in front of him, nodded and responded:

"Uchiha Shirou greets Elder Setsuna."

After awakening his Sharingan, Shirou knew he had to take the next step by going through Mikoto to meet Elder Setsuna. This elder, who had inherited Madara's will and dared to plot rebellion, was confined to the clan's territory, but his prestige remained untarnished. After all, this was the Uchiha clan.

The sallow-skinned elder, with a weathered face, glanced over the intelligence scroll sent by his granddaughter and nodded approvingly.

"Not bad. So, you possess two Kekkei Genkai. However, while two bloodlines can make one powerful, they also limit you. A person's energy is finite, and your bloodline has significant flaws."

Although dual Kekkei Genkai was rare, for someone like him, who had seen countless geniuses in the Shinobi world, few survived to his age.

"Elder."

Shirou nodded respectfully while discreetly observing the elder. As he suspected, Elder Setsuna's sallow and frail appearance suggested he had only a few years left. No wonder he was so eager to nurture Mikoto, clearly preparing for the end.

Cough, cough...

Elder Setsuna glanced calmly toward the door. To Shirou's surprise, three figures appeared: Uchiha clan leader, Fugaku, and Mikoto.

"Elder!"

Fugaku and Mikoto bowed respectfully to the elder, and Mikoto took a seat beside Shirou. Seeing this, Shirou narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. Could the elder have longer to live than he thought, or was he just in a hurry to finalize things?

While Shirou speculated, the clan leader scanned him, then nodded slightly.

"Elder, this Uchiha genius is indeed qualified to carry out this mission."

Elder Setsuna smiled approvingly, startling Shirou. The clan leader and elder might appear to have differing opinions publicly, but it was clear they were in sync. Both were crafty veterans!

"Fugaku, the Uchiha clan's future rests heavily on your shoulders. And Mikoto," Elder Setsuna's gaze lingered on Fugaku before turning to his granddaughter.

"You both know our clan's standing in the village. The three of you will shoulder the clan's burdens in the days to come."

Shirou thought to himself that while this was a noble sentiment, it seemed redundant. Fugaku was the clan leader's son, the most talented of the younger generation, and a natural heir. Mikoto, as the elder's granddaughter, was also set in her role. The Uchiha clan's united front could keep many in the village awake at night. But where did that leave him?

Just then, the clan leader and Elder Setsuna exchanged glances and handed Shirou a scroll. Fugaku, nearby, seemed to know its contents and looked down awkwardly, while Mikoto gave him an encouraging smile. Shirou took the scroll, his eyes widening in shock at what he read.

Seeing Shirou's expression, Elder Setsuna coughed and spoke in a solemn tone:

"Shirou-kun, while our clan is strong, we are not trusted. This mission is challenging and a great opportunity. It's all for the sake of the clan!"

As he read the scroll, a serious look crossed Shirou's face, and his gaze instinctively moved toward Fugaku, which everyone noticed.

"Clan leader, Elder, in terms of talent and strength, Captain Fugaku has already awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan. He's a Jōnin, and only a few years older than us."

Fugaku's face turned even more embarrassed, while Elder Setsuna sighed and said:

"Shirou, your talent is unique. Fugaku's strength lies in training, but you're different."

What did he mean by just talented in training? Though embarrassed, Fugaku nodded, not wanting to seem uncooperative. Shirou, however, felt conflicted and cast a glance at Mikoto.

This mission was daunting, and he wasn't naive. He enjoyed the benefits of Mikoto's support, and with the elder nearing the end, he could soon rise in the clan. But this mission was enormous!

"Shirou-kun."

Seeing his hesitation, Mikoto gave him a gentle, understanding smile, her expression silently supportive.

Elder Setsuna sighed, and Fugaku kept his head down, unwilling to be pulled into this challenging matter. After all, few in the proud Uchiha clan would willingly take on such a burden.

"This mission is critical!"

Seeing the clan leader remain silent, Elder Setsuna realized the responsibility rested on him.

"Shirou-kun, you've heard of Uzumaki Kushina, right? If nothing unexpected happens, she will likely become the next Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. She already resides with the Senju clan. Considering the Uchiha's precarious position in the village, building trust with the higher-ups through the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is the best option."

A rare glimmer of cunning crossed Elder Setsuna's face.

"The First Hokage's wife was the original Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Shirou-kun, isn't it your dream to become Hokage and restore the Uchiha clan's glory? If you succeed, with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's backing and Mikoto's support within the clan, your path to Hokage is possible!"

This was quite a vision!

Shirou was stunned; the elder dared to dream big. Marrying the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to become Hokage? It did make some sense—the First and Fourth Hokage had similar arrangements, and the Seventh Hokage was a Jinchūriki himself. But could the Uchiha clan involve itself with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki without arousing suspicion?

Seeing the clan leader nod gravely, Shirou realized these two were bold.

Thoughts raced through Shirou's mind. The Five Great Shinobi Villages always had Jinchūriki and chose suitable candidates. When the Uzumaki clan was destroyed, the villages captured Uzumaki members to sustain their bloodlines. The Uzumaki weren't the only option for Jinchūriki—it was simply that, in Konoha, the First Hokage's wife was Uzumaki Mito.

Konoha wouldn't fully trust an outsider like Kushina, but the Senju clan could. While the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was tied to the Senju now, things could shift politically. The Senju had lost power since the Second Shinobi War; Tsunade's departure further diminished their influence. The clan couldn't foresee that Kushina, once a Jinchūriki, would be seen as merely a weapon by the Third Hokage.

"Shirou!"

Uchiha Mikoto's gentle smile and gaze were filled with unspoken support. She knew about this mission.

With a deep breath, Shirou made his decision. For the clan's sake, he was ready to carry the Uchiha banner!