Chapter 334: Delay

Having changed into a standard ninja combat uniform, Dong Shilang came to the Security Force's meeting room with a grim face.

Dong Shilang has arrived!

Seeing him arrive, the dozen or so Uchiha members in the meeting room all turned their gazes toward him.

Hmm…

He gave a simple reply, giving these clan members no pleasant expression.

If it weren't for these guys, Uchiha Chie would have had no chance to slip away, and I would now be holding a beauty in my arms, enjoying the tenderness of a young woman…

With a grim face, he responded briefly to his clansmen speaking, then ignored their reactions and sat directly in the seat that had been cleared for him in the meeting room.

The Uchiha clan does not always go to the shrine for meetings; normally, the Security Force here also serves as their meeting room.

Especially for such small-scale discussions.

'What's going on?'

He glanced around, seeing the family members present with various expressions, and Dong Shilang felt a bit strange.

The First Branch Speaker, his face flushed, was excited.

The Second Branch's Elder Uchiha Eizai had a dark, ashen face.

Clan Chief Uchiha Fugaku also had a grim expression, not knowing what had happened here in his absence.

But looking at the situation, the matter is no small thing!

Sensing the restless hearts within the meeting room, Dong Shilang silently thought to himself.

He didn't even need to look; he could feel that the Uchiha members behind him were mixed with excitement, longing, and unease.

"Dong Shilang's arrival is perfect!"

"With you here, what we just discussed is even more certain!"

He had just sat down when, as the First Branch Speaker, Yuzhibo Yan's older brother Uchiha Koho spoke up to Dong Shilang.

While Dong Shilang was still unclear about the specifics, the other continued: "With Dong Shilang's great strength and his current reputation in the village, plus Clan Chief Fugaku, all the injustices we have suffered will be changed!"

As his words fell, Uchiha Eizai, face ashen, confronted Uchiha Koho: "Koho, do you know what this means?"

"This is openly defying the village's rules; have you considered the consequences it would bring to the clan?"

"When that time comes, whether it's the Hokage, the ninjas, or the civilians, they will all stand against us; one misstep and the entire Uchiha clan will fall into an irredeemable abyss because of you."

The more he spoke, the more agitated Uchiha Eizai's words became, his expression showing anguish.

"Elder Eizai, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; how can we continue to endure?"

"The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself, the Third Hokage is old and frail, Zilaiye's whereabouts are unknown, Gangshou has left, and even Orochimaru has defected—now is the Leaf Village's weakest moment!"

"This is the best opportunity heaven has given our Uchiha clan! If we don't seize this chance to take back what rightfully belongs to us, that would truly be eternal ruin!"

"To increase the persuasiveness of his words, he waved his arm and added: 'The Third Hokage, by letting Orochimaru escape this time, has fully proven he is old, no longer the former "ninja hero," and there's nothing to fear!'"

Hearing this, Dong Shilang could no longer be unaware that his clansmen were once again stirring up trouble.

But unlike before, when they gathered together to boast, gossip, and curse the Hokage, this group now has a new goal.

"No way! How could these clan members start rebelling at this time?"

Watching Yan's older brother, Uchiha Koho, rebut the Second Branch's Uchiha Eizai, Dong Shilang twitched the corner of his mouth, never expecting this to be about this matter.

Speaking of this, it is somewhat related to him; the last time he displayed the strength to resist the Nine-Tails head-on, it gave many in the clan great confidence.

Moreover, they don't know that Dong Shilang has learned Sage Mode; otherwise, they would have picked even easier targets.

"What you're doing is betrayal, it's rebellion. The village's trust in us has grown; entrusting the Security Force to us is a sign of that trust, and your actions will drag the village to the brink of destruction."

"Hmph! Trust us?" Faced with Elder Eizai's rebuttal, Uchiha Koho merely gave a disdainful cold snort and then said:

"Entrusting the Security Force to us is merely to better surveil us; as for trusting us?"

Saying this, Uchiha Koho's gaze turned icy, and his words sent chills down the spines of the Uchiha members present.

"If they trusted us, they would not have issued that order on the Nine-Tails Night; what was it for?"

"We're all ninjas; this signifies something—you don't need me to explain it…"

"These… these…"

Faced with Uchiha Koho's aggressive stare, Uchiha Eizai opened his mouth, truly not knowing how to rebut.

"These… are merely prejudices held by some higher-ups against our Uchiha!"

Really unable to find an excuse, after several attempts to speak, all Uchiha Eizai could utter were just these few words.

Moreover, his voice was weak and feeble, clearly lacking vigor.

Seeing that Uchiha Koho, who had left Uchiha Eizai somewhat speechless, Dong Shilang felt greatly surprised, never expecting his clan to have such eloquent talent.

He involuntarily turned his gaze to the silent Yuzhibo Yan seated at the back, wondering if all this was her intention.

He knew well that this teammate of his had always been exceptionally clever and had also grown considerably over the years.

If all this had been instigated by her, it would make sense.

"……"

But what surprised him was that, faced with Dong Shilang's inquiring gaze, she merely gave him a big white eye and then gave no further response.

"Cough cough!"

"This kind of thing… is of great importance!"

"I think… we need to convene a clan meeting, everyone discuss together, so as to unify our opinions!"

Seeing that Yuzhibo Yan Zai was not taking action, Clan Chief Uchiha Fugaku, unable to sit still, quickly spoke up to interrupt Uchiha Koho.

Furthermore, he indicated that such a major matter should still have another enlarged meeting convened to hear more clan members' opinions.

However, in Dong Shilang's view, this is just Uchiha Fugaku stalling for time, and obviously trying to smooth things over.

He didn't even need to think to know that once this matter is opened for discussion, it will become all kinds of wrangling—those in agreement, those opposed, those uninvolved—ending up in a chaotic mess.

In the end, things often just fizzle out!