By midmorning, the rumors about the Uchiha were still raging through Konoha like a spreading wildfire.
But new whispers had begun to surface as well—subtle shifts that drew away a sliver of the villagers' attention.
Early that morning, Uchiha Fugaku and the Second Elder, Uchiha Yashiro, had been summoned to the Hokage Tower by ANBU. They remained inside Sarutobi Hiruzen's office for nearly three hours before emerging.
Fugaku's expression was composed, unreadable.
Yashiro's face, however, was dark as iron.
The two returned to the Uchiha compound without delay and headed straight for the residence of the First Elder—Uchiha Setsuna.
Along the way, voices rose from every corner of the district.
"They've added more ANBU squads outside! What exactly are they planning?"
"The rumors are getting worse by the hour. Does the Third Hokage plan to do nothing?"
"Nothing? Don't you get it? The higher-ups started those rumors! They wanted Clan Head Fugaku to give up our war compensation!"
"How can they go that far?!"
"What can't they do? Mark my words—those ANBU outside might storm in at any moment!"
"We have to fight back!"
"That's right! Fight back!"
Clusters of Uchiha stood in heated discussion. Among them, members of the radical faction fanned the flames, steering anger toward something sharper—more decisive.
Yashiro took in the scene and felt his temper flare.
Earlier, Hiruzen had laid everything bare before them—the Interrogation Division's findings, the Sharingan seen within the manipulated memories.
Yashiro had assumed the crisis was the result of political miscalculation—perhaps an attempt by the Hokage's faction to pressure the Uchiha that had backfired.
But to learn that someone within their own clan had secretly fueled the chaos—
That was another matter entirely.
Rage mingled with fear.
If the war across the shinobi world had already fully ended—if external tensions were lower—Hiruzen might not have shown such restraint.
And the consequences for the Uchiha could have been catastrophic.
After enduring Hiruzen's mixture of warning and concession, Yashiro had wasted no time. Regardless of Fugaku's silence, he dragged the clan head straight here.
He needed answers.
He needed accountability.
Did Setsuna truly believe the Uchiha could overthrow the village?
The Uchiha were Konoha's most powerful clan—yes.
But against the entirety of the village?
The Hyūga alone were not far behind them in strength. Add the combined might of the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance, and the gap narrowed further.
The Uchiha could muster several hundred shinobi.
Konoha had thousands.
The disparity was obvious.
How could Setsuna fail to see that?
Yashiro quickened his pace and arrived at Setsuna's residence, pushing the doors open without ceremony.
Inside, Setsuna was meeting with several radical members.
They looked up in surprise at the sight of Yashiro and Fugaku entering so abruptly.
"Clan Head. Second Elder."
The radicals bowed politely.
"Leave," Yashiro ordered sharply. "I have urgent matters to discuss with the Clan Head and the First Elder. No one is to approach."
The radicals hesitated, glancing at Setsuna.
"Go," Setsuna said calmly.
They withdrew.
The moment their footsteps faded, Yashiro stepped forward, fury no longer restrained.
"How dare you?! At a time like this, you pull something like this—what exactly are you trying to do?!"
Setsuna blinked, momentarily puzzled. He assumed Yashiro referred to his efforts to rally clan support.
"What I do is for the Uchiha," he replied evenly.
Fugaku, silent until now, lowered himself to a seat at the side. His expression betrayed nothing.
"For the Uchiha?" Yashiro's voice rose. "You're pushing the clan toward ruin!"
"If you truly cared for the Uchiha, you wouldn't be dreaming of a coup!"
Setsuna's lips curled into a cold smile.
"And if we don't revolt? Do we simply endure humiliation forever?"
"Ever since Lord Madara left, that so-called 'naturally evil' Senju Tobirama targeted us openly and in secret. He caged the Uchiha inside the village under the guise of order!"
"And when Hiruzen took power, he inherited Tobirama's will—and tightened the leash!"
His voice sharpened.
"Look at us now. Compared to the Warring States era, how much weaker have we become?"
He wasn't entirely wrong.
The clan's population had grown since those chaotic days, but the proportion of active shinobi had declined significantly.
Once, nearly every Uchiha had been battle-ready.
Now, fewer than a quarter of the clan were shinobi.
And quality?
Many academy graduates today could not match the battlefield instincts of six-year-olds from the old era.
Yes, the stability of the Hidden Village era had softened the edge of constant war—
But restrictions imposed by the village leadership had also played their part.
The establishment of the Konoha Military Police had confined the Uchiha physically and politically, limiting both opportunity and resources.
Setsuna's eyes burned.
"The Uchiha were founders of this village! Fine—the First Hokage was a Senju. I can accept that."
"But why was the Second Hokage also a Senju?"
"Now the Senju are gone, and yet the Third Hokage is merely their disciple!"
"Where is the fairness for the Uchiha?"
"By rights, it should have been our turn long ago!"
"If they won't give it to us—then we'll take it."
"I'm not stealing anything. I'm reclaiming what was ours."
He rose slowly to his feet.
"I've already made peace with it."
"This time, it's success—or death."
"If the Uchiha cannot claim the Hokage's seat—"
"Then we will build it ourselves."
His gaze swept across the room.
"We will create a new—Konoha."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Outside, the sky over the Uchiha compound seemed darker than ever.
And for the first time, even Fugaku's calm expression flickered—just slightly.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/warewolvesTL