Chapter 431: Since Reasoning Doesn't Work, Let's Use Fists
"Hello, Great-Uncle Kenzo..."
"Hello, Uncle Kurata..."
"Hello, Brother Inabi..."
Being young wasn't entirely an advantage. At least during clan meetings, the drawbacks became abundantly clear—namely, his seniority was too low. Everyone he encountered was an elder.
Since entering the shrine, Yasushi had been bowing and greeting people nonstop wherever he went.
Fortunately, as the genius child, clan members treated him quite kindly. Everyone smiled warmly. No one deliberately made things difficult for him.
After circling through nearly half the room and greeting most people, Yasushi finally reached his seat and sat down. Next to him sat Uchiha Inabi, who wasn't much older than himself.
Actually, Inabi was only thirteen, but he'd participated in the Second War and had already awakened his Sharingan. He was now a core member of the clan's younger generation.
His position was toward the back. After sitting down, his view was slightly obstructed, but the clearly divided atmosphere ahead came through even more distinctly.
Yasushi's small head swiveled around, and he noticed something felt off about the mood.
Many people clustered around the Great Elder, expressions rather serious, while another group gathered elsewhere, gazes occasionally drifting this way, carrying hints of scrutiny and latent confrontation.
The air filled with the taut tension before a storm. Even the candlelight's glow seemed frozen.
Something's about to go down!
Yasushi's heart fluttered with misgiving. After pondering, he leaned toward Inabi and asked quietly:
"Brother Inabi, is something happening today?"
Despite being older than Yasushi, Inabi was nowhere near as composed. He currently sat as if his seat had nails sticking through it, completely unable to stay still, his face full of excitement.
Hearing Yasushi's question, he leaned mysteriously close to Yasushi's ear and whispered back:
"I heard we're apparently changing clan leaders!"
"What?" Yasushi was thoroughly shocked. "Really? Is that true?"
"Didn't Clan Leader Fugaku just take office not long ago?"
"Fugaku doesn't have brothers or heirs. If they replace him, who would take over?"
Inabi pursed his lips and said quietly:
"I heard that when the old clan leader died in battle, the Great Elder opposed letting Fugaku succeed him as clan leader. He thought Fugaku's temperament was too indecisive—not clan leader material."
"It's just that during wartime, all the qualified candidates died in the war, so Fugaku got lucky."
"His performance in the Second War wasn't outstanding, and after the war when dealing with the village, he was too accommodating. Many in the clan are very dissatisfied."
Inabi's tone carried the secondhand dissatisfaction he'd picked up from elders—parroting their complaints.
He pointed toward the Great Elder's direction.
"See? Many people think it's time to replace him with someone more hardline who can fight for Uchiha interests."
"I see!" Only now did Yasushi recall that the current Fugaku was still too young. He hadn't yet earned his "Wicked Eye" nickname by killing his way through the Third War. Clan members not respecting him made perfect sense.
But the Uchiha clan always valued strength above all. As long as Fugaku fought it out and taught the ringleading troublemakers a lesson, the clan leader position would immediately stabilize.
Though current Fugaku probably didn't have Mangekyo Sharingan yet, Yasushi still had great confidence in Fugaku's combat ability. Suppressing some clan dissent posed no problem at all.
Most importantly, this matter had nothing to do with him. However the conflict played out, it wouldn't affect him.
Understanding this, Yasushi relaxed.
He adjusted his posture, looked around, and began examining the shrine's environment, wondering where that stone tablet modified by Black Zetsu was hidden, also speculating whether tonight would really feature an all-out brawl.
Outside the shrine, night grew deeper.
While he waited in boredom, Fugaku was receiving unexpected visitors—Minato and Kushina.
Fugaku didn't yet know their purpose. He invited them in, exchanged pleasantries, then apologized:
"Unfortunate timing. We're holding a clan meeting shortly. You'll need to wait here while Mikoto receives you in my place."
"After the meeting concludes, I'll return to speak with you properly."
His tone was polite, but the dismissal was obvious.
With the clan meeting imminent, he had no time to receive outsiders, especially such sensitive core figures from the Hokage's faction.
Minato knew time was short, so he got straight to the point:
"Clan Leader Fugaku, we've come specifically regarding tonight's clan meeting."
After listening, Fugaku first froze, then his expression turned ugly.
"Minato-san, the village has never interfered in clan affairs. Are you making an exception with the Uchiha clan this time?"
Minato quickly apologized:
"Please don't misunderstand, Clan Leader Fugaku."
"Under normal circumstances, the village would never carelessly interfere in clan affairs. But tonight's meeting—Clan Leader Fugaku surely knows the content, yes?"
"Heh..." Fugaku laughed coldly, his gaze full of disdain. "Those idiots spread news everywhere. Now even the village knows."
"If I as clan leader didn't know this much, I might as well hand over the position early rather than waste everyone's time."
Fugaku's cold laughter carried suppressed fury—partly dissatisfaction with the opposition faction's loose lips, partly wariness and displeasure at the village's intelligence penetration.
"Then Clan Leader Fugaku should also understand our purpose here, yes?"
Minato said seriously:
"The village sent me to disrupt those radicals' plans and keep the Uchiha clan leader position unchanged."
"Hmph!"
Fugaku snorted coldly, replying quite stiffly:
"Clan leader succession has always been Uchiha internal business. The village needn't trouble itself, yes?"
"Even if my clan leader position gets stripped by the clan, that's still our Uchiha people's decision. The village has no business interfering!"
"Don't tell me the village thinks that just because you're willing to support me keeping the clan leader position, I'll agree to you meddling in Uchiha clan internal affairs?"
His words were categorical, carrying the Uchiha clan's characteristic pride and stubbornness.
Seeing Fugaku's very displeased expression, Minato quickly explained:
"Clan Leader Fugaku, if this were just normal clan leader succession, the village naturally wouldn't interfere carelessly. After all, whoever becomes the new clan leader would still be a village comrade."
"But the problem is, according to the intelligence I received, if Clan Leader Fugaku gets forced out, the successor will launch a rebellion within the village."
"Is this information true or false?"
"If it's false intelligence, then the village definitely won't interfere with tonight's events."
This time Fugaku fell silent.
He didn't deny it, nor could he deny it.
His expression had already revealed everything.
Minato continued persuading:
"The situation is as I've described, Clan Leader Fugaku."
"This is no longer just your personal matter, nor merely the Uchiha clan's matter, but something involving the entire village's overall safety!"
"The village doesn't want to interfere with Uchiha clan leader succession, but if non-interference leads to internal village strife, we have no choice but to intervene!"
Minato's voice wasn't loud, but every word carried undeniable weight.
Hearing Minato's increasingly serious tone, fury blazed in Fugaku's heart.
His eyebrows shot up as he demanded sharply:
"Does the village have so little confidence in me?"
"What, you've decided I can't handle these brainless idiots and will definitely get overthrown by clansmen?!"
As clan leader, he had his own dignity and pride.
"No, Clan Leader Fugaku, we don't mean that. We just want to provide insurance." Minato explained earnestly.
"The reason I brought Kushina this time is precisely because I don't want to directly intervene in your clan's leadership succession."
"We're visiting under the guise of a private social call, just happening to coincide with the Uchiha clan's gathering."
"If Clan Leader Fugaku can successfully resolve the problem, we won't even appear before anyone. We'll automatically disappear once the meeting ends."
"Only if Clan Leader Fugaku completely loses control of the situation will we step in to clean up the aftermath."
"When that time comes, we hope Clan Leader Fugaku can prioritize the bigger picture, cooperate with our subsequent suppression work, and stabilize clan morale to prevent more people getting drawn in."
Fugaku's eyes locked tightly on Minato. Minato calmly met his gaze, eyes full of sincerity and honesty, not a trace of hidden agenda mixed in.
After a long while, Fugaku finally relaxed his tense body.
He sensed Minato's genuine sincerity.
"Fine."
"I understand."
"Rest assured, if I truly can't resolve the problem, I'll definitely ask for help proactively. I absolutely won't bring danger of turmoil to the entire village over momentary pride."
He exhaled a long breath, as if unloading some burden, sitting upright again, recovering the composure befitting a clan leader.
He'd ultimately chosen to compromise, but not a humiliating compromise—rather a rational choice based on responsibility.
Minato naturally understood his choice and immediately breathed easier, quickly bowing in thanks.
"That's more than we could ask for!"
After the two made arrangements, Fugaku rose to attend the clan meeting while Minato and Kushina hid near the shrine, covertly monitoring changes within, ready to act.
Yasushi had waited until boredom set in when the clan meeting finally began.
The whispered conversations inside the shrine gradually quieted, like ebbing tide.
The air grew heavy again, with only the occasional soft crackling of candlelight.
Yasushi withdrew his wandering gaze, sitting properly. Though still maintaining a spectator's mentality, he couldn't help being infected by the solemn atmosphere.
Fugaku strode in from outside, kneeling before everyone, facing the assembly directly.
After holding in anger at Minato's place, he now had no interest in wasting words with these fools.
He skipped the routine procedural matters, directly demanding with a cold expression:
"I've heard some people have opinions about me being clan leader and want to remove me at this meeting!"
"Then there's no need for pointless talk. Let's start directly with this matter!"
"After I resolve this, we can discuss other business."
His voice wasn't loud, yet like cold kunai striking the ground, it clearly laid the conflict on the table, leaving no room for compromise.
This sudden forcefulness stunned the entire shrine into silence.
Fugaku had inherited the clan leader position young without much prestige, so his usual demeanor was generally mild. He'd never shown such domineering conduct before.
His hardline statement surprised everyone, sparking hushed discussions.
Buzzing spread through the crowd below. Many clansmen exchanged glances, seemingly reassessing this young clan leader's true colors.
The radical faction's gazes immediately converged on their ringleader, the Great Elder.
Regarding Fugaku's performance today, the Great Elder also raised his eyebrows in considerable surprise, but remained dismissive.
He slowly stood, directly meeting Fugaku's gaze without evasion, bluntly throwing out years of accumulated dissatisfaction. His voice was aged but full of vigor.
"Correct, we do have this intent."
"When you succeeded, I already disagreed."
"Fugaku, you're too weak!"
"Insufficient strength, inadequate prestige, indecisive character—absolutely not a qualified clan leader candidate."
"These past few post-war years, everyone's seen your actions."
"You're too compliant!"
"Whatever the village says, you do. Not an ounce of independent judgment!"
The old man rattled off his criticisms while Yasushi listened from the side with a smiling face and detached expression.
He even found the Great Elder quite imposing, reminiscent of old ministers from past-life TV dramas painfully advising their kings, completely unaware this storm would involve him personally.
Who knew the old man would suddenly shift gears and drag him out.
"And this time, when both Takeshi and Yasushi were almost assassinated, the village still hasn't provided any explanation."
"You as clan leader don't seek justice for clansmen, but instead cooperate with the village, secretly monitoring your own people."
"Is this how you perform as clan leader?"
Huh?
Yasushi froze, his leisurely smile instantly freezing, thinking he'd misheard.
Monitoring?
A chill shot from his feet to his head. He whipped around to look at Fugaku on the platform.
Fugaku's expression was dark, but he hadn't spoken to refute it. Yasushi's heart immediately sank, shock and fury mixing together.
Not only was he shocked—even the assembled members were shocked.
Most clanspeople were unaware of Takeshi being monitored.
This had been Fugaku's secret arrangement from the start, highly confidential. But it couldn't withstand the Great Elder's tighter grip on clan affairs than even Fugaku's, allowing him to learn these things easily.
The radical faction's initiative to impeach him as clan leader had much to do with his arrangement to monitor his own clansmen.
The Great Elder's side understood clearly how low the Uchiha's tolerance for distrust was.
At this clan meeting confrontation, he directly exposed this matter before everyone.
Hearing such a thing existed, those below nearly exploded.
Those originally leaning toward neutrality now looked at Fugaku with much less friendly eyes.
Being loyal to the village was fine, but monitoring your own clansmen—what was that about?
Doubt and fury spread like wildfire through the shrine.
Fugaku had actually always known about clan members' suspicions toward him, hearing various rumors constantly.
He'd originally thought this meeting would just rehash old complaints, issues frequently griped about privately. He'd made targeted preparations.
Who knew a new problem would emerge this time.
His brow furrowed as he instinctively looked at Yasushi.
Yasushi certainly couldn't back down. He immediately stood up and demanded loudly:
"Clan Leader, I'd also like to ask—did you really send people to monitor my family?"
"Why?"
The crisp child's voice rang especially loud in the quiet shrine.
This sudden public challenge disrupted his rhythm, making his carefully prepared response strategies instantly useless.
Fugaku wasn't a decisive person to begin with. Seeing everyone emotionally charged, countless gazes like tangible needles stabbing from all directions, he immediately fell back into his indecisive habits.
He hesitated, not choosing to forcibly suppress everyone, instead telling the truth and explaining the entire situation from beginning to end.
"The village originally planned to send people into clan territory to investigate Takeshi. I stopped them completely and changed it to internal clan investigation instead."
He felt his approach was entirely appropriate—protecting clansmen while satisfying village requirements. But many radical faction members simply couldn't accept it.
Dissatisfaction blazed like ignited kindling, rapidly catching fire.
"Are you joking?!"
"Clearly Takeshi and Yasushi are the victims! The village should give us Uchiha an explanation, so why are they being monitored instead?"
"Such obvious targeted suppression, and you as clan leader don't forcefully reject it but instead go along with their intentions, helping the oppressor—that's way too much!"
Accusations rose one after another, each louder than the last.
Clan members' faces showed fury and the frustration of not being understood.
In their view, the clan leader's "compromise" wasn't protection but weakness and betrayal—handing over Uchiha dignity to others.
Seeing these people wouldn't listen, not considering his position at all, only accusatory words, Fugaku couldn't help growing angry himself.
He felt his sincere efforts completely misinterpreted, all his weighing and struggling appearing laughable and powerless before clan members' extreme emotions.
That tearing sensation of being caught between village and family, plus the loneliness of not being understood, transformed into blazing fury.
After all, he was currently just a man in his twenties with limited patience. Seeing explanations were useless, he simply leaped up, planning to resolve things with force.
"Silence!"
"Do you people even consider yourselves part of the village?!"
"You need to have basic trust in the village!"
"I'm the Uchiha clan leader, but I'm also part of Konoha Village's ninja clans. When I act, I can't only consider Uchiha clan interests—I must also consider the village's safety and stability!"
"Since you won't listen to reason, there's no need for more words. Let's settle this with our fists!"
"Don't you say my strength is inadequate, that I'm weak?"
"Today I'll show you exactly whose strength is inadequate, who's really the weak one!"
Before he finished speaking, powerful momentum suddenly erupted with Fugaku at its center.
His chakra rose like tangible flames, black hair whipping without wind.
One hand pressed to the short blade at his waist, gaze like lightning sweeping across everyone, finally settling on the Great Elder and his supporters.
The air inside the shrine seemed sucked dry. A violent conflict to decide clan leader succession and the Uchiha's future direction was about to explode.
*******************
Chapter 432: How Could White Zetsu Miss This?
"I've been waiting for this day!"
Before the Great Elder could speak, a hothead jumped out, standing opposite Fugaku, hands rapidly forming seals.
"Fire Release..."
But before he could complete the seals, a fist rapidly enlarged before his eyes.
Bang!
A dull thud. The unfortunate fool's head snapped backward, blood shooting skyward in a striking arc under the candlelight, splashing across his face.
"Too slow!"
Fugaku roared, his leg sweeping horizontally to send the man flying.
While airborne, the man's shin gave a light crack, bending at an unnatural angle—clearly broken.
His body crashed into a distant pillar like a torn sack, sliding down softly before collapsing to the ground with pained groans.
The entire exchange lasted only a breath or two—clean, decisive, almost brutal.
This was no longer sparring. This was establishing dominance!
"Gasp..."
Faced with Fugaku's ruthless methods, everyone gasped in shock. Their gazes held several more degrees of awe and respect.
"What are you gawking at?"
Fugaku's face showed fury as he roared loudly.
"You think I'm not good enough? Well, I've been sick of you confused fools for a long time too!"
"Today's the perfect opportunity. I'll let you wake up properly and learn your place!"
He no longer concealed his anger and power. Chakra swirled around him like a storm, his robes whipping audibly.
Those three-tomoe Sharingan eyes were eerily cold, sweeping across the room. Some weaker clansmen instinctively leaned back.
Fugaku was currently at the prime of youth, not yet worn smooth by dirty political maneuvering. With fury blazing, he actually possessed considerable domineering presence.
But this approach further provoked the radicals. A group leaped to their feet, shouting as they charged forward.
"Damn it, you pretentious bastard..."
"Stop talking big. You're just a lucky fool..."
"You've only been a jonin a few years, and you dare speak so arrogantly..."
Five or six figures lunged from different directions. Some wielded kunai, some had lightning crackling between their fingers, some were halfway through forming seals.
They were enraged by their comrade's miserable state, and Fugaku's dominance had completely ignited their will to resist.
Killing intent filled the shrine. The glow of jutsu began flickering.
Fugaku's eyes sharpened. His three-tomoe Sharingan snapped wide open. His body suddenly surged forward, charging at these clansmen like a black lightning bolt splitting into the crowd.
Though they shared three-tomoe Sharingan, clear differences in skill remained.
In Fugaku's eyes, these clansmen's movements appeared in slow motion.
He lightly sidestepped, avoiding a kunai thrust straight at his throat. His other hand seized the attacker's wrist, twisted and pushed—the crisp sound of dislocating bones accompanied a scream.
Casually shoving this person toward another charging clansman, Fugaku crouched low, dodging a sweeping leg, his arm rising to drive an elbow heavily into the attacker's ribs with a tooth-aching clear crack of breaking bone.
Before getting surrounded, his Body Flicker activated, leaving an afterimage as his true form appeared behind a clansman forming seals for "Great Fireball Jutsu." His hand blade struck precisely at the neck—the man didn't even grunt before collapsing.
The battle reached white heat in extremely short time, then quickly showed one-sided crushing.
Fugaku showed no mercy. Each strike pursued the fastest way to eliminate an opponent's combat ability.
The sounds of breaking bones, muffled grunts, and bodies hitting the floor rang continuously.
Crimson Sharingan carved lethal trajectories through the chaotic silhouettes—cold and efficient.
One ninja finally seized an opportunity, attacking from Fugaku's rear blind spot, kunai stabbing toward his back.
"Got him!" Joy flashed in his eyes.
However, Fugaku seemed to have eyes in his back, twisting at an impossible angle. The kunai scraped past his ribs, only tearing his robe.
But Fugaku's short blade had already swept backward from under his ribs, stabbing like a viper into the man's abdomen.
As Fugaku spun back around, the blade pulled horizontally, immediately opening a massive gash across the man's belly.
Intestines and organs gushed out with spurting blood, spraying in a large pool before him.
"Ahhh..."
That ninja screamed, his body crashing heavily to the ground. Blood rapidly spread from his abdominal wound, quickly soaking into the ancient wooden floor. The heavy iron smell permeated the air.
Seeing clan blood spilled on the spot, the Great Elder sat bolt upright, glaring at Fugaku with shocked fury.
"Fugaku, how dare you!"
"What wouldn't I dare?"
Fugaku stood amid blood and wounded, killing intent radiating from his entire being. His gaze swept across the fallen figures and frightened faces before his crimson Sharingan locked directly onto the Great Elder. His words rang out resolutely, firmly stating his determined attitude.
"Rather than let you ignorant fools cause disaster later and harm the entire clan, better you die by my hand!"
"With just this level of skill, what gives you the right to look down on me? What gives you the right to remove me as clan leader?"
"You can't even defeat me, yet you fantasize about launching rebellion and demanding fairness from the village?"
"Hmph!" The Great Elder snorted furiously, standing abruptly. "Don't think defeating a few clansmen gives you the right to spout nonsense here!!"
"Remember—the Uchiha's core combat strength will always be the three-tomoe Sharingan jonin!"
Following his movement, the radical faction jonin also rose. No loud proclamations, just silent release of their chakra in actual action supporting the Great Elder's stance.
Instantly, the air seemed to thicken. Powerful pressure pressed down on Fugaku like something tangible.
Fugaku's expression tightened. Looking at those pairs of blood-red three-tomoe Sharingan, he knew these jonin were completely different from those he'd just defeated—not easily overcome.
He took a deep breath without retreating even slightly, merely tightening his grip on his short blade, holding it horizontally across his chest as he demanded sharply:
"No need for more words. Come at me!"
The Great Elder stared darkly at his eyes for a moment, then suddenly sat back down.
"Seems you're not completely worthless as I thought. At least you have some spirit, and your strength is adequate."
"We had issues with you purely because we couldn't stand your weakness and incompetence."
"Now that you've demonstrated your strength and spirit, you continuing as clan leader is acceptable."
The Great Elder's voice returned to calm. Those jonin who'd stood also gradually withdrew their chakra, sitting back down.
The silent confrontation, on the verge of explosion, had a forced pause button pressed.
Fugaku froze momentarily, then immediately understood—he'd passed the Great Elder's test.
After all, at this point the Uchiha clan's factional conflicts weren't yet that sharp. At most they had differing philosophies, not to the degree of fighting to the death.
He understood politics. That old fox the Great Elder naturally understood even better.
Fugaku immediately rejoiced, quickly sheathing his blade and dispersing his lethal aura, bowing respectfully.
"Thank you for your understanding, Great Elder. Please rest assured, I will work hard as clan leader."
"Mm." The Great Elder nodded, but his expression remained quite serious.
"However, having strength and spirit alone isn't enough as clan leader. You must also prove to the clan that you can fight with everything you have to protect them."
"Take Takeshi's matter as an example. You can't continue being so weak. You must be tougher with the village. You can't let Takeshi continue suffering false accusations."
Fugaku wanted to explain to the Great Elder and others that the village investigating Takeshi had objective reasons—it wasn't deliberate targeting. He also wanted to persuade everyone to have confidence in the village and trust the investigation results.
But seeing the Great Elder's stern old face, he knew such words would be useless. The radicals might not accept them, possibly even having the opposite effect, continuing to view him as too weak.
He considered agreeing for now to smoothly conclude today's events, then finding ways to maneuver regarding Takeshi's matter later.
But he worried that if he made promises today but couldn't fulfill them later, not only would radicals have issues with him—even conservatives and centrists would doubt his credibility as clan leader.
If that truly happened, the support he'd gained today would immediately transform into even greater opposition.
Two choices. Two risks.
At the critical moment, Fugaku's indecisive flaw struck again.
These two thoughts battled in his mind. For a while he couldn't decide which approach to adopt.
He never had much political talent anyway. Facing such choices, he truly struggled to make decisions.
After hesitating briefly, perhaps infected by Minato's earlier sincerity, perhaps still believing deep down in the power of communication and trust.
Fugaku gritted his teeth and made his choice.
A choice he believed more aligned with the "Will of Fire" and his true heart.
He would "treat people with sincerity." Like Minato, he'd use his genuine honesty to move the clan.
So Fugaku bowed very earnestly to the ground, addressing everyone:
"Please, everyone, hear me out."
"I've already explained the full context of Takeshi's matter."
"I know many harbor doubts, but this matter truly isn't targeting the Uchiha. It's genuinely just a normal routine investigation."
"After the incident, the Third Hokage specifically met with me, explaining this matter in detail precisely to prevent us Uchiha from misjudging."
"I could sense the Third Hokage's sincere words, and I believe with his attention, this matter will definitely reach a satisfactory resolution."
"I earnestly request that everyone trust the village more, and please believe in my promise as clan leader."
"I will not let any clansman be wrongly accused!"
Fugaku's words overflowed with sincerity, his attitude extremely serious. Anyone hearing it would certainly understand his meaning.
Before he'd even finished, many clansmen began discussing.
"Are you kidding? Isn't this still the same old argument?"
"Everyone can feel the village's attitude toward the Uchiha. Is it just some of us mistaken?"
"Fugaku's still too weak. Him as clan leader might not be..."
However, some conservatives expressed support for Fugaku's words.
"We can't condemn everyone with one stroke. I feel the Third Hokage is actually quite fair. Only that Danzo isn't a good person!"
"True, sometimes certain things do target the Uchiha clan, but this time I don't think so. Otherwise the Third wouldn't have specifically explained to the clan leader. He'd have just dodged responsibility and muddled through."
A buzzing filled the floor below. Even the medical ninja treating the wounded couldn't help interjecting to express their views.
The Great Elder sat above, coldly observing everyone's attitudes. But his serious expression and furrowed brow already revealed his current mood.
"Hmph!" He snorted heavily with anger, his gaze sweeping before dragging Yasushi out again. "Telling me this is useless. You need to convince the parties involved!"
"Yasushi, you tell us—do you believe the village's words?"
"Are you worried about your and your father's safety?"
Instantly, all gazes once again converged on that small figure.
Huh?
Why use me as a scapegoat again?
Everyone thinks I'm easy to bully because I'm young, right?
Yasushi complained internally but stated his position very decisively.
At times like this requiring choosing sides, one's stance must be clear.
He stood up, using a very considerate yet respectful tone:
"Great Elder, compared to the village, I naturally trust my own clansmen more."
"However, I believe Clan Leader Fugaku is a qualified clan leader willing to protect clansmen."
"Since he's willing to make promises in his capacity as clan leader, I believe my father definitely won't be wrongly accused by the village."
Hearing this statement from Yasushi, the "aggrieved party," others naturally couldn't say much more.
Fugaku's face also showed a smile.
His tense nerves finally eased slightly. His gaze toward Yasushi filled with gratitude and appreciation.
This child has the Will of Fire!
At the critical moment, using maturity and strategic thinking beyond his age, he'd helped him escape and stabilized the situation—far superior to those radical faction fools.
He didn't realize Yasushi worried even more about clan upheaval.
If radicals really overthrew Fugaku and led everyone to the Hokage building to cause trouble, the Uchiha probably wouldn't need to wait for that white-eyed wolf in Mikoto's belly to be born before facing their massacre night early.
So he could speak these diplomatic words, accommodating various attitudes while maintaining Uchiha dignity and supporting Clan Leader Fugaku.
Though the Great Elder felt unhappy inside, he was also a face-saving person. Seeing Yasushi's choice, he naturally had to accept this graceful exit.
He spoke some token words and was about to conclude the meeting.
Just as the matter seemed headed for peaceful resolution, an Uchiha sitting in the corner suddenly smiled darkly and stood up.
"Wait, Great Elder. I have something to say."
Everyone turned to look, recognizing this person as an ordinary clan ninja named Uchiha Tetsuzo.
Though Tetsuzo had awakened one-tomoe Sharingan, he was fairly old and carried injuries, lacking potential.
Usually during clan meetings, Tetsuzo would attend but quietly observe, never expressing personal opinions. No one knew why he'd suddenly speak up.
Many clansmen showed confusion, even some impatience.
An insignificant old guy jumping out as the meeting was concluding—what important matter could he possibly have?
"Great Elder." Tetsuzo spoke respectfully: "I accidentally witnessed Takeshi being arrested outside the village by ANBU people."
"What?" Everyone was immediately shocked, hardly daring to believe this news. "Are you telling the truth?"
Doubts immediately arose everywhere, but more prevalent was shocked fury.
The fragile trust Fugaku had worked so hard to create was instantly shaken by this explosive news.
"Of course it's true." Tetsuzo's face showed dissatisfaction as he complained: "I've always known the clan leader and the Third wear the same pants, so I thought I'd wait until tonight when a tougher new clan leader took office before mentioning this, letting the new leader lead us to force the village to release him."
"But who knew that after all this trouble, we still ended up with Fugaku, this weak person, as clan leader. Truly disappointing!"
"Now Takeshi's already been arrested by ANBU, yet Fugaku still believes the village's nonsense!"
"I don't know if he's been deceived by the Third and others, or if he simply doesn't care about clan lives and wants to use our lives to curry favor with the Third."
"Impossible!" Fugaku blurted out, his voice distorted by shock and fury.
He absolutely didn't believe the Third would turn around and use such crude methods to arrest people right after reaching an agreement with him.
This didn't follow logic or the Third's operating style.
He glared furiously at Tetsuzo:
"Takeshi received orders from the Third to leave the village on a mission. He couldn't possibly have been arrested by ANBU!"
"You're clearly unhappy with me and deliberately lying to deceive everyone present!"
"Hehe..." Tetsuzo laughed coldly, glancing at him sideways with disdain. "This kind of thing, we just need to ask at the Hokage building to know. Why would I need to lie?"
He raised his right hand, swearing to heaven:
"I, Uchiha Tetsuzo, swear by my ancestors' names that Uchiha Takeshi was definitely arrested by ANBU people!"
"Whoosh..." This time everyone in the entire meeting erupted.
Having sworn by ancestors' names, the news definitely couldn't be false!
The last trace of doubt was shattered by this solemn oath.
A "boom" sounded as the shrine exploded like a pot.
Shock, fury, fear, rage at being deceived... all emotions erupted like a volcano.
Countless gazes shot toward Fugaku. Those eyes no longer held any trace of earlier understanding and trust, only blazing fury and cold suspicion. Even former conservatives now struggled to maintain their positions.
"What is the village planning?"
"Didn't Fugaku just say to trust the village? But with them doing this, how can we trust them?"
"Fugaku, tell us—did you know about Takeshi being arrested? Did the Third inform you beforehand?"
Clansmen surged with agitation, rising one after another, surrounding Fugaku.
Questions hammered down like a storm, each louder than the last, each sharper than the previous.
Fugaku stood as if struck by lightning, his face deathly pale.
Tetsuzo's oath was like a heavy hammer, fiercely smashing against his beliefs.
Could it be... the Third deceived him?
Could Minato's visit have been just a performance to pacify him?
Could the village have planned from the start to move against the Uchiha?
Countless terrifying speculations instantly flooded his mind, making coherent thought nearly impossible.
He opened his mouth but found he couldn't produce any convincing sound.
The foundation of trust completely crumbled beneath his feet. He stood alone amid furious clansmen like a solitary boat in an angry sea, liable to be swallowed at any moment.
While Fugaku's mind churned in chaos, Tetsuzo raised his arms, rallying support.
"Great Elder, this clan leader Fugaku can't be trusted. You must stand up for us common clansmen!"
"If we don't go rescue him quickly, I fear Takeshi's life won't be saved!"
*******************
Chapter 433: Death of the Great Elder
Tetsuzo's call immediately sparked responses from many in the crowd. With hot blood rushing to their heads, Uchiha pride and fury ignited completely.
No one stopped to think about the details. They wanted only one thing right now: storm the Hokage building, demand answers, and rescue their clansman.
The crowd surged toward the shrine gates like a flood breaking through a dam.
"Wait!"
Fugaku's entire body shook. He suddenly realized what would happen if they went through with this.
The other Uchiha might not understand, but he knew the village had already prepared for exactly this scenario. Minato and Kushina were waiting outside the gates right now!
If this angry mob charged out, what would Minato think?
He would almost certainly conclude the situation had spiraled out of control. He would move to stop them.
And when the already enraged clansmen saw village shinobi appearing inside clan territory, their fury would only intensify.
A violent confrontation between both sides would be inevitable.
Even if Minato wanted to avoid bloodshed, he absolutely wouldn't hesitate when the bigger picture was at stake.
Once fighting broke out, village reinforcements would pour in endlessly. The clan would be finished.
These thoughts flashed through Fugaku's mind in an instant. Cold sweat soaked his back.
Fugaku made his decision.
No. He absolutely could not let the village intervene in tonight's events.
If someone had to bear the weight of the entire clan's fury, then let him carry that burden as clan leader. Let all the blame fall on his shoulders.
A sense of tragic resolve rose in his heart.
He had to become the final barrier, even if his clansmen saw him as a traitor, a coward, an enemy.
Fugaku steeled himself. His figure moved like black lightning, instantly blocking the shrine's only exit and stopping everyone at the threshold.
He gripped his short blade horizontally across his chest. The edge caught the candlelight, reflecting a cold gleam that matched the crimson resolve burning in his eyes.
"Stop!"
"I am the clan leader!"
"Without my orders, no one moves!"
Surging chakra whipped his clothes into motion. Standing there alone, his presence was overwhelming. One man, one blade, and somehow he brought the rushing tide of people to a sudden halt.
A flash of delight crossed Tetsuzo's eyes. Hiding in the crowd, he shouted loudly, "Fugaku, you don't even care about your own clansmen's lives! What right do you have to be clan leader?"
"We should remove him and choose a new leader!"
Tetsuzo's words struck like a viper, precisely targeting everyone's most sensitive nerves.
The crowd that had just been intimidated began stirring again. Angry stares nearly burned holes through Fugaku.
Others joined the clamor.
"That's right! We need a new clan leader! We don't want this coward Fugaku anymore!"
"Fugaku, whose side are you even on..."
But this time, Fugaku had made up his mind to stop them from acting rashly. He completely ignored their accusations, only glaring with crimson eyes as he said sternly, "I will personally get to the bottom of this matter with the village. But until I give permission, no one is to act recklessly, and absolutely no protests or demonstrations!"
"Today I stand here. Anyone who wants to cause trouble will have to step over my corpse first!"
The crowd seemed shocked that Fugaku would go this far, actually threatening to die here. For a moment, they stood uncertain, staring at him in silence.
A brief, dead quiet fell over the shrine, broken only by heavy breathing and the uneasy flickering of candlelight.
Tetsuzo in the crowd had no such hesitation. He immediately called out again.
"Great Elder, you're the most respected person here! Tell us, should we rescue Takeshi or not?"
"Are we really just going to sit here obediently and wait for the village to pass judgment?"
"We might as well forget about the Radical Faction and Conservative Faction. Everyone can just be the Lackey Faction instead!"
The Great Elder had been hesitating after seeing Fugaku's determination and resolve. But now Tetsuzo's words had backed him into a corner with no room to retreat.
He admired Fugaku's courage, but he couldn't bear the shame of being called a "lackey." Uchiha pride wouldn't let him back down when the clan needed leadership most.
Left with no choice, the Great Elder snorted coldly and stepped forward. He drew his kunai and faced Fugaku directly.
"Fugaku, your performance tonight has shown you have the courage and strength to be clan leader. But unfortunately, you chose the wrong side on the most critical issue!"
"You must first be the clan leader of the Uchiha. Only then can you be a member of Konoha Village."
"In that hierarchy, you must put the clan first to qualify as leader. Otherwise, step down from this position and be a regular jonin!"
"Now, I'm taking our people to rescue our clansman. If you still consider yourself an Uchiha, get out of the way. Otherwise don't blame me for what happens next!"
"Impossible!" Fugaku's resolve remained absolute.
He locked eyes with the Great Elder, speaking each word deliberately. "If I let you leave now, the clan and village will clash violently. Internal conflict will erupt, and countless clansmen will die."
"As Uchiha clan leader, I have to protect our people's safety!"
"If clansmen must die, I want as few deaths as possible!"
"Of course I don't want to abandon any clansman. But if abandoning Takeshi can prevent greater casualties, I will make that choice without hesitation!"
Fugaku couldn't directly reveal Minato's presence, but his eyes showed as much sincerity as possible, hoping the Great Elder would understand his true intentions.
His gaze was urgent, almost pleading, trying to pierce through the cold determination in the old man's eyes.
How desperately he wished this elder could see past his silence, could understand that blocking them now wasn't weakness but an attempt to pull the entire clan back from the precipice.
But sadly, even in the old Shinobi Sect teachings, mutual understanding only came through chakra connection. His blood-red eyes clearly lacked that function.
The Great Elder felt none of Fugaku's inner turmoil, nor did he intend to sympathize.
After hearing Fugaku's "declaration," the Great Elder snorted dismissively, treating it as empty words.
"In that case, there's nothing more to discuss. Let our blades do the talking!"
Before he finished speaking, the Great Elder's form already lunged forward like a hawk.
He gave Fugaku no more opportunities for excuses or delays. The Uchiha's fate would ultimately be decided by Uchiha blades!
In such cramped quarters, ninjutsu would be an unwieldy burden. Both instinctively chose taijutsu combat.
A kunai sliced through the air straight toward Fugaku's face, but it was only a feint. The real killing move followed immediately after.
The Great Elder's body moved so fast it left afterimages. His long blade flashed from its sheath in a cruel arc of cold light, slashing diagonally toward Fugaku's waist.
Sharingan's high-speed perception combined perfectly with decades of combat experience. This strike was vicious and practiced, without flourish, aimed directly at vital points.
Fugaku's pupils contracted sharply. His Sharingan spun rapidly, tracking the kunai's trajectory and finding the gap in the blade's arc.
He shifted sideways to dodge the kunai while raising his short blade to parry.
Clang!
The sharp ring of metal on metal split the air. Sparks scattered.
Two powerful chakra forces collided violently through the blades. The shockwave made nearby candles dance wildly.
The Great Elder twisted his blade, changing the slash to a thrust. The tip shot forward like a viper's strike toward Fugaku's throat.
Fugaku ducked low and retreated quickly, his short blade tracing an arc to deflect as he tried to create distance.
But the Great Elder stayed on him like a shadow. His blade work was dense as a net, every strike carrying decades of harsh training and killing experience, forcing Fugaku into continuous retreat with danger at every turn.
The other jonin drew their weapons but only watched from the sidelines. They didn't rashly join in, just quietly observed the duel.
Blade against blade clashed in the narrow doorway before the gates. The ringing never stopped.
The air felt frozen, broken only by the sharp whistle of cutting steel and the two men's rapid footfalls.
Both Sharingan operated at maximum capacity. Predictions, counter-predictions, feints, real attacks... the battle shifted in split seconds, laced with mortal danger.
"Your blade is too soft!"
The Great Elder suddenly barked. He caught a tiny moment of stiffness after Fugaku's parry and pressed his long blade down with force. His other hand flashed out with a kunai, slashing forward swiftly.
Slash!
Cloth and flesh tore at Fugaku's shoulder. Blood sprayed. He staggered backward.
The scales of victory tipped sharply toward the Great Elder.
The Great Elder advanced quickly to press his advantage and finish the fight.
Seeing defeat closing in, flashes of war's horrors burst through Fugaku's mind. It was as if these tragedies were about to descend on his own clan grounds.
No!
This absolutely could not happen!
An emotion far stronger than pain erupted like a volcano in his chest!
The tomoe in Fugaku's eyes trembled. His whole body seemed to react to some powerful stimulus.
A resolute, violent, almost crazed aura surged from him like a pillar reaching the sky.
"Ahhh..."
Fugaku roared. His chakra exploded outward, and his speed increased in an instant.
He abandoned pure defense. His short blade became streaks of black lightning. His offensive suddenly grew fierce and savage, carrying the explosive power and reckless ferocity unique to youth. For a time, he actually forced the experienced Great Elder to defend more than attack.
Blood poured continuously from Fugaku's wound, but his eyes grew brighter and his presence stronger.
He could not lose!
If he lost, the gates behind him would open. The Uchiha clan's disaster would arrive.
For victory, he had to endure more pain and sacrifice!
His resolve grew firmer. The yin chakra within him responded to his will, surging continuously upward.
But the Great Elder was also a battle-hardened veteran, a jonin of many years. His development of the Sharingan and his taijutsu combat experience far exceeded Fugaku's.
After the initial shock passed, the Great Elder quickly steadied himself.
He stopped meeting Fugaku's edge head-on. Instead, he relied on superior footwork and more seasoned blade technique to begin hit-and-run tactics, attrition warfare, searching for a true opening.
Moments later, Fugaku's storm-like offensive began showing signs of exhaustion. The effects of heavy blood loss from his wound started to show.
Growing chakra couldn't heal the damage his body had taken.
Shortly after, the Great Elder spotted an opening. He called out sharply, "It's over!"
His blade spun in midair, deflecting Fugaku's defense. The edge pressed downward toward Fugaku's neck.
At the critical moment, the three tomoe in Fugaku's eyes spun wildly. Instead of retreating, he advanced, using his shoulder blade to take the descending strike head-on.
At the same time, a kunai appeared in his other hand. At an impossible angle, it swept upward from below, stabbing straight toward the Great Elder's heart.
This was exactly the move the Great Elder had used earlier!
Learning an enemy's killing technique mid-battle was precisely what Sharingan wielders excelled at.
Fugaku even improved on it. By using his own shoulder to block the blade, he also blocked the Great Elder's line of sight.
The blade cut deeper into flesh, even scraping bone.
Fugaku's body shook violently. His face turned deathly pale in an instant. But he used the impact force itself, with his heavily wounded shoulder as both shield and pivot point, to crash forcefully into the Great Elder's guard.
The kunai's cold gleam was hidden by Fugaku's own spurting blood and his raised shoulder.
As his shoulder took the blade, he also drove his kunai into the Great Elder's heart.
Pffft.
A soft, muffled sound of something sharp piercing flesh and muscle. Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
The Great Elder's forward charge locked in place. His raised long blade stopped mid-air. The sharp killing intent in his eyes was instantly replaced by stunned disbelief and searing pain.
He felt only coldness in his chest, then hot liquid surging out, draining all strength from his body.
In a flash, victory and defeat were decided!
Fugaku had traded injury for a killing blow. The superior move.
"You... you..."
The Great Elder released his blade's handle and staggered backward. He stared in shock at the young man before him, his eyes full of disbelief.
He never imagined this boy he'd watched grow up would actually dare to kill him.
He had held back during the fight, aiming only to subdue Fugaku, and yet...
Consciousness blurred rapidly. Darkness rushed in like a tide.
The last thing he saw was Fugaku's blood-soaked, pale, yet strangely calm face. And those crimson eyes holding bottomless sorrow and resolve.
So... he really would do anything to guard that gate. Even kill a clan elder.
This realization sank into eternal darkness along with his draining life.
"You... you killed the Great Elder?!"
The watching crowd stood in shock.
They had expected serious injuries, but for shinobi, as long as you weren't crippled or blinded, as long as vital organs like the heart or brain weren't hit, most wounds could be healed with medical ninjutsu. Even serious injuries weren't truly catastrophic.
Like the man Fugaku had sliced open earlier, intestines spilling out. Just stitch them up, push them back in, apply medical ninjutsu, and after a few months he'd be good as new.
But once vitals were struck, there was no saving them.
The reason so many died on battlefields was purely lack of time for treatment.
That was why assigning medical ninja to squads drastically reduced casualty rates.
So none of them had imagined someone would actually die in their own clan grounds, fighting their own clansmen!
This was completely unprecedented!
*******************
Chapter 434: The Night of Blood Arrives Early
"You killed the Great Elder?!"
"You actually killed the Great Elder?!"
Everyone erupted. Even the Conservative Faction couldn't accept this.
Killing your own clansman with your own hands, in front of everyone, and the victim was the revered Great Elder no less. This combination of factors sent these Uchiha hotbloods into an irrational frenzy.
"Kill this traitor! Avenge the Great Elder!"
Tetsuzo in the crowd shouted first and charged forward, making a show of swinging his short blade down at Fugaku's head.
For such a slow attack, Fugaku didn't even bother dodging. He casually blocked with his blade, then whipped his right leg like a lash into Tetsuzo's ribs.
Crack, crack, crack. Who knew how many ribs shattered? Tetsuzo's body arced through the air over everyone's heads, blood spraying from his mouth like rain over the crowd before he slammed into the wall and slid down, lying still.
Fugaku wanted to establish his authority, so that kick was vicious and merciless.
But Tetsuzo's wretched state and the blood raining down didn't intimidate the crowd. Instead, it was like pouring oil onto a burning fire.
The Uchiha who got splattered with blood felt something snap in their minds. Their rationality plummeted.
Uchiha pride, their quick tempers, and their extreme devotion to clan bloodlines all detonated in that moment.
The dam of reason collapsed completely, drowned beneath a raging sea of fury.
"Bastard!"
"Kill him!"
The mob roared, eyes blood-red, making bestial howls as they charged forward in a frenzy.
Blade flashes, kunai... some even had fire release chakra glowing in their hands.
The melee began!
One clansman thrust a kunai at him. Fugaku sidestepped, his short blade sweeping upward to sever the wrist, then reversing to slash across the throat. Blood sprayed.
Another lunged from the side. Fugaku ducked under the horizontal blade sweep, his left hand's kunai flashing like lightning into the abdomen, then twisting viciously.
Fugaku's blade became death's scythe. Under the extreme perception of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, every slash, parry, and thrust was precise and lethal.
However, there were too many attackers, and they were too crazed.
The wound on Fugaku's shoulder severely affected his movements. Blood loss began blurring his vision.
Soon, a kunai slashed his back. A fire technique grazed his leg, bringing searing pain.
But he gritted his teeth and persisted, converting pain into strength. Even as wounds kept accumulating on his body, he never stopped his killing strokes.
With each clansman he killed, it felt like a chunk was being carved from Fugaku's heart.
Those familiar faces twisted in shock beneath his blade, then froze forever. His Sharingan engraved every detail clearly into his soul.
Clansmen.
He had sworn to protect them. Now he was sending them to hell with his own hands.
This tearing agony tormented his will far more than physical wounds.
Every swing of his blade felt like cutting into his own soul.
But he couldn't stop!
The price of stopping would be even more violent conflict between the clan and village. Even more would die.
Not just shinobi either. Even ordinary clan members wouldn't escape the reckoning.
He had to hold this position. With blood, with life, he would force these clansmen to calm down.
If they wanted to hate him, then let them hate!
Fugaku clenched his jaw. Hot tears rolled down from both eyes.
The siege continued. Bodies piled up around him.
But Fugaku's breathing grew heavier, his steps unsteady.
Multiple wounds cut deep to the bone. Blood gushed like springs, having long since stained the ground beneath his feet red.
The shrine had completely transformed into a carnage ground. The thick stench of blood was almost suffocating.
Yasushi had already retreated far away before the chaos began. Watching Fugaku block the doorway like a blood-soaked demon, he was secretly stunned.
Holy shit!
Like father, like son!
Itachi was definitely Fugaku's kid, no doubt about it!
Is this guy also planning to wipe out the Uchiha clan for the village's sake?
Yasushi was seriously panicking!
If Fugaku decided to follow in his son's footsteps, Yasushi was screwed today!
He unconsciously touched his own neck. It felt cold.
He was "Takeshi's son," one of the "triggers" of this conflict. If Fugaku went into a killing frenzy, would he conveniently eliminate Yasushi too?
Though Itachi could accomplish genocide because he had Obito and Danzo helping, plus his own Mangekyo Sharingan. Fugaku alone... probably wasn't qualified, right?
Just a Three-Tomoe!
Once Fugaku fell, the chaos would probably calm down... right?
Maybe it would be better to just let Fugaku die here!
As for what happened to the Uchiha after Fugaku's death, he'd deal with that later.
A cold, selfish thought quietly took root.
Yasushi was startled by his own idea, but survival instinct prevented him from completely rejecting it.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Just as Yasushi had mentally pronounced Fugaku's death sentence, the situation changed again.
"Ahhh..."
Fugaku suddenly let out a pained howl and threw his head back.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in both eyes spun wildly, distorting, tearing, then... fusing!
The crimson glow intensified dramatically. A completely new, complex and powerful pattern slowly formed in his eyes.
After slaughtering a large number of his own clansmen in madness, Fugaku had finally taken that final step through the hell of pain. He successfully awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!
In a single instant, Fugaku ascended, completely surpassing all his clansmen.
Power. Tremendous, terrifying power surged from those newborn eyes like a tide, washing over Fugaku's body and soul that had been on the verge of collapse.
It was a forbidden flower watered with the blood of loved ones and his own sins. Beautiful, yet emanating the fragrance of despair and sorrow.
"Everyone stop!"
Fugaku's eyes widened. He roared. A trail of bloody tears flowed from the corners of both eyes.
He activated the unique eye technique that came with his Mangekyo Sharingan. An invisible ripple spread outward from around him, expanding across the entire area in an instant and engulfing everyone.
Boom!
Everyone felt a massive explosion in their minds, as if a bomb had detonated. Their heads spun, their bodies swayed.
That "explosion" struck directly at their spirits, accompanied by indescribable heavy pressure, cold fear, and a trace of instinctive submission from deep in their bloodline toward those eyes.
The berserk clansmen were like they'd been struck over the head with a club. The boiling killing intent and fury in their eyes seemed doused with ice water. Arms raised with weapons dropped powerlessly, leaving only blank fear and physiological dizziness.
Throughout the entire shrine, less than thirty percent could still barely stand.
The rest collapsed in various directions, kneeling or sitting, painfully clutching their heads, having lost most of their combat ability.
Born from the obsession to stop and save his clansmen, Fugaku's awakened Mangekyo technique was called "Fierce Eye." It was a ranged mental shock that injured but didn't kill, a divine technique for control.
Yasushi also got his brain rattled by that roar. Clutching the Uchiha clan's heritage stone tablet, he dry-heaved repeatedly.
The Uchiha clansmen stared in terror at the strange pattern in Fugaku's eyes. Their gazes quickly shifted from fear to fanaticism.
"That's... the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Someone growled first, immediately triggering cries from everyone.
"Mangekyo!!"
"It really is the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"The legendary forbidden eye that can only be opened by killing your closest, most beloved person!"
"So Clan Leader Fugaku's massacre today was a sacrifice to awaken this ultimate power!"
Whispers rapidly became clamor. Shock and awe spread like wildfire.
In the memories of some older clansmen, this power had only existed in ancient scrolls and oral legends. Now it appeared before them, living and real, in their clan leader's eyes!
This was no longer an internal conflict or rebellion, but... the manifestation of the Uchiha's supreme power inheritance!
Fanaticism replaced fury. Awe overwhelmed hatred.
Before the absolute gap in power and the bloodline myth, all previous disputes seemed insignificant.
Those still standing involuntarily lowered their heads, or knelt on one knee, or bowed deeply.
This wasn't submission to the clan leader's authority, but submission to the ultimate form of Uchiha power those eyes represented.
Even the wounded lying on the ground in pain struggled to turn their gazes toward Fugaku, eyes filled with complex emotions.
Fear, shock, and a twisted, vicarious excitement.
They were now even actively making excuses and finding justifications for Fugaku's actions!
If it was to awaken this forbidden power, then the earlier killing... wasn't unacceptable.
Fugaku stood at the doorway, bathed in the crowd's fanatical and awed gazes, drenched in blood, like a scarred demon god stepping out of myth.
He had guarded the gates in the cruelest way, and "unified" his clansmen's will in a way he'd never imagined.
But this unity was built on a foundation poured from his kinsmen's blood and his soul's eternal fall into the abyss.
Those newborn Mangekyo Sharingan, in the depths of their crimson glow, reflected the shrine littered with corpses and the clansmen's fanatical faces. There was no joy, only a dead, bottomless desolation.
He surveyed the surroundings and asked coldly, "Does anyone else want to challenge me now?"
His voice was hoarse, weak from excessive blood loss, yet filled with unquestionable authority because of those Mangekyo Sharingan.
Wherever his gaze fell, no one dared meet it. Everyone respectfully lowered their heads.
Silence was the best answer.
Before absolute power and bloodline suppression, all dissent had lost the soil to exist.
The Uchiha clan's twisted thought patterns were on full display in this moment.
"Then tonight's matter ends here. No one is to cause trouble in the village. I will naturally negotiate with the Hokage about Takeshi's situation."
"Also, medical ninja should treat the wounded immediately. Don't spare the medicine. We must minimize casualties."
Fugaku forced his body to issue commands. His voice carried a barely perceptible exhaustion, but more than that, an unwavering determination.
"Yes!" Everyone quickly agreed and rapidly divided up to begin rescue work.
The oppressive atmosphere in the shrine broke, replaced by the frantic busyness of survival and low groans of pain.
Medical ninja moved between corpses and wounded, performing Mystical Palm Technique, treating wounds. But the heavy bloodiness lingering in the air wouldn't dissipate for a long time.
The meeting ended in this completely unexpected way.
Fugaku successfully stopped the radical faction's uprising and established supreme prestige among the clansmen.
But the price was that the radical faction ninja suffered massive losses. Even Three-Tomoe Sharingan jonin had heavy casualties, with countless maimed. Who knew how many could be saved?
This prestige was soaked in clan blood, and soaked in his own sin and suffering.
Watching the bustling clansmen, Fugaku wiped the bloody tears from his cheeks. His gaze swept the scene and locked onto Yasushi's position.
Being stared at by those demonic eyes, Yasushi's heart jumped. It felt like his blood was freezing.
Why are you looking at me?
I didn't join in attacking you!
But he quickly realized Fugaku's straight gaze wasn't aimed at him, but at the stone tablet beside him.
Yasushi looked down. The tablet was ancient and weathered, its surface covered in difficult-to-recognize ancient writing and patterns, appearing mysterious and profound in the dim light.
Oh shit!
Could this tablet be the heritage stone recording Black Zetsu's tampered "Moon's Eye Plan"?
Was Fugaku going to believe the lies on this thing too?
A chill shot from Yasushi's feet straight to the top of his head.
Right now, having just awakened his Mangekyo with his spirit in violent turmoil and having just experienced the slaughter of his own clansmen, Fugaku was most vulnerable to being influenced by the yin chakra and twisted information contained in the stone tablet!
If he saw that illusory peace promise of "Infinite Tsukuyomi," combined with his extreme pain and disappointment with reality... the consequences would be unthinkable!
Yasushi knew very well that Mangekyo Uchiha were all insane. Driven by obsession, they were capable of anything!
He unconsciously swallowed, then stepped aside as if completely oblivious, blocking the tablet's contents with his body while walking forward to meet Fugaku's eyes.
"Clan Leader." Yasushi bowed to the ground solemnly.
"If you hadn't stopped the clansmen's rash actions tonight, the Uchiha clan would definitely face the village's hatred and exclusion in the future. Your choice was correct."
"For the clan's safety, you've worked hard!"
Seeing this small child being so understanding, Fugaku's heart warmed. His eyes began to redden. He felt deeply that his sacrifice hadn't been in vain. At least some clansmen could understand him.
He lifted Yasushi up with emotion and patted his shoulder.
"Thank you, Yasushi."
"Thank you for understanding me!"
"Don't worry, I'll definitely take Takeshi's matter to heart. I absolutely won't let him suffer unjust treatment."
Yasushi smiled and thanked him. "Thank you, Clan Leader. Then I'll leave my father's matter in your hands!"
"I've always firmly believed in you, Clan Leader!"
"And of course, I also believe in the village. I trust the village will clear my father's name."
Yasushi kept giving Fugaku psychological counseling, expressing his understanding and approval in every way. He was terrified Fugaku might feel this world wasn't worth it and decide to create "a world where everyone lives happily."
Finally, Fugaku was deeply gratified. He patted Yasushi's shoulder and praised him. "Yasushi, you're a child with a sense of the bigger picture!"
"No wonder Lady Kushina took you as her disciple. You have the 'Will of Fire'!"
"Heh heh..." Yasushi laughed dryly, cursing internally.
You're the one with the "Will of Fire"!
Your whole family has the "Will of Fire"!
*******************
Chapter 435: The Time-Traveler Intelligence Leak
"Fugaku, how could you do this?"
The Third Hokage looked at the man before him with complex emotions, his heart full of conflicting feelings beyond words.
Fugaku's body was wrapped in thick bandages, his face pale, but his back remained straight.
He bowed his head, his face full of grief.
"Lord Hokage, of course I didn't want to raise my hand against my own clansmen. But the situation left me no choice."
"If I'd let them charge out of the clan grounds and disturb the village, civil war would have erupted. Who knows how many would have died?"
"Let all the sin fall on me alone!"
Minato beside him also quickly bowed in apology.
"Lord Hokage, I failed to stop this in time..."
"No, Lord Minato." Fugaku waved his hand, cutting off Minato's words.
"The Uchiha clan's internal affairs are best resolved by ourselves."
"If you had intervened, perhaps no one would have died, but the conflict between the Uchiha and the village would definitely have intensified. That wouldn't help village stability."
"Now it's better. The Radical Faction has been reduced by more than half. The remainder aren't worth worrying about."
The Third's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He was somewhat dissatisfied with Fugaku's insistence on preventing village interference in clan matters, but he didn't show it.
"Sigh!"
"What's done is done. There's nothing more to say."
"Don't worry, Takeshi will return home soon. The village was only concerned he might be manipulated. We won't wrong a good man."
The Third sighed, consoled Fugaku with a few more words, then had Minato escort Fugaku out.
After Minato and Fugaku left, Danzo emerged from the shadowy corner.
His eyes gleamed with complex light, staring fixedly at the doorway as if he could still see Fugaku's departing figure. There was wariness in that gaze, but more than that, greed.
"Hiruzen, those evil eyes have appeared in the world again!"
"Enough!"
The Third frowned, his voice carrying a trace of irritation.
"Danzo, Fugaku has already proven through his actions that his heart belongs to the village. He has the 'Will of Fire,' just like Kagami!"
"Really?"
Danzo sneered coldly, his tone vicious. "Right now the Uchiha in the village are as excited as if they're celebrating. They tell everyone how amazing their clan leader is, how extraordinary. They're practically announcing to the shinobi world that Fugaku awakened the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"Does this look like a clan that was just slaughtered and suppressed by Fugaku?"
"You and I both know that to awaken those evil eyes, one must personally kill their closest loved ones."
"Why do I feel like last night's events were nothing but a premeditated sacrifice?"
"Just look at the results. The Uchiha lost some clansmen, but they successfully recreated that miracle!"
"Was there really any conflict or fighting?"
"Couldn't it all have been an act for the village to see?"
"Minato and Kushina watched from outside the entire time. They weren't allowed to enter the shrine at all. What really happened inside, they have no idea. Everything is just Fugaku's word."
"Enough!" The Third's brow furrowed deeper. "Don't make wild accusations about our village comrades!"
He shouted sternly, but the frequency of his pipe puffs noticeably increased.
Danzo's words had fallen like seeds into the most hidden corners of his heart, beginning to take root and sprout.
Natural vigilance toward the Uchiha, deep wariness of Mangekyo power, and instinctive fear of "losing control" were quietly gaining the upper hand.
Seeing the Third's expression, Danzo knew his old comrade had already begun to suspect. He changed his approach, continuing to fan the flames from another angle.
"Fine, let's assume everything he said is true."
"He has the 'Will of Fire.' He stands with the village."
"Then here's the question. He now possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan. His power has surged dramatically. It wouldn't be wrong to call him the village's strongest combatant."
"So what do you plan to do with him now?"
"Are you going to make him Fourth Hokage?"
Danzo's face was full of mockery, each sentence stabbing straight into the Third's heart.
The Third froze immediately. He couldn't even continue smoking, standing dumbly before the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the distant sky in wooden silence.
This was an extremely practical problem!
He and Danzo had personally witnessed Uchiha Madara back in the day. Madara's overwhelming dominance had left an indelible memory in the Third's young heart.
For so many years, with no Mangekyo Sharingan reappearing, he'd almost forgotten how terrifying that thing was.
But now...
A powerful shinobi might be good for the village, but not necessarily for the Third as Hokage.
Fugaku might not be Madara, but those eyes themselves symbolized instability.
The air in the office became unbearably heavy with this silence.
After a long while, the Third slowly turned around. The complex struggling expression on his face had disappeared, replaced by the cold hardness of a Hokage who had made his decision.
He walked to his desk, reached into a drawer, and gently placed a document on the table.
"Just received news. Sand Village has declared war on Rain Village."
"Sand Village's movements these past days have been extremely strange. They're doing things that make no sense."
"The Third Kazekage is ambitious. Once he makes his move, he definitely won't stop after just taking Rain Village."
"Most likely he'll force Rain Village to ally with Sand Village, then invade Konoha together."
"For the village's peace, we must stop his ambitions!"
"Let Konoha join the war!"
"At minimum, we need to ensure Hanzo of the Salamander doesn't side with Sand Village!"
The Third spoke passionately. Danzo could fully read the subtext in his words and immediately responded with a sinister smile of agreement.
"Since Fugaku possesses such powerful eyes, I'm sure he won't mind using them a few more times."
"Even if he doesn't want to use them himself, his clansmen certainly want to watch their clan leader display his might on the battlefield."
"Use them more, yes, use them more!"
Danzo understood his old friend too well.
What "stopping ambitions," what "ensuring Hanzo doesn't take sides all beautiful excuses.
The real purpose was singular.
Direct that newly unsheathed, razor-sharp yet potentially self-wounding "Uchiha blade" outward, toward the village's enemies.
Let war consume the power of those eyes while not wasting the military resource.
Danzo was naturally quite satisfied with this approach.
He was happy to see Fugaku squander that forbidden power on the battlefield, regardless of whether the result was defeating enemies or... self-destruction.
The Third ignored Danzo's words, only reminding him, "Remember to release Takeshi later."
Danzo's brow furrowed, his tone dissatisfied. "Just one night. There's been no progress with Takeshi yet. How can we just release him?"
The Third rapped his pipe on the desk, warning sternly, "This is appeasement and an exchange!"
"At a time like this, we can't let the Uchiha have any dissatisfaction with the village!"
But this time Danzo was unusually stubborn, immediately shouting back.
"You told Fugaku that Takeshi would be released soon. You didn't promise immediately!"
"Just look at the Uchiha's current situation. You should understand how important this qualified chess piece really is!"
"Delay a few more days. Let me subdue him first, then we'll talk!"
After speaking, Danzo immediately turned and left, unwilling to continue listening to the Third's nonsense.
Bang. The office door closed behind him again, leaving the Third alone, standing in place with a dark expression, his pipe unraised for a long time.
Danzo returned to Root.
In the dim underground chamber, only one oil lamp provided weak illumination.
He retrieved from a hidden compartment that report he'd read many times before, studying it carefully.
The lamplight cast his face in uncertain light and shadow, his single eye gleaming with deep light in the darkness.
The report contained a "rumor" circulating from Sand Village, claiming Sand Village had obtained a time-traveler who had crossed through space-time from the future to the present.
Anyone else reading this intelligence would scoff and toss it in the trash. But Danzo had keenly discovered some clues within it and pondered it repeatedly.
This intelligence was indeed quite illogical. But when combined with Sand Village's recent strange movements, many things he couldn't understand before suddenly became clear.
"Nagato... Uchiha Takeshi... Uchiha Yasushi..."
Danzo hid in the darkness, repeatedly contemplating these names like reciting some forbidden incantation.
The intelligence was too fragmentary for him to draw precise conclusions.
But at least he could determine these people were the Third Kazekage's focus of attention.
He'd now realized the Third Kazekage had used him as a tool.
He'd previously assumed the Third Kazekage valued Hanzo of the Salamander, that supporting the Akatsuki organization in Rain Village was about forming an alliance.
But now he was quite certain the Third Kazekage only valued Nagato, who'd been brought to Sand Village first.
Moreover, according to messages from spies in Sand Village, that boy called Nagato had now been taken as a disciple by the Third Kazekage.
This Sand Village war against Rain Village had even erupted to avenge Nagato's dead companion Yahiko.
He felt a surge of rage at being fooled, but it was quickly replaced by even stronger greed and calculation.
For the Third Kazekage to go to such lengths, even willing to start a war, all for one person...
This alone proved "Nagato's" value far exceeded his estimates.
According to materials he'd later searched out, Nagato's eyes were actually the legendary Rinnegan once possessed by the Sage of Six Paths.
Just thinking about this made Danzo's teeth itch with hatred for that fool Jiraiya.
"Idiot! Waste!" he cursed in a low voice.
Much intelligence couldn't withstand scrutiny. A careful check revealed this Nagato was actually Jiraiya's student.
Leaving his own student to wander outside, and a precious student possessing the Rinnegan bloodline limit at that. This could no longer be described by the word "stupid" alone.
In Danzo's view, this was completely unforgivable dereliction and betrayal.
Of course, even more foolish was that this precious ninja who should have belonged to Konoha Village had now become Sand Village's, and probably already hated Konoha to the bone.
As a fellow schemer, Danzo knew clearly the Third Kazekage would definitely pin responsibility for killing Yahiko on Konoha Village, even though he certainly had no proof.
Of course, it wasn't really a false accusation. He had indeed done it.
Well, it was completed under Hokage's hints. The responsibility should belong to that indecisive Hiruzen, nothing to do with him, Danzo.
He skillfully divided and transferred responsibility, feeling no guilt in his heart, only regret for losing the "Rinnegan" and contempt for Jiraiya and the Third.
He carefully put away the intelligence again and rose to walk toward the cell holding Takeshi.
Although Nagato was completely lost, fortunately the Takeshi father and son were still under his control.
Though he didn't know exactly who the Third Kazekage wanted to kill, presumably they wouldn't be much inferior to Nagato, right?
Could it be that one of these two, father or son, would awaken the "Mangekyo Sharingan" in the future?
This thought made his heart burn with heat.
He'd coveted the Sharingan's power for a long time. Before Fugaku's awakening today, he hadn't even dared dream of "Mangekyo Sharingan" power.
But now, the situation was different.
If one could awaken, then naturally a second could awaken too!
Those Sand Village would eliminate at any cost must have limitless futures, probably because someone awakened this forbidden power!
He'd already lost the "Rinnegan." He couldn't lose the future "Mangekyo Sharingan" too!
While they still knew nothing, he could completely bring this father and son under control in advance.
If one of them really awakened the "Mangekyo Sharingan" in the future, then controlling them would mean controlling the Uchiha in the future.
By controlling this father and son, perhaps he, Danzo, could smoothly become Hokage in the future!
The more Danzo thought, the hotter his heart grew. Even his walking pace quickened as he soon disappeared into the dark passageway.
That same day, the village became lively.
The Hokage had issued formal mobilization orders. The village's various ninja clans began preparing for war.
After more than six years, war had descended again!
The illusion of peace was ruthlessly torn apart.
The bulletin board below the Hokage Rock was surrounded by people. Emergency mission notifications fell like snowflakes.
The relaxed ease on shinobi faces was rapidly replaced by gravity and severity. The air filled with the scent of iron and blood.
A tense atmosphere hung over the village. Even pedestrians on the streets came and went hurriedly, the items in their hands changing from various clothes and food to ninja tools and supplies.
The specialty shops that had been thriving grew deserted, while weapon and tool shops swarmed with people.
The war machine began turning. Everyone was a cog within it.
Fortunately, many of Konoha's shinobi had experienced the Second War. They hated war but weren't afraid. Everything proceeded in orderly fashion.
The Uchiha clan grounds were completely different.
Some family doors were tightly shut, white banners and white silk hanging before them. These were the residences of those who had died in the shrine.
The white stood out starkly against the Uchiha clan grounds' heavy red and black tones, appearing piercing and sorrowful.
The wind blew past. White silk fluttered gently like silent weeping.
That entire area was especially quiet, forming sharp contrast with the tense busyness elsewhere in the village.
Fugaku personally led people door to door to apologize and ask forgiveness.
He'd changed out of his blood-stained clan robes into plain clothing, his face still pale, his eyes full of heavy exhaustion.
His attitude was sincere. He accepted any punishment. The compensation money he gave was generous. He promised all treatment would follow the standard for heroes who sacrificed for the clan.
But even so, it was difficult to comfort these family members who had lost loved ones. They could only reluctantly accept reality.
Silent receptions, suppressed crying, occasional glances cast his way mixing grief, resentment, and an instinctive fear of those eyes in complex emotions.
Money and promises couldn't bring back lives or truly heal the pain.