Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter 32

Just before reaching the shrine where the Uchiha gathering is held, I pause. My heart pounds relentlessly, as if it already senses the weight of the words about to be spoken. The wind brushes gently against my face, yet it brings no relief. "I need to give them something... but what?" The question burns in my mind, and my breath catches for a moment. The silence before me is oppressive, but before I can lose myself further in thought, I hear Kitsune's calm voice in my mind.

"Tell them that the Anbu will be involved in the investigation. They'll find out soon anyway."

I nod slightly. "That's a good idea, thank you," I whisper, grateful for the clarity. With this small spark of determination, these fragments of information, I step into the shrine with a flicker of new resolve.

Under the seventh tatami mat, on the right side of the room, lies the hidden entrance to the assembly hall. I take a deep breath, close my eyes for a moment, and try to quell the unrest within me before descending the steps. My footsteps echo softly in the silence, and the moment I enter the room, I feel the atmosphere shift.

All the Uchiha eyes immediately fix on me—some surprised, others cold and distant, and still others filled with grief. Their gazes pierce my soul, and for a moment, it feels as if the air becomes heavier. But amid all these emotions, there is one look that stands apart—Fugaku's. His eyes reflect something like pride, and that gives me the strength to move forward.

I walk up to him and stand by his side. With a deep breath, I bow before the gathered Uchiha. The room is filled with a dense, tense silence.

"First, I want to apologize to some of you... for my behavior earlier today," I begin, my voice steady, though internally I struggle to keep my composure. "Everything has been overwhelming recently." Slowly, I rise again, letting my gaze sweep across the crowd. Everyone in this room feels the pain, but we each express it in different ways.

As I look at the Uchiha, I see some faces soften. Where there was once mistrust and anger, I now see a glimmer of understanding, perhaps even respect. The angry expressions have turned to ones of acknowledgment, giving me a brief moment of relief. "Good... that should have eased their anger," I think, feeling slightly reassured.

Suddenly, Fugaku's deep voice rises beside me, powerful and commanding. "My brothers and sisters," he begins. "Today, I have invited my niece, who is like a daughter to me, to this meeting." His words echo through the room, and I feel the tension rise. But as he continues, my stomach tightens. "With Shisui's death..." My breath catches. The pain these words stir in me is overwhelming. I have to muster all my strength to maintain my composure. "...we have all suffered a great loss, but none of us can understand the loss Yukari has experienced. A loss caused by Konoha's leadership."

"You as well," I think bitterly but bite my tongue to keep silent. Now is not the time for open confrontation. Not yet.

"Yukari deserves to be here today," Fugaku continues, his eyes heavy as they rest on me. "At a young age, she mastered the Sharingan and has become an excellent chunin, trusted by the Hokage himself. In the coming weeks, we will use the information Yukari provides us to plan our next steps."

Those words hurt more than I care to admit. "Then Itachi and I don't have much time," I think as my thoughts race. "The coup seems to be imminent." The room feels even more oppressive as the weight of this realization presses down on me.

I stand silently next to Fugaku, trying not to show any outward sign of the turmoil raging inside me.

I sit down among the Uchiha, my heart still racing as I try to gather my thoughts. Surrounded by people who see me both as one of their own and as an outsider, I take my place on one of the empty seats. While my uncle continues his speech, I force myself to remain calm, though every glance, every movement around me feels like a burden on my shoulders.