"It's normal for Shisui to invite the elders, but why Mikoto?"
Fugaku frowned, clearly confused.
Gen leaned forward. "Mikoto-san isn't just a housewife. She's the wife of the clan head, the daughter of the Great Elder, and a jonin in her own right. That alone makes her stand out. Becoming a jonin as a woman isn't easy even for an Uchiha with Sharingan. It means she's exceptional. Besides," he added, his tone softening, "we're all men. Having a woman's perspective might help us see what we'd miss."
Fugaku paused, then gave a slow nod. It was true, Mikoto was not ordinary. He often sought her advice, and sometimes her insights surprised him.
"Fine," he said at last. "There's no time to waste. Let's gather everyone now."
Abandoning the paperwork on his desk, Fugaku left the Police Building with Gen and hurried back to the compound. Messengers were dispatched to summon the three elders and Shisui.
At home, Mikoto was asked to prepare tea for the guests.
Not long after, the elders and Shisui arrived.
Mikoto greeted her father, the Great Elder, along with the others. Though she said nothing, she couldn't help but wonder. All the most powerful figures of the clan gathered under one roof, something serious was unfolding.
Carrying a tray, she entered the tea room, carefully setting new cups before each guest, filling them with steaming tea. She turned to leave...
"Mikoto, take off your apron and sit with us," Fugaku said suddenly.
She blinked, startled. "Eh?"
"Don't just stand there. Gen believes you can help with what we're about to discuss. So you'll join us." His voice was sharp from stress, but Mikoto didn't take offense.
"Oh… alright. I'll be right back."
Though she had chosen a quiet life as a housewife, that didn't mean she was without pride. Being asked to sit in on such matters lit a spark of excitement in her eyes.
A few moments later, Mikoto returned, dressed plainly in the clan's customary dark attire. On anyone else it might have looked austere, but on her it emphasized her gentle beauty and quiet dignity.
She settled opposite Gen, smiling at him softly before folding her hands in her lap.
The seating was arranged formally; Fugaku at the head of the long table. To his left sat Great Elder Setsuna, then the Third Elder, and finally Gen. To his right, the Second Elder, then Shisui, and Mikoto at the end.
Gen gave Fugaku a subtle look. Fugaku caught it, straightened his back, and addressed the room with solemnity.
"Everyone. This morning, at the reconstruction meeting…"
He recounted the events; the unusual friendliness of Danzo, Koharu, and Homura, their persuasive words, and the terms of the relocation. His voice grew heavier as he went on, though he softened the details that reflected poorly on himself.
When he finished, silence pressed down on the room. The elders' expressions had darkened; Shisui looked bewildered; Mikoto glanced at Gen with admiration. He had seen through the scheme almost immediately, just from whispers among the clansmen.
Fugaku bowed his head slightly. "As clan head, the fault lies with me. The elders cannot be blamed...they were not present at the meeting. They couldn't have seen through Danzo's tricks."
The elders relaxed, moved by Fugaku's willingness to shoulder the blame.
Shisui still looked puzzled. "So… it was really all a ploy?"
"It can't all fall on the Clan head," Gen said firmly. "Danzo and the others are too cunning. The important thing now isn't blame but how we respond. We can't let their scheme succeed."
Fugaku's eyes warmed with gratitude. Compared to Shisui, Gen's sharp political sense was exactly what the clan needed.
The elders murmured their agreement.
"Then," Fugaku said, "let's hear your ideas."
The room fell into thoughtful silence. Suggestions trickled in one by one:
—Go back on the agreement and refuse the relocation outright.
—Rally the clansmen to resist the move.
—Petition the Third Hokage for leniency.
—Expose Danzo's scheme and demand better compensation.
—Convince other clans to join them in relocating, making it a collective issue.
The last proposal was quickly dismissed, it would only breed resentment and make enemies. But the others split the room. No clear consensus emerged.
Fugaku's frustration showed in the tightness of his jaw. At last, he turned to the one person who had been quiet all this time. "Gen. What do you think?"
All eyes turned to him.
Gen set down his cup. "My idea isn't perfect," he warned. "It might cost the clan head some face…"
"As long as we can protect the clan, what's a little shame?" Fugaku said flatly. "Speak."
Gen drew in a slow breath. "Then I suggest we go back on the decision but carefully. If we want to overturn it, the best way is to use the clan's collective will against the choice of a single man. We draft a joint letter, signed by every member of the Uchiha, opposing the relocation. We place it directly on the Hokage's desk."
He leaned forward, voice low but steady. "Clan head, you must then act as though you have no choice, helpless before the will of your people. Even the Hokage cannot ignore unanimous opposition. Danzo and the others pride themselves on wielding public opinion as a weapon. Fine. Let's give them a taste of their own medicine."
The elders' eyes lit with approval. Shisui's lips parted in surprise. Even Mikoto felt her chest stir with excitement at his boldness.
"But…" Gen continued, "this will humiliate the clan head in front of Konoha's leadership, the other clans, even the villagers. Danzo will spread it everywhere, and the shame will cut deep. Still our reputation, our future, our true interests we can be preserved. And that is worth more than pride."
The words hung heavy in the air. Everyone knew he was right. It would be a blow to Fugaku personally, but letting the Uchiha be cornered by Danzo's scheme would be worse.
All eyes turned to Fugaku once more. Even Setsuna, his stern father-in-law, was watching him closely.
Would the Clan Head bear this disgrace for the clan?