“The proud Uchiha!”
Following behind Uchiha Hoken, looking at the enclosed family compound in front of him, Chen Yue, while feeling a sense of awe, couldn't help but ponder his future path.
Just as there were different routes to taking the position of Uchiha clan leader, such as a forceful takeover or a peaceful ascension, his future ambition of becoming the Hokage of the village also presented a choice.
A forceful takeover was undoubtedly not the best option. Using the strength of one clan against all others in the village, even if successful, would result in the weakening of both the clan and the village.
Furthermore, bloodshed between them would breed hatred, deepening the rift between the clan and the rest of the village, making future rule incredibly challenging.
However, if he were to pursue the conventional path, the current leadership of Konoha would surely not readily hand over the Hokage's seat to him.
“Form alliances, then use them to force a takeover.”
Chen Yue conceived an idea, gathering allies, or finding some underlings, to ensure the Uchiha clan wouldn't be fighting alone.
Moreover, this way, it wouldn't be the strength of one clan against an entire village, nor would the conflict be between the Uchiha clan and the whole village, but rather between two forces within the village.
This was crucial, as the saying goes, ‘He who has the Mandate of Heaven will have many allies, while he who has lost it will have few.’ This signifies not only the strength of numbers, but more importantly, the support of the people, the representation of justice.
If the Uchiha relied solely on their own strength, the Konoha leadership could easily isolate the clan, painting them as the villains, and then, standing on the high ground of village righteousness, call upon the entire village to unite and eliminate the Uchiha.
In such a scenario, even with the Uchiha's prowess, they would be unable to contend against the combined force and ultimately face annihilation.
Unless Chen Yue's future strength reached the point where he could single-handedly subdue all his enemies, but would that ever happen?
Right now, even Chen Yue himself lacked that confidence. Even the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan wouldn't guarantee that outcome.
Therefore, one clan against the entire village was absolutely the worst strategy. The best course of action was to form alliances, transforming the conflict between the clan and the village into a struggle between two factions within the village.
In this way, the village leadership wouldn't be able to easily isolate the Uchiha, because at that point, the Uchiha would represent the interests of more than just their clan, but the interests of many. Consequently, the village leadership couldn't easily mobilize the entire village to confront the Uchiha.
And without being able to consolidate the entire village's strength, they would surely be no match for the Uchiha with their allies. At that time, seizing the Hokage's seat would be a simple matter.
However, while the plan might sound good, the ensuing problems were even more daunting.
Given the Uchiha clan's pride, who in Konoha Village would be worthy of being an Uchiha ally?
Even in terms of gathering underlings, who would be willing to bow their heads to them?
“That's what I have to figure out.”
Chen Yue already had a plan. His next goals, besides diligently training to enhance his strength, would include making friends.
Friends within the Uchiha clan, and friends outside the clan.
——————
The Uchiha clan compound was vast, but only in terms of being a mansion. As a path, it was merely four or five hundred meters long. Even with Chen Yue's short legs at the moment, it only took a few minutes for him and Uchiha Hoken to reach the compound's gate.
The walls were five meters high, with an open gate at the bottom, and a few steps forward led to a wide moat, with a stone bridge connecting the clan to the village.
“Greetings, Hoken-sama!”
As they walked out of the gate, two Uchiha guards stationed at the entrance bowed and greeted Uchiha Hoken.
As a clan elder who had survived from the Warring States Period, Uchiha Hoken's name was known throughout the clan. Though he had stepped down as clan elder, his standing within the clan remained highly respected.
On their way here, this was already the countless time someone had taken the initiative to greet him.
“They even have guards, truly the Uchiha.”
Chen Yue couldn't help but mutter to himself again.
The Uchiha clan, from various aspects, displayed their distinctiveness from ordinary people, and moreover…
“Shuriken fan crest, they must be members of the Police Force, but using Police Force members as guards at the compound gate, doesn’t that constitute abuse of public office?”
Chen Yue secretly observed the two Uchiha guards, who looked to be in their twenties. They had black hair, and were fairly handsome, in line with the Uchiha’s usual looks.
Both had the Konoha symbol headband on their foreheads, signifying their status as Konoha ninjas, and they wore the Konoha's signature green vest over their dark blue ninja uniforms.
These uniforms differed from the high-collared robes he often saw on his great-grandfather, Uchiha Hoken, and his grandfather, Uchiha Kenta. While not as stylish, they were more practical and concise, with the lower body in tight-fitting trousers with leggings and the upper body in a narrow-sleeved tunic. The overall look was nearly identical to his memories from his previous life.
But what truly confirmed their identity as members of the Police Force was the shuriken fan crest on their sleeves.
The fan crest was the Uchiha clan's crest, while the shuriken fan crest was the symbol of the Konoha Police Force.
Though he couldn't see from this angle, Chen Yue guessed that the green vests on their backs should also have the shuriken fan crest. Ordinary Konoha ninjas, however, would have a red swirl crest on the back of their vests.
………………
PS：The image is of the Uchiha's high-collared fan robe!