The Great Uchiha Clan Meeting of of 936 A.S. (Specialty Flashback)

Nyguyen was a history buff. Scratch that, he was a history fanboy. Ever since he was a child, he would spend hours sprawled out on the living roof floor with his nose in some history textbook. His father disapproved of this eggheaded-ness. He complained that if his son spent his life reading about the accomplishments of better men then he'd never leave his mark on the shinobi world. Despite his father's protestations, Nyguyen never lost his love for history. He had managed to retain his scholarly attributes while also training his body for war. He was never the strongest or even the smartest but he did try his best. He would train hard during the day and when time permitted, he'd return to his books. Nyguyen had never expected himself to go down in the annals of history, he didn't believe he had that kind of pull or power. However events as of late had forced him to take an increasingly greater role in the affairs of Family and State. Nyguyen had resolved that if he was to go down in history, he would make his moment as grand as all the noteworthy Uchiha that had come before him.

Nyguyen had ordered for the Uchiha Clan Hall to be modified for the event. Clan meetings were often traditional and rustic affairs. They was a table set up in front and then everyone faced forward towards that table. The main table usually included the Clan Leader, his spouse, immediate relatives, and the various positions of importance. That simply would not do. A moment this grand would require a grand re-structuring of the Hall. Nyguyen informed the Meeting Host that there'd be a number of changes. The first would be that the meeting would be set up as a series of semi-concentric rows not dissimilar to the United States Congress. Seats would be assigned based on rank, age, experience, and relative important to the village and clan. Those with more seniority sat closer to the front and those with less in the back or in the rafters.

The seat of honor was a podium and chair erected in the mid center of the room. Behind this seat of honor, were two other seats directly behind the lead podium. Nyguyen would occupy the left and Juniper the right. The Lead Parliamentarian occupied a booth off to the side. He would select who would get to speak and would deal with all manner of Parliamentary inquiries. Normally, the meetings were held at the Clan Leader's pleasure and in accordance with their personal rules. Nyguyen was not going to be so bold as to claim such a position and thus the meeting would be ran under the archaic but still well known (to historians) Familial Rules of Scarlet Procedure. Nyguyen would introduce Satomi Uchiha and the man would take the center-stage. At that point, the meeting would largely be under his control albeit with minor guardrails imposed by the Lead Parliamentarian. Until Satomi was formally in control of the Clan, Nyguyen believed it was best that the meeting be conducted this way.

Nyguyen expected the Clan's "Leader" to be absent from this meeting. Akihiro was off doing god knows what as usual. The Intelligence Officer was leagues beyond most in the clan, it was speculated that he might be stronger than even Satomi himself. He had taken control of most of the clan's affairs but he wasn't exactly a PR friendly Clan Leader. Eventually, he had dropped off the face of the Earth. Others had stepped in to fill his shoes but it was always temporary. Akari Uchiha had provided a source of stable leadership for several months but eventually she too grew weary of the job. Konoha was soon to be without a Kage and its most powerful Clan without a leader.

The items that were under discussion would be projected onto the large backwall:


1. Position of Clan Leader
2. Position of Hokage
3. Relationship with the Ōtsutsuki
4. Retaliation against the Society for the kidnapping of Rin Uchiha, Assault on Konoha/Clan Compound
5. Renovations to the Clan Compound.



Nyguyen sat back in his chair and waited for his Clan Mates to file in. Satomi was likely waiting in the backroom. He would announce the man's Resurrection soon enough but for now it was better for the Clan to be all present and accounted for. The Uchiha would have probably heard rumblings that Satomi was back but no formal statement by the council had been made. Once the Hall had been filled and all the seats taken, Nyguyen would stand up.

"The Chair recognizes Nyguyen Uchiha, son of Katahshi Uchiha"

"I do thank the Chair" Nyguyen said as customary of under the Familial Rules of Scarlet Procedure.  "Brothers and sisters!" He spoke in a loud and commanding tone. Nyguyen had given lectures before hundreds of students and so he wasn't afraid of the spotlight. He was however acutely aware of the sound of his daughters giggling in the rafters at him. They were soon shushed and he cleared his throat as he did his best to focus on anyone but them. "I have gathered you all here for a historic meeting! These are the times that try men's souls as the great Kabalasa Uchiha once said...." Nyguyen saw Juniper tapping her watch from the corner of his eye and he stopped himself before he got started. "......what he said was unimportant, or rather it is important, but not as important as what we are about to do today. Today, we tackle several important agenda items that will determine the future of this Clan. As many of you know, the world stands on the brink of war. Bold and decisivie leadership is required at all levels of governance, from the Clan to the Office of the Hokage. There is much to discuss and little time, as many of you might have already heard, I do have a big bit of news to announce. We will be welcoming one of our own home today....I think many of you know who I am talking about......while I am eager to welcome him so that he may lead us in discussion on several key issues, I wanted to give each of you the opportunity to speak on any matter that you choose. The floor is open to adding items of discussion onto the agenda or airing grievance, comments, and concerns. With that I yield the floor!"

Nyguyen sat back down and nodded to the Lead Parliamentarian. All of the Uchiha who had entered would be given a chance to speak if they so desired. If not, then the meeting could progress. Once formal Clan business was under discussion, only certain qualified speakers would be able to speak or vote. For now, Nyguyen was giving the lesser clan members an open forum to talk. Once the big ticket items came under discussion, the only people talking would be those Uchiha of high standing.

Uchiha Yui would make her way toward the meeting getting several glares, she was still not considered part of the clan by some, she was a mutt and was not worthy of being in this room. Many felt she did something to Nyg in order for him to take her in, some even believed she was his little slut on the side, either way rumors were rumors and she did not care one bit. She was here as an Uchiha as she stood guard by the back door, welcoming each guest that entered with a polite welcome and bow. She was so elegant and she was quite a looker, so despite how some felt she had some suitors as well. One such man entered the room taking her hand and giving it a gentle kiss, this man's name was Uchiha Abelardo.

"So Yui when will you take my invitation to go on a date, you are far too pretty to remain a guard dog for your master. I promise if you join my house you can live a life of luxury and have anything you ever wanted."

Yui glared at the man giving a low growl, to leave her duties would never happen but what the man was simply an open cage prison, she would never be allowed to do what she wanted, would she get everything she wanted yes. Her wings however would be clipped with the door of her cage open to mock her inability to fly away.

"No thank you, I have told you countless times my answer, I refuse to be your desert for people to come see, I refuse to be in a cage with clipped wings, now if you do not mind others are trying to enter the room."

He would give her a glare as he gripped her hand tightly causing a bit of pain before letting it go, this man had become more and more obsessed with her. If she had to she would put down a mad dog, this was part of her duties to make sure her clan remained safe from internal and external forces.

Zenaku uchiha, a man of the age of 24. In the age of ninja he was getting up there in age but that just made him more wise in matters but that was not mattered at the moment. Zenaku had heard that a old uchiha was being welcomed home buy as to where he had been all this time was what zenaku cared about. Why be gone all this time and only now just be returning it was a little odd. It seemed that there was also a clan meeting going on so zenaku made his way towards the meeting hall. As he got there he noticed that there was a few uchiha that had already reached the venue and some he could tell was still leading up the pack.

Zenaku bowed to the lady at the front door who he took as the guard or just a pretty face as to welcome the members. He wear a long black jacket with a silver zipper. His arm sleeves was so long that they hung over his hands a few inches, he had open toed sandles that came up to his shins. He was a little pale with short spiky hair on the top and the rest of his hair was in a braid. Zenaku did not feel like taking a seat so he leaned up against a wall in the back where he could see all of the meeting as he had his arms crossed with his green chunin flack jacket on.

This day was one Rin Uchiha did not expect to occur. Sure he's heard of these clan meetings, but back then he was simply too young and basically was a nobody. So naturally he's never attended to these meetings until now. For this occasion, Rin decided to don what he considers to be an old relic. For the last time he wore this suit was back in that dreadful castle, the same place where he first met Alkaid. Rather ironic eh?

Rin's hair is healthy as it was dark as the night. His hazel blue-green eyes taking in the view around him as he traveled up to this designated meeting point. The dark stubble seems to frame his jawline as it apparently makes him appear older than he really is. Rin dons on the black suit jacket with silver threads, and even the buttons are made out of silver. He also wears a pair of dark slacks, and a pair of black dress shoes. Subtle things such as the belt buckle are made out of silver, and smaller buttons are made out of pure silver that seems to reflect the faint orange hue from the lighting.

Underneath the suit jacket is a dark long sleeved dress shirt with a dark grey best of velvet that also has silver trimmings and the buttons are dark silver. Which when Rin enters the building, thanks to his dexterity the teen takes off his jacket and neatly folds it over his right forearm. To which he keeps it raised where normally his right hand would be resting against his abdomen.

Upon entering, he took a moment to gather his surroundings and quickly realized Rin might be overdressed for this occasion. Despite this being a clan meeting, they were still shinobi. There were many unfamiliar faces, including the guard at the entrance who seems to be greeting other people. His scarred hand is the only of his battle scars that shows, albeit there are minor scars like a scratch along his right cheek. Rin lightly bows to the lady guard out of respect.

"Lovely day for a meeting isn't it?" Striking small chat as it sort of customary to at least become acquainted with their kin. However given Rin's history, he is by far removed from the heart of the clan than anyone here. Perhaps this was fate's play at hand, and honestly it would explain why Rin always walks away from death multiple times over. At any rate, the Parliamentarian was quick to announce his arrival.

"Rin Uchiha, The Ironblood, and son of Maiori Uchiha."

To be honest, he is not at all familiar with these customs when it comes to these things. Not only was this his first clan meeting, he doesn't really know what is required especially if it is words. So at the very least Rin lightly bows to the Parliamentarian to show some form of respect. Not really saying anything as he knows how easily people will twist his words against him. Dealing with Menza has proven that much. Which in Menza's defense the deal wasn't necessarily a bad one. Even laying out the risks of what would happen if he failed. At first Rin's argument is that he didn't want to the type to kidnap someone he never knew just to protect the people he cares about.

However thinking back on it, Rin mentally cringe of how ignorant he was. Either way, Rin sees his mother who was sitting in the middle row. Neither of them are that high in the hierarchy, Rin least of all in the Uchiha Clan. He would have greet her, but this meeting is strict to say the least. So while Rin climbs up the stairs, he offers a small smile to her and Maiori nods her head in response to this. Her face was stern, but Rin could see the tension from her shoulders ease. No doubt she was the most worried for Rin's safety. At any rate, Rin ascends up to the very back albeit it is for different reasons than just because he thinks of himself being below the standard point of view among Uchiha.

Perhaps the only Uchiha that Rin has encountered before that was surprisingly generous yet firm in her authority was Akari Uchiha. Frankly he did feel like he could place his faith within Akari as she seemed capable of leading the village. Akihiro, as Nyguyen put it, was off doing gods know what. Frankly from the attack on Nozomi, Rin isn't on the best of terms with him. In a way Rin expected to be abandoned by the villages to Menza's wrath, but to learn that Akihiro simply did nothing and squabbled with national affairs? That was virtually a slap in the face that Akihiro only sees everyone as pawns. In fact, he probably isn't any better than Menza, if not worse so. Honestly, going against Menza surprisingly opened his eyes that the Major Nations are not all good and not all bad. However they're easily blinded with promises in power. Which makes them incredibly unreliable in his opinion.

Having left Konoha with Akihiro, Kimiko hadn't really expected to ever go back to the village for any length of time, and specifically not for a clan meeting, but yet here she was. The clan had supposed to have been freed from Konoha after the whole Tatsu incident, and they were going to find themselves a new home in a minor nation, but yet here she was, back in Konoha. Akihiro had gone missing, in a "nobody knows where he is" sense, not in a "rogue ninja" sense. Even she hadn't seen him in a while, although she wasn't incredibly concerned for his safety. If there was anyone that would be safe from harm, it was him.

As usual, Kimiko had decided to wear a more practical set of clothing, something that allowed for a great ease of movement for her but wasn't overly fancy. Her usual long sleeve black shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol on the back over a black tank top, with a pair of shorts and her shin high combat boots was all she needed, although this time it was without the usual green hoodie and flak jacket, nor the headband that symbolized her as a member of Konoha's military. While she still was officially a member of Konoha, she was here for the Uchiha and not for Konoha, so she hadn't brought any sort of combat gear with her.

Passing by Yui, Kimiko moved passed her without so much as a second glance. In all honesty, she was tired, sleep hadn't been coming easy for her as of late. Not to mention people hadn't expected to see her here in all likelihood. Like Akihiro, she had been gone from the village for quite a while, having chosen to travel with him and Mockingbird, to keep him safe and so she could travel the world under official business, but with him having disappeared, she'd returned to Konoha to find that a meeting was to be held. Of course, she couldn't miss it, so here she was.

One of the more important people in the clan due to her affiliation with the clan leader and her (still) official rank of Jounin in the village, Kimiko of course had a seat up near the front, where the spouse would usually sit, but since Akihiro remained unwed, she was the next closest thing. After Nyguyen finished speaking and gave his  Standing up, Kimiko announced herself. "Most of you know me, but for those who don't, I'm Kimiko Uchiha, the current clan leader Akihiro Uchiha's partner. As he's currently missing in action, I'll be representing him for the meeting."

"How many of you even cared that he's missing? I came here to request aid in finding him, and I come back to this? A meeting discussing a new clan leader. A new Hokage, sure I get that, but I expected more loyalty from my clan. We've always given everything to protect our clan, our people, and get our revenge. When Satomi went missing, Akihiro spared no expense convincing Masuyo to get a party out to find him. In fact, he was on the scouting team that discovered the corpses of Lord Satomi. He conquered nations for the good of the Uchiha and Konoha, and even saved Konoha from the ruin that Neko-Tatsu would have brought upon us." Nyguyen had opened the floor for grievances aired, but Kimiko simply wanted them to show the same courtesy. As far as loyalty was concerned, she had been the textbook definition of loyal to the Uchiha, but now when their leader was missing, the clan didn't seem to give as much a concern.

"So where are the search parties? Where is the intrigue? Why are you all so focused on who is going to be the next to grab power whether in Konoha or in the clan, that you don't even care to check if the current leader is even alive? It wasn't most of you that went looking for Satomi when he died, it was Akihiro. And the lot of you would have let Rin die to the Society as well. At least Akihiro was working on a plan to free him before I told him of Neko-Tatsu's dealings with the Society, and luckily someone else got to it, so here he sits safe and sound." Kimiko wheeled to bring her eyes up to Rin. "And I'm happy about that, don't get me wrong. Clan blood shouldn't be spilled, but have some sense of loyalty for Sage's sake. You'd all rather have revenge than actually do something to prevent the deaths and problems in the first place."

"I haven't forgiven Kirigakure for murdering Lord Satomi. We negotiated a deal, for 1 million ryo and 2 of Kiri's exclusives, which I don't even know if they honored in the first place in light of Neko-Tatsu's death and Kirigakure's cooperation with that, so as not to disrupt the Exams, but I don't see revenge up there on your list for Satomi. Did you know that Kirigakure's former kage have cooperated with the Society? They were even hesitant to join Akihiro's attempt to arrest Nozomi Himitsu outside their gates. He's the only one who actually tries to get shit done around here. Maybe it's time we did something for him for a change instead of brushing him aside like he's yesterday's news."

She looked over the crowd of gathered Uchiha, and upon seeing her parents (Karasu her father and Yakan her mother) sitting around the middle row she finally relented. They didn't meet her eye, some form of guilt evident by her words. Rumors that Satomi was alive again had been abound, and everyone had more or less moved on from Akihiro Uchiha, knowing that it was likely that the Lord Satomi would reclaim his seat as the Uchiha clan leader. She could see that some people felt uncomfortable by the speech that Kimiko had given, a quiet rustling of people in their seats, but not as much as she'd have liked. Kimiko was an Uchiha loyalist to the core, but she frequently forgot that not everyone cared as much about her clan as she did.

Taking her seat again, Kimiko's eyes moved to Nyguyen before she crossed her legs criss cross style on the chair and leaned back, closing her eyes. The girl was tired, but she was willing to wait and listen. Eventually someone would respond, or someone else would say something as well. She'd said what she wanted to say. Of course, she didn't know that Satomi was alive, nor had she been around to hear the rumors of his revival.

"She does have a point." A deep voice reverberated throughout the hall. From the backroom a figure began making its way out. There was a podium and a chair in the center. And the figure stopped in front of the podium and gazed upon them. It was none other than Satomi Uchiha. The Nidaime Hokage came dressed in his all white and black uniform, the Uchiha emblem emblazoned on his back and shoulder. His customary white and black hair was changed, back to his original style of locs.  He was easily one of the most renowned ninja on the planet, but it had been sometime since he had passed. Since this was his rebirth it was time to reintroduce himself. "Greetings everyone. I am Satomi Uchiha. It is my greatest honor to be able to be here with you today. I owe you my presence here to the combined efforts of the Uchiha clan. Especially Akihiro and Nyguyen."

He agreed there did need to be some focus on contacting Akihiro. There was much to learn in his long absence and it seemed the young prodigy had set himself apart from the rest of the ninja world. From what he learned from the archives, he would be hard to find especially if he didn't want to be found. In the meantime, "I have been gone for too long. So for now. I only want express that my justice is but for a single person. I trust Akihiro and Nyguyen's efforts have solved our problems with Kirigakure for now. In the process, I was brought back to life." He stopped to nod his thanks to Nyg.

"Alkaid Kaguya was my assassin. I have returned to right this egregious betrayal." Satomi's eyes found Rin. The Kaguya woman had used her position with Rin to make this move on his life. A mistake on his part, one he would do well never to repeat.

He did not blame him, Rin was now more important than ever. "Rin, I hope you will back me in this effort. You would play a pivotal role in taking her down. She messed with the wrong family." Satomi saw all those who shared the Uchiha name his real kin. There was no difference between blooded or adopted.

Turning his attention back to everyone else in the hall. "Also. I would like to figure out if Akihiro is well. Though he may have dropped off for his own reasons, I'd like to be sure. For our clan affairs. I have more to understand about our goals and what has happened to us during my time...away. But let me not hold up the meeting. I'm sure there's many questions that will be answered in due time." Satomi would take a seat and wait for inevitable barrage of shocked reactions to come his way. And he smiled, for he was around his family.

Nyguyen sat back in his chair as he watched his fellow Uchiha trickle into the meeting. Yui was early as was expected of her. He had taught her early on that because she was a bastard orphan many would look down upon her. Even though she was associated with his House, she would not always be afforded the respect she deserved. She'd need to be punctual and cordial despite any provocation. Rather than show anger or retaliate, it was better to kill them with kindness. She was not in a position to show them any disrespect. If any Uchiha crossed the line, they'd have to answer to him. He looked on as she greeted the Uchiha that entered. One in particular caught his attention:  Uchiha Abelardo. The wannabe playboy kissed her hand and said something to her. He was too far away to hear but he could guess what had been said. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and was about to get up when Juniper put a hand on his shoulder. He turned to her and it was clear that he was upset. He didn't want anyone bothering Yui and distracting her from his duties. Of course, he was also concerned that Abelardo might try to take her for a wife, something he would not approve of. Juniper gave him a look that said "Its okay, she can handle herself"

Nyguyen was prepared to let the matter go and watched as Yui rebuffed the lech. However, when Abelardo gripped her, Nyguyen rose from his seat unable to contain himself any longer. The Uchiha let go, walked down the aisle, and soon found a seat for himself. He looked at Nyg and gave the man a wink and a smirk as if to challenge him.

Nyguyen gave him a look that was akin to this.

The two had a silent staring match that lasted a few seconds before Abelardo blinked and looked away. He must have remembered that the Nyguyen before him was not the same Nyguyen he knew. Aside from being the former Hokage's brother-in-law, he heard rumors that it was because of Nyguyen's efforts that Satomi might be returning. If he knew what was good for him then he'd do well not to cross the rising star.

Speaking of rising stars, Nyguyen turned his attention to a certain Chuunin. Zenaku Uchiha was not an icon within the clan but he had developed a bit of a reputation. The rise and fall of the Nekoian Empire had sent morale plummeting. Konoha had become something of a joke to certain shinobi and it was a well known fact that after the Chuunin Exams, desertion reached record levels. Many who had gone to participate simply never returned. Zenaku Uchiha, however, was not among these traitors. He had come back to Konoha after making it to the Quarter Final rounds of the Exam. A loyal and competent ninja was a rare thing these days. Nyguyen would be sure to keep an eye on the young man.

When Rin Uchiha entered the Hall, a wave of whispers cascaded through the building. Many eyed him suspiciously, some gave him a nod of encouragement, and others ignored him entirely. He was a controversial figure with the Clan but his popularity was rising. There was even talk of making him Hokage. He had grown up in the clan a runt. Lower than even Yui. Genetic testing had proven that Yui was a blood relative and had sufficient DNA to activate her Sharingan. She was a bastardess, cast out and forgotten, but she was one of them. Rin on the other hand was an total adoptee. He wasn't even supposed to be party to Clan Meetings but given how prominent he had become, it'd be an unforgivable insult to Maiori to bar him. Many figured him a traitor but others saw him as an reliable asset. Nyguyen found himself in the latter camp. He saw the value in adopting children into the Uchiha Clan. He had done so for Yui with the intention of creating a strong shield that would protect his family. He saw Rin in much the same light. A warrior whose capabilities could be groomed and tailored to fit the Clan's needs. However unlike Yui, Rin was fiercely independent and wasn't exactly assimilated into the clan proper. When Rin settled into the back of the Hall, Nyguyen realized that this was all knew to the jinchurikki.  

He folded his hands and leaned back in the chair as he examined the young man. He was so focused on Rin and what role he'd play in today's proceedings that he hadn't even noticed Kimiko until she spoke. When the young woman began talking, he turned to her. There was a moment where he didn't even recognize who she was. When she introduced himself as Kimiko Uchiha, girlfriend to Akihiro Uchiha, he remembered. He had heard gossip from his daughters that Akihiro was dating someone. He had briefly looked into it but hadn't really discovered anything of note. He had assumed she was just a side piece. A vessel to relieve the hormone driven teen when the stress of military leadership proved to painful to bear alone. When she declared that he was still the Clan Leader and that she was here to represent his interests, Nyguyen smiled and stifled a laugh. He looked at Juniper and his eyes told the whole story.

So she's dating a Clan Leader for  less than a couple years and she suddenly thinks she's his representative?

If it wasn't for the decorum of the meeting he'd have laughed. Instead, he fixed his face and listened to her concerns. She chastised them for not even bothering to look for Akihiro. He wasn't aware that the young man was "missing." He assumed that Akihiro wasn't here because Akihiro did not want to be here. It was well known that he was one of the most powerful ninja in the world and so the thought of him being kidnapped was rather ludicrous. Then again, much the same had been said about Satomi. Nyguyen tucked a fist under his chin with his index finger pointed up and resting on his cheek: Malcolm-X style. He had internally been mocking Kimiko for her impudence but the more she spoke, the more he was moved. It had never occurred to him that Akihiro was in trouble. If Kimiko was here and couldn't find him then that was indeed a bad sign. It was difficult to imagine someone so powerful needing a search party but could they call themselves blood if they didn't even try to make contact?

Nyguyen understood why she was saying what she was saying. She had an emotional investment in him as well as a professional one. If Akihiro was no longer clan leader, she'd go back to being a regular Jounin Uchiha. Prominent but nowhere near as powerful. Still, she had a point. He found the deal Akihiro had struck to be quite interesting. It was a hefty payment to be sure but since the Clan had never seen any of those boons then it may as well not have happened. But if he did manage to extract such a concession then it was further proof that even though he wasn't always present, Akihiro was still fighting for the clan's interests. Nyguyen found himself nodding after she had concluded her speech.

The Hall had grown quiet and all eyes turned to him. He was organizing the meeting and it fell on him to respond to Kimiko's grievance. Just when he was about to stand and speak, a familiar voice spoke up. The attention of the room was drawn to the entrance that led to the back. Before Nyguyen had a chance to introduce him, Satomi Uchiha stepped out and revealed himself to the clan. There was much fanfare after Satomi made his presence known. The Parliamentarian had to slam his gavel down several times to bring the meeting back into order so that the Nidaime Hokage could finish speaking.

Nyguyen was a bit miffed that he had been robbed of the honor of formally introducing Satomi, but when the man thanked him twice all he could do was smile and nod. In truth he hadn't really done much. He had convinced the Clan not to take military action and he had convinced the Hokage to allow for a sit-down with Kiri. In his mind, that was the bare minimum. It was all he could do to prevent an outright war, one that might put the clan at odds with Konoha's foreign policy. What followed from that meeting, however, was something that had never happened before in the history of shinobi-kind. Satomi had been resurrected through the power of the Rinnegan. She had put herself at great personal risk in doing so. Many had witnessed the act and that exposed her to bounty hunters. Who wouldn't want a power such as that for themselves? Nyguyen was happy to receive praise but in the back of his mind he felt rather guilty about it. He looked up at his daughters: Innocence and Mercedes. They were shocked. They had always thought of him as an uptight dork who lectured much but did little. For the first time in a long time, they looked proud of him. He smiled at them and winked.

Arisu probably deserved more credit than he did, but for now he'd bask in the limelight. Satomi's identification of Alkaid as his assassin was the final confirmation that the Clan needed. Her involvement had been something of an open secret within Konoha intelligence. But with this public statement she had become the clan's number one target. There could be no mistaking it now. If Alkaid ever returned to the world stage, she'd pay in blood.

Satomi agreed that Akihiro would need to be looked for. If he was blessing a thorough search then there'd be no reason to oppose it. Once he had taken his seat, a round of thundering applause rocked the Hall. There were cries of jubilation, chants, and cheering. The Parliamentarian started graveling the room into order and only when the excitement died down did Nyguyen stand up to address the crowd.

"Satomi Uchiha, I think I speak for all of the Uchiha Clan when I say welcome back!"

There was another round of applause, Nyguyen held his hand up before it could go further. The Uchiha were a conservative people and they were renown for their military discipline. However, they felt emotion in ways that many could not understand. Seeing a beloved leader return from the dead was bound to engender some fairly wild reactions.

"This Clan owes you a great deal. Your accomplishments are legendary and their like have not been seen since the days of..." Juniper cleared her throat. A warning not to go off on a historical tangent. "....well since the days of many great heroes of the past. But I agree with all that you and Kimiko have said. We also owe a great deal to Akihiro Uchiha. I must say that I suspect he is not in trouble. He is a world-class spy and one of the strongest ninja on the planet. We may not be able to find him because he simply does not want to be found. That said, we'd dishonor him and this clan if we did not at least attempt to ensure that he is okay. I hereby propose that the agenda ought to be amended. Lord Parliamentarian, I motion to add the following item to the docket: the investigation into the disappearance of Akihiro Uchiha. Also please amend the position of Clan Leader to interim Clan Leader"

If there was no voice of opposition, then the docket would be changed to the following:

1. The Investigation of Akihiro Uchiha's Disappearance
2. Position of Interim Clan Leader
3. Position of Hokage
4. Relationship with the Ōtsutsuki
5. Retaliation against the Society for the kidnapping of Rin Uchiha, Assault on Konoha/Clan Compound
6. Renovations to the Clan Compound.

"I agree with Satomi-sama that his whereabouts should be our top priority. To the extent that I as organizer of this meeting neglected to consider the possibility that he might be in dire straits....I humbly apologize" Nyguyen would bow to Kimiko and to Akihiro's parents if they were in attendance. "I would like to remedy this situation right away. I believe we can spare three squads of Jounin to investigate the matter. Given your closeness to him I think it'd be fair for them to work closely with you on conducting a search. Akihiro will remain clan leader and today we will choose an interim leader. If after 6 months of searching he does not return, the interim leader will become permanent. If the Sage is good and he returns to us then we will certainly discuss where to go from there"

He wasn't keen on Akihiro returning to the position. Nyguyen had certain misgivings about the Head Strategist. He respected the lad. He was grateful to the lad. But he was wary of him. There had been talk of moving the clan in the aftermath of Tatsu's madness. He couldn't blame Akihiro for planning such a move but once the cat had been killed, the need for such drastic action evaporated. Yet still the boy had pressed for re-location. He was also aware of Mockingbird. The secretive intelligence agency was based in Konoha but it was distinctly not a formal part of the Fire Country military. Nyguyen cared more for his clan that his village but he wasn't convinced that Akihiro's leadership was best for the clan. The Sparrow was an adventurer at heart. Nyguyen judged that he cared about his family and his people, but he lacked the stability and maturity to rule. He had no family, no children, and little in the way of life experience. Skill in being a shinobi did not necessarily make one a good leader.

Although one could argue Nyguyen hardly had room to pass judgment on this subject.

If Nyguyen's plan was satisfactory then the Parliamentarian would record the proposal. Once recorded, it'd be voted on in due time. He would then turn his attention to the second point of Kimiko's concern: How to deal with Kirigakure. He would look to Satomi and then back to the Hall.

"Kimiko, my sister and I fully share your concerns about Mizu no Kuni. It has been common knowledge for the past six years that the Kiri Empire is a rogue state. Revelation after revelation has confirmed their treachery, malice, and unending appetite for power and death....however......our own Clan history teaches us that sometimes we must make peace with our most hated of enemies"

Everyone in the crowd knew who he was talking about. The Uchiha had been fighting with the Hyuuga for hundreds of years. They had been at war longer than some clans had been alive. The blood spilled between the two was enough to fill the entire Kaijuu Ocean. And yet, they had signed a peace treaty. One that endured for nearly 20 years. Konoha had tried to befriend Kiri and they had been rewarded with betrayal. But like the Hyuuga, they represented an major opportunity. If the two nations combined their military might then they might be able to stand up against a super-state like Kumo. The resurrection of Satomi and the power promised to Akihiro was enough for Nyguyen to approach the situation pragmatically. They would get their revenge on Alkaid, Takeo, and all the other scum within the village that was allied with the Society. It seemed as though the new Mizukage wanted to take the village in a new direction. They wanted to break from the mistakes of the past and forge a new future. With war on the horizon, Nyguyen would take all the allies he could get. He would work with them and see if they could overcome their past.

"It was because of Kiri that Satomi was returned to us. They have also promised a significant sum of money and power for their wickedness. I believe that an alliance with Kiri is in our best interest considering the international instability as of late. Their new Kage wants to break from their past and has been generous in trying to win back our friendship. Of course, none of this can repay the hurt they have inflicted and when we catch Takeo, Alkaid, and all the other scum that are responsible for Kiri's rogue behavior....you have my personal guarantee that their death will not be quick nor merciful. We are a civilized and intelligent people but if you harm our kin....our Hatred is a thing to behold"

The Hall erupted in cheers. Fists were raised in the air and shouts of oaths of vengeance rocked the venue. Once they had quieted down, Nyguyen would finish speaking:

"For now, I recommend now further action be taken against Kirigakure at this time. I will ensure that they deliver on what was promised to Akihiro and these treble damages are deposited into the Clan's coffers. I will also demand Kiri turn over information on who was involved in signing off on the assassination. We know Takeo was involved but if there were others then we deserve to know who they are."

His words had a backhand sting to them. Akihiro had never mentioned this compensation to anyone else. Nyguyen suspected that he planned on holding onto these spoils. The exclusives made sense as the clan leader was best positioned to decide who should learn them. The money, however, ought to be placed in the Uchiha Clan account. He feared that if Akihiro had gotten the money he would have spent it on Mockingbird's adventures. By going with Nyguyen's proposal, the Uchiha would be striking the perfect middle ground. They would be getting their compensation while also retaining a valuable ally. They would also avoid ostracizing themselves from the greater Konoha military. An alliance with Kiri was popular with some of the non-Uchiha military brass and so by taking this course of action they wouldn't be at odds with the other noble clans. Nyguyen sat back down and allowed his proposals to marinate. He expected support from most of the clan but he was open to dissenters. If the Uchiha Clan were to survive this war then they'd need to be driven by consensus and unity.

Yui would continue to stand guard of the door as people entered and was shocked, for one Kimi acting as she spoke to the clan because she fucked the previous clan leader. He did a lot for the clan she said, but he failed to protect Rin, and failed to basically do anything a leader is considered a leader for. While she wanted to say so much she was not someone that would be allowed to say such things.

The biggest shock came however as Satomi was back from the dead, the look of shock on her face, and then tears of joy, she felt she did not do enough like asking him to not leave and he died because of it. So him being alive lifted a huge weight off her shoulders, as she quickly recomposed herself and began to listen to what he said. She was sure this shook up the room as she heard much chatter and shock.

In her mind the only reason Kimi wants to find him so badly was because it was her boyfriend, really Yui didn't like people like her demanding things when doing nothing for the clan and even letting Rin be kidnapped by a terrorist. She would keep her thoughts to herself, of course, it would be disrespectful to say things like that out loud but she certainly had the thoughts inside her mind. Nyg changed the overall issues to be addressed but she would stand silently watching for any signs of trouble. She really hoped no one would be that dumb at such a meeting.

Zenaku stood back in the shadows as he listened to every thing that every one had to say, he mostly stood back cause he was only a chunin and a newly crowned one at that and even tho he was a clan member he was not sure if he should say any thing. As he stood there watching and listening he sighted his parants Nagomi Uchiha which was his mother, and a Jinaku uchiha his dad.

Zenaku finally decided to step out into the open and speak out. " Hello my fellow clan mates and family, many of you probably do not know of me but I know some do so allow me to introduce my self. I am Zenaku Uchiha of the sharingan and a future Hokage. I would also like to say welcome back satomi, we have never met but I can not wait to get to know you. Now on to more important matters that seems to be a issue. For one we have had a lot of hokages of late but either they was traitor to this village that we love or they was just not up to the task of keeping there seat. Also I understand we are at peace with the land of water but having one of there own a attack our own is unforgivable and needs to be taken care of so I think that we need to form a team to go take this trash out. As for our clan leader I think that sense he has not given us a sign that he is even alive still I thing that notions that we need to form a search party to try and find him, I would like to put my name in as some one willing to be part of that. Now I am truly loyal to this clan and I know some might get mad at me for saying this, but I think until Akihiro is found we need a temporary clan leader and that should be some one that is qualified not some clan leaders girlfriend no disrespect intended but I think there should be a few select names and it should be voted on instead of some one just trying to take claim on it. Now that is all I have to say on the matter unless some one wishes to comment."

Zenaku would then sit down on a seat and waited to see what the clan had to say about what he said.

Whispers of disdain and confusion seemed to have erupted within the meeting upon Rin’s arrival. That was to be expected of course as the black sheep of the prestige family has been graced upon this meeting. Let alone be invited into this meeting as it held high importance. Never before was Rin allowed to even attend a clan meeting, but today was going to be a can of surprises as one after the other drops onto the clan as a whole.

The first of these surprises was Kimiko Uchiha’s appearance that was followed by her speech. Rin’s expression remains stoic as his eyes weren’t just watching her. Rin was watching the entirety of the clan that’s present here today. To see how they will react whether it is through body language or vocally. Perhaps a mixture of both. Either way, Rin thought it was rather… amusing to say the least that they all seem to think of one thing so heavily. Revenge. This entire room is filled with people whose thoughts and drive are for revenge and grief. Thus they bleed the world around them, and cause the same cycle to appear to someone else. An endless struggle between death, blood, and despair. Rin might be disconnected from Kurama, but the teen can still imagine the bijuu’s disgust with how everything is turning out. Or rather, how much of this same situation Kurama has been exposed to that the bijuu simply grew numb to it. Having their freedom robbed from them since time immemorial would do that to even the strongest willpower.

The mention of Rin being left to die at the hands of the Society, part of the boy’s mind wanted to speak out. To say that everyone else left him to die at the hands of the Society that it took their leader to save him. Because everyone else was so indecisive on whether they should or shouldn’t. To this he felt a hollowed form of being betrayed and discarded by everyone in power, and that it was just a repeat of what happened with Akeno Tatsuda. Yet he does not say anything, as not only was it not in his place to speak. Rin came here simply to observe and guide this family on the right path. The right path where fewer lives would be lost, and to prepare for the storm that’s darkening their skies.

Like a clash of thunder, the crowd sparked with life as a familiar voice spoke out from the backstage. The sound made Rin’s eyes widen with astonishment.

It can’t be… I saw his corpse. Rin thought to himself with disbelief, and yet stepping from behind the curtains was none other than Satomi himself. Immediately Rin didn’t believe it. It had to be some kind of trickster playing with their eyes, yet if that was the case then they were spot on with their disguise. The voice, the demeanor, his personality, and the information Satomi leaked wouldn’t be known to anyone except for Satomi himself. However, by the time Satomi spoke of Alkaid, Rin didn’t believe she was alive. Yet if Satomi was revived, so was Alkaid. If both were brought back to life, and the fact that Taichi Kotoshura, Yui’s older brother, was brought back to life as well.

Rin’s memory reflected strongly on the whole situation of his very first mission as a shinobi. The trip to the Tanzaku Town, the mysterious merchant who claimed to be Yami Hozuki, the temple that not even Konohagakure or the nearby town knew existed. The fact that Hohoni, the Fire Disciple, was temporarily brought back to life as he thwarted the invaders before burning the temple to ash. Which traces back to Yami’s face, and why the man was so keen into acquiring those knives. Another fact that no one seemed to know who this Yami really was that not even Kirigakure Chunin knew of him. Yet Yami gave off the impression to Rin that the man was well known in the arts of trade. Whether it was fate or mere coincidence, at the same time Rin was fighting the Fire Disciple, Honiko led the assault on the Land of Lightning where she robbed their artifact as well. Yet it felt too much of a coincidence to happen near simultaneously with each other. Rin felt his eyes lowering to his desk.

”Shit…” Rin softly, barely a whisper, cursed as the thought of someone like Hohoni coming back alive would bring devastation to everyone. To the old coot, this entire nation was his land, and based on what little conversation Rin got from the ghost the Disciple was weakened yet could still force Masuyo and her team to retreat. If a man like that came back at full power, and then that’s not to mention of the other Disciples. If all five of them were to be revived, no one would be safe and no one could soundly defeat them in their full power.

Memories of his encounters with Nozomi came forth to his mind as well, and while she was a good fighter with good intentions. Honiko was so driven objectively, and the way she carried herself and the way she spoke of the Society. It could have been brushed off as someone trying to set about conquering nations, yet up until Nozomi conquered Sunagakure they did not when they clearly had the power to do so. Which suggests that their goal albeit diverse is not about conquering. Taking all of the exclusive techniques and all of the artifacts makes sense to rob the Major Nations of their power and greed. Rin can’t help except to picture Nozomi caught into a web and cocooned so much that she can’t see the spider manipulating the strings along her body.

Rin’s eyes shifted over to Zenaku who ironically was positioned on the same level yet was a ways down from him. The rising star of the Uchiha Clan spoke his piece, and while in agreeance to what was already said. Still it was rather bold of him to diss Kimiko like that, and it could have some explosive results. Now Rin was reminded of that night in that damn castle. It was a lovely night for sure, but it was perhaps the biggest mistake that Rin regretted to make. He still blamed himself for what happened to Satomi, and there have been quite a few kinsmen who blamed him as well. Yet there was this damn cycle again. Revenge this, revenge that. It was always about revenge with these people. Granted Kirigakure needs to pay for their transgressions, but that was someone else’s mission. That wasn’t Rin’s mission.

After Zenaku spoke his piece, Rin’s eyes moved over to the center of the meeting. Still refusing to say anything as Rin simply observes the clan. The events unfolding today certainly have sparked quite a commotion. Yet it wasn’t his time to speak.

Kimiko's heart skipped a beat as Satomi spoke out. He'd been killed, what was this? Power over life and death was a skill that shouldn't be used lightly. What sort of sorcery had revived the man? Of course she was happy that he was alive again, but what was the cost of such things? She didn't really have the answers to that question, and for the moment, it didn't matter. The former clan leader was alive again, and Kimiko was relieved about that. It didn't really stop her from wanting to burn down Kirigakure for their crimes against the Uchiha, but righteous anger and vengeance was temporarily stifled.

Nodding her head as Satomi and Nyguyen agreed that Akihiro should be looked for, Kimiko had a sense of relief washing over her. Akihiro was actually a priority. She took her seat and turned her gaze to Zenaku as he spoke, scowling slightly as he said she was unqualified for the position of clan leader. She may have been just Akihiro's girlfriend, but when it came to talent, she wasn't lacking in any field, and should they have been married, it wouldn't be a question, she'd have taken up the mantle of clan leader with no hesitation.

"For the position of Hokage, I'm in favor of Nyguyen or Satomi, since they are both well ranked in the village and well respected. Satomi was formerly the Hokage, and formerly the Clan Leader, so he is uniquely suited to the job, although he was taken out none the less. In that single instant, we lost both the Hokage and the Clan Leader. Nyguyen has also been making the decisions for the time being, and is one of the higher ranked Jounin in Konoha, so I feel like he is also a good candidate for either position. Whoever doesn't get the position of Hokage should easily be the Jounin Commander." Kimiko began, addressing the crowd, moving the conversation along.

"However, I do not believe that both Nyguyen and Satomi should be Clan leader and Hokage together. I myself am not Hokage material, I barely consider myself a Kunoichi of Konoha anymore, so Jounin Commander for me is out. My loyalty is to the Uchiha clan first and foremost. Nyguyen and Satomi are close family, and having them be in charge of both the clan and the village with that closeness in mind makes a potential conflict of interest, with room for bias or blind spots in decisions. As the partner of the current clan leader, I put my name forward for Interim Clan Leader. I was a high level jounin in Konoha's military, and I'm quite skilled as a fighter. My Sharingan progression is fully matured at the 3 tomoe stage. I won't be afraid to act for the benefit of the clan over the village, regardless of who the Kage is. I am prepared for a test of skill if any doubt my abilities."

Bowing, Kimiko once again took her seat.

The Ghost of Konoha sat and listened to everyone react to his resurrection. Zenkaku was someone he was unfamiliar with, but he spoke his piece as well. Keeping note of everyone's replies, or in Rins case, lack thereof. No matter, these things would be deal with in an appropriate manner. Kimiko seemed to simmer down from her abrasive hunt for Akihiro. Sato agreed with Aki needing to be contacted. Though she seemed to care more about Aki than everything else at the moment. Though she did share her thoughts on the topics Nyg brought up. And so no one jumped to conclusions, Speaking up again to the hall. "I had the honor to serve as Hokage and Clan leader of the Uchiha. Though I have returned, it is not time for me to serve these positions. It seems I have much to learn about this world. And I have to complete 'that' mission. Before I can return to any office. Its up to you all to decide." 

The mission wasn't handed out, and it would have to be word of mouth. He wasn't sure if Rin was in cahoots with the enemy but his lack of response didn't help. He would scour the world till he found Alkaid. And send her to the place he was sent. To suffer unimaginable torture. He wanted to send her to Hell. At the moment this was his most pressing matter. Even after Satomi himself saved Alkaid during the attack by Shin against the Mist. She still betrayed him. It was hard not to activate his eyes and teleport to Kiri himself. And find the answers he was looking for. But that would be counterproductive. The God of Shinobi would have to wait.

There were some surprising developments in the meeting. Nyguyen knew that his clan were the sort to speak their mind but some of their thoughts caught him off guard. The up and coming chuunin Zenaku stood and delivered a fairly robust speech. Nyguyen had not expected to hear from the young man and he found himself nodding in agreement at much of what he said. The bit about him being a "future Hokage" was a tad bit presumptuous for the historian's tastes but the point was well-received. The young man was coming of age and he wanted his voice to ring out. He had been loyal to Konoha and to the Clan, it made sense that he felt empowered to speak his mind.

Nyguyen smiled when he cut off Kimiko at the knees. He had predicted her bid for the position with astonishing accuracy and dismissed her candidacy. Zenaku was correct that they couldn't pick just any one for the either job. Both positions were of the utmost importance, especially at such a crucial time. Nepotism cannot guide our hand. Nyguyen whispered to the Parliamentarian to take note of Zenaku's name and to add it to the search party. The Uchiha was hungry for more responsibility and glory. He'd be sure to give it to him. The subject of Kirigakure, however, was a sore one. Like many of his brethren, the assault on Satomi was not easily forgotten and the clan still hungered for vengeance. There were many who were unsatisfied with a peace with Kiri and Zenaku had given them a voice.

He'd need to watch that boy carefully. If he proved reckless then he could undermine the alliance.

When Kimiko spoke up, Nyguyen turned to the girlfriend of the missing clan leader. He raised his eyebrows in surprise when she nominated him for the position of Hokage. The grin he sported earlier grew wider and he examined his fingernails as one might do when they had just been paid an extraordinary compliment. It was clear that his experience, maturity, and even-handedness in bringing the Uchiha Clan together had been noticed. There were many in the clan who supported him even though he wasn't necessarily the strongest. With Satomi back, it would ease pressure on him to be able to protect the clan single-handedly. While that might have been possible for Akihiro, it wasn't in the cards for Nyguyen as of right now. Nevertheless, with his brother-in-law at his back, Nyguyen was sure he could cruise into the position with the support of the Uchiha. The council was a shell of what it had once been and at the moment the Uchiha were holding all the cards. If they made him Kage, then he would be Kage.

Nyguyen considered Kimiko's candidacy for the position of interim clan leader. He wasn't sure Kimiko had the support even if she was Akihiro's girlfriend. He was even less certain of the girl's ability to actually do the job. Finally, he had to consider the fact that Kimiko seemed ready to jump ship to go on whatever adventure the boy leader had concocted. She didn't have a family tying her to the clan or village. That made her a dangerous candidate. Nyguyen listened to what his brother-in-law had to say on the matter. He repeated what he had told Nyguyen on the way back to Konoha. The former Kage needed time alone. He couldn't bear his past responsibilities just yet, and of course, there was also the matter of Alkaid. The Kaguya witch had accrued a debt with the Uchiha Clan and Satomi was the best one to collect it.

Nyguyen noticed that Satomi did not weigh in on who should be clan leader or Kage. He was staying neutral for the moment. That was all well and good but if he was to soar to the highest level of power in the village then he'd need Satomi's backing. Nyguyen stood from his chair at the front of the clan hall and addressed the statements made by his kinfolk.

"Kimiko, I am flattered by your nomination and I humbly accept it. My brother-in-law needs time to rest and gather himself. He has a mission to attend to and until such time as he feels ready to bear the burden of leadership, I will take it from him. If Satomi gives his blessing then I would be happy to serve as the Nanadaime Hokage."

Nyguyen would look to Satomi for support. If Satomi gave it he'd request the Parliamentarian to add his name to the nomination list.

He gave Kimiko a stern look as he continued:

"However, I cannot in good faith accept your candidacy here and now Kimiko. With all due respect to you and your boyfriend, insufficient loyalty to Konoha isn't exactly a selling point. You are a Jounin true....but untested, inexperienced, I am willing to bet that you have spent more time with Mockingbird than you have with us. Normally, fighting capabilities wouldn't be that big of an issue. We all can't be Satomi and Akihiro....however, you are also quite young to be deciding the fate of a clan during war. You said you are willing to put your skills to the test....very well then, if the conscious of the clan agrees, I will speak to the other elders. We will devise a series of tests to gauge the strength of your candidacy. If you pass them then you will have our blessing. I agree with Young Zenaku that all members of the clan should be involved in this process. After you pass the tests, we will conduct a remote ballot and if you are elected then you will hold the title of interim clan leader until such time as Akihiro's status is confirmed."

Nyguyen sat back into his seat and waited for Kimiko's response. He hoped that the young girl was wise enough to recognize the sagacity of his offer. She could try and force a vote here and now. She may win, she may not. However, she'd doubtlessly ruffle the feathers of the old guard which included Nyguyen and his family. On the other hand, if she exercised patience and proved herself in the tests then Nyguyen would be more than happy to give her a chance. It was better if she stuck with the clan and that way he could keep an eye on her. Additionally, if Akihiro did return and she was interim clan leader then perhaps he could be persuaded to abandon his foolish escapades with Mockingbird.

And then, there was a chilling sound. In the aftermath of Nyguyen's speech, tensions rose a bit and a short moment of silence where everyone was holding their breaths to see what kind of response it had. Well, almost everyone. Because in that tiny tiny moment a sound would echo through the chamber. It was...well, it was laughter. Not scorn, not despise, just laughter. Fun and simple laughter. A sound that made it look like Nyguyen had just told the funniest joke in the world.

Those of a younger generation of Uchiha would be scanning the rows of chairs to find and cast judgement upon the disrespectful culprit. But these people were young, unwise, eager to prove themselves. The older members of the clan would also scan the room but for a different reason. Perhaps they already knew whose laughter that was. But it struck them oddly. It made little to no sense at all. It was easy to recognize their leader's voice, but laughter simply wasn't something the clan was used to hear coming from him. The Sparrow didn't give in to such luxuries with his peers, except for a select few. And yet here were the most important people in the Clan, and this sound echoed. Perhaps that was why it was so chilling, enough to send shivers down spines.

The world was going mad. And Akihiro was going mad with it.

He had arrived only a couple of minutes ago, by an unplanned thunder flight. His plan had been to join Kimiko wherever she was, and go from there. But "wherever" had turned out to be the most important clan meeting they had had in decades. Which was funny, because Akihiro couldn't quite remember calling such an event. On one hand, he was glad to see the Clan did not completely fall appart during his absence. On the other, he was curious to see who would be willing to take on his mantle. The Flying Thunder God's mark was still well on Kimiko's back, and when Akihiro arrived he did so with his back turned to the love of his life.

It wasn't that he didn't want to see her immediately, but rather that he'd been reminded before that not all moments are proper for having someone show up and look at you. This lesson wasn't easily forgotten- more due to the insta-punch he'd taken than to his actual memory.

His arrival was absolutely silent, and quiet. A trick he'd picked up from Kirigakure no Sato. Because he had been sitting when he teleported, he had arrived in a sitted position as well, which had made for a lucky hidden position behind Kimiko's chair, between the rows of ninjas. A surprised Uchiha widened his eyes the moment he arrived, since there was obviously someone sitting behind Kimiko and the Sparrow appearing behind Kimiko meant he was also appearing right in front of someone else. But a single index finger on the clan leader's lips had been persuasive enough to keep the man quiet, for now.

Alas, he let men and women speak and think what they would. It was easier to understand the Clan and its feelings if he could know how they felt in his absence. He had heard quite a bit- not everything, but quite a bit. The moment he arrived Zenaku had been making his speech. Akihiro wouldn't be so rude as to interrupt him, or anyone else. The Clan wished to have a voice, and they were within their right. So he let them speak and simply listened for a while.

But as Nyguyen finished the last part of his speech, Akihiro couldn't help but laugh. He'd tried real hard not to laugh while Zenaku had been speaking, but with Nyguyen's words he just let himself go. It wasn't that he was mocking his fellow clan members, but rather that their entire reasoning was born out of ignorance. They acted and spoke the way they did, because they simply didn't know everything. And that had perhaps been Akihiro's mistake, the single one he would acknowledge. But alas, knowledge is power and not everyone is meant to have power.  Now that his position had been revealed however, he was left with little choice but to fully reveal himself.

Akihiro stood behind Kimiko. "Oh, is it my turn to speak yet?" he casually asked. But he did not wait for an answer. In fact, it was the other way around. Everyone else was waiting for answers from him. But frankly everyone else could fuck right off for a bit, as he placed his hand on Kimiko's shoulder and leaned in to kiss her head, comfortably taking his time to enjoy the moment and properly thank her for everything. Afterwards, the Clan Leader moved towards the "spotlight".

Akihiro, or at least his outfit, was in pretty bad shape. His clothing wasn't fancy like Rin's, or formal like the ones wore by many other Uchiha in the meeting. No, Akihiro's outfit was bloody and ragged. His trademark black cloak torn in several places, pieces of jade showing underneath the fabric. There was thus a mixture of black fabric, green jade and red blood on many spots of his outfit. His left sleeve had been completely torn off, exposing the bandages covering his arm underneath it. The Sparrow did not limp, but there was a sense of tiredness to him. "Ah, Satomi-sensei. Good to see you. You look a lot less...hole-ish, than the last time I saw you." He smiled at the man. None other in this room or even the world could call Satomi their sensei. And likely no other would tease the man like that. His living soul was perhaps the one thing that effectively surprised Akihiro in this meeting. Luckily his surprised expression had been well hidden before he made himself apparent.

With a smooth movement, Akihiro reached for one of his few remaining pockets took something from it. Then, he tossed it at Satomi in the hopes that he would catch it. It was a bone from Alkaid's finger, used to kill the ex-Hokage. "There ya go, not many men can say they own the weapon which killed them. Alkaid's finger bone." He had used it to prove to Masuyo that a Kaguya had been responsible for Satomi's death. And he had kept it ever since.

"Now my fellow clansmen." Akihiro's gaze shifted from Satomi to the rest of the room. Having been named a leader at such a young age, Akihiro was forced to learn how to captivate their attention and make sure he was being heard. His voice was not hostile, but it carried a sense of authority with it which only came with years of experience in this position. His choice of words was also always carefully made, snot antagonize anyone by accident. "I'm certain many of you have been wondering where I've been, and what have I been doing. Well..." he made a slight pause. Momentum of speech was important, and he needed to feed them every word with care. "I was going to say I've been dead and only recently came back to life. But for some reason that now sounds considerably less impressive." Jests were important. Certainly not everyone would appreciate them, but the ability to jest in stage assured the audience the artist had a high degree of control over their performance.

"I've also heard whispers, of a more unsettling nature. It would seem some of you are...let us say... unhappy, with my absence and apparent lack of leadership. " he let out a sigh, signing his disappointment in a most apparent way. "So I'll take this opportunity to answer your questions, as well as appease your worries." Truth to be told Akihiro didn't two shits about their worries. Most of these men and women were blind, casting judgement without knowing the facts. They were family still, but blind. Unaware of the dangers outside these walls. He couldn't blame them for this, he supposed. But it was tiresome to appease the feelings of everyone.

So, for those of you who either missed or willingly chose to ignore the last two seasons and insist on misrepresenting the facts, Akihiro did a recap. "I suppose we should begin with what I've been doing. Well, let's see. When you died," he'd casually point his thumb at Satomi. "I was the one who secured the talent necessary to find your corpse and give it a proper burial. I can't take all the credit here, since it was Sashiko's nose who found you really. Nice lass, really helpful if a bit awkward. Alas, I was the one who put that squad tgether. I know it seems like wasted effort now, but bare with me for a bit, will you?" His gaze turned back to the crowd.

"I was also the one who found the evidence you're all now happily using to claim revenge on Alkaid and the Mist. I was the one who pressured Masuyo to get compensation and when she ignored my request, I was the one who went to the Mist against her orders to get the compensation we deserved. Not for me, not for Satomi. For YOU." His voice had subtly changed its tone. Little by little it crossed the line between a jest and a serious tone, like a predator aiming to fang its prey. The last phrase was loud, and quite serious.

"In the meantime, I took down three minor nations in a single night and brought them, their resources and their money under the wings of the Hidden Leaf Village, so we could afford a proper military to protect you all, to protect the village but mostly to protect this clan. "

"But wait, this is where it gets interesting." He held up a hand, to keep the audience from questioning him. "I arrive at the Mist to get compensation and surprise surprise, I find Nozomi Himitsu at the gates of our 'allies', who I remind you had apparently sent an assassin to murder our Kage. Nozomi Himitsu, the Shinobi World Champion and someone who also happens to own quite a bounty on our Bingo Book." He held up his other hand. "Time for a quick parenthesis! The Bingo Book is a book where Missing Ninjas are listed to be captured dead or alive-." His eyes widened a bit and his tone changed to represent a different, softer voice. 'But Akihiro,' you'll certainly ask me.  'Why are you wasting time explaining to us what the Bingo book is? We all know that!'-"

"Because apparently we don't."the Sparrow interrupted himself with a sudden change of tone, an aggressive one as he lowered his arms.  "Because alongside Nozomi who is a known terrorist who killed many people, Gin Akiyama among them... alongside Nozomi I find Rin Uchiha, sharing a map of Kumogakure no Sato with her. Was he stabbing her with the map? Hitting her? Am I using share as an euphemism for 'murder with'? No. I'm not. He was literally standing there, showing a Bingo Book terrorist who had killed leaf ninja, a map with sensitive information about a foreign village. " He'd let that sink in for a moment as he took the opportunity to slightly turn to the man responsible for altering the agenda of the meeting.  

"Lord Parliamentarian sire, be a pal and do add 'Clan Relationship with Terrorist Organizations' to the meeting's agenda. Because apparently we have one besides the usual 'hunting ninja and criminal trash to be hunted'." his gaze turned back to the crowd as he shrugged. "Turns out we can befriend these people and no one told me."

He placed his right hand over his heart. "My bad, I didn't get the memo. So I did things in the old fashioned way. As in, you know, I did my damned duty. And as such attempted to take down an international criminal who was listed on the Bingo Book. And this was my first mistake." he shook his head and "tsk'd" a little, obviously feigning regret.

"I thought it was a great opportunity to take down the woman who had killed Gin and caused so much trouble. Since you know, I technically should have had the support of the entire Mist army and the 9-tails Jinchuuriki.

But, as it turns out. Kirigakure no Sato's military is virtually useless, and the 9-tailed Jinchuuriki seemed more keen on sharing secrets and gossip rather than fighting for this village and this Clan.

Despite this, we somehow managed to drive Nozomi away. It took several high ranked techniques, and I almost got myself killed in the process." As he spoke, he walked around a little and gestured. It was all part of the process of getting the people's attentions.

"I was rescued by the Mist, and awoke two months later at their hospital. At this point, your Clan Leader had been branded a rogue ninja and marked for death by this village. In addition, there was a 'Neko' empire who had seen fit to release the nations I took for Konoha, as well as Iwagakure." he raised a hand again. Another parenthesis.

"For those of you who are young and present on this meeting, let the Nekoian Empire and its stupid decisions serve as an example of why you shouldn't do drugs while governing a nation." he lowered his hand and continued.

"As for the older audience, do tell me. Which one of you moved a finger to stop this madness? Which one of you defended this village from madness? Hell, which one of you defended this Clan and its leader's honor? Which one of you demanded proof that Akihiro Uchiha was indeed a criminal?"

A moment of silence, perhaps. But Akihiro wasted no time. In the time it took people to digest this information, he directed another blow. "I'm not including you on this one Rin, I'm certain you'd waste no time in coming to me to share maps and secrets with me the moment you knew I was branded an international criminal. Not including you either, Satomi-sensei. You were busy being all deady and stuff. We're cool." His gaze shifted to Rin and Satomitemporarily, but then back to the crowd.

"Alas, not one of you did anything. Not one. Except, well except one person." He gestured towards Kimiko. But his gaze rested upon Zenaku. It wasn't a happy gaze. It wasn't the Mangekyou Sharingan gaze he'd shown Shimiko, but it wasn't a happy gaze either.

He had, after all, called Kimiko "some clan leaders girlfriend".

"Oye, future hokage lad. There's a couple of things you should keep in mind, if you really do wish to live long enough to be Hokage.

The first is, I'm not some clan's leader. I am the Uchiha Clan leader and I'll be dead and buried before that name loses enough weight to be called 'some clan'. When you refer to the Uchiha, you will refer to us with proper respect or you'll keep your mouth shut and hope I can't guess your thoughts. Your ancestors didn't draw blood the battlefield so you could forget the name they carried.

The second, " His gaze then shifted back to the crowd. "And this is for all of you really, is that the woman you call untested, inexperienced, whose loyalty you question, was the only one who stood by and helped the Uchiha Clan Leader as he killed Tatsu, cleared the Uchiha name from the sully of having its leader branded missing ninja, dismantled the Nekoian Empire and yet again prevented this sage forsaken place of a village from self-destructing." Akihiro's gaze hardened.

"Note that I didn't say 'stood by her boyfriend'. I said stood by her Clan Leader. Or do I need to start dating everyone in this room to get your support? Did Satomi need to date any of you to get someone to look for his corpse? By the Sage who else do I need to kiss just to get this assembly to at least worry when the Clan Leader disappears?"

Kimiko certainly didn't need any white knight to stand up for her. But at this point this was more than just defending Kimiko. Certainly Akihiro was bothered by the fact that no one properly valued Kimiko and her actions, but more serious than that was the fact that the Clan seemed to have lost the ability to properly assert the value of its own members. This wasn't just about Kimiko being under appreciated. This was about a Clan member going above and beyond the line of duty and having its loyalty and experience questioned. This was a serious issue.

"Because she was there when we killed Tatsu and saved this village from ruin. Her intel was what allowed us to assassinate the Hokage during the Chuunin Exams in a foreign village and not cause open conflict with the Mist.

She was there, when we extracted 1million ryo and two secret Kirigakure no Sato Techniques from the Mizukage, as well as an East Indiaman full of explosive powder-." he feigned a slap on his forehead, as if he'd missed something. He hadn't.

"Oh that's right, I nearly forgot. We also secured a cargo ship with 300 tons of explosive powder which will give us an edge during any incoming conflicts. I intercepted it while it was travelling to the Mist from Konoha carrying enough firepower to nearly wipe out half a village. So it seems like I've also saved our only allies from a blow they wouldn't recover from in time to aid us in any incoming conflict.

And she was there.

Where were you?" he casually pointed at Zenaku. "Last rounds of the chuunin exams right? Not bad. You know how I know that? Because some girl was proctoring your exam and making sure you got home safe."

Akihiro took a deep breathe, it was time to soften the wake-up call blow.

"Many of you have husbands, wives, children. Family. Some of you dislike me, because I have none of these ties. Let me remind you however, that I have been leading the Uchiha Clan since I was 14 years old. I don't have a family because you have been my family. Because while you were busy developing these bonds, I served as the sword and shield of the Uchiha Clan. I haven't seen those who are important to me in months because I've been trying to save the lives of the agents the Neko empire abandoned in the countries it freed, and yet again I almost got myself killed.

I don't need you to like me. But I will not have my loyalty to this Clan questioned, nor will I have the abilities and honour of those who proved themselves on the battlefield and shed blood for us questioned. Whether they are my girlfriend or the kid over there who wants to be Hokage.

I need you to get a grip and stand with me, united. War is once again at our doorstep and my abilities alone will not be enough this time.  Your families are threatened, your houses are threatened, your very lives. Wake up, damn it.

Now you know what I've been doing. Now you know everything.

I'm going to ask you once, and only once. Because I need your answer to be definitive and binding.

Will you, stand with me?"

The question was made, loud and clear. Akihiro would wait for a moment, to listen to any replies.

There was no point in progressing with the agenda if the Clan was not united. What efforts of war could be done, if the house was divided?

Who the Hokage was was completely irrelevant if the Clan was not united. The Hokage could be the Sage himself....the Uchiha Clan was the main military force of the Leaf, and if they didn't get their shit together under one banner, no Hokage would bring success. The Clan needed to be united before anything else. Truly united.

The stupid woman went and suggested herself to be the leader, Yui so deeply wanted to call her out for how stupid this would be. However Nyg shut her down and this was good, it appeared he wanted to give her a test. This did sound reasonable even if she doubted her ability, but this would all not matter as a huge cat was let out of the bag. Suddenly Aki was in the room as people were shocked and many voices could be heard whispering. She felt major tension and as he continued to speak the biggest shock was the news about Uchiha Rin, he conspired with a criminal. She was sure there was more to this then was being let on but the initial shock actually caused her to feel some anger toward him. He was working with a person that had killed a shinobi of their village, this was not acceptable but it was not her place.

She would be ready in case someone got into a fight, she was only a genin but she would not let a fight ruin this important clan meeting. If she had to punch so0me senses into someone she would, she just hoped cooler heads would prevail despite the bombshells that had been dropped. She continued to watch the situation, she knew Nyg was feeling stressed with all of what was happening and would prepare him some tea and a massage when they got back home.

Things were beginning to become intense in a political sense. On one hand, Kimiko wants to assume temporary clan leader to safeguard the clan’s survival and safety. Satomi wants to go on a spiritual journey that involved going on what Rin knew was a pointless hunt for a dead woman. Ironically enough, Satomi wouldn’t have to look that far either. Nyguyen however minced words in doubting Kimiko’s ability to lead or the willpower for their own interests. Everything was comparable to a dark storm of thunder over their heads with the tension being high, however that storm suddenly turned into a hurricane once the room was filled with laughter.

Rin felt a strong sense of anger, part of it was his own, and yet another part felt like it wasn’t. Either way, Rin’s eyes narrow at the ragged Akihiro as he spits out venom and cold hard truths. However, the entire room felt like it was incredibly shocked by Rin’s involvement. Should he be scared? Should he be wary of what they think? Rin isn’t nervous for it’s no different than what he’s grown up to. Albeit his keen eyes that could define details at long distances picked up, Maiori whipped her head around and there was a glare of anger and confusion coming from her. Granted a lot of them were probably taken aback, but his mother is what he noticed the most in their reactions. Either way, Rin remains undeterred as he still holds his head high. The clan leader knows nothing of what transpired, and frankly Rin had half of a mind to never tell them for how they’re behaving. Emotions subsided, Akihiro continued on with his speech.

It wasn’t exactly time for Rin to speak just yet, although Akihiro’s jabs at Rin don't appear to phase the teen much at all. Hells, Kurama could come up with better insults than that. Akihiro even explained to Satomi that Alkaid was declared to already be dead. So the former Hokage no longer has a hunt unless he plans to mutilate the girl’s corpse. Rin found that idea to be a waste of energy when that energy could be spent in something more productive. In the end, Akihiro speaking of war approaching their doorsteps actually caused Rin to present a small smile.

”Precisely, Akihiro.” Rin finally spoke loud enough for the crowd to hear, and he’s only leaning back in his chair as Rin looked at Akihiro. Then Rin turned his focus onto the crowd in general before he began.

”As for the conspiracy story, it is true that I gave Nozomi Himitsu the maps of Kumogakure in exchange for information. As it was part of the deal that I made with the Society back when the Chunin Exams and Shinobi World Tournament was ongoing. Of course, I was under orders from my sensei, Masuyo Kaede, to seek out any information regarding the Society as it was around that time where we knew nothing about them. In the midst of our deal, I managed to acquire names, faces, and even informed who exactly was the Jinchuriki of Isobu. To which I did give that information over to Masuyo.” No doubt there were whispers of calling him a traitor and a two-faced agent. Yet Rin doesn’t bother to acknowledge them before continuing on.

”Regarding the issue about my lack of participation in assaulting Nozomi Himitsu, I don’t know if you even recall Akihiro that I tried to reason with you not attack her at that moment. But perhaps your judgment was so clouded with rage that you failed to realize that Nozomi outclassed all of us. Fortunately you did press her to the point where we only caught a glimpse of her true capabilities, and we were fortunate enough that she only used that power to withdraw. However, need I remind you that she also took advantage of your Amaterasu that you couldn’t put out yourself and nearly incinerated all of us including major collateral damage to Kirigakure’s gates. Although I suppose you were underground the entire time so you didn’t see how damaging to the environment your reckless actions caused.” Rin directed these statements directly at Akihiro in a surprisingly calm tone. He paused to let that information linger for a moment as Rin analyzed features to Akihiro’s features. To see if Akihiro has learned to temper that anger of his, or will the sense of reasoning finally reach his eyes. Then Rin returned his gaze to the crowd as he continued in his calm yet clear tone.

”As you all know, Yui Kotoshura and myself aided by brave men and women succeeded in our defense against the Kyuubi before it could bring our beloved nation to ruin. However, it came at a cost as Yui Kotoshura called upon the support of a high ranking member of the Society that went by the name of Menza. Who needless to say single handedly trapped the Kyuubi long enough for us to take on the offensive. Enough time to lay out another trap and began the long sealing process. By this point, Yui Kotoshura has been using the Hachimon for an extensive period of the fight. To those who aren’t aware of it, the Eight Gates is a double edged sword. It releases the limitations within the body to exert great physical power, but when those gates close your body becomes torn and exhausted from using it. Yui Kotoshura collapsed from the gates closing, and frankly the Kyuubi was thrashing to break free so I commended the terrorist in making a viable tactic to retreat with Yui in tow. The rest, well you see the result before you.” A casual gesture of his hand to himself, Rin has built up his case. Some of this information, especially with Menza’s involvement in the Kyuubi incident and Rin’s deal with the Society wasn’t on the reports Rin has given to the village years beforehand.

”After that, exhausted as I was, I along with my men combed through the forest on our way back to Konohagakure looking for Yui Kotoshura as at the time I didn’t know the extent of the jutsu Menza used to get away. Once we returned, I continued my search for Yui which included her house.” Rin could feel the glare from his mother as no doubt she was disappointed with him. Or perhaps she was disappointed with herself? It was hard to tell what was really going on within her mind. The next part, Rin was sure that he would get lots of heat from.

”And that was where I met Menza again. There, Menza demanded a reward which at first I did feel like he deserved a reward for his efforts in our defense. However, Yui Kotoshura acquired a heavy debt already for reviving her once dead brother, Taichi Kotoshura. As Yui was incapable of paying it off, Menza placed that debt onto me as well. Ultimately, the deal was to secure the Sage Tools from Iwagakure and to capture an Otsutsuki and bring it over at Yui’s house within 3 months.” By this point Maiori stood straight up as there was a hiss in pain from the chair smacking another kin’s shin by accident. She stood with fists clenched tight as her expression darkened while glaring at Rin.

”So you were the one who gave away those artifacts! All for some stupid girl in a clan that’s not even the Hidden Leaf’s. I cannot believe you would turn traitor at the drop of a hat-!” Maiori started to express her words until she realized that Rin wasn’t really fighting her. He just took it, and once she paused for words Rin politely stated.

”I did say at first, mother. Before the deal was finalized Menza laid out the consequences if I failed to deliver any of them on time. First it would result in Taichi’s death again, second it would result in Menza dismembering Yui Kotoshura and shipping each piece to me until she’s no longer alive. If I continued to fail by that point, Menza would’ve come to unseal Kyuubi and unleash it wherever I might have been. From what happened Kirigakure almost became a victim of that wrath.” Maiori’s expression didn’t waver from her anger as she spoke out once more. It was definitely that motherly type of yelling too.

”Why didn’t you fight him?! Why didn’t you place your faith in your village, your clan, your own home to stave off that disaster?! We could’ve helped you!” That’s where Rin’s eyes reflected the disappointment that he’s been feeling towards the village.

”Truthfully, I didn’t have any faith at the time, and frankly I still barely have faith in anyone in this world. Too many times I’ve placed faith in my nation, my team, and my own sensei. Yet every single one of them abandoned me at the sight of danger. That does tend to lower my expectations of everyone here. But logically I really did want to fight him right then and there. Yet a lot of our fighting forces were spread out too thin leaving mostly Genin, Chunin, and at the time I didn’t feel confident taking on an unknown enemy who could pin down a legend whereas we couldn’t. Additionally, even if I had won that fight, Yui Kotoshura would still remain unknown to me or to anyone. So I went with the safer option with the nation’s survival and protection in mind. At the end of it all, I was never to speak of word of my involvement with the deal between Menza and myself or else he would’ve done something drastic to anyone that knew including myself.” Whether they were having guilt, deep in thought, or furious still. Rin didn’t really care what they felt, but he wants to make it clear where he has stood for years. In a way Rin was shouldering all of this virtually by himself for a 14 year old kid.

”Short story of it, Tatsu was insecure of the nations defense, and I did take up on the opportunity and suggested that if Tatsu was so insecure. Then they should keep the Sage Tools at home, which to everyone here including myself would know that’s an incredibly dumb move. I merely suggested it to subtly hint that there’s something going on in there, but Tatsu surprised me and actually stowed the tools in there without checking it.” By this point Maiori chose to sit down on her chair albeit she is still staring at the boy she raised. Her eyes analyzing his face, almost as if he could tell her this was all a bad prank.

”Which brings us back to the original point Akihiro was making regarding the exchange. Originally I was to investigate Kirigakure for any possible lead on an Otsutsuki that might have inhabited there, but as I was discovered I had an idea which at the time I thought it was a good one. I was going to convince Kirigakure to lead an assault in whatever main base of operations Menza was cooped up in and of course I was going to assist in the assault. I was even going to get in touch with Akihiro here about nullifying that jutsu that allowed Menza to travel anywhere on the world as long as it held a mark. However I wanted to secure Kirigakure’s cooperation first hence was the real reason I was telling you to wait, Akihiro. without explaining in front of the new leader of the Society. However, that was all thrown out of the window when Akihiro attacked Nozomi Himitsu.” Then Rin spread his hands(?) out with a shrug of his shoulders.

”But it would’ve been foiled anyways as apparently Kyoji who was the Mizukage at the time was working in the Society as well. Go figure, and because of Akihiro’s actions I couldn’t cash in that information which proved my efforts to be fruitless on multiple fronts. Because of Akihiro’s decision to attack Nozomi Himitsu, that prompted her to specifically launch an attack on the Uchiha and rob them of everything they owned. From money to artifacts. Of course during this time I had lost the fight against the duo of Menza and Kyoji. As the result of my defeat, I was drugged asleep this entire time until… not the Uchiha, not a Konohagakure shinobi, not a Kirigakure shinobi, not even a Kumogakure shinobi. Until none other than Nozomi Himitsu herself plucked me out of Menza’s clutches just before he was about to slit my throat. Because no one would step up, which frankly I don’t blame anyone really. Just disappointed that the Society almost scored yet another Jinchuriki under their ranks, and another Konohagakure shinobi too as well because not one of you nor the nations bothered to seek them out.” Was he placing the blame onto someone? Mostly he was, but Rin didn’t have any faith in this nation to pull anything. They often ran when they started to lose a fight or even terrified. By this point, Rin folds his arms over his chest as his jacket remains tucked around his right arm to hide the stump from sight. He wasn’t going to pin anything that happened to him on anyone else as that part really was his fault. That includes his missing hand, for if Rin hadn’t lost the fight then this probably wouldn’t have happened to begin with.

”Onto the matter as to why I am here before all of you. Do not get me wrong Satomi-sama, I am pleased that you’re alive and well. However I find your revival rather troublesome as it is not the first time I’ve seen someone die and return back to life years later. To a lot of people it’s a blessing, but know whatever technique that was used to bring Satomi back to life was not the same that brought Taichi Kotoshura to life. Who, by the way, not only perished from the plague, but he was also missing a heart as it were. Last I checked, Alkaid died beside your own corpse Satomi, but if say she was brought back to life then that brings another concern. The point I’m making here is that there are at least two methods to bring someone to life, and while many of you might think of lost family and ancestors. That is not my concern.” Rin leans forward as his eyes are staring directly at Akihiro, not in an intimidating way, but to know that Rin is giving Akihiro his full attention. Akihiro is probably the smartest person alive, or if not then definitely one of the smartest humans alive right now.

”My concern goes back to my very first mission where a foreigner who went under a false name of Yami Hozuki wanted to acquire an artifact from a lost temple. I knew something was off about Yami Hozuki as I couldn’t read his chakra, and when I tried to bring it to my team’s attention I was silenced. It was later I pieced it together that the temple was actually none other than Hohoni’s temple where his Keeper protected Hohoni’s artifact. Although he was already wounded and we were able to nearly kill him in a swift manner. The Keeper sacrificed himself to resurrect the spirit of Hohoni, and even though he was weakened and I knew his chakra was waning just for existing. Hohoni still drove Masuyo to retreat without a word, and I was left alone to face the myth. Had Nozomi Himitsu not been the host of Isobu, Hohoni would’ve summoned the bijuu and wrecked havoc upon the nation.”

”There is no record of anyone by the name of Yami Hozuki, but near simultaneous of that incident Honiko made her first appearance to the world by reducing an entire village to ash. Where she single-handedly fended off a joint operation of Konohagakure-Kirigakure which sparked the alliance and she still managed to steal the Land of Lightning’s artifact. Recruited herself a young Jinchuriki, and an additional companion; and she still managed to flee with everything in tow. It’s a bit too convenient to me that two individuals were attempting to steal two of the Disciple’s artifacts nearly the same time at different locations which leads me to believe that this proclaimed Yami Hozuki is actually a member of the Society as well. Ever since that encounter, I’ve been trying to track him down, but no one knows him and there’s no record of his existence anywhere.”

”With the Society collecting every artifact and exclusive techniques. It’s a wonder why they haven’t yet launched a world campaign to conquer everything, yet Honiko never struck me to be the real leader. She always struck me as a General leading a small elite unit, and that brings back to what their real aim is. Mind you, Nozomi Himitsu is a misunderstood fighter and has a kinder heart than people make her out to be. However, I have a strong feeling that someone else is pulling the strings, and Nozomi might be blindly going along with it without knowing it. I won’t say that excuses of what she has committed, but understand she did not appear out of thin air. Nozomi was made this way by someone else. Probably the one that this Society is serving for all I know. With these methods of revival, I fear that whoever is pulling these strings might be planning to revive the Disciples and wipe the world clean. Hence the Society’s full name that includes Rebirth. If even one of those Disciples are revived, their power I fear would rival against the bijuu we host within ourselves. If all five are revived however? Nobody will be safe by themselves, and that is why I encourage you all to gather allies with Kirigakure, and establish a connection to Kumogakure as well.”

With that being said Rin leans back against his seat before shifting his eyes over to Satomi this time.

”Even if Alkaid was still alive, I wouldn’t help you in your hunt. If these Sages are revived at any point, I would like to prevent them from being resurrected or at least scout out for any clue regarding this false Yami Hozuki. As this mission I’m taking on myself is bigger than any one nation since it involves everyone that breathes in this world. I’m here before you not just because Nozomi let me go, but because I came here to spread awareness of the danger that darkens our horizons.”

Zenaku decided to take a seat after he had finished speaking as he had already spoke his mind on these matters, it would seem that most of what zenaku spoke on went hand and hand with what most was already thinking. He listened to nyg tell a person to put zenaku name down on the list of people for the search party to look for there assumed dead or missing clan leader akihiro. The meeting was going fairly well or so zenaku thought that was until there was a laughter which suddenly echoed though there great hall.

Zenaku had never heard this voice before so he started to scan the room until he noticed a man standing directly behind kimiko with his back turned to her back. The first thing that this person did who was dressed in rags but you could still tell he was from the uchiha clan from the way he was dressed, but he first spoke to satomi and he told him him it was nice to see him not so holed up. He then reached into his pocket and pulled something out as he tossed it to satomi, seeing what was tossed zenaku saw that it was a finger bone and apparently it was the weapon that had killed satomi. Oddly enough zenaku only knew of one jutsu out there in the world that could bring a person back to life and that was a forbidden jutsu that had been created long ago so t bring corpses back from the dead to continue fighting long after there mortal body's had perished.

From the way this man spoke zenaku just placed two and two together and figured out that this man was none other then there missing clan leader akihiro who they was supposed to have been going out to search for, this new event now caused this meeting to become null to point but they still needed to figure out who the next hokage was gonna be. It was true that the uchiha clan had no say so in who the next hokage of the village was but that did not stop them from deciding on where here would be willing to step up to the mantle. Akihiro would then start to speak again as he was basically patting his self on the back for events that probably no one but a select few in this room knew about which was pretty arrogant if you asked him. He would then go into a long drawn out explanation on what he had been doing and then with out even asking Rin why he was working with the enemy just blasted him in the meeting and basically called him a traitor. For a ninja being a spy or double agent to get information was something that has been used a lot and if akihiro did not seem to understand or even consider that fact then he was no more then a fool. The leader continued on as he asked the whole clan who had helped to stop any of this, or who lifted a finger, from what he has heard there leader had the fancy of just disappearing out of the blue and being gone for long periods of time so this was something that was not new. The leader then rested his gaze onto zenaku he just grinned a cocky smile cause with the look he was giving zenaku he could already tell that shit was about to hit the fan.

" Live long enough ha, I shall take what you just said akihiro as a grain of salt cause I do not take being threatened very kindly, and if I'm not mistaken you already died from what you said so your comment means nothing and seeing as we are all uchiha in this meeting g I'm sure every one here knows who I was talking about with out having to say it. It's true I did say that kimiko was not really the first choice I would have made but I never questioned her loyalty."

Zenaku spoke his mind on those few short comments of akihiro but then looked back towards the meeting tho the leader did not seem to be finished yet as he was gonna keep talking about what he or that woman. Kimiko did which until now zenaku doubted any one knew about this. He would then point out that it was only thanks to kimiko fighting that it made zenaku being able to come back home safe. " I guess thanks are in order then, thank you kimiko for protecting the chunin exam so I could come home safe. But that being said when it comes to coming home I was the only damn one from this village who even came back cause I unlike the filth that abounded this village after the exam I came back out of loyalty for this clan and of this village." Zenaku had said as he sat back down now getting a little heated. But it was not just him that akihiro was pointing fingers at but at rin and basically the whole clan, zenaku basically had enough and stood up and he looked at akihiro. " look I have no problem fighting along side you in these coming times but there is no way I will sit here and let you bad mouth all the uchiha, if there are any fingers that needs to be pointed it should be towards you uchiha clan leader. You wish to suddenly jump on Rin for being with the enemy but demand that the clan should have proven that you was not a criminal, what proof did you have that Rin was with the enemy of his own free will, as he said he really had no choice as he was ordered to go undercover to find out the secrets of this organization. There is also the fact that from what I ha e heard you have the liking of going away from the village for weeks if not months at a time so how was we supposed to know if you was actually missing dead, or just goofing off some where. If any thing you acted on your own and did not even think of asking the village elders or the uchiha clan what they thought on the matter."

Zenaku sat back down and he crossed his arms and placed his feet up on a empty chair in front of him, he spoke his mind, he might get punished for it but at least he said what he wanted and what he thought of what the leader was saying which was nothing more then him demanding that every one look at what he had done and for all he knows he probably made matters worse in the long run.

Kimiko listened to Nyguyen as he spoke, offering him the respect that she thought the Uchiha deserved. A frown formed on her face as he told her that she was untested, inexperienced, and denied giving her a sponsorship as the interim clan leader. She had expected as much of course. If her skill and loyalty to the Uchiha were in question, she'd just prove it to them again and again. Of course, that would again leave them leaderless in the meantime, likely what Nyguyen wanted, to postpone any actual decisions as long as possible, to set in place someone else. Or to give Satomi time to come back from his trip and assume the mantle. Meanwhile the Uchiha would sit leaderless, except the council of Elders would continue to decide as usual, taking orders likely from the Hokage. Kimiko was about to speak, but as she opened her mouth, she heard a laugh. A very familiar laugh. Right behind her.

Spinning around, Kimiko's heart pounded as the blood rushed to her head. The words in her mouth died out, and even the voices around her seemed to fade. Akihiro was here. Akihiro was alive. She wanted to hug him, she wanted to hit him, she wanted to leave, but she stayed rooted. Now wasn't the time to lose composure. Her sharingan activated, analyzing Akihiro. He moved the same, there was no active chakra, it wasn't an illusion. There was no genjutsu, this was the real deal.

And then her hearing rushed back, mid speech. The moment was over. She heard him speak of the many truths he had held. He spoke more on what she'd said before, about the good he'd done while the rest of the clan did nothing. About how he had helped the clan, the village, and been branded a traitor by the false Kage Cat. And he sung her praise. About how she was the only one who stood with him. Who had proven her loyalty, and who had gone against the false Kage for his sake, and for the honor of the clan. And that she'd been vital in preventing war over the assassination of Tattsu. Everything. Kimiko hadn't thought he would, she hadn't expected it, but he spoke so openly.

Automatically, she replied. "I'll stand with you Akihiro."

But then what he had said caught up to her. Rin Uchiha began to speak his defense. He spoke of being a double agent tasked by Masuyo to infiltrate the Society. He'd given them information on Kumogakure, but then was kidnapped by the Society? Had been working with the Society, was present when Akihiro attacked, and then got kidnapped by another member of the terrorist group and then was freed by Nozomi? He'd stolen the Sage Tools and gave them away, and was kidnapped by the person he gave them to? The words repeated in her head, but they weren't making sense. He came here of his own accord, and sang her praise, while he sat in and listened in on the meeting, quiet.

And now, he spoke. He spoke ill of Akihiro, blamed him for the Society's attack on Konoha. Blamed him because the Jinchuuriki girl was too powerful. Blamed him because he did little to assist. Blamed him because Kiri's army did nothing. Refused to hunt Alkaid even if she was alive, the woman who had assassinated Satomi Uchiha. The woman he had been engaged to. The woman who used that bond to get close to Satomi.

Kimiko's eyebrows furrowed more and more as it all connected. And then Zenaku spoke up, and something in Kimiko's composure snapped. He was defending Rin against Akihiro's claims, and decrying Akihiro. Sowing more discord and dissent, distrust in Akihiro. And that's when it clicked. This is what he had wanted. Rin had been playing them the entire time. "You're so easily fooled, Zenaku. So quick to defend a man who's had so much proof of his guilt stacked against him, and just take it at his word that nothing is ever his fault. So quick to say Akihiro isn't right to place blame where it ought to be placed. So often people try to explain away their actions, but incriminate themselves in the process, and if you'd have half a mind to listen, you'd see that's exactly what's happening here. He says he's innocent, but his actions show the opposite more than he'd think."

With that said, Kimiko turned to the crowd, her Sharingan locking in on Rin. "Traitor. You've been a traitor this entire time. You were the reason Kiri's assassin succeeded. You were the in. You let Nozomi escape from Kirigakure. You handed over the Sage Tools. You conspired with and worked with the Society. You fought the 9 tails sure, but the aid you received was from the Society. You say they don't have another Jinchuuriki, but your actions say otherwise. Your tongue is silver, you claim to be noble, but nothing about you speaks true." Kimiko said.

She turned and looked to Satomi and Nyguyen. "Even now, he lies and conspires. He doesn't care about justice for the Uchiha. He won't right the wrongs he's done. His story about the Hokage doesn't add up. She believed that? More likely she was a rat like him, she's already been a proven traitor to Konoha. Aiding the Society doesn't surprise me. Tattsu spent a lot of her time and effort destroying this nation. It's more likely they were collaborating. Every action that Cat took was to destroy Konoha, its alliances. Her last actions were to dismantle Konoha's powerbase, to brand Akihiro a traitor for attacking the Leader of the Society, and to attack Kirigakure during the exams, blowing all of us up in the process."

"The evidence is overwhelming. The more I think about it, the more I realize its truth. This Hohoni was such a danger to you, Masuyo, your squad, even this Yami, yet you survived holding your own. Ever since then, bad things happen surrounding you, big coincidence. This is an obvious deflection so you can gain credibility, get back in. Even the things he said were a benefit to us, could surely as well be a benefit to them as their agent. He's the 9 Tails Jinchuuriki. A great asset to us, but also a great asset to the Society. Too great to just let walk away. Not to mention Yui Kotoshura is the cousin of Tattsu Kotoshura, also known as Neko-sama, known conspirator and traitor to this village. Also kidnapped by the Society, but mysteriously free. She's an admitted affiliate of the Society. Partner of Rin Uchiha. An enemy of the Uchiha."

Kimiko pointed back to Rin. "I call for the arrest of Rin Uchiha, on charges of treason and conspiracy."

"Oh my oh my.....konichiwa, Uchiha Clan.", came a voice so pleasant it was chilling. In hobbled an older member of the clan with dark grey hair, and fine lines under his eyes. He was of pure Uchiha nobility and wore the old traditional red armor that the clan wore before the making of Konoha. Coming along quietly behind him was a younger man with raven black hair and a handsome face, wearing white and grey robes and black pants, and a small girl who looked fresh out of the academy, proudly wearing her shiny new headband on her brow.

"Honorable Elder Uchiha Ryudan and his family, Uchiha Tadashi, and Uchiha Michiko.", the announcer announced their arrival.

Ryudan and Tadashi both bowed to the woman who guarded the door, while Michiko just stared up at her, disregarding manners. The younger man would then point out to the rafters while looking at his young one, and the girl nodded and made her way up into the higher seats, sitting somewhat near a small group of other girls, and looked their way with a look of curiosity. Michiko was sitting near the daughters of Nyguyen, not that she knew them. She waved sheepishly, before turning her gaze to the large group of adults below, scanning the room, and wondering what was going on.

"I don't know what to make of it. There's so many people here. Hey...what about that guy?!", Michiko got excited suddenly, noticing Satomi Uchiha, with his strange black eyes. "Is there something wrong with him?" It was pretty weird, and she was somewhat correct, but she was ultimately oblivious. She waited to see what the other girls would say about it. Michiko had been so rude...not even having introduced herself.

Meanwhile, Tadashi, huffing under his breath, took his back up against the wall near where Zenaku was, and gave him a look, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned on his three tomoe Sharingan and began a visual record of the meeting, while he looked about those present, and was taken aback at some of the room's occupants. That's when he realized this meeting was to be very interesting, and yet, he was a man of little words, and so he would only speak if spoken to or if it was very necessary. His older brother was the big talker anyway, and Mr. Councilman. Let him do all the talking.

Ryudan, smiling a pleasant light smile, hobbled towards the seats reserved for the higher members of this meeting, and found his empty chair, feeling very relieved when he sat down. He then said, looking to the young Lord Akihiro with a smile of familiarity and approval,

"You have returned to us. How fortunate. Where is my money for the rebuilding of our Clanhold, Lord Uchiha? I entrust you have it, for your Treasurer?" There was a sparkle in the old man's cloudy eyes. The old dragon would then turn towards the previously deceased one, and he said to him, "To return from the land beyond means you still have purpose among the living, and so I welcome you, Little Brother, back to Earth. I am sure your need here is a great one, for Clan and Country.", and then his eyes seemed to darken and his smile seemed more sinister as his gaze came upon the one who was the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi fox, and he said, "I understand you have been quite naughty. This is unpardonable and we shall come to some decision as to how to deal with your transgression. However...I am sure it will be done most fairly. I myself am a man of belief that all punishment should be fair."

Up in the rafters, the twelve year old girl said, "That's my Uncle down there talking right now.", and then she remembered her manners and added, "Oh...my name is Michiko. What's your names?

This was not what he was expecting when he joined the rest of the Uchihas. He hadn't quite known the state of affairs for the Uchiha which was why he was in the meeting as  well. To better understand his family and their plight towards the protection of this village. In his absence much had occurred, many which has been negative upon the Uchiha crest. His murder, Rins sudden revelation, the inner circle mainly unaware of each other. Others chimed in, and he privy to the information readily available to him now.

Then out of nowhere, Akihiro appeared. Satomi was elated to see a familiar face and he smiled when he heard his students voice. He seemed like had just came back from an engagement of some sorts. Clothes ruffled and beat up, he would have to hear that story afterwards. Though Aki came bringing disturbing news. After greeting him respectfully, he tossed the murder weapon to him. Apparently Alkaid had also died at the scene of his death as well. Strange. But it was a warming thought to know she was also dead. Though the Sparrow seemed quite different from when Satomi last saw him, he had a certain bravado when he spoke to the clansmen. He seemed to be proud of his efforts in keeping the Uchiha name, and it seemed that others were not as appreciative of his efforts. And he went into great detail the Society and its impact on the clan.

Zenkaku and the others seemed upset as well, for good reason. It seemed the lack of communication between the clansmen has unfortunately turned heads. But that's why meetings like these are useful. It allows everyone to get their opinions out. But overall remember the true goal. The preservation of the Uchiha clan. But that very idea seemed to be threatened when he heard Rin's part in this entire deal. After being outed by Akihiro, Satomi's smiling face seemed to simmer down into a cold expression.

Did...Rin just admit to such...treason.

It was a thought he never thought he'd have. One that gave him great pain to admit, and a terrible anger that would follow. Rin did not seemed to be troubled by his actions, nor felt any regret. That means no punishment would be worthy of him to learn a lesson. Zen seemed to be on the fence, and Kimiko straight up activated her Sharingan and looked to Rin. Calling for his arrest.

She wasn't wrong again. Speaking first to Akihiro. "Ah yes. Thank you Akihiro, I've been wanting to see after my revival. We have much to be thankful for, through your efforts alone. They won't be forgotten. And I understand your plight, its a travesty that you were ever branded a traitor. This "Tatsu" should have been an enemy from such an accusation alone." The Ghost of Konoha would also answer Akis question. The young man was running things now. And it was time he respected him as clan leader. "And Yes Aki. I stand with you. If war is upon his. I will help lead the Uchiha against any foe. However it seems we have an actual traitor in our midst".

Satomi's eyes swiveled around too Rin. Like Kimiko, his three tomoe Sharingan activated. "Rin, I have been severely disappointed in what I am hearing. I thought perhaps you were being controlled in some forceful manner. But it turns out you made a lot of these decisions on your own. To think you couldn't come to Aki to setup a way to remove this Menza's influence on you is baffling. And troubling. I will not hold my murder over you. I was fooled by her as well. However...you must answer for these treasonous crimes against the village. Perhaps you can redeem yourself. Though that is completely up to Akihiro. Though all I want...is the truth. Allow us to read your memories. To see what is actually going." It really wasn't a choice which made Satomi was crestfallen. No doubt they would have to arrest him for the admittance. To speak to his fellow clansmen this way. It seemed as if Rin did not see himself as an Uchiha for that matter. Bringing up a grandiose plan with the Society which seemed to be driving him. Satomi did not care for this new threat, it seemed like a deflection from his crimes. They would know soon enough.

Others joined but Satomi was to focused on the matter at hand. His face was dead serious.

The peals of laughter that erupted after Nyguyen's speech drew all eyes and ears to the seat behind Kimiko. Nyguyen's attention was also drawn to the source of the sound. It was somewhat familiar and it only took him half a second to place it. The man grimaced as he saw none other than Akihiro Uchiha standing up. He shook his head in annoyance.

Great...

Their illustrious Clan Leader had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. It was rather fortunate that the seat behind his love just so happened to be empty otherwise the clan would be treated to the hilarious sight of Akihiro being teleported into someone's lap. Nyguyen knew he had to have some kind of Space-Time Jutsu in his possession. Tatsu's missive had contained a lot of nonsense and false accusations about the boy but that section of the letter had been the most believable. How else could the Uchiha have taken down several nations in a single night? Whatever the mechanism of his arrival, Akihiro was now here. They no longer had to worry about finding him, but before he spoke Nyguyen could already tell that his sudden re-appearance wouldn't bring stability to the meeting.

He casually greeted Satomi and offered him a small souvenir. It was Alkaid's finger bone. The act was rather presumptious and immature but Nyguyen said nothing for now. Instead, he listened with a scowl on his face. Akihiro proceeded to chastize those such as Nyguyen who had criticized his unavailability at crucial moments. He defended himself by stating that he had been working tirelessly to secure Konoha's and the Clan's interests. He was right in a way and it was what had kept the Elders largely quiet about his activities. At first, Nyguyen was convinced that all the pup planned to do was brag about his accomplishments. It was a rather boring and simple-minded way to win the hearts and minds of the people.


He's trying to get them to abandon the notion of selecting a new clan leader.....

However, when Akihiro started going off about his fight with Nozomi, Nyguyen's expression turned from agitation to curiosity. He made some kind of joke about the Bingo Book but Nyg simply wasn't following. "Spit it out already" he mumbled under his breath. When Akihiro finally stated the truth plainly, even Nyguyen was shocked. A chorus of gasps erupted throughout the chamber and many were now staring at Rin in disbelief. Not content with dropping this new bomb on their heads, Akihiro continued speaking. He was a gifted orator, Nyg had to give him that much. He knew how to work the crowd and play on their passions. Akihiro had tested off the charts ever since before puberty but it was rare to see him in action. Even now, Nyguyen was beginning to understand why the Elders never spoke poorly of his leadership even though he came across as aloof sometimes.

If Rin really was handing Nozomi sensitive information about Kumogakure then that was indeed a grave crime. Kumo was not necessarily their ally but they were currently neutral. Relations between them weren't very good as of late but that didn't give Rin the license to work with a terrorist organization. The Society most emphatically was not Konoha's ally. From there, Akihiro went on to recap Tatsu's Madness. He appeared to be very wroth about the Uchiha Clan's lack of action. Nyguyen hands formed a fist and even Juniper could tell that he was beyond pissed at the accusation that they would not have rebelled against Tatsu. The man's knuckles were red as he stared at Akihiro. Perhaps, the Clan Leader had forgotten that the whole crisis had lasted less than a week if that. If certain sources were to believed, Tatsu's madness hadn't even lasted 24 hours. She had supposedly been cut down the same day the missive had been sent out. The Elders were in no position to march across the world to Kiri to go kill their Hokage after all of the village's and clan's strongest were at the Chuunin Exams. It would have been suicidal, treasonous, and would only exacerbate the situation. When news of Tatsu's death was made public, Nyguyen immediately assumed it was Akihiro and for that he was grateful. That said, he would not allow Akihiro to make contemptuous remarks about the most prominent shinobi in the clan. He held his tongue for now but during this portion of the speech, Nyguyen's anger would be most palpable.

Akihiro then turned his attention to Zenaku, the up and coming chuunin. He attacked the boy for his callous disregard for Kimiko's contribution to ending the Tatsu Madness. Nyguyen was indeed ignorant of Kimiko's role in situation and it made him reconsider his opinion of her. The picture was now becoming clear. Akihiro had indeed been a busy boy and while he suspected that these shenanigans might have to do in part with Mockingbird, they were largely for the village's benefit. Nyguyen knew Akihiro's family. They were good people. They had raised a strong, dutiful, and loyal son. Even if Nyguyen found the teenager's tongue insolent, his pedigree was irreproachable and his skill the stuff of legends. Nyguyen listened as he berated the boy. Akihiro's speech then transitioned into a plea for the clan to stand with him. He reiterated his qualifications and insisted that if any Uchiha had proven themselves during a crisis, they ought not to be disrespected. It was hard to disagree with that logic but Nyguyen could see the fatal flaw in the analysis. In order for situations like this to be acknowledged, there had to be a veritable flow of information from the ground to the top. Akihiro was correct in that they were speaking and acting out of ignorance but whose fault was that? He was the clan leader and if he failed to keep them abreast of his agenda then they'd be forced to act on an information deficit. He wanted to communicate all of this to Aki but for now he was curious to see how Rin defended himself from the charges levied against him. They were grave accusations and from what Nyguyen knew there were parts to Rin's story that didn't add up. Yui had been banished but Akari had spared the young man the same fate. Did she know about what Akihiro had just said? Would Rin be able to convince them that Akari had made the right decision in sparing him?

The Hokage-elect turned to Rin as did the rest of the chamber. They were curious what he had to say. He hadn't spoken a word since the meeting had begun and he appeared to be unphased by the attacks made on his character. Rin went onto explain that he had been ordered to find out more information about the Society even if it meant working with them. He went on to say that Akihiro had been reckless in attacking Nozomi. He mentioned a technique called "Amaterasu" and a chill went up Nyguyen's spine. He had done a doctoral thesis on the secret techniques of the Uchiha Clan and that was a name often mentioned in the clan's texts. The precise description was never given but its destructiveness was legend. To loose a technique like that near an ally's gates was criminally negligent.

As if working with Nozomi wasn't bad enough, Rin confessed to having done multiple deals with Menza of the Society. The malevolent organization had gotten their hooks into Yui and Rin both it seemed. They had asked for the group's help on at least two separate occasions. The situation concerning Taichi stuck out to Nyugen though. Yui Kotoshura was nothing to him. She happened to share the same first name as his maid but other than that he cared naught for her and her brother. That his kin entangled himself with her on that basis made his stomach turn. The Kyuubi Incident was somewhat justifiable but it begged the question of how the Beast got there in the first place and the fact that Menza had helped seal it into Rin himself made things awfully suspicious. When Rin also admitted to stealing the Sage's Tools, Nyguyen's Sharingan activated instantly. As if sensing his anger, Rin's own mother stood up and condemned him.

Rin protested that he had been given no choice. Menza used Yui against him, threatening (what Nyg presumed to be) his lover. The black man's Sharingan zeroed in on Rin as he considered the boy's words. The Sage Tools were one of Satomi's greatest spoils. They had liberated the objects from Iwagakure and taken them back to Konoha where they belonged. The Hyuuga, Senju, and Uchiha all claimed closer kinship with the Sage. Those objects belonged to them by birthright and to have Rin give it all away for some Blast wench was enough to make Nyguyen want to slit his throat. Juniper put a hand on his shoulder just as he was about to open his mouth and curse Rin and his mother. She had reared this outsider to be one of them and now he was proving to be more trouble than he was worth. Nyguyen looked at his sister and calmed down. She was right. Now was not the time.

The story regarding how the Sage Tools were stolen was unbelievable. Either Rin, Tatsu, or both were lying traitors. He was now inclined to think that Tatsu was less mad and incompetent and was actually a tool for the Society. The news that Kyoji was working with the Society as well was not too shocking. The man's blatant attack on the Land of Iron and his rapid abdication showed his propensity for violence and treachery. What was rather surprising was how omnipresent the Society appeared to be. This Menza was like Akihiro in that he could teleport at will and he had bested a Bijuu where Rin, Yui, and a host of Konoha Jounin could not. Adding in the likes of Honiko, Nozomi, Raijin, and Kyoji made things even worse. Rin had mentioned that the 8 Gates were a double-edged sword but now Nyguyen knew he had no choice but to take up that weapon if he was to protect Konoha. This organization was dangerous and if they weren't stopped, his family could be in serious jeopardy.

Nyguyen looked up at his daughters and for once they were speechless. Normally they'd be amused by this sort of drama, but what Rin was saying had spooked them. He turned his attention to Rin and listened as the young man warned them of what was to come. He mentioned that the plague resurrections were oddly convenient. To this day, no one was sure who or what was bringing people back from the plague but judging from the weird happenings as of late, that too might involve this mysterious terrorist organization.

Nyguyen didn't like the odd conveniences in Rin's story. It appeared that despite numerous chances to take his Bijuu, the Society was keeping him around as some kind of asset. He was kidnapped by Menza only to be rescued by Nozomi. They were constantly doing him favors and keeping him in their debt. When Rin began to speak favorably of Nozomi, Nyguyen worried that the boy was suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Rin had grown up an Uchiha but he was still something of an outcast. He wasn't ingratiated into the clan's affairs the way Akihiro, Kimiko, Zenaku, and Nyguyen's daughters were. Even Yui who was a bastard maid had more pull with the clan that he did. Perhaps the Society had preyed on that vulnerability and used it to turn him. Nyguyen de-activated his Sharingan as his anger turned to pity. From the way Rin spoke, it was obvious he was concerned about the Society's aims. This business of resurrecting the Sage sounded like total madness. He would need to confer with Masuyo on that. As a historian he was perfectly aware of how strong the Disciples were. They were practically Gods compared to modern ninja. Shimiko Chinoike, Akihiro Uchiha, Nozomi Himitsu, and the newly awoken Ryuko Shizu Von Rose were all co-captains of the Special Olympics Team compared to them. Rin might be mad. He might be lying. He might be brainwashed. But he also might be telling the truth.

He had given them the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of his story. He hadn't tried to make himself out to be the hero and his judgment was questionable, but Nyguyen sensed honesty emanating from him. He had been put through so much. He was a demon host, a young man without a clan to back him, and a pawn in some sick game. He wanted to stop whatever was coming and while his theory was insane, it wouldn't be the most insane thing to have happened in the past six years.

Rin Uchiha Tohsaka you have just made history my boy....

Rin proceeded to drop a final bombshell on his head. Alkaid Kaguya was apparently dead. This fact was known by Konoha Intelligence but had not been widely disseminated. Satomi didn't know nor did Nyguyen and he immediately looked to see his brother-in-law's reaction. Rin's statement about plague resurrections made him question that reality. He'd need to have his father re-examine the corpse and make a final determination.

There was a bit of chatter that erupted after Rin had shared his story. Some considered him a traitor, others a hero but one voice managed to cut through the crowd. It was Zenaku. The chatter died down as he defended himself from Akihiro's admonishment. He found himself nodding at the kid's points. Part of his problem with Akihiro was that he had a tendency to disappear and not tell anyone what he was up to. From his speech it was clear he was putting in good work to keep them safe but without communication they could not be faulted for wondering what he was doing. Zenaku backtracked on his criticism of Kimiko but highlighted that he was not okay with Akihiro's inflammatory remarks on the Clan and its elder leadership. Nyguyen and a few of the elders began to clap in response to his speech. He was going to be a rising star that one. There wasn't much notable about him but he was loyal and wasn't afraid to speak his mind. The clapping ceased when another voice spoke up. This time it belonged to Kimiko.

As expected she stood with her boyfriend, although given the Sparrow's speech, even if the two were not an item he'd have expected it. It was a moving oration and it was likely that none would challenge Akihiro for the position now. Kimiko then turned to Zenaku and called him naive. She then accused Rin of being a turncoat. She connected the dots and insisted that he was not some ignorant pawn but a willful and deliberate agent of the Society. Nyguyen met her eyes when she turned to him, his finger finding its way to his temple while his chin rested on his knuckles. A typical sign that he was deeply weighing and considering the arguments being levied. Like a judge, he sat in contemplation as Kimiko made her case against Rin.

It was a damning case.

The man's eye drifted towards Rin. He remembered hearing about the kid's engagement to Alkaid. He was happy for him but even Nyguyen didn't think it was possible that Rin could have anything to do with that witch's assassination. The fact that he had just copped to working with the Society for nearly a year was making him reconsider that possibility. He turned to Kimiko and realized that he had pegged the girl incorrectly. She came across as a normal teenage girl but she was sharp as a whip.

She closed with a powerful indictment: "I call for the arrest of Rin Uchiha, on charges of treason and conspiracy."

Nyguyen let out a breath and as he did the entire chamber blew up in rage. The engagement to Alkaid was a minor thing. Few people knew or even cared that some adopted runt was trying to make a name for himself by marrying into the Kaguya Clan. It was common for adopted Uchiha to look outside the clan for Sage descended spouses when no man would let their daughter marry a non-blood. However, with Kimiko's revelation, it all fit together almost too perfectly. Many Uchiha were now standing up and openly screaming, cursing, and threatening Rin. The Lord Parliamentarian had given a decent amount of leeway during the speeches. Generally, slander was a violation of the Familial Rules of Scarlet Procedure. In fact to impinge on the character, faith, and loyalty of another Uchiha in any way was a major taboo during a public meeting. Veiled criticisms, backhanded compliments, and threats veiled as suggestions were more commonplace in such clan meetings. However, given the unprecedented nature of the meeting and its subject matter, the Lord Parliamentarian had exercised his discretion to permit direct indictments. They could not afford to hold back and they needed to be able to speak plainly without risk of offending someone's honor. But when he made that decision, he didn't realize the extent to which the clan had been on the dark on major matters of national security.

The man watched in horror as those who could activated their Sharingans in anger. If he did not act soon, a mob would form and attempt to seize Rin. Nyguyen looked at the Lord Parliamentarian and nodded. The man began to gavel down the chamber, utilizing the weighty hammer to drown out the voices of the people. Someone leapt out of his seat and pointed at Rin.

"Traitor! You bastard! This false Uchiha set up Satomi! You're working with the Society and those devil Kotoshura! You're not even one of us! I'll kill you you damn liar! You ain't no kin of mine!"

"The Gentleman will suspend! The Gentleman WILL SUSPEND!!" the Lord Parliamentarian roared. It did no good. The man was crazed with hatred. Spittle was flying out of his mouth and his family had to hold him back from bumrushing Rin. He managed to reach into his belt and produce a dagger which he held up high. There was pandemonium in the chamber and Nyguyen realized that the situation was dangerously close to spilling out of control.

"Lord Parliamentarian instruct the Sergeant-at-arms to remove any clan member that brandishes a weapon!"

"The Gentleman will cease and exeunt the premises! Rion Uchiha please escort our brother out of the meeting. He is overcome with the Curse"

Rion wrestled the man out of his seat and disarmed him of his dagger. He began to then drag the crazed individual out of the room.

"We don't need to arrest this scumbag! We need to hang him! I had family that died in the Valley....REAL FAMILY. BLOOD UCHIHA. WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THIS?! HE'S A CONFESSED TRAITOR!!!"

The man was taken out of the meeting and the Lord Parliamentarian used the distraction to gavel down the chamber and eventually order was restored. Satomi's voice cut through the audience like a knife going through butter. All were silent as he spoke. He was just as disturbed as they all were. He was willing to give Rin the benefit of the doubt on Alkaid but this business with the Society could not be overlooked. Satomi demanded the truth and his brother-in-law would help deliver it. Nyguyen seized the chance to stand up from his seat so that he could address his compatriots. Kimiko's indictment had almost sparked a riot and if he didn't get the situation handled, someone would kill Rin. They'd fail but then the beast inside him might awaken.

"Brothers and sisters!" Nyguyen's voice rang out. "Please.....lend me your ears...." He turned to Rin and pointed at the adopted Uchiha.

"Rin Uchiha Tohsaka you have confessed to some grave crimes. Crimes that ordinarily warrant death on the spot. Fortunately for you, you bear our name and even though you may not act like it, that means you are one of us until we decide otherwise. That means you will be afforded a charitable interpretation of your actions.....but even with this charity if it becomes clear to to us that you are as Kimiko accuses you to be....then the consequences will be your own to bear."

He stopped pointing and lowered his hands to his side.

"I will do my best to speak to Masuyo about your information gathering mission as well as the nature of this Hohoni Resurrection....if she corroborates what you're saying then that will be one point in your favor. It is my understanding that Masuyo is on sabbatical and she may not respond to an inquiry but if she does then you better be telling the truth....that matter aside, Kimiko is correct in stating that the rest of your story is riddled with conveniences and coincidences. There are obviously only two possibilities: Either you are in fact an active collaborator with the Society or you are by far the most easily manipulated orphan we have ever adopted. Now Kimiko and many others in this chamber are convinced that you fall in the latter category and when you admitted to giving Menza the Sage Tools, I was certain that you really were a traitor...but some of what you say is wiser than you know. The plague resurrections, the attack on the Valley, the resurfacing of the Bijuu, Hagomo's Comet....they are all connected. It doesn't take a genius to know that something is indeed coming. If you were sent here to get back into the clan then I'm sure Honiko, Menza, or Nozomi could have come up with a better set of alibi and while I don't have hard evidence you are right my gut is telling me that you are speaking the truth. As a historian, I am more than familiar with the Disciples and their power but what I am also familiar with is that not long after they passed there have been a few cults desperate to bring about their vision. Many of those "secret societies" were little more than armed fan clubs but I suspect that our forefathers were being far too modest when recording their existence. There are people out there who would undo everything we have worked so hard to build if it meant bringing back our progenitors. Maybe those "secret societies" never died out as the history books lead us to believe....maybe they still exist turning our best and brightest into true believers under our very noses. It happened to several of the Kage, it happened to Nozomi, its happening to Rin as he stands before us."

Nyguyen looked at Kimiko.

"In my heart, I do not believe Rin is a traitor. I think he is being slowly turned. Its not an excuse and he will answer for his crimes but something tells me that throwing him in a cell is exactly what the Society would want. They WANT us to cast him aside.....and to that....I say no"

The audience gasped.

"You say the death of our kin is not your concern and that you care more about saving the world. I think that's the biggest lie you've told us since you've walked into this meeting. You do care. Maybe not for all of us but for that woman who raised you, Maiori Uchiha. You think you can go on keeping the weight on your shoulders, making deals with the devil, and fighting the darkness by yourself....Well you can't!" Nyguyen shouted the last part. "Doesn't matter how strong you are, there will always be people stronger and smarter than you....they'll take your good intentions and they'll twist it until you are standing alone in the room answering for actions that are indefensible. Rin Uchiha, I do not believe you willfully helped Alkaid kill Satomi. I do not believe you willfully assisted Menza and Nozomi in their terrorism. I'm going to believe you until I get a chance to talk to Masuyo. The only thing you are guilty of in my eyes is being young, dumb, and well-intentioned"

Nyguyen smiled at Kimiko.

"When you have children of your own...especially teenagers you'll learn how easily off track they get. Rin's girlfriend isn't the brightest bulb in the shop and her temper is worse than my daughters"

A sarcastic laugh could be heard in the rafters. "Hahaha so funny."

"Yui got mixed up with some bad people and they used her to get to him. I suspect the same happened with Alkaid. Rin has a habit of thinking with his little head instead of his big one. Unfortunately, we're the ones who keep paying for it but that doesn't mean he's a turncoat. Never chalk up to malice what can be explained by pure old fashioned stubbornness and youthful stupidity" The elders genuinely laughed at that. It seemed as though the clan, indeed the world writ large, was being run by hormonal children. Nyguyen was middle aged and represented the Old Guard. He brought experience and maturity to the table. Hopefully that would temper their passions.

"I agree with my brother-in-law. There must be an thorough investigation. I propose that Rin Uchiha be placed under house arrest until such time his story can be corroborated. If Masuyo is willing to validate parts of his story and the Mind Reading technology shows now evidence of criminal intent then I move that he be pardoned from death or long-term imprisonment. Unfortunately, while stupidity isn't a crime....recklessness is. You will be stripped of all privileges, honors, relating to the clan and you will be barred from Konoha's military. You will receive 100 lashes for your failure and incompetence then we will cut you loose. You say you want to go off and stop the Society from their true goal and for the sake of those I care about I'm willing to let you do that....if Konoha Intelligence determines that this is in fact their mission then you can help us from outside the village system. You will report directly to me. You will not be hunted so long as you cease working with the Society and swear on your mother's life and honor not to give them anymore aid and comfort. No more deals. No more double-agent work. You play this by the book and keep in contact with us....this brings me to the next big topic I wanted to discuss...."

Nyguyen turned to Akihiro and addressed him squarely.

"I think I have finally realized what the big issue plaguing our clan is. It is the common thread that runs through both Rin and Akihiro's story. I am talking about a lack of basic goddamn communication! Akihiro, you are one of the best shinobi we've produced in a long time.....your accomplishments and service to your kin and country are noted. You can stop bragging like a child now. Its great that you are fighting for our interests but if you do not provide regular reports and updates to the Clan Elders or the Konoha military then you don't exactly give us the means to credit you. The same goes for you young Kimiko. Had I known the integral role you played in resolving the Tatsu Madness then I'd have supported your candidacy for Clan Leader. I don't know what your protocols are, but the secrecy and lack of direct communication needs to be wrapped up. I plan on serving this village as the Hokage and that means I need you to tell me what's going on and why. I will not stand here and let you badmouth your family for not sticking up for you. As I recall, Tatsu's Madness lasted less than a week and by most accounts you killed her the same day she sent out the missive. There wasn't exactly time for us to react. All of our strongest shinobi were in Kiri for the Exams.....those left were children, civilians, and elders who had retired from active duty such as myself. There was only enough of us to protect the clan from immediate threats not overthrow a Kage positioned across the sea. Konoha had just been attacked and with the announcement of the Nekoian Empire there was widespread looting and chaos as the entire military tried to move to a new village. The Clan District was in jeopardy but did we jump to follow Tatsu's orders? No! We did as you requested and stayed put. No one was going to choose Tatsu-sama over you. We weren't in a position to retaliate but given that you showed up in the nick of time, we trusted you to handle it and handle it you did. It would have been great if you reported to the Elders in the aftermath of this....Zenaku is right, if you want us to stand with you then you have to start keeping us in the loop. The Treasurer and Archivist of this Clan is a good friend of mine and he hasn't seen a dime of this compensation that you and Kimiko keep talking about. I'm not accusing you of embezzlement but I am highlighting why it is people are concerned."

Nyguyen sighed and sat down in his chair. He folded his hands in his lap and shook his head. There was no use fighting it for even Satomi supported the brat's bid. He was resigned to letting the boy genius control the clan.

"I will stand with you Akihiro..." his words contrasting his current position. A subtle indication that his support was conditional. "I will follow you through the darkest tunnels...you've earned my respect and gratitude. But if you want me to follow then you must light the way. You can't just lead through the dark. We may not see what you see and we can only have faith in your leadership if your torch shines brightly. I will be setting up a new communication system in Konoha to ensure that the flow of intelligence is speedy. This will allow us to react and respond to events in real-time. I’ll also look into Alkaid’s supposed death. As Rin said and I have personally witnessed, resurrections are becoming more commonplace. Menza’s Space-Time abilities are also fairly troubling….Akihiro as our resident teleporter do you mind looking into possible counters?"

Nyguyen turned to the tired man in the booth.

"Lord Parliamentarian, please amend the docket as follows...."

Nyguyen would whisper in the man's ear and the agenda would be adjusted.

1. The Indictment and Investigation of Rin Uchiha
2. Position of Interim Clan Leader
3. Position of Hokage
4. Relationship with the Ōtsutsuki
5. Retaliation against the Society
6. Renovations to the Clan Compound.
7. Implementation of the Three Eyes System

"I think the consensus is to nominate me for the position of Hokage while Akihiro will continue to serve as Clan Leader, if there are no objections to this then we can continue to discuss the next items in a polite and orderly manner. I have given my proposal as to how Rin's situation should be handled but his crimes ought to be discussed and voted on as a group...and of course he should be able to defend himself although I think its quite clear that maybe he would do well not to press his fortune."

The Hokage-elect's mentioning of the Treasuer was prophetic as not long after his speech, the man himself arrived with his family. "Speak of the devil, welcome Ryudan-sensei....we are honored by your presence" More elders in the room was a good thing, otherwise the youth were liable to do something dangerous. He saw that Ryudan had brought his young niece Michiko. The girl had taken a seat in the rafters near Nyguyen's daughters. She tried talking to them but Nyguyen's wife would shush her. This was an important meeting and they couldn't have kids chattering during it. Nyguyen's eldest daughter, Mercedes who was around 16 at the time, would smile at the new girl and roll her eyes indicating her annoyance at the whole affair. Mercedes had her Sharingan active (mainly because everyone else had their's on and she wanted to show she could do it as well). The two tomoe feature locked in on Michiko and using the Sharingan: Genjutsu technique, Mercedes communicated her thoughts.

Hey...sorry about that. This whole thing sucks. I'm Mercedes, that's my Dad over there she gestured to the man below sitting towards the front of the chamber. He's a dork but at least he's not a traitor so he's got that going for him....if you can activate your Sharingan do it. Then you can mouth your words. I can lip-read you and we can chat that way.

This was the Uchiha Clan equivalent to kids "texting" during a meeting. Nyguyen's wife shook her head but allowed it. If it got them to shut up and stop fidgeting then that was alright by her. Innocence who had not yet activated her Sharingan looked at the two incredulously. She had been left out of the conversation! Innocence was closer to Michiko's age yet she hadn't been able to bring her KKG to bear. She sat back in the chair and folded her arms clearly annoyed at how things were going.

Nyguyen cleared his throat and made eye contact with Yui. He was getting parched and he was rather "old" compared to the whippersnappers here. It might make him look weak to be drinking tea at a time like this but with all the stress and aches of the situation, he couldn't give two shits what the people thought. He was going to be the Hokage and if he wanted some tea then he'd damn well have it. The eye contact he made was his typical "Bring me some tea please Yui" look.

Akihiro sat down upon his rightful place, the chair belonging to the Uchiha Clan's leader. And for a while, he simply listened. The Sparrow had invited everyone to say their piece, and he would not interrupt them as they did so. A lot of things were said and words were spoken. Not all of it worth listening to, but he did so anyway. For even if a child's squabbling was irrelevant to the world, its guardian should still pay attention.

The first one to speak after Akihiro was naturally Rin. The way he initiated his speech made it seem like he had a proper defense prepared, a justification for every single one of his actions. Akihiro doubted this was the case, but it certainly did seem like it at first. But then, the Sparrow was surprised by the nine tails jinchuuriki for precisely the opposite reason. He had expected Rin to try and dig himself out of the hole Akihiro had just thrown him into...what he did not expect was for Rin to find a shovel and somehow dig himself deeper, not only fully admitting to high treason in front of the entire clan but also telling straight out lies that could easily be disproven. It was frankly staggering for a moment there.

Maybe the reason Rin took so long to move against Nozomi was due to the size of his massive brass balls.

Had Akihiro's reputation or perhaps the Uchiha's reputation fallen so low that they would admit this? Perhaps. Akihiro could of course immediately have replied to Rin, but as Bonaparte once so eloquently stated: Never interrupt your enemy while he's making a mistake. Could Rin be considered an enemy? Perhaps not. But at least in this particular discussion, he and Akihiro were on opposite sides and that made him at the very least an opponent so the same principle could be applied. But the fact that he didn't reply immediately after didn't mean Akihiro was not paying attention, oh no. Every phrase and every word would be engraved in his eidetic memory only to be de-constructed and tore apart later.

The next one to speak was Zenaku. He did not say anything Akihiro did not expect from a teenage boy with a lot of attitude but very little real experience out there in the world. Akihiro's eyes shifted towards the kid for a moment while he spoke, but to him as well he said nothing. For now.

Then it came Kimiko's turn. The first words she said were expected, and yet they were the sweetest to his ears. The Uchiha couldn't help but smile as she spoke those words. They meant the world to him. In fact, they probably meant more than the world. The world could burn for all he cared. Kimiko could not.

His smile slowly shifted into a smirk as Kimiko went on with her speech, every word driving a dagger deeper into Rin's case. Could he be any prouder? Who knows. But his pride certainly peaked as Kimiko attempted to drive in the last blade with the call for Rin Uchiha's arrest. Such a bold move... one Akihiro would not have risked so soon, but nevertheless a bold move which basically has "Kimiko" stamped all over it. The room erupted in whispers, emotions ran high and even an attempted assassination ocured.

It failed. Akihiro was glad it did, but he did not make a move to stop it. The assembly had guards and people ready to defend each one of its participants for a reason. And he liked to that think that part of that reason was so that the Clan Leader didn't need to concern himself with the protection of everyone inside that room, while they were assembling. -Even here, Akihiro said nothing. Not everyone had spoken yet, and he wouldn't want to be interrupted once words finally left his lips.

Satomi spoke. His words were comforting. It was nice to see that unlike many oh his brothers, Satomi had not lost right of the Uchiha Clan pride, of the safety of his people and most important of all, of who the enemy was. Rin's attempts to evade guilt or distract the clan from the matter at hand had failed to persuade Satomi.

A part of Clan didn't think Kimiko had enough influence to speak the word. Another part of the Clan perhaps Akihiro was too young, or absent to be making such accusations. But when Satomi spoke the word 'traitor', Akihiro simply knew it would be taken seriously. When Satomi demanded for Rin to answer for his crimes, he knew the Clan would have to respect that statement. No one in the clan could outweight the influence that Satomi, Akihiro and Kimiko held together. Not even the man who spoke next.

Not even Nyguyen. Not that he wouldn't try to.. his speech was eloquent, for sure. His speech too did Akihiro engrave in his memory. The fact that Nyguyen wasn't willing to see Rin as a traitor was frankly even more surprising than Rin digging his own grave. Not just surprising, it was a major annoyance. Akihiro had expected such views from less experienced ninjas, such as Zenaku or even the 12 year old that had been late to the party.  But he did not expect such a foolish view from a seasoned shinobi. It made no sense. Alas much to Akihiro's dismay, people not always behaved as he predicted they would.

But that was alright. Even as Nyguyen spoke, Akihiro stood quiet. A look of almost boredom on his face. He did not yawn, but those who looked upon him might have expected him to do so at any second. Akihiro patiently awaited his turn to speak. Every speech remembered, every word etched into his memory. He saw the arguments, feints, hooks. Everything went through his head, and he saw it all. The battle of words was no less important than a battle of blades. And Akihiro wasn't bad at either.

Finally Nyguyen's speech ended, and his turn came.

The Uchiha Clan leader stood once again and when he did, the room fell into a deep silence. Accusations had been made, and certainly many wanted to know what he had to say about Rin's defence. But as always, Akihiro couldn't simply give them the cake, no. If he did, he'd lose their attention fairly quickly. Whispers would rise, people would talk amongst themselves and that talking would lower the impact of his own words. No, as always he led the crowd. "It seems to be my turn to speak again, is it not?" he asked, but wouldn't wait for an answer.

The Uchiha's tone was a bit different. More serious, more respectable. Less goofy than it usually was. He had driven deep into the heart of the clan with jests, but now came the time to win them over with authority. Many people had spoken, many people had been heard. But now came the time for the Clan Leader to speak, and such a moment would be respected.

"Zenaku, my brother." Akihiro's three tomoe'd sharingan shifted towards the boy. He smiled, but somehow his expression didn't transmit empathy. It was almost ominous. "As you Clan Leader I aim not to threat, but to provide advice, good advice. And in that spirit I should tell you, when this clan feels the need to, we don't make threats. We make corpses. We built an empire on blood, not bluffs." This was nothing more than the truth.It wasn't exclusive to the Uchiha or Konohagakure either. All of the major nations had been founded on rivers and rivers of blood. It took generations for ninjas and other chakra wielders to realize peace was sometimes a better option than constant warfare. "I commend you for coming so far in the Chuunin Exams, but if you expect praise for the simple action of coming home...well, don't. I don't care that others didn't return, as you put it they're trash. But you're not. You're an Uchiha and as such you're held to a higher standard. Returning home was your duty, and you performed it. Just as I performed mine." He wouldn't address Zenaku's defense of Rin. Kimiko had already performed an outstanding job at explaining why Zenaku was wrong, and Satomi branding Rin a traitor should also weigh in his conscience. If this wasn't enough to persuade Zenaku to not believe Rin, likely nothing would.

Akihiro's eyes then shifted towards Rin, tomoe spinning as he took in the sight. "As for you, Uchiha Rin let me ask you." he made a small pause, considering a couple of names for a moment. "On a scale of Tats to, well that guy who mistook a courier mission for an invasion mission. How stupid do you think we are?" Akihiro had dealt only with Tats, but the story of the Kumogakure shinobi who attacked Kirigakure when he was supposed to deliver a letter hadn't snuck past him. Told him first by Zurui, the story had become sort of an urban legend amongst the ninja ranks. In Akihiro's mind neither of these people faired very well in the IQ department, but considering the way Rin spoke he must've thought this assembly ranked somewhere in between the two.

"At the Kiri gates and regarding whether my judgment was clouded by rage or not...I assure you you have yet to see me angry. You claim that it was fortune that caused Nozomi Himitsu to withdraw, but it was not fortune. It was Amaterasu. " That part of Rin's speech had perhaps been the one which had bothered Akihiro the most. The rest of it fell perfectly into his intentions, but up until this point the existence of his Mangekyou Sharingan had merely been a rumour. A whisper in the corridors of the clan houses. People believed he had it, but no one knew. Rin speech regarding the use of Amaterasu had put an end to all and any doubt. This was bothersome, but not too serious.

"As for the use of this technique, the Kirigakure no Sato military were incompetent during the battle but I'll admit I was wrong i calling them completely useless. Kirigakure no Sato possesses the Kirisame technique, which I had been eager to see in action against Amaterasu. Despite what you might think, or you might be trying to lead others to believe, Kirigakure no Sato is actually the safest place in the world to cast such a dangerous technique. And the 'colateral damage' must've not have been that great, considering no one asked for reparations and instead Kirigakure no Sato were the ones who gave us money and techniques." He was not lying. If anyone could stop the Amaterasu, the mist ninjas could. Akihiro didn't like having to resort to use the technique, but it had been a calculated risk. Requiring the mist to use Kirisame was a low price to pay in order to prevent Nozomi from strong arming them into going against Konoha's interests.

"Your Kyubi story is entertaining, and would even be heroic if you had not just admitted that Yui called upon this Menza fellow.  Which by my understanding means that Yui had contact with this man before.

Not just that, but you admitted to knowing this man had the ability to resurrect people. Did you not think that perhaps the Uchiha could have use for such an ability, considering how Alkaid used you to kill our Clan Leader at the time, and the Hokage on top of that?  

How is it that the two of you got this man to use this technique for your own benefit, but never thought of using it for the benefit of, well I'm not even gonna say the clan anymore, but at least the village?"

The question lingered for a moment. This was also an important part and a key detail of this story. Yui Kotoshura had managed to get someone to revive her brother, but she had never considered to use the same method to revive her Hokage. Nor had Rin thought of at least trying to persuade Yui to try to get her to revive his clan leader.

"But wait, somehow your story gets even better. "

Rin wrote:Because of Akihiro’s decision to attack Nozomi Himitsu, that prompted her to specifically launch an attack on the Uchiha and rob them of everything they owned. From money to artifacts.

"For some reason that is beyond me, you think this assembly is stupid enough to believe such a blatant lie regarding a supposed attack on this clan's compound. First of all, Nozomi Himitsu never even stepped foot on this village, much less the Uchiha Clan District. The one who attacked the village was the missing ninja known as 'Raijin', who just conveniently happened to know the exact location of the Leaf vault and went directly for it." Akihiro was obviously hinting at Rin giving away this information. These really were incredibly suspicious circumstances. As far as he or anyone else was aware, Raijin had ever stepped foot inside the Leaf Village. And yet somehow, for some reason, he gone straight towards the governmental district and the only thing he had destroyed was the vault. Almost as if this assault hadn't been about vengeance, but about making bank. Making bank with the help of an inside source of information. Alas, this was just one more heavy suspicion thrown onto the pile currently hanging above Rin's head.

"Tats was as reliable as a one legged runner, and I ended up deciding to keep the Uchiha funds on a separate vault. As a result of that decision, this Clan didn't lose a single ryo with that attack." This was true. While Konoha's vault had been robbed, Mockingbird's vault had been left untouched and that's where Akihiro kept his personal, Mockingbird and Clan funds. "As for the artifacts..." Akihiro opened his hand, and the infamous Uchiha Gunbai materialized by his side, his fingers wrapped around the handle. "The only artifacts we lost were the ones you willingly gave away." The Uchiha Gunbai had been kept at the Clan Leader's house all this time, Akihiro well aware he could call upon it at any time. A measure he'd kept in place after someone had the idiotic idea of storing other priceless artifacts in abandoned appartments.

"Did you seriously believe you could make up a story about an attack on the Uchiha Clan District and just expect everyone to go 'Oh, that happened? I didn't notice it.'?" This was an honest question. What was Rin's plan here? This story was borderline schizophrenic.

"These are grave crimes... but frankly none of these actions bother me more than the one you just did. " Akhiro's eyes shifted from Rin to the crowd, took a moment to rest upon Zenaku and then kept going through every face. "Some of you criticize me for 'badmouthing' the Clan, even if what I say is true.

But I wonder, will you stand for what has just been said here? Rin Uchiha just blatantly admitted he doesn't give two shits whether our families live or die! That in itself is a serious statement, treason I dare say!"

Rin wrote:The point I’m making here is that there are at least two methods to bring someone to life, and while many of you might think of lost family and ancestors. That is not my concern.

"He could've resurrected Satomi. He didn't."

Akihiro turned his gaze towards Nyguyen. For all his youth, Akihiro wasn't stupid- He knew which buttons to push. Perhaps the older Uchiha was concerned with saving fire power for whatever was coming, but some things Akihiro simply wouldn't let stand. He had to make Nyguyen care. And the best way to make him care, was to make it personal.

"You. You speak of having children. Sage be willing, one day I'll be blessed with that. But should such a day come, I hope the love for the my children will not blind me to the dangers of young traitors.

By his own words, Uchiha Rin admitted to not caring for our families. And by his lack of action," Here Akihiro was referring to Rin not making a move to resurrect Satomi when he clearly had knowledge that could've helped to that cause. " he proved this feeling to be true. Nozomi Himitsu, Alkaid or whoever..they could walk right through that door, kill my family, kill you, kill your children. And not only would this man not move a finger to defend them, he wouldn't move a finger to bring them back either, even if he could.

Most of us can't resurrect people...and I don't know how you did it Nyguyen. But you had the chance to bring back Satomi, and you seized it. Rin had the chance to share knowledge to achieve the same goal years ago, and he never did."

Akihiro made a pause, to let that sink in. Then he turned to the crowd again,

"I too am familiar with the premise that the simplest of explanations is often the truth but my point is that what you're suggesting Nyguyen, isn't the simplest of explanations. So let me get this straight... you'd have me believe that Rin's 'little head' is responsible for:" As he spoke, he counted every item with his fingers.

1. The successful approach and infiltration of Alkaid
   
2. The subsequent death of Satomi or Clan Leader and Hokage at the time
   
3. Dealings with international terrorist Menza before the 9 tails attack
   
4. Dealings with the same terrorist during the attack
   
5. The successful infiltration of the same terrorist not once but twice.
   
6. The subsequent loss of two of the most powerful artifacts in the world, belonging to the Uchiha Clan by right.
   
7. The kidnapping of Kotoshura Yui
   
8. The lack of action against international criminal and society leader Nozomi Himitsu
   
9. Several dealings with the same criminal.
   
10. Rin Uchiha coming here and admitting all of this, as well as how he doesn't give two shits about our families.
    

Akihiro was running out of fingers at this point, so he kept the list shorter than it should've been. "You'd have me believe that a single cock was responsible for all of this? If so, for the love of Sage someone cut off the man's penis before it leads us all to ruin!"

....
....
....

Akihiro was joking. Sort of. Well, he was half joking. Truly he didn't believe Rin's genitals to be responsible for all of this, he blamed Rin himself and his poor decisions made by his bigger head. But by golly, if the little head was responsible then it'd pay for it!

Akihiro would then turn to Nyguyen again.
"I'm certain you'll understand how hard it is for someone to be branded a missing ninja by a country and report to it at the same time. Despite however good my skills might be, that's something simply out of my reach.

I did order you to stay put and ignore Tatsu's orders to move out to Iwagakure. And you completed that mission proudly. I didn't order anyone to become blind and deaf, however.

The shipment of explosives I intercepted was loaded into a Great Indiaman by a large caravan of oxen and hunders of wagons. So large in fact that it extended from this village's gates to the damn harbour at Tanzako town. I cannot foresee everything.

If someone is passing such a massive caravan of explosives through our village, and considering how you all knew how batshit crazy the cat was... I expected at least some of you to ask questions, or do something about it. I never intended for this Clan and its people to become sitting ducks while someone shoves explosives down their village. Stay put means stay put, but it also means stay vigilant, aye?"

Nyguyen was only half-wrong. It was true that Akihiro had a habit of not communicating as well as he should. A lifetime of intelligence work, spy networking and shadow lurking left him with some trust issues. In addition to that, he sometimes had a poor habit of not giving out information simply because he considered he didn't need to. What would others do with that information that he himself hadn't already thought of? What could they possibly contribute that he could not, in terms of information handling? Perhaps this came off as a sour, elitist attitude. But the young Uchiha had always been miles above the average ninja in terms of intellectual ability.  More often than not he found that keeping the information and working it himself was faster, more effective and above all safer.

And Akihiro was only half-wrong to do this, as well. Had he shared with everyone where the Clan funds were stored, and would they still have any money after Raijin's attack?

"As I've stated before, the Clan's funds are safe. Any major expenditure needs to be signed off by me either way, so I do believe it's better this way. I will however," well he had to give them something, didn't he? "reveal where they are located as well as the details of the amounts to those whose job is to deal with these matters.

Kirigakure no Sato provided us with 1 million ryo, and the secrets of two of their exclusive techniques. As is custom amongst not only ourselves but the village, those techniques will be available to those who seek permission to learn and prove themselves worthy of them. "

The Uchiha Clan leader's sharingan gaze would yet again rest upon Rin's eyes.
"Rin, this is your one chance. I care less for lashes, or death punishments " Akihiro carefully let out "imprisonment" out of this one phrase. Not because he was trying to trick Rin, but because Kimiko had been the one to suggest imprisonment and it was a poor idea to diminish her words in front of...well, anyone really. They had had a major impact within the clan ranks and Akihiro was not about to lower such a bold initiative. "than I care about the absolute truth, and recovering what is rightfully ours.

Nyguyen's proposal regarding how to deal with you isn't bad, but that's not his decision to make, and above all Satomi is right.

I do not seek vengeance. I seek justice, I seek the truth. And I seek to find what we lost. Allow me to read your memories right here." Akihiro was fairly sure he held the record for how fast one could read another's memories through the use of the sharingan. "Do not resist me. Allow me to ascertain the truth, your actions and your goals.

I trust Masuyo's words less than I trust my own Sharingan and I would not delay this and waste more time while war is almost upon us. If we are indeed to decide on a punishment, I'd rather know and see the absolute truth with my own eyes before we do, so that any eventual punishment can be just.

If what you say is the truth, about these disciples...then allow me to see your memories. Allow me to find the artefacts you lost, so we can recover them and use them in the upcoming war.

If what you say is truth and Nozomi has a kind heart... let me see it. " Akihiro did not believe for one second that Nozomi had a kinder heart than the one he'd judged her to have. But he'd been wrong before (like, once when he was 8 and he's still salty about it).

"I would rather not discuss punishment before experiencing your memories. But if you refuse me this request, then I'll have to assume you have something to hide. I'll have to assume you are indeed, a traitor.

And let it be known," he spoke to the crowd now. "That no Uchiha Clan traitor will get away from such an act with one hundred, or even one thousand lashes."

He focused on Rin again. "For the love of the Sage, clear your name here. If not for yourself, for the family that took you in."

(Note: I have talked to 'Colt' about the use of his character in this post beforehand and he has approved of it.)

The blue eyed girl awoke to find herself smelling nothing but the scent of antiseptic. That in itself was telling as every location and place had a scent about it. The fact that antiseptic was all that she could smell would indicate that she was in the hospital. Crystalline blue eyes took in her surroundings carefully, an intravenous tube had been inserted, life support modules had been set up and the curtains were drawn to keep unnecessary light out. She had been here for a time then, but how long exactly she did not know. She closed her eyes, taking a moment to orientate herself, to remember the last thing she could remember. She remembered waiting in her office for Masuyo. She remembered Yui Kotoshura returning, she remembered Rin Uchiha of all people returning, and then she remembered nothing. That would mean she had blacked out during the meeting somehow. She had left standing instructions regarding those two prior should they return and she wondered if they had been followed. It was standard practice for such a thing regarding ‘high risk’ individuals and it was taken in case the Hokage was away when said individuals returned. ‘Depending on how long I’ve been out, I’ll have been replaced as Hokage.’ She thought, keeping the thought in mind in case she had since been demoted.

This wouldn’t cause her annoyance, it was standard practice. An Interim Hokage would have to take over and if she was indisposed long enough it was possible that said interim would take the position of Nanadaime Hokage. Said timeframe depended on the situation at hand and the interim’s patience. Either way she would operate under the assumption that she was not in charge any longer. It was safer for her reputation that way and would keep her from making embarrassing orders that wouldn’t be followed. She was a daughter of the Uchiha Clan, and she had to retain her pride during this situation. A nurse walked in, checking up on her and seeing her awake called a doctor in immediately. A few moments later a man in a white coat strode in and began checking the equipment and performing multiple tests as he introduced himself. “Good morning Lady Akari, I am Dr. Miyamoto, you’ve given us quite a scare. You passed out during your last meeting. We diagnosed you with the plague, which luckily is quite survivable nowadays. You’ve been out for about a month.” He said as he finished checking equipment and stood aside to continue speaking. “I intend to hold you for a few more da~No”. Her single word would come out clipped and immediate before he could finish his final word. “I want to be released immediately, I feel fine, I’m awake, and I’ve missed too much already. I promise I’ll take it easy, doctor, but I’m not about to lay here for two days while the world keeps going.” She would say, her blue eyes becoming a tad colder as she met his.

Doctors were adamant in the proper care of their patients and Akari appreciated and respected that. However she couldn’t wait around. She needed to get home, she needed to figure out what in the world had happened during her month unconscious. She would need to schedule a meeting with the interim hokage, begin seeing about making their job easier if necessary should they have decided to retain the position. She needed to see Kagura, and assure her love that she was alright. She had far too much to do to be wasting the time laying here. “Lady Akari I must insist.” Dr. Miyamoto stated, working himself up to defend his position before she took his legs out from under him. “Funny, I believe I was doing the same. Get me the necessary paperwork to sign to refuse any further medical treatment doctor. I intend to leave immediately.” She would say, prompting the man to slump a bit dejectedly. No doctor liked seeing their patients take what they saw as unnecessary risks. Still, he wasn’t about to give up yet. “Will you at least compromise with me lady?” He would ask, prompting her to raise an eyebrow in curiosity. “Take it easy, and before you tell me you already promised you would, let me elaborate. Spend the next few days in a wheelchair, do no strenuous activities, and do light exercises at first to make sure you’ve actually recovered.” He would say, his arms crossing over his chest as he spoke, intent upon getting his way if he could.

Akari considered it, being wheelchair bound for even a short time would be a massive inconvenience. She couldn’t imagine doing any real shinobi work while stuck in one. Seriously, who could do any actual work in a wheelchair? Her imagination briefly treated her to attempting the Chuunin Exams of all things bound in a wheelchair and she couldn’t imagine it properly. Someone would have to be completely insane to even try. Or fucking incredible, one or the other. Anyway, the thought of being stuck in a wheelchair did not make her happy. However her leaving so soon didn’t make the doctor happy either. ‘The mark of a good compromise.’ She thought annoyingly before nodding her head in agreement. Dr. Miyamoto nodded in satisfaction before opening a cupboard in the room and revealing her clothes, washed and dried by the hospital staff before he unhooked her from the equipment. “I’ll leave you to change, a nurse will bring the paperwork to sign and the wheelchair.” He would say, prompting her to nod in acknowledgement before he left. She would stand, moving slowly, testing her legs and noting that she seemed to be able to move just fine. ‘I would hope so, I’ve been ensuring you don’t atrophy and that you kept your strength. However I’m displeased that you were laid so low by a disease of all things. You’ll have to work hard to earn my respect once more little Uchiha.’ Shivarra would say in her mind prompting Akari to sigh in resignation before dressing. Her usual attire, red shirt with black skirt and black thigh high socks with black boots. She was in the process of tying her hair up once more with her black ribbons when a nurse arrived with a wheelchair and the required paperwork. She signed it, and sat in it and the nurse unnecessarily pushed her outside where she was handed off to her love, Kagura.

The brunette looked happy, tears of joy on her features as she knelt to hug Akari tight. Akari returned the hug, wanting to kiss the brunette deeply but not acting upon the desire for fear of their relationship still being a secret. She didn’t want to accidentally reveal it so negligently. “Take me home Kagura..” She would say, a mildly pleading tone in her voice that she would only let Kagura hear. The brunette would push the wheelchair to the Uchiha Clan Compound and upon entering Akari would note the seeming absence of a great many people. Where was everyone? The compound was never this deserted at any point in time. Looking about in confusion Akari put her mind to work and considered what might be occurring. A Clan Meeting? Possibly, it’d be in the Clan Hall although Kagura, who wasn’t an Uchiha by blood or adoption, wouldn’t be allowed in. As they moved past it Akari did indeed hear voices inside, her sharp ears picking up the sounds of a meeting indeed taking place. Lifting a hand to stop Kagura, the dark haired Uchiha would consider just going home and resting. No one would blame her for doing so, it was even the smarter decision. However she didn’t know what had happened thus far and while she was operating under the assumption that she was no longer Hokage that could very easily be incorrect. “Kagura.” she would say, the tone of a master to her student and not of one lover to another. “Please, let me go in here. I don’t know how long this meeting will last but I can’t ignore something like it, even after just coming out of the hospital. Go on home, maybe get some food started. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” She would say, prompting Kagura to nod before leaving to go do exactly that. The girl's usual overzealous determination pushing her forward. Akari expected her to cook far too much than was necessary, but at least they’d have leftovers.

Rolling her chair herself the dark haired girl would roll up to the doors of the Clan Hall and take a moment to compose herself. Taking deep, but quiet breathes, the girl would listen to what was being said inside, wanting to time her entrance. The voice of Nyg Uchiha would be obvious, as was Rin’s from her meeting with him. Akihiro himself seemed to be in attendance as well. She assumed many others were inside. The first words she heard was Nyg welcoming ‘Ryudan-Sensei. Afterward Akihiro would begin to speak and it was obvious based on his words that Rin was inside as well. During Akihiro’s speech she would listen, and wait, allowing him to make all of his points. As far as she knew he was her clan leader, and she had no intention of interrupting him. His observation of what seemed to be Rin’s earlier words were damning, and if she had managed to get to that part in their meeting she doubted she would have let him live had he admitted to all of the things he seemed to have done. When Akihiro’s final words were spoken ‘For the love of the Sage, clear your name here. If not for yourself, for the family that took you in.’ she would reach up at the pause that came after and push the doors open. Obviously, attention would be drawn to the door, one didn’t simply come into the Uchiha Clan Hall during a meeting, unless one WAS an Uchiha of course, but even then it was considered rude. However Akari was banking on her presumably previous title of Hokage, and her illness to give her enough clout to be excused. As the door opened enough she would roll her chair in, carefully avoiding feet. “I apologize for my interruption, I’ve just woken up and came home to find a meeting taking place. I beg the forgiveness of all for my tardiness.” She would say, her hands in her lap as she stayed unmoving near the door. Akari was unsure of where her seat was in the room at this point. Given her Hokage title, be it still intact or not, as well as her recent sickness. She wasn’t actually aware of where her assigned seat would be in a clan meeting.

“If I may inquire as to the location of my seat, should I be allowed to remain despite my tardiness, I would take it and participate if able.” She would say, looking for all the world as a simple girl in a wheelchair. She didn’t really care if she was placed in the back of the room, or in the front, she was here, fresh out of the hospital, to do her part. “If I may however, I would speak regarding Lord Akihiro’s words to you Rin Uchiha.” She would say, giving Akihiro the respect his position deserved. “I listened outside in order to gauge the best time to enter so as not to interrupt Lord Akihiro. His words seem to state you and Yui have done many grievous crimes against this village. I would have you, and everyone here know, that had you admitted to such crimes in my office. I would have had the two of you executed for treason, and the Kyuubi resealed. As such I would advise you to take Akihiro’s generous offer to prove yourself.” She would say, as she awaited instruction for where to take her seat. Once it came she would roll herself to it, hoping someone near it would be kind enough to move the chair out of the way so her wheelchair could take its place. She wouldn’t speak anymore, having just arrived it would be rude to speak anymore. As a matter of fact she had already pushed the boundary for propriety in using the moment of her arrival to say as much as she did. However the moment had been there to be used and she wasn’t stupid enough to waste it.

Yui listened to all the sides, the fact was true Rin did betray the village and his clan, however he wasn't hiding this fact he was open with this fact and even the mind-reading would tell his intentions. There was one thing none were seeming to remember he is with Kotoshura Yui, if they do anything to harm this man her vengeance could be one the likes the village had never seen. She was unsure if this woman was part of the society but if she was not and they choose to harm Rin there could be a chance she would join them out of pure hatred for Konoha pushing her to become extreme.

She only hoped the others would think about the consequences of any action they made this day, it could very well lead to a massive attack on the village and many lives being lost because they had their egos hurt. The truth could be seen with the mind-reading, however, she did feel some sympathy, from what Rin said Yui owed this wicked man a debt for reviving her brother. She could understand wanting to revive others, look how they all acted if they had the power to revive they could have done X, what made them any different they would have made a deal with the devil to revive as well.

The very way the seem discussed she did this and yet they wanted Rin to do to it for Satomi and others. It was wrong for them to be disgusted with his actions while wanting the same thing for themselves. She so badly wanted to speak up tightening her hand tightly, she finally got the look for Nyg he wanted some tea. She would simply smile and move from the door making her way toward a container with hot tea she had made in advance for him. Obviously her trying to brew tea during this would have been frowned upon but she would make her way to Nyg and pull a small cup out filling it slowly with his tea. She would give a bow and walk off the stage again speaking no words to anyone and continuing to think about the situation.

What would she have done if her brother died and she had been given a chance to revive them, she could not say she wouldn't do anything to bring a sibling back. In fact, she would likely have done the same thing if given the chance, the fact everyone was so clouded with hate they can't see why she did something so desperate made her blood boil.

Like a crackling of thunder, the crowd uproared after Rin's explanation came to a close. Dozens of Uchiha as both familiar and unfamiliar begin activating their Sharingan out of anger. It was like watching a sea of red encroaching upon him. In truth Rin was expecting Akihiro to set him ablaze with Amaterasu, or someone else try to gut him like a fish. Rin knew this was coming as it was inevitable. However, what hurt the most deep down was the fact that Maiori wouldn't even look at him in the eye anymore. Zenaku spoke of defending the clan from Akihiro's insults to them, and then to some extent supported Rin's actions.

"I wouldn't do that…" Rin muttered as he didn't want all of this hate emanating from the crowd to find a new target. To himself, Rin doesn't care if the whole clan hates and breaks his mind. But to another person because of him? Rin would not have that occur again.

Yet with a deep breath, Rin refused to let his emotions show as he weathered the storm. Kimiko of course laid out her case and proceeded to press charges against Rin. To which Rin cannot blame her nor deny them really. Even if he did, Rin doubted anyone would believe a single word out of his mouth. They speak of these crimes that normally would result in a death penalty, yet Rin doesn't see death as the enemy here. If they were confident in handling these Disciples without him, then perhaps he's not needed here.

Then Satomi's voice cut through the crowd like a hot knife on butter. Fortunately, Satomi did not blame his death on Rin, however he did express how disappointed he was in Rin. That was actually a bit surprising that Satomi wished to search through the boy's memories. This was momentarily rewarded with a raised brow from Rin before he nods his head in agreement. It was something to be expected, albeit there was a good bit of time where Rin had to rebuild his strength. Rin can't think of what exactly they're looking for other than confirmation? Whatever that can win their cooperation, Rin guessed. However by the same token Rin expects them to execute him without another word and disregard what he said. Something tells Rin however, that death does not welcome him just yet.

Then one of their brethren actually stood up, and Rin's eyes were focused on him. Upon the sight of the dagger being drawn, Rin's eyes became cold with a cutting glare, much like a killer waiting to strike. Yet Rin does not move nor say anything. As the dagger-wielding Uchiha was grappled and detained. Rin's eyes grew warmer as he shifted his eyes over to the room as a whole. This time Maiori was glaring at him, and she had her Sharingan active and Rin's expression shifted to momentary surprised. She's never activated her Sharingan with the intent to harm him. Rin just as quickly regained his composure with a sigh.

So it's come to this point… perhaps it's for the best that she grows to hate me. With how things are going, hating me might allow her to easily coup with her grief. Rin grimly thought to himself. Frankly, coming here was like signing his last writ. The multiple times of being so close to death, all he wanted was to survive so that his story can be told. So that he can warn the future generations of the imminent threat that looms over them. Frankly he's going against Nozomi just for saying anything about the Society, and especially about what the Society is serving for. Word gets out over this, and Nozomi would have his head for this.

Taking the stage next was Nyguyen Uchiha, and overall surprised Rin as a whole. The first half Nyguyen sounded like he was going to be like the rest. Easily throwing Rin away and brand him as the cause for all the mishaps Konohagakure suffered. Rin was a nobody compared to the Uchiha, and if it wasn't for the Kyuubi incident he wouldn't even be offered to this meeting. More than likely after this meeting, Rin won't be welcomed by the Uchiha anymore. Yet the historian kept going and deliberately didn't believe Rin about being more concerned about saving the world of all things. Nyguyen's words brought Rin to subconsciously glance over at Maiori who was still glaring at him with her Sharingan. It was true that out of all of the Uchiha, his mother was the one Rin truly cares about. Yet he didn't want to drag anyone into his mess. For he knew if a word got out of what Rin was doing, well right now with today's audience is a prime example of what Rin knew was coming.

Rin had a long streak of wrong place, wrong time type of situations. Menza being called on to assist Kurama's seal wasn't his doing, but everything else following after that was like a rumbling rock going down a slope. Down to this point. Ultimately, Nyguyen was basically having Rin banished after being investigated, whipped, and stripped of everything he owned. It wasn't like Rin didn't have much of a choice in the matter as fate seems to always remind him as such. Either way, Rin nods his head in agreement.

What Nyguyen spoke of what they lacked was basic communication, which wasn’t wrong either as maintaining contact with the clan is a vital importance. Especially if the clan leader himself has been gone for months on end with little to no word ever being sent. It can have a negative impact on the clan’s morale, and ultimately lead them to believe that their leader is dead. That wasn’t a lesson meant for Rin to learn, but the young… Tohsaka... understood. Almost everyone in this one room hated Rin to his very core, even the recently awoken Akari. At some point, even Nyguyen was among that fold too. Rin didn’t bring anyone back, nor he knew of it until much later as not even Taichi himself knew what happened. To Taichi, death was like sleeping in a dreamless void. It was until Menza laid out what Yui’s debts were, and how they came to be, that Rin realized it.

I can bear it… Even though the massive weight of emotions push against him, Rin chooses not to let it take him. None of them really do not know that Rin has lost all connection with Kyuubi, and neither can he utilize any form of strong techniques such as Shadow Clones. For even if the entire world hates Rin, he’ll bear it, and he’ll still fight these Disciples. Rin wished he could say that was his choice, but as always Rin felt the constant pull from fate. He was never one for destiny and fates. However, by all accounts Rin should have died by the spectral hands of Hohoni a long time ago.

Akihiro started to retort and lay out all of the flaws within Rin’s speech. Of course, Rin expected as such even if Rin didn’t know the truth. Akihiro certainly would. They were roughly at the same age, but Rin knew that Akihiro’s intellect far surpassed any of their peers even when Akihiro was a chunin. It was true that Rin did consider going to Akihiro about the Menza threat, however Menza seemed to have spies everywhere. Spies that were driven either out of fear, power, or greed. Rin couldn’t risk going to Akihiro with the intention for him to read his memories about this deal between Rin and Menza. Or else someone else’s life would have been lost because of him.

That does seem to be running theme around here in my case. Someone’s life whether it’s my own or someone I care for seems to always be under threat. When at last, Akihiro spoke of clearing Rin’s name, Rin opened his lips to respond until the doors flung open. Cutting him off as it were. Akari made her presence known, and immediately turned her icy anger over to Rin as well. That only makes roughly 30 people angry in the past thirty minutes, and that personal record will continue to break once word of this gets out. It is what Rin was hoping for anyways. It is also why Rin never claimed to be a hero as his renown spoke of him, because he never viewed himself as one. More than likely, he never will. When it finally came down to him, Rin resisted the notion to smirk, to smile, or to show anything.

”I’m pleased that you’re awake Akari, but I’m afraid you are mistaken, and so is Akihiro about one thing. There is no ’proving’ myself, ’redemption’, or ’clearing’ my name. For the things I've done, this is the kind of thing I can't come back from. I’ve been trying to prove myself all my life, and it only took 15 years just for anyone in the clan outside of Maiori to bother striking up a conversation with me. All because a bijuu woke up and started to level civilization and change the landscape a bit. Now that everything is out in the open finally, any chance I had to fix anything was thrown out the window because of it.” Rin knows there is no going back from any of this. Even if he doesn’t die here, there’s countless more waiting beyond those doors, those gates, eager to put an end to his life.

”To be perfectly honest with you, I sealed the Kyuubi within myself as the temporary host so that we could find a better host. Additionally, it was to ensure the Society didn’t snare another bijuu in their grasp. I did it to protect our citizens, our home. Even when I was fighting tooth and nail against Menza. I was…” Rin’s eyes found Maiori’s Sharingan focused on him, but her eyes spoke of pain and anger towards him. It did make him pause, as the next part was going to hurt her even more. With a sigh escaping from his lips, Rin continued.

”In the fight against Menza over at some facility that he transported me to. I knew unsealing the bijuu would take time, and time wasn’t something I had. My death was coming, or so I had thought, and so I unleashed the Kyuubi’s wrath with the intention of damaging the seal until it broke. Just to ensure the bijuu can wreak havoc and get away from the Society.” His memories were playing it back like watching a movie. Emotions of pain and sorrow crept up to his mind. In the end, reading the crowd’s behavior and their built aggression towards him. Rin closed his eyes for a moment as he shook his head.

”Then again, who would ever believe an outcast who turned traitor for their sake? Nobody.” It was the ultimate truth of how this world works. It only sees blood and more blood being spilled. The question wasn’t really seeking a real answer for he already found it. Rin opened his eyes as he leaned forward on the desk. Propped up by resting his elbows on the surface. His eyes resting on Akihiro’s Sharingan as he doesn’t bother trying to appear intimidating nor cover up for the crimes he’s committed. Rin wanted them to be known, and because of that word of Rin’s warning will be drowned out by the mass of hate about his betrayal towards them.

”My fate has been sealed long ago. Judge how you see fit, but don’t let your emotions get the best of you. No matter if you execute me here, there’s a dozen others out there, including the Society themselves who would execute me for you.” It was the truth really as Nozomi would most definitely kill Rin for the things he said about the Society. Especially about his warning regarding the Disciples. The problem, Rin realized, is that nobody else seems to pick up on it like he did. Everyone is just taking it as it is and never questioning if there’s a 3rd hand involved in it. Was Rin kept alive all these years just for this moment? Even he didn’t have the answer to that, but it certainly felt like it. Maiori by this point had to turn her eyes away to subtly (not successfully) wipe the tears that started to flow down her cheeks.