Uchiha Ascendant: Rewriting the Ninja World

"For the glory of the Uchiha Clan!"

Uchiha Yo's resolute voice echoed through the Nanga Shrine.

Fugaku, standing nearby, felt a wave of mixed emotions—awkwardness mixed with relief. While it was for the sake of the clan, the sheer nature of the task made it hard to accept or even mention, especially for someone as proud as an Uchiha.

"Fugaku, look at Yo-kun. The future of the clan rests on your shoulders," the clan head remarked, casting a rare look of disapproval at his usually pride-worthy son.

Forced to swallow his pride, Fugaku stiffened and responded solemnly: "Yo-kun's sacrifice will not be forgotten by the clan."

His gaze fell on Yo, and for once, a trace of awkwardness flickered across Fugaku's usually composed face. Inwardly, though, he sighed in relief. At least he didn't have to shoulder this burden.

As Fugaku observed Uchiha Yo, dressed impeccably in a pristine white haori over black trousers, with his muscular chest partially revealed, his forearms covered in sleek black arm guards, and a ninja blade strapped across his back, he had to admit—Yo looked every bit the part of a hero.

His sharp, chiseled features and strikingly upright posture exuded confidence, closely resembling Sasuke's commanding presence years later. What's more, this outfit was Mikoto's handiwork, freshly tailored for this meeting.

Even Mikoto herself felt a pang of regret for her handiwork. Did I dress him up too well?

Elder Setsuna, noticing Yo's composed demeanor, handsome appearance, and robust stature, couldn't help but nod in approval.

"Yo, the clan has never had a better opportunity than this. The Third Hokage's policies over the past twenty years have sown dissatisfaction among the major clans. Otherwise, why would the Senju Clan keep the next Nine-Tails jinchuriki under their protection?"

At this, the elder let out a rare, cold chuckle.

"Even White Fang's reputation has grown to rival the Hokage's. While much of it stems from his strength, the clans' quiet support has undeniably played a role. Even the Senju are discontent with the Third's policies."

As Setsuna explained the tension between Konoha's leadership and the major clans, Yo frowned slightly, contemplating the underlying truths.

Whether Setsuna's claims were entirely accurate or not, one thing was certain: any leader, even a Hokage, would naturally aim to suppress overly powerful clans, whether they were the Senju or the Uchiha.

The sequence of events seemed to corroborate this theory:

Nawaki's death during the Second Shinobi War.

Tsunade's lover's untimely demise.

Kushina, the next jinchuriki, being subtly swayed toward the Hokage's faction.

Everything pointed to the Senju's decline. By the time of the Third Shinobi War, the Senju Clan had all but vanished, suggesting they had failed in the political power struggles within the village.

Even Tsunade, once the pride of the Senju, distanced herself from the village. Clearly, the Third Hokage's machinations were effective.

"And White Fang isn't from a clan," Setsuna continued. "That's why the Uchiha can align with the other major families on this."

Yo, seeing Mikoto's subtle nod of encouragement, suddenly felt a surge of motivation. If he could have it all, why not aim high? With newfound determination, he declared:

"Clan Head, Elder, rest assured. I will do my utmost to approach the next Nine-Tails jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina."

Stealing a glance at Mikoto, Yo's mind worked rapidly to connect the dots. No wonder Mikoto and Kushina were so close in the original timeline. The Uchiha had already planned this from the start!

And the fact that an Uchiha could interact with a jinchuriki without immediate backlash? That hinted at some level of tacit approval, likely from the Senju themselves. After all, Kushina was only a "candidate" for the role at this point.

The brewing dissatisfaction among the clans with the Third Hokage also explained the harsh measures he would later take—targeting not only the Uchiha and Senju but also the Hyuga and other influential families.

At this moment, Mikoto, who had been silent, spoke up, her tone serious:

"Clan Head, Elder, while Yo-kun serves under Captain Tsunade, his chances to interact with Kushina are limited. Even with my involvement, it could arouse suspicion. However, Yo-kun's newly awakened dual kekkei genkai requires ongoing treatment from Tsunade-sama, providing a legitimate reason for him to remain close to Kushina. But the cell stabilization agents are extremely costly."

Her serious demeanor left Setsuna momentarily speechless. If he hadn't known about her connection with Yo, he might have actually believed her.

Yo, meanwhile, looked genuinely grateful. Mikoto's "support"? Priceless.

The clan head and elder exchanged glances, nodding subtly. These factors—Yo's striking appearance and legitimate reason for proximity—solidified their choice.

"The clan will not let any Uchiha go unrewarded. Uchiha Yo, your condition will be supported with monthly funding for your medication. Do not let the clan's investment go to waste!"

Forcing a horse to run required feeding it well. This principle was timeless, and given the difficulty of the task, few Uchihas could handle such a mission. The candidate needed not only exceptional talent but also the right demeanor and, frankly, good looks.

Hearing their promise, Yo nodded with determination, though his mind had already begun scheming. This mission might just be the perfect springboard for his advancement.

Outside the Nanga Shrine.

Fugaku's expression remained awkward as they exited the shrine.

"Yo-kun, this is a scroll for those who have awakened the Sharingan," he said, handing over a small but ornate scroll.

The Uchiha were generous to those who awakened their kekkei genkai, providing them with training materials and other resources immediately.

Taking the scroll, Yo noted that it detailed techniques and exercises for the Sharingan. Smiling, he nodded. "Thank you, Captain Fugaku."

Fugaku, however, seemed both awkward and slightly ashamed. Yo's sacrifice for the clan weighed on him.

"Yo-kun, the clan will not forget your contributions," he said solemnly.

Mikoto interjected at just the right moment, her voice warm:

"Captain Fugaku, Yo-kun's strength is already commendable. Now that he has awakened the Sharingan, his chakra and physical capabilities will see significant growth. I also heard that the clan recently procured some chakra metal."

Though she didn't say more, the implication was clear.

Yo gave an internal thumbs-up to Mikoto but outwardly maintained a serious demeanor, raising a hand to stop her.

"Mikoto-nee, we're all doing this for the clan!"

His resolute tone and expression left Fugaku even more embarrassed. Nodding slightly, Fugaku didn't say much, but Yo knew his personality well enough.

It won't be long before I receive a chakra metal weapon.