Naruto:This Time, I, Kotetsu Hagane, Will No Longer Be Lazy

Naka shrine

The Naka Shrine's great hall was a masterpiece of traditional Japanese architecture, a testament to the legacy and grandeur of the Uchiha. The massive room, designed to accommodate large gatherings, was built with thick, expertly carved wooden pillars supporting a ceiling of dark lacquered beams. The walls were adorned with intricate fusuma (sliding panels), depicting the history of the clan—from their days as warriors before Konoha's founding to the present, where they served as the village's police force.

The floor was covered in polished tatami mats, arranged meticulously, their straw scent mingling with the faint aroma of incense that burned at the shrine's inner sanctum. At the far end of the hall, a raised platform stood, meant for the clan head and elders. Behind it, a single tokonoma alcove displayed an ancient hanging scroll bearing the Uchiha crest, a symbol of both pride and burden.

Tonight, the hall was filled with nearly 200 of the most powerful and influential Uchiha, though they were only a fraction of the 1,354 that lived within the village. Among them, only 100 were jonin, the hardened warriors of the clan, elite among shinobi. Yet, even among these elites, the true measure of power was not rank but bloodline purity—specifically, the strength of the Sharingan.

The rarest of them all were the 82 Uchiha who had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan—the purest of the clan. These individuals were revered, feared, and watched closely. Not all of them were jonin; some were only chunin, and in rare cases, even genin. Uchiha Izumi, for example, was a mere genin, her standing in the clan weakened further by her half-Uchiha heritage. Yet, despite her status, her three-tomoe Sharingan granted her an undeniable place among the elite. What mattered most in these halls was not age, experience, or even clan status—but the purity of the eyes and the potential power their wielders possessed.

Among these 82, political divisions ran deep.

31 were aligned with the Hawks, the faction that sought power and recognition for the Uchiha. Led by Setsuna Uchiha, the Fourth Elder, they had the backing of two additional elders, their voices loud and commanding. These individuals believed the clan had been wronged for too long, and they would not suffer further indignities.

16 were devoted to the Doves, the faction that sought peace and cooperation with the village. They were led by Shion Uchiha, the Eighth Elder, and had the backing of four more elders. These Uchiha saw the past as a lesson in why the clan must adapt rather than resist.

The remaining 35 were undecided, a mix of the new generation and those who preferred to stay out of politics, focusing on missions, training, or maintaining the compound. Many of them were younger shinobi, unsure of where they stood or unwilling to commit to a side. And of course their are members of the clan that meet all qualifications but still choose not to go, for example, Mikoto Uchiha was the clan heir and princess of the clan once but after Fugaku married into her line she gave all power of clan matters to him. Deferring to his judgement in clan matters to be a stay-at-home housewife.

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The air inside the Uchiha clan hall was thick with tension. Heated voices clashed against the wooden walls, the flickering lanterns casting restless shadows over the gathered clan members. On one side of the chamber, seated in a disciplined row, were the Hawk Faction—those who believed that the Uchiha needed to reclaim their power and challenge the village's status quo. At their head sat Setsuna Uchiha, the Fourth Elder, his sharp, weathered features betraying his age, but his piercing Sharingan, though dimmed, still burned with conviction. His voice carried the weight of a man who had once dared to challenge the Second Hokage.

Across from them, the Dove Faction held their ground with quiet but firm resolve. Shion Uchiha, the Eighth Elder, sat among them, his composed demeanor masking the fire within. Though he lacked the raw aggression of his rival, his words were no less forceful. He had inherited Kagami Uchiha's ideals, believing that the clan's survival lay not in defiance but in integration and cooperation with the village.

Setsuna's voice rose, his fingers pressing firmly against the wooden table. "You speak of trust, Shion, but look at where that trust has led us! We are watched, restricted, and isolated in this corner of the village like caged animals. The Senju's so-called unity was always a farce—Hashirama sought peace, but Tobirama saw us only as a threat! Nothing has changed, and yet you ask us to submit further?"

Shion remained calm, though his jaw tightened at the accusation. "You mistake wisdom for submission. The world has changed, Setsuna. If we continue down the path of blood and rebellion, the Uchiha will be seen as nothing more than a rogue clan that needs to be put down. Do you think that will end well for our people?"

"Better to die standing than live kneeling!" a voice from the Hawks growled in agreement with Setsuna. Murmurs of approval spread among their side.

Shion exhaled slowly, his eyes sweeping over the divided room. "And what of our children? Should we condemn them to the same battles we fought? Kagami believed in this village, and I carry his will because I refuse to let our clan be defined only by war."

Before Setsuna could retort, the creak of the main doors silenced the room.

As Fugaku entered the hall, the quiet murmurs of conversation ceased. The weight of legacy, power, and division hung thick in the air. The eyes of the clan turned toward their leader.

The two sides had been arguing for over an hour, voices rising and clashing like steel. But the moment the doors creaked open, all sound died.

Fugaku Uchiha entered, his pace measured, his expression unreadable. His presence alone carried a weight that demanded silence. As he reached the center of the chamber, he lowered himself onto the seat meant only for the Uchiha Clan Head.

For a moment, he remained still, letting the silence stretch before speaking.

"This clan meeting is now in session."

His voice was deep and steady, neither warm nor hostile. His sharp gaze swept across the gathered clan members, lingering on no one for too long. Then, he continued.

"I have called this meeting because of the recent disturbances our police force has been facing. There have been reports of drunken villagers harassing our members, shouting accusations at our patrols, and even spreading rumors that we were behind the Nine-Tails attack."

The moment those words left his lips, a ripple of reaction swept through the room.

A sharp, audible crack filled the hall as dozens of Sharingan eyes awakened at once. The room, dimly lit by lanterns, was suddenly bathed in the eerie glow of crimson, spinning tomoe reflecting the clan's outrage.

"They dare accuse us?" a voice growled from the back.

"We wanted to fight the beast but that damn old Hokage stopped us!" another shouted.

More voices rose in agreement, their anger threatening to boil over. A low hum of chakra filled the air, the weight of the collective rage pressing against the room. Some members clenched their fists, others tensed as though ready to storm out and confront the slanderers themselves.

Setsuna Uchiha's lip curled in disgust. "They have always feared us. The Council, the Hokage, the entire village—they would rather cast blame than acknowledge our strength."

Shion Uchiha, though visibly displeased, remained calmer than most, his fingers interlocked as he watched the reactions unfold.

The noise was building. Tension rising.

Then—Fugaku exhaled sharply.

"Enough."

His voice cut through the uproar like a blade.

Though the Sharingan remained active in many eyes, the voices quieted. The oppressive weight in the air loosened, though it did not disappear entirely.

Fugaku's gaze was firm, his posture unwavering.

"Lashing out at baseless accusations will only make us look guilty." He let that sink in before continuing. "We are not fools. We will handle these matters properly."

The air remained heavy, but the rage was subdued enough for him to move forward.

"Now, regarding the more pressing matter at hand—the incident in the Northern Merchant District."

The silence shifted into something more focused, the clan's attention turning toward this case as many didn't know the specifics behind it but they remember the visible outrage from he villagers. Only for it to turn into a rare spout of praise directed their way.

"An explosion occurred near the district's central market. Our patrols arrived moments later, but by the time we secured the area, the suspect had already escaped. Witnesses claim to have seen someone fleeing the crime scene, though details remain inconsistent. Some say it was a man in dark clothing, others claim they saw a masked individual. What we do know is that this was no accident. The remains of the blast suggest the use of an explosive tag, but his chakra signature was… tampered with."

A murmur of intrigue passed through the room.

"Tampered with?" one of the younger Uchiha asked.

Fugaku nodded. "Our investigators detected remnants of chakra suppression seals at the site. Whoever did this knew how to cover their tracks. They deliberately concealed their energy, making it nearly impossible to trace their identity."

A grim silence followed.

"The case has been solved."

A ripple of surprise passed through the room. Even the most composed elders exchanged glances. Setsuna narrowed his eyes, while Shion, ever the careful observer, leaned forward slightly.

Fugaku continued. "The man responsible for the explosion in the Northern Merchant District has been captured. His accomplice, however, managed to escape before our forces could reach him."

The clan absorbed the news in silence, though a few murmurs of approval stirred among the younger members. Some of the more cautious ones waited for the inevitable follow-up—how had the village reacted?

Fugaku's next words answered their unspoken question.

"As expected, the higher-ups' first suspicion fell on us."

A collective scoff echoed through the hall. A few Uchiha clicked their tongues in frustration, while others shook their heads in disgust. The suspicion was nothing new. It never was.

Fugaku raised a hand, silencing the low grumbles before they could turn into outright anger. "However, we were prepared. A group of gate guards, who love the village more than harbor any dissatisfactions with our clan followed my orders without question, searched the travel logs for any unusual activity."

This in of itself is has become a rarity as most villagers out right hate the clan but as much as they dislike this behavior they can reason it off as the fools not understanding the basic shinobi arts. Writing them off as ignorant. But shinobi? That's completely different as they know how hard any of this is to pull off, as well as fighting along side the Uchiha for years. They would hope by now their would be a level of respect or trust. Truely this is what really infuriates the Uchiha, not having the respect of one's peers. So to have both in a pair of random shinobi is warmly welcomed.

He let the weight of that statement settle before continuing.

"On our part, the two cross-referenced every traveler over the last month using the Konoha Archives." His voice remained even, but there was a flicker of something rare in his tone—something that made even the elders pay closer attention.

"What we found…" He paused, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. "Shocked not only myself but even the Hokage."

That statement sent a visible stir through the room. The elders exchanged glances, while the more battle-hardened members of the police force straightened in their seats. Even Setsuna, who was rarely impressed, seemed to be studying Fugaku more closely.

Fugaku exhaled slowly. "The findings were so severe that the Hokage had no choice but to immediately restructure his second and third teams of gate guards and the patrol units surrounding the village."

The room fell deathly silent. The significance of such an action was not lost on the Uchiha. The gate guards and patrol teams were the first and last line of defense against infiltration. To replace them meant that a serious breach had been discovered—one that compromised the very security of Konoha.

"A spy."

Silence. Then a sharp inhale from one of the younger jonin.

Fugaku continued. "Not one of ours. Not a rogue shinobi. But an outsider who had been gathering intelligence on Konoha for the past six months."

Setsuna leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Who?"

Fugaku met his gaze evenly. "His name is Ryoji Kurokami. Or rather, that is one of his many aliases. He entered Konoha posing as a Cloth merchant from the Land of Lightning. The records show that he has been slipping in and out of the village under different identities, always staying just long enough to collect information—never long enough to raise suspicion."

Setsuna looked at Fugaku for confirmation: "The cloud?"

Fugaku: "Yes."

Another murmur rippled through the gathered Uchiha.

"Kotetsu and Izumo cross-referenced the travel logs against the Konoha Archives. What they found was... alarming."

Shion frowned. "Alarming how?"

Fugaku exhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping over the room. "Each time this 'merchant' visited Konoha, a key event followed—our patrol routes shifted, our mission deployments altered, our border defenses tested. He wasn't just gathering intelligence—he was feeding it to an outside force. And then there was the most damning evidence."**

The room fell silent as Fugaku continued, each word measured. "Kotetsu and Izuna were stationed as gate guards when they noticed something suspicious. They saw two Root agents—men placed within our own ranks under Danzo's influence—acting unusually. After careful observation, they tracked them to a location near the outskirts of the village. The agents were planning something: they had planted explosive tags, hoping to frame the Uchiha as the culprits of the explosion."

There was a low murmur, but Fugaku raised a hand to command silence. "Kotetsu and Izuna engaged them. After a quick and decisive battle, they brought them back for questioning."

Shion, sitting quietly, furrowed his brow. "And what did they learn?"

Fugaku's eyes grew colder. "I used my Sharingan to investigate their memories—everything they had done and who they had worked for. I witnessed the damage they had caused, the plan they had been executing. But before I could ask more, they combusted in flames. Spontaneously. They died in front of me, their bodies reduced to ash in an instant."

The room went still, the silence almost unbearable. Fugaku allowed the weight of the moment to sink in before continuing.

"That wasn't the end, though. Kotetsu and Izuna didn't stop there. They worked tirelessly, using the information we had gained from the agents to track down the spy responsible for the attack. This spy wasn't just some rogue shinobi. He was a professional—a mercenary with a clear agenda. And to our shock, he wasn't from a neighboring nation like we initially suspected. He was from the Cloud Village."

The revelation sent shockwaves through the room. The Cloud Village had long been Konoha's rival, and the thought that they might be behind this attack was deeply troubling.

"We arrested the spy in public," Fugaku continued, "and this sent a clear message to the village: the Uchiha are not incompetent, as they have been led to believe. We acted swiftly, decisively. Kotetsu and Izuna were able to recover a scroll from his body before we handed him over to the interrogation squad."

Fugaku's voice darkened. "The contents of the scroll were... shocking."

He paused, making sure the gravity of his next words would land. **"The scroll contained blueprints—**detailed blueprints—of Konoha's patrol routes. Tactical deployments. Guard rotations. A list of shinobi—our strongest and our weakest. Even our political dissidents. He knew which clans held influence and which were struggling. He had meticulously documented our weaknesses. And he was preparing to sell this information."

The room exploded in anger and disbelief. There were shouts of outrage, fists slamming against tables, and the distinct sound of Sharingan flaring to life.

"This is treason!" one voice cried.

"We've been infiltrated, betrayed by our own!" another added.

Fugaku raised his hand once more, silencing the room. "Yes. This is a betrayal, and it is not just the Cloud Village we have to worry about. This spy had inside knowledge, and whoever he was working for knew far more than we realized. But the important thing is that we acted quickly, and we prevented the worst from happening."

The murmurs quieted, and all eyes were now on Fugaku. He could see the anger in their eyes, the burning desire for revenge—but he also saw the clarity, the realization that they had been right all along. The village had suspected them, but they had acted with precision, saving Konoha from an even greater disaster.

"This incident is far from over," Fugaku continued, his voice resolute. "We must prepare for the possibility that this is only the beginning. The Cloud Village's involvement doesn't end with this spy. We must remain vigilant. And we must make sure that those who wish to see us fall—whether from within or from outside our borders—are rooted out before they can strike again."

He allowed a beat of silence before he added, "But for now, the message has been sent."

The doors to the meeting room slid open with a soft creak, and in stepped two figures who immediately commanded attention. Itachi and Shisui.

A collective hush fell over the room. All eyes turned toward the two, and for a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. The tension in the air shifted palpably, the conversations halting as the clan members regarded the pair. They didn't need to say anything; their presence alone was enough to silence the room.

Shisui, the prodigy with undeniable power, the bearer of the Mangekyō Sharingan—awakened at the young age of eleven—was easily the strongest Uchiha in the room. Even those who had been outspoken moments before now remained still, eyes subtly following him as he made his way to the back of the room. His calm yet imposing aura left no room for argument, no space for defiance.

And beside him was Itachi, the one who had already surpassed his mentor in so many ways, the one who had made it clear he would one day take up the mantle of clan leadership. He was already more than just a prodigy; he was a force that commanded respect from every corner of the clan, regardless of faction. His silence spoke volumes. Though Itachi didn't openly take sides, it was clear to anyone with eyes that he leaned more towards the Dove Faction, which caused unease among the Hawk Faction. His position alone was enough to make even the fiercest of Hawk supporters think twice before raising their voices.

The room held its breath as the two men stood in the back, their gazes piercing, but never intrusive. Fugaku, ever the calm presence at the center, nodded once, acknowledging their arrival.

"Thank you for joining us, Shisui, Itachi," Fugaku said, his voice cutting through the silence. "Though a bit late, your presence is most welcome."

Shisui gave a respectful nod in return, his expression composed, but his eyes lingering over the room, watching the reactions of his clanmates. Itachi merely bowed his head, acknowledging the words, but said nothing.

Then Fugaku turned his gaze to Itachi, the weight of his next words settling in the room like a storm cloud.

"Itachi," he said, his voice steady but tinged with a quiet urgency, "I'd like to hear about your recent mission to track down the Cloud spies. I'm sure the clan would appreciate hearing your account."

The entire room stiffened. The mention of the mission was unexpected, and the idea that Fugaku would turn to Itachi for answers, in front of everyone, seemed both rare and significant. A ripple of surprise traveled through the room, followed by whispers of curiosity.

Itachi's gaze remained neutral, his expression unreadable as ever, but his eyes betrayed nothing of his thoughts. He had never been one to boast or share unnecessary details, especially when it came to his missions as a double agent working under the Hokage's command. But something about the atmosphere in the room—about the growing threat from the Cloud—compelled him to share.

With a long, measured breath, Itachi spoke, his voice low and even. "I was assigned with Team Ro, alongside Kotetsu, to track down and neutralize the Cloud spy who had infiltrated Konoha. The mission initially seemed straightforward, but there were complications."

The room hung on his every word. His brief mention of Kotetsu—a figure many knew from leaving the village to on missions—caught the attention of the Hawk Faction. Kotetsu's name has become new in their meetings but for the second time this night, this individual has made an appearance.

The room grew still, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a gathering storm. Among the clan, the eyes of Setsuna, the hawk leader, and Shion, the dove leader, were fixed on Itachi. Both leaders, respected for their respective strengths in strategy and diplomacy, exchanged a glance that spoke volumes.

Itachi didn't flinch under the scrutiny. His tone was even, methodical as he began his report. "When we arrived at the designated location, we didn't find a spy from the Cloud as expected," Itachi said, his voice carrying the gravity of his words. "Instead, we found twenty Kusa shinobi placing explosive tags along the Land of Fire's merchant path. Their aim was to kill merchants, disrupting our economy and destabilizing the public's trust in our defenses. It was an attempt to weaken us by causing a crisis that would make merchants seek the Cloud Village, the second strongest village after ours, as a safer alternative."

The murmurs spread quickly through the clan, and Setsuna's face darkened as he spoke, his voice low but full of anger. "The Cloud's audacity," he muttered, "attacking us through the Kusa. How long have they been planning this?"

Shion, composed as ever, frowned. "A war by proxy," she said, disbelief in her voice. "They're playing with fire."

Itachi spoke calmly, "We intervened quickly, ensuring no trace of our involvement. The Grass Village was hired by the Cloud. With rising tensions between the Cloud and Taki over border disputes, the Cloud supplied the Grass with resources, hoping to provoke us without direct confrontation."

Setsuna's eyes burned with fury. "So the Cloud's too scared to face us directly, but they're happy to attack from the shadows. How many more mercenaries are they willing to unleash on us?"

Shion's voice cut in. "And what did the Grass Village gain in return? Information? Resources?"

Itachi's next words brought a fresh wave of tension. "There's more. The Grass was working with the Sand Village, hoping to sell the intel they gathered. But with us aware of their involvement, the Sand will likely back off."

Setsuna's fury flared. "The Sand too? They're all conspiring against us. After everything we've fought for, they want to tear us down from all sides?"

Shion shook his head. "If the Sand's involved, this could escalate quickly. We can't afford another war."

The room fell silent, the weight of Setsuna's words heavy. The last war had taken so much from them, no one wanted to see that repeat. 

Shisui spoke up, calm but firm. "This is worse than we thought. If the Sand's involved, it's likely someone more powerful is pulling their strings. A third party, controlling the Cloud, Sand, and Grass to weaken us."

Fugaku's face darkened. "A third party?" he asked, concern flickering in his eyes. 

Itachi nodded. "Kotetsu, sent by the Hokage, suspects this third party. He believes they've been manipulating events from behind the scenes."

Setsuna's eyes sharpened. "Kotetsu? How important is this man?"

Shion, quieter now, voiced the unspoken fear. "If we're facing an unknown threat, do we have the resources to deal with it? Another war... we can't afford it."

The room grew tense, and Fugaku's gaze swept over the clan. "We will not be caught off guard," he said firmly. "But a war cannot be our first response. We'll gather intelligence and stay prepared. Fighting a war on multiple fronts is not in our interest."

Setsuna's voice rang out, heated. "The Cloud, the Sand, the Grass... and the village itself. Everyone's against us, and we're supposed to wait? How many more attacks can we endure?"

Shisui, meeting Setsuna's gaze, spoke calmly. "It's not about waiting. It's about strategy. Outside forces are trying to tear us apart from the outside, because they can't defeat us head-on. We must focus on the enemies trying to divide us, not let internal matters cloud our judgment."

The room fell silent as the weight of the situation sank in. Tension hung in the air, and the threat of war loomed ever closer. But Setsuna's voice rose, a challenge in his tone. "If war comes, we will show the strength of the Uchiha. Let them come. We'll prove our might."

Fugaku's gaze sharpened. "We will proceed with caution. But if war comes, we will meet it head-on."