"Haha! The east side may be holding back for now, but the south side's locked in fierce fighting!" boomed a loud voice as a brawny Uchiha man thumped his chest with pride.
"Uchiha Zō!" an elder's stern voice cut through the chatter. The old man on the other side of the courtyard wore a grave expression as he called out the man's name.
At once, Zō's demeanor shifted. The boisterous bravado vanished, and he straightened up with uncharacteristic restraint.
"Hey!" Zō leaned down to Saitama's ear and whispered, "That's my old man. Really a nosy old guy… totally unreasonable!" As he said this, his expression softened into something almost childlike in its innocence.
"How about you, Saitama?" Zō asked in a lower, more relaxed tone.
"Me? Depends on the clan's arrangements. I'm pretty flexible," Saitama replied, glancing at him curiously.
"Oh, really? I was thinking of teaming up with you. We could call ourselves the 'Uchiha Twins'—crush it together on the battlefield against the Sand!" Zō grinned, his words youthful and naïve despite looking to be in his twenties. Still, his sincerity made both Saitama and Ran feel comfortable around him.
"If there's time, sure. No rush," Saitama said with a smile.
"Come on, let's grab a seat. Looks like the meeting's about to begin."
Following Zō's lead, Saitama walked toward the seating area reserved for jōnin.
The seating arrangement was simple—thin cushions laid in concentric rings around a central set near the shrine square, indicating the hierarchy of the clan members.
Saitama was a little surprised that Zō, as carefree as he seemed, was actually a jōnin. He had assumed the man was only here due to his father's status. After all, the elder Zō had called "my old man" had been respectfully bowed to by none other than Uchiha Fugaku himself.
Becoming a jōnin wasn't just about strength. It required a deeper understanding—tactical judgment, contributions to the village, and mastery of techniques. The number of jōnin was a symbol of a village's military prowess and was taken seriously by all major Hidden Villages. Promotions weren't given lightly, unlike in some of the smaller villages that inflated ranks for appearances.
Sitting beside Zō, Saitama ignored the curious glances around him and focused his attention on the five central seats—those occupied by the Uchiha elders.
"Ahem."
A frail cough echoed through the room. The final elder had arrived. He was the oldest of the group, his steps shaky and slow. Saitama couldn't help but worry the man might collapse at any moment.
Chapter 49
"Everyone, please be seated. The clan council meeting is about to begin," Fugaku announced from the center of the ring.
Truthfully, he didn't need to speak—the hall had already quieted in anticipation. Clan members sat in a respectful hush, waiting.
Fugaku's gaze swept the room, pausing briefly on Saitama and Zō before he gave a slight smile.
"Let the meeting officially begin."
He nodded and gestured to a middle-aged man seated beside him.
What followed was the usual string of reports—status updates on various clan-run industries. While these had been summarized during the year-end gathering, a month had passed, and notable changes had occurred.
Saitama, with little knowledge or authority in these matters, couldn't contribute. Instead, he quietly conversed with Zō, who had grown up within the Uchiha clan and enthusiastically introduced people Saitama didn't recognize.
"That guy there is Uchiha Shō. He's a business prodigy—and a ninja too. But after sustaining a permanent injury to his arm during a mission, he shifted to managing clan enterprises full-time."
Saitama looked over. He recognized the man—it was the one he had seen at the shrine entrance earlier.
"No wonder Fugaku treats him with respect," Saitama thought. He made a mental note—understanding key figures in the Uchiha clan could be crucial.
"He really does look sharp," Saitama whispered to Zō.
"Shō's highly respected in the clan," Zō nodded. "Travels a lot for business, always brings something back for folks here. Once, he brought some herbal medicine for my old man's arthritis. No idea if it worked, but it left a good impression."
Saitama nodded as they watched Shō share updates with the council, his voice steady and professional.
"By the way, Saitama—when are we gonna spar? I've been dying to fight you!"
Zō nudged him eagerly, breaking Saitama's concentration.
"Huh? Anytime works. Come find me at the Guard's training field. I've been practicing there recently."
"Oh, near the police force compound?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Too bad I'm past the age limit," Zō sighed. "I would've joined the Guard in a heartbeat."
Saitama didn't reply. Another speaker had taken the floor.
The Uchiha Police Force, like ANBU or the Medic Corps, had recruitment criteria—including an upper age limit. Generally, no older than twenty-four. After that, a ninja's growth plateaued, and their future was likely administrative unless they were exceptional.
"Hey, tell me about those four elders," Saitama asked, curious about the figures commanding such reverence.
"You don't know?" Zō looked at him, stunned.
"Should I?" Saitama scratched his head, feeling a little awkward.
"Well, let me explain it to you."
Zō scooted his cushion closer.
"You know the clan compound is divided into four main districts, right?"
"Yeah, I know that much."
"Well, each of those corresponds to one of the four family branches. The elders are the representatives—or 'heads'—of those branches."
"...That's it?" Saitama blinked.
"There's more," Zō went on. "Back in the day, those branches were very independent, and the elders held real power. Nowadays, not so much. Most of them are like local managers now—like civilian district leaders."
Zō paused, then jabbed Saitama lightly.
"Still, the patriarch consults them before making major decisions. Just out of tradition, if nothing else."
"Ahh…" Saitama nodded slowly. "Didn't realize it ran that deep."
Just then, the last speaker finished.
"Now that we've heard the monthly industrial updates," Fugaku stood again, "let us move on to discuss the current challenges facing the clan."
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