Konoha, Year 42
New Year's Morning – Uchiha Clan Grounds
At dawn, the Uchiha Clan's main conference hall was already full. Dozens of shinobi—clan elites, senior Jōnin, and key members—were gathered for the annual New Year assembly.
At the head of the hall sat Uchiha Naraku, now a young man. He wore a black formal kimono embroidered with golden rice stalks, layered with a deep purple haori. His long black hair reached his waist, and his calm expression showed both maturity and control.
Below him sat the core of the Uchiha leadership: seasoned Jōnin, elite Chūnin, and clan elders.
Flanking Naraku were his four top aides: Uchiha Daizō, Uchiha Sanzo, Uchiha Yoshi, and Uchiha Shan. These men, leaders of major Uchiha factions, held significant political weight in the clan.
The lesser elders—those without real influence—sat further down, their presence more symbolic than functional.
Across Konoha, and especially within the Uchiha compound, the atmosphere was festive. Families danced in the streets, merchants sold charms and trinkets, and the scent of mochi and grilled rice cakes filled the air. It was a peaceful, joyful beginning to the year.
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Clan Announcements
Naraku stood and addressed the assembly:
"At the start of the new year, we leave the past behind and embrace the future. To celebrate, the Clan Affairs Office will distribute red envelopes worth 50,000 ryō each to all Uchiha children under ten who have not yet graduated from the Ninja Academy."
The crowd responded enthusiastically.
"We'll also send gifts and greeting cards to every clan elder over the age of fifty. Their dedication and legacy are the foundation of our prosperity—from the Warring States Era to now."
Another round of supportive voices echoed through the room.
"The young are the hope of Uchiha. The elders are our roots. Both must be honored."
These suggestions were initially proposed by Uchiha Daizō and Sanzo, Naraku's own father. Naraku approved them all, then concluded the announcements.
Applause filled the hall.
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Clan Values & Traditions
Giving out red envelopes to young children had become a beloved tradition ever since the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Unlike in the Warring States Era, where children as young as five were sent into battle, the Shinobi Academy system created by the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara set the graduation age at twelve. The intention was to preserve childhood and prevent children from being sent to war.
Even though their political ideologies diverged, Hashirama and Madara shared this ideal. Under the Third Hokage, much of this philosophy was implemented, bringing lasting peace to Konoha—at least on the surface.
The second item on the agenda—sending New Year gifts to the elderly—was a way to express gratitude and reinforce generational respect.
The third event of the day would be the New Year Festival at Naka Shrine, a religious and cultural gathering unique to the Uchiha.
Naraku wasn't particularly interested in ceremonial obligations, but as clan leader, he had to be present.
Traditionally, Uchiha Daizō, once a great elder, oversaw these events. Naraku now played a more symbolic role.
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Naka Shrine Preparations
Naraku checked the time.
"Yashiro, you can start selling the New Year's lucky bags outside the Clan Affairs Hall."
"Yes, sir!"
These lucky bags were a favorite among the clan. Sold at a discounted rate, they contained random valuable items. It was a fun and profitable tradition.
"Let's go to Naka Shrine."
"Understood!" the crowd responded.
Naraku inwardly sighed. As clan head, these formalities were unavoidable. Later that night, a Year-End Banquet would be held—no clan politics, just food, drinks, and celebration.
As he led the procession to Naka Shrine, he thought:
"After the ceremony, I'll personally distribute the red envelopes to the children—like Obito and Shisui."
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Three Days Later – Clan Affairs Office
The New Year celebration had ended. Back in the meeting room of the Clan Affairs Office, about twenty key personnel had gathered. Unlike the earlier general assembly, this meeting was limited to senior aides, department heads, and administrators.
"Everyone," Naraku began. "The new year has started. Let's review clan affairs and finalize last year's records."
The high-ranking elders from major families didn't attend. Naraku had long held a dominant position in administrative matters, and these elders rarely challenged him—only appearing for ceremonial duties.
Naraku's trusted aide, Uchiha Yashiro, began his report:
"Last year, we lost 107 clan members. 56 died of natural causes, and 51 fell on missions. We recorded 379 births, 209 Genin graduates, and 35 promotions to Chūnin."
Naraku nodded solemnly. Many of the mission-related deaths were due to the Rain Country Conflict, which caught the clan off guard.
They also lost four pairs of Sharingan, including a pair of fully developed Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
"What about household registration? Any significant changes?" Naraku asked.
"Yes," Yashiro replied. "We added 105 new households. We now have 1,985 registered households and a total population of approximately 5,900."
Naraku was pleased. When he first took charge of household affairs, there were barely 1,200 households and under 3,000 people. Many were orphans or elderly.
Though ninja families made up a solid core—nearly one shinobi per household—the clan's growth had been stagnant.
Under Naraku's leadership, policies that encouraged marriage and childbirth had steadily increased the population.
Now, with a well-funded Ninja Academy, public training in jutsu, and guidance from experienced Jōnin, the strength of the average Uchiha shinobi had improved dramatically.
The clan no longer had large disparities in power—now, only true prodigies could rise above the rest.
With welfare programs in place and the casualty rate declining, the Uchiha population was growing like a snowball.
If even a third of the 1,000 marriage-capable households reproduced, the clan's numbers would soon explode exponentially.
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Clan Income & Economy
"How about the budget?" Naraku asked. "Income from missions, expenses, surplus?"
The eighth administrator stood and presented the figures.
"We currently have 1,221 Genin and 402 Chūnin. Total commission income from missions last year was 158 million ryō."
This matched expectations.
Genin typically earn 400,000 to 800,000 ryō annually, depending on mission frequency and success rate. Chūnin average between 1.2 million to 2.5 million ryō.
D-rank missions pay between 500 and 50,000 ryō.
C-rank missions range from 30,000 to 100,000 ryō.
Most Genin squads complete 7–10 missions per month.
A reasonable estimate of 150+ million in mission revenue aligned with Naraku's own calculations.
"And what about the expenses?" he asked.
The Clan Affairs Office managed several major programs:
The Orphanage
The Elderly Care Center
The Ninjutsu Academy
The Uchiha Police Force (Guard Division)
Each was a massive drain on resources.
Naraku listened quietly. These systems were necessary for maintaining a strong, stable Uchiha clan—but they had to be monitored carefully to avoid overspending.
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