"Tsukasa, gather all the elders and clan members we have."
When Yoichi arrived at the Murakami Household, he settled down with a cup of tea. Meanwhile, the assistant acknowledged him and encountered Miruko and Machi in the hallway, promptly heading off to complete their task without hesitation.
"Yoichi, what's happening?"
Machi shot him a worried glance while Miruko wrapped her arms around Yoichi in a warm embrace. After ten years, Machi was still grappling with the shocking news his son had shared, his mind continually trying to come to terms with it.
Conversely, Miruko had comfortably adjusted and seemed unfazed by the unusual dynamics between her and Yoichi.
A fossil like Yoichi, with unmatched power and knowledge, felt like having a cheat code. Naturally, his timely presence brought some advantages too.
Over ten years, the Murakami Clan thrived because of him. Without his influence, a small clan with limited shinobi and connections wouldn't have been able to intimidate or rattle anyone like the bigger clans did.
Now, Yoichi was looking to shift the nature of his relationship with the clan.
"Oh, I'm just beginning to set some rules for our clan," Yoichi said. "You don't have to worry about it, Father. I'm just laying out the harsh truths for them; you can simply watch from the sidelines."
Upon hearing those words, Machi felt a sense of unease, while Miruko gently shook her head and rubbed her husband's temples to offer some comfort.
In certain situations, Yoichi's shocking actions, like executing traitors by beheading, proved to be a double-edged sword. This left Machi with a nagging feeling of foreboding once more.
"Sir, everyone is now in the room."
"Thanks, Tsukasa. Let's get started!"
As they entered the room, Yoichi noticed the crowd gathered below the stage, their eyes filled with admiration and respect for him as the embodiment of their clan's strength during turbulent times.
Naturally, some saw him as a cold-hearted leader. This opinion came largely from the traditionalists and elders, who often looked down on him and tried to find faults in any case of movements.
"All eyes on me!" Yoichi's voice echoed. "I'm going to be straightforward—starting today, the funding for our elders and old-timers is being cut to support the next generation! Anyone who disregards my commands will face consequences!"
As expected, his startling announcement sparked awe and curiosity among the younger crowd, while the elders felt their blood pressure rise.
"What does this mean, Machi?! We toiled through our best years just to be insulted by your insolent son?! I swear, that kid is going to ruin our clan!" one elder shouted angrily, slamming his armrests.
With the elder's outburst, the other seniors quickly joined in, and the tension between the two sides became palpable. You could feel the hostility from the elders and see Machi's serious demeanor as everyone turned to Yoichi, who seemed amused by the outraged elder.
"Calm your balls, esteemed elders. It's not that deep! Hmmm... Are you the father of Takeda? What a time to be alive, Elder... What was your name again?"
With a look of innocence on his face, the crowd struggled to hold back their laughter at his sarcastic jab, while the elder shot Yoichi a furious glare at his obvious mockery.
"Sorry for the trouble, Elder Harumasa! My child is a little bit — " Machi wanted to intervene until...
"So it's Elder Harumasa! Old-timers, it's time to let go of the bag. Look at the people around here, they are starving with hunger in their eyes! These younger generations are our future and if you all want to stay afloat in this era of dispute, ruthlessness is necessary for progress!"
"What if I die, huh?! I'm just a human, okay? Just like any legend such as Sage of Six Paths, they all died from mortality and I am not exempted from it!"
Listening to his speech, the reality of life hit them hard.
Everything he said was spot on if they took a moment to reflect; the significant success they experienced was mainly due to Yoichi's outstanding work as a shinobi and his extensive connections within the Shinobi World.
But what would happen if he were no longer around?
What comes next? Are they going to be stuck relying on their elders again, who often profit from missions without contributing anything?
If they aspire to be like the Uchiha and Senju, who have built their strong foundations over the years, they need to prioritize developing future generations.
"Do not rejoice just yet, elders. Finding someone who could kill me is like finding a needle in a haystack. Furthermore, the moment I die from old age is the day all of you senile old fools are rotting from the grave, dead and gone for good!"
"Pass the decree to the others, the meeting is over!"
The moment he departed, the crowd grasped his orders, with the elders scolding Machi repeatedly until some felt overwhelmed and left with heavy hearts due to their joyful days being over.
The younger generation, however, felt grateful for his firm decisions.
No one wanted to return to the humiliating times of being looked down upon as a minor clan.
All of them discussed the earlier meeting with joyous expressions like bright sunlight shining over them, the days are finally getting good.
...
"Hey, Uncle Hikaku!"
"Ah, it's Little Madara! How have you been? Feeling any better? Want to train some more?"
Madara had come to the Uchiha Estate to spend time with his uncle, seeking training and answers about the unusual man he had encountered the previous day.
As a curious child, he had questions that needed to be addressed.
"Haha, it's great to have a coach!" Madara said cheerfully, enjoying the fact that his training with his uncle had become more frequent and was making him stronger day by day.
"You little rascal, I'm not your tutor!" Hikaku replied, playfully ruffling Madara's hair and smiling warmly.
At that moment, the Uchiha's usual coldness and arrogance felt a bit out of place amid such a tender scene.
"Uncle, do you know someone with golden eyes and unusual earrings? He's also wearing this really strange black and white outfit!"
Madara inquired as he sat on the training ground, watching as Hikaku visibly froze at the description, recognizing it all too well.
"That's Yoichi Murakami!" Hikaku exclaimed. "Where did you see him? Is he on a mission? What did he tell you?"
Naturally, Hikaku was on high alert given Yoichi's distinctive look.
"What if he's here to target our Uchiha heir or something?" he thought.
"Yoichi Murakami…" Madara mused, stroking his chin. "I spotted him in town with a friend, just walking around. We were only discussing his notorious reputation throughout the Shinobi World, nothing more."
As he spoke, Madara skillfully weaved in half-truths about his friend and the location, playing the part of a savvy shinobi.
Mentioning his friend's name to the Uchiha Clan felt intrusive, and Madara worried about the potential repercussions, like Hashirama getting caught up in some extreme Uchiha ideologies.
Hikaku found Madara's fabrications believable, especially as memories of Yoichi's easygoing nature surfaced and made him accept Madara's curiosity.
"Hahaha, that guy is something else! Just be cautious—when he's on a mission, he'll see it through no matter what! We've only scratched the surface with his abilities; some of the best shinobi are great at keeping their true strengths under wraps! In history, Yoichi Murakami…"
As Hikaku recounted Yoichi's impressive legacy, Madara felt a spark of excitement and enthusiasm grow inside him.
This guy was not only famous but someone Madara wanted to learn from.
He did suspect that Yoichi might have some hidden agendas, but the thought lingered throughout their entire conversation.
Madara planned to extract some lessons or secret techniques from Yoichi before he'd let him go—ensuring a mutual benefit. If Yoichi turned out to be trustworthy, Madara was absolutely ready to become a student of such an extraordinary shinobi.
'I'm such a genius!' Madara thought.