Uchiha Fugaku looked at the assembled clan members and continued,
"But this coup will not include you."
"Clan Head! Why are we excluded?! We can bleed for our comrades too!"
A newly promoted genin shouted, his small face flushed red.
Fugaku scolded him sternly,
"What can you do?! How many of you have awakened the Sharingan? How many possess chūnin-level strength? In this coup, even ninja with jōnin-level power cannot be certain they'll survive. What do you think you can do?!"
After finishing his rebuke, Fugaku's expression softened.
"Compared to fighting, I have a far more important task for you. It concerns the future of the Uchiha clan.
"All of you here are among the very few who have not been deeply influenced by Konoha's 'Will of Fire' or the Uchiha clan's extremist ideology. You yearn for a peaceful life, and this coup is the only path that can lead you to that peace.
"In a direct conflict with Konoha, we have no chance of victory. The best possible outcome would be mutual destruction. That is why you are the hope of the Uchiha clan. You must shoulder the clan's responsibility—leave Konoha, and live on!"
When they heard that they were to leave Konoha, everyone was stunned.
"Only us leaving Konoha?! Clan Head, aren't you coming with us?"
Fugaku shook his head.
"We can't leave—and we mustn't. Someone has to remain in Konoha to cover your escape and create an opportunity. If the entire clan attempted to defect, Konoha would unleash its full force against us. At that point, not a single person would get away.
"The burden you face is no lighter than ours. Once discovered by Konoha's ninja, you will be pursued relentlessly. You must fight to survive during that pursuit."
A pregnant woman asked in confusion,
"Clan Head… after we leave Konoha, where can we go?"
"At that time, my son—Uchiha Itachi—will become the new head of the Uchiha clan. He will lead you and find a land that truly belongs to the Uchiha, a place where there will be no discrimination or oppression."
Fugaku bowed deeply and pleaded,
"The future of the Uchiha clan is in your hands. Please—do not let the Uchiha fade into history."
After the gathering ended, all the clan members except Itachi and Fugaku left Naka Shrine.
"Itachi, are you ready?" Fugaku asked. "If nothing unexpected happens, the coup will begin the night after tomorrow."
"Everything is prepared," Itachi sighed. "From here on, we can only leave it to fate."
Fugaku patted Itachi's shoulder. In terms of pressure, Itachi bore no less than he did.
"I've already told Mikoto and Sasuke," Fugaku said. "Itachi… I'm entrusting them to you."
Itachi nodded solemnly.
"I will never let Mother or Sasuke come to harm."
The timing of Konoha's high-level purge coincided exactly with the Uchiha clan's planned coup.
The atmosphere within Konoha grew stifling to the extreme.
The entire village was sealed off—outsiders could not enter at all.
Within Konoha, all stationed ninja were placed under martial law.
Anyone with clear eyes could tell that something major was about to happen.
The following night.
On the Hokage Rock, the masked Obito stood atop the stone likeness of Senju Tobirama, gazing down at the Uchiha clan compound tucked away in the village's corner.
"By tomorrow night… the Uchiha will become history."
In Obito's eyes, the Uchiha clan was destined to be annihilated. Uchiha without Mangekyō Sharingan were little more than cannon fodder.
"Madara… you're quite bold," a voice suddenly said from behind him.
"To seek me out like this—aren't you afraid I'll kill you on the spot?!"
It was Danzō.
The Obito disguised as Madara sneered.
"If you truly intended to kill me, you wouldn't have come alone, Shimura Danzō. Enough pointless talk—do you accept my proposal?"
Danzō asked gravely,
"Give me a reason, Madara. Why would you help me wipe out the Uchiha clan?"
"Simple. The Uchiha betrayed me long ago. Now I seek revenge."
"And what do you offer me?" Danzō pressed.
"Even without you, I can still eliminate the Uchiha clan completely."
"Heh, Danzō. You underestimate the Uchiha—and you underestimate the intelligence networks of the other villages. Right now, ninja from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure are already stationed outside the Land of Fire.
"If you fail to end this swiftly and decisively, those villages will intervene. And the Sharingan… that's a power everyone desires."
Danzō frowned.
"Then what do you want?"
"I want half of the Sharingan."
Danzō rejected it without hesitation.
"Impossible! The Sharingan belong to Konoha!"
Obito laughed mockingly.
"To Konoha? Danzō, spare me the righteousness. You've long since regarded the Uchiha's Sharingan as your personal property. This time, you have no choice—either cooperate with me, or let Konoha face a three-village siege."
"And why should I believe that your involvement guarantees an overwhelming victory?" Danzō demanded.
Obito revealed the Mangekyō Sharingan beneath his mask.
"Because my name is Uchiha Madara."
After a moment of contemplation, Danzō said,
"You can have a portion of the Sharingan—but only one quarter, and only those below three-tomoe."
"You really are greedy," Obito replied with a grin. "Fine, I accept. But remember this—don't even think about betraying me. I have plenty of ways to drag Konoha into utter ruin."
After delivering his taunting warning, Obito's body slowly faded into a phantom and vanished.
Within the Uchiha compound.
Uchiha Fugaku began the final mobilization before the coup.
"Fellow clansmen, ever since the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, enacted his policy of exclusion against the Uchiha, our survival in Konoha has been unbearably difficult.
"After the Nine-Tails incident, Konoha's villagers branded us as traitors. When the Third Hokage regained power, even the little living space we had left was stripped away!
"We endured. We retreated again and again—because we believed we were part of Konoha!
"But now we have nowhere left to retreat. If we retreat any further, can we still survive in Konoha at all?
"When tomorrow night arrives, it will be the moment the Uchiha clan settles accounts with Konoha!"
After Fugaku finished speaking, the crowd erupted in fury.
"Settle the score! We must settle the score with Konoha!"
"I've had enough of being discriminated against in this village!"
"The Hokage position should belong to the Uchiha!"
"The Uchiha are the strongest clan in the shinobi world! What are the Senju and Sarutobi compared to us?!"
Hearing these words, Fugaku closed his eyes in disappointment. Even now, his clansmen still failed to see the reality of the situation.
After tomorrow… how many of these people would still be alive?