While the members of the Uchiha Clan gathered in the square, celebrating in a near frenzy, Ryūjin returned to his room as if nothing significant had happened.
However, the moment he stepped inside, he sensed something unusual.
Looking up, he saw his parents, Uchiha Haruo and Uchiha Friyaa, staring at him. Their expressions were complicated, a mixture of shock, excitement, relief, and disbelief.
"Father, Mother, did you see it?"
Ryūjin smiled faintly as he changed his shoes, walked in, and sat down calmly in front of them.
The two nodded almost instinctively, still dazed, as if their minds had yet to catch up with reality.
The disturbance caused by Ryūjin earlier had been overwhelming. The entire Uchiha Clan, along with much of Konoha, had been shaken. Naturally, Haruo and Friyaa had rushed over with the others.
They had witnessed everything.
They saw Ryūjin summon clouds and rain with a mere motion of his hand. They saw him overwhelm figures like Jiraiya, Hyuga Hiashi, and Akimichi Chōza as if they were nothing. They even saw him suppress the Nine-Tails without effort.
They could hardly believe it.
"Is this really our son?"
They had asked themselves that question more than once.
"Ryūjin... we never imagined you possessed such terrifying power."
After a long silence, Haruo finally spoke, shaking his head slowly.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Ryūjin replied casually, shrugging.
His parents exchanged a glance and smiled, pride evident in their eyes. Any parent would feel the same.
But soon, Haruo's expression turned serious.
"Ryūjin, you killed so many people in Konoha. How are you going to deal with the aftermath?"
This was no small matter. What Ryūjin had done had completely severed ties with Konoha, and it involved the entire Uchiha Clan.
"I'll handle it however I want," Ryūjin said plainly, his tone firm. "Konoha's future isn't decided by Konoha anymore. It's decided by me."
Haruo was momentarily stunned. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Given Ryūjin's strength, what he said wasn't an exaggeration.
Knock, knock.
A gentle knock interrupted the conversation. Friyaa got up to open the door.
When she saw who stood outside, she froze slightly.
"Clan Leader... Great Elder... Second Elder..."
Standing there were Uchiha Fugaku and the clan's top elders.
"Friyaa, no need to be so formal," Fugaku said politely. "We came to speak with Ryūjin. We hope we're not disturbing you."
His tone was far more courteous than usual, clearly influenced by Ryūjin's overwhelming display of power.
"Please, come in."
Friyaa quickly invited them inside. Haruo also stood up to greet them properly.
Only Ryūjin remained as he was, composed and relaxed. He gave a brief acknowledgment, nothing more.
Fugaku did not mind.
Given Ryūjin's strength, his standing within the clan had already surpassed that of the Clan Leader.
"Haha, Ryūjin, you really kept us in the dark!"
"You gave us quite the shock tonight!"
Several elders laughed openly, unable to hide their excitement.
These were the more radical figures within the clan, those who had long advocated rebellion. Seeing Ryūjin accomplish what they had only dared to imagine filled them with exhilaration.
"Please, sit."
After Friyaa made space, Ryūjin gestured casually.
Everyone sat in seiza around him.
Fugaku praised Ryūjin's strength before getting to the point.
"Ryūjin, we want to hear your thoughts. Where should the Uchiha Clan go from here?"
Before Ryūjin could respond, several elders spoke up.
"There's nothing to hesitate about. We should replace Konoha outright!"
"Konoha is already crippled. This opportunity won't come again."
"The fastest way to end the chaos is for us to take control."
Their voices were unified. Even those who once preferred peace had changed their stance after witnessing tonight's events.
Ryūjin listened, then turned his gaze to Fugaku.
"What do you think, Clan Leader?"
Fugaku nodded slightly.
"After what happened tonight, Konoha is leaderless and fractured. If this continues, it will collapse."
"If word spreads, other nations will take advantage of the situation."
"Even internally, conflict is inevitable. The village can't sustain itself like this."
He paused briefly.
"The only solution is for a powerful force to step in and take control. Right now, only the Uchiha Clan has that ability."
"Only we can stabilize Konoha."
Ryūjin nodded inwardly.
Fugaku's assessment was accurate.
Konoha had already lost the ability to function properly. It couldn't defend itself, nor could it resolve internal conflicts.
Even if the Uchiha held resentment, Konoha was still their home. They had no desire to watch it fall apart completely.
"I also walked through the village just now," Fugaku added. "The clan members are already restless. I won't be able to hold them back much longer."
The situation had reached a point where the decision was no longer his alone.
The spark ignited by Ryūjin had already become a wildfire.
"Then there's no need to hesitate," Ryūjin said. "We take over."
He leaned back slightly, his expression steady.
"And after all these years, it's about time the Uchiha produced a Hokage."
Those words immediately lifted the spirits of everyone present.
With Ryūjin's support, their confidence surged.
"Ryūjin, come with us to the square," Fugaku said. "If we don't show ourselves, things might get out of hand."
"Fine," Ryūjin replied.
After tonight, there was no point in staying in the shadows.
He followed Fugaku and the elders toward the clan square.
The scene there was chaotic.
"Konoha is finished. It's our turn now!"
"They suppressed us for years. We won't let this chance slip!"
"Let's find the Clan Leader and take everything in one move!"
The crowd was restless, voices overlapping, emotions running high.
"The Clan Leader is here!"
"Ryūjin is here!"
The moment they appeared, the crowd erupted.
Every gaze directed at Ryūjin was filled with admiration and fervor.
He said nothing, yet his presence alone pushed the atmosphere to its peak.
"Quiet down!"
Fugaku had to shout several times before the noise subsided.
"I know what all of you are thinking," he began. "Given how Konoha has treated us, your feelings are understandable."
"We have already discussed this with Ryūjin."
The crowd fell completely silent.
"We have reached a decision."
"For the sake of the village's stability, the Uchiha Clan will step forward."
"From this moment on, we will take over Konoha."
The square erupted again, louder than before.
After a while, Fugaku dismissed the crowd, and they returned home in high spirits.
He then brought Ryūjin and the elders to the meeting room.
"I propose that Uchiha Ryūjin become the Fifth Hokage," one elder said solemnly.
No one objected.
Under the current circumstances, there was no better choice.
Fugaku nodded. "Only Ryūjin can control the situation now."
Ryūjin considered it briefly, then gave a small nod.
"Alright. I'll take the position."
There was no one else capable of stabilizing Konoha.
Besides, it might be interesting.
"And if it turns out to be a hassle," he added casually, "I'll just step down later."
The elders exchanged relieved looks.
With that, the decision was made.
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