Naruto: The Flame That Reshapes Fate

The newly appointed clan head announced the end of the gathering.

With complicated emotions, the clansmen broke up into small groups and left. It wouldn't be long before the Uchiha who had stayed behind in the compound heard the news about the change in leadership.

Of course, to ensure the news reached every member capable of acting independently, the elders would also spread word of the new clan head and his achievements through various methods. They had done the same more than ten years ago when they supported Fugaku's rise. Doing it again now was routine.

However, more pressing than that was taking control of the Police Force.

The Uchiha clan head and the Police Force Captain were one and the same—this had been both a benefit and a restraint granted by the Second Hokage. Regardless, Rēn needed to assume command of the Police Force as soon as possible. Only then could he rightfully unite the full power of the clan and begin political maneuvering against the Third Hokage and the others.

"Fugaku-senpai, please lead the way to the Police Force. Shisui, Ranzan, Chihaya… all of you come along."

Rēn made a sweep of his arm, bringing all his trusted subordinates with him.

The Police Force had hundreds of personnel from top to bottom. He couldn't handle it alone. If he didn't bring his own people, he'd be sitting in the captain's seat blind and deaf. Thankfully, Rēn wasn't isolated. He had his own faction.

"Elders, please wait here for now. Once I've sorted out the Police Force, I'll invite you all to discuss the future direction of the clan."

"Yeah, yeah, get going!"

Elder Homaru waved his hand impatiently. "I can see it now. You're the type who says one thing and listens to no one. Discuss with us? Hah! Just don't work us old bones to death when the time comes."

The other elders reacted with varying degrees of disapproval—some shaking their heads, some frowning, some letting out dry laughs—but none voiced further objections.

The Police Force had always been the clan head's private domain. The elder's authority only applied within the clan itself. This was a system the Uchiha had developed through experience, and it worked. They wouldn't interfere with the Police Force.

"Fugaku-senpai, after you."

Rēn gestured for him to lead the way.

"Is it really that urgent? It's almost midnight," Shisui asked as he caught up.

"The sooner the better," Rēn replied firmly.

Though he was already the de facto Police Captain now that he was clan head, and even the Hokage couldn't overturn it, there was no room for carelessness. One misstep could ruin everything.

He had already confirmed with Fugaku that the appointment document had been sent to the Hokage building during the clan assembly. Hiruzen and Danzō would most likely use that document as a pretext to stir up trouble. The sooner he secured his position, the more time he'd have to deal with the backlash.

They passed through a corridor and climbed the stairs. By the time they reached ground level, the moon was already high overhead.

The Naka Shrine was bathed in moonlight. The clansmen who had left earlier were already far down the main path. The vast shrine was dark and quiet, and the cold wind rustling through the trees made the atmosphere feel even more desolate.

Without lingering at the shrine, the group headed directly for the Police Force headquarters.

There was a fair distance between Naka Shrine and the Police Force building, and none among them specialized in space-time ninjutsu. So they could only run through the forest on foot.

"Rēn—no, Clan Head—may I ask you something?"

Shisui moved closer again.

"What?"

Rēn blinked, unsure what Shisui wanted to discuss this time.

Was it about stopping a coup? About the Police Force handover? Or something else?

From yesterday to today, trouble had been nonstop. So many unexpected developments had thrown off his plans. He was adapting on the fly… and frankly, his head was starting to ache from all the new planning he had to do.

"Have you… changed too?"

"What are you talking about?"

Rēn was completely confused.

What kind of cryptic question was Shisui asking?

Then he noticed Shisui blinking repeatedly. He realized what he meant—Shisui was asking whether he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. After all, with so many people around, it wasn't a good time to reveal that kind of information.

That said, under Rēn's influence, Shisui's sense of caution had clearly improved. He hadn't told anyone about his Mangekyō. According to him, only three people in the clan knew—Rēn, Elder Jun, and Shisui himself and no one else. Not even the former clan head.

"No, not yet. It's not the time."

Rēn shook his head.

"Not the time…"

Shisui frowned. That phrasing was strange. What did he mean, "not the time"?

Suppressing his curiosity, he asked, "So you haven't? Clan Head, then how did you defeat Elder Yashiro and the others? Your dojutsu seems…"

"I see."

Rēn understood now.

He glanced around and saw that while everyone was still running, they were clearly listening. They were curious too. It was understandable. His performance in the chamber had been far too overwhelming.

Everyone had the three-tomoe Sharingan. There was no reason one person should be so far ahead of the others. "Genius" didn't explain that away. The Uchiha clan was full of geniuses. Even Shisui wouldn't necessarily have withstood Rēn's genjutsu if not for his Mangekyō.

Shisui's genjutsu excelled at slipping past awareness.

But in a direct contest of dojutsu, Shisui knew that before awakening his Mangekyō, he couldn't compete with Rēn.

"Shisui, since you've asked me a question, let me ask you one. What do you think is the true nature of our clan's Sharingan?"

Rēn didn't answer directly but posed a question of his own. He swept his gaze over everyone running nearby. "All of you should think about it too. When you figure it out, tell me your answer."

The group all fell into thoughtful silence—even Uchiha Fugaku and his close aides.

Conveniently, Uchiha Yashiro was also in the group.

Though Shisui had mentioned his defeat, Yashiro didn't mind. He had lost, and he accepted it. There was nothing to complain about. Having been overwhelmed by Rēn's force, he felt nothing but respect.

He too was pondering Rēn's question.