They say: if you have not borne another man's suffering, do not preach to him of virtue.
When Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Yashiro saw the scars covering Uchiha Setsuna's body, both fell into silence.
They had known he'd spent over a decade in Konoha's prison.
They had never known what those years looked like.
But thinking it through—what else could it have been?
In the early days after the village's founding, Konoha Prison held either foreign spies or vicious criminals. A shinobi sent there would first have their chakra sealed.
And what was a shinobi without chakra?
Outside of those who had mastered taijutsu, most ninja—once stripped of chakra—were barely stronger than civilians.
Now imagine being thrown into a cellblock full of men who hated the Uchiha.
The outcome required little imagination.
Yashiro let out a long sigh.
"Setsuna," he said quietly, "if there were truly a chance to compete for the Hokage's seat, I would not stop the clan from trying."
"But look at Konoha as it stands today."
"Not a single major power-holding department includes the Uchiha."
"In such circumstances, even if you killed Hiruzen—what then? The rest of the village would never acknowledge an Uchiha Hokage."
"I know that," Setsuna replied coldly, fastening his robe again.
"Since the village's founding, our influence has been boxed inside the Military Police. Every other department has shut us out."
"And after these rumors, our reputation is dirt."
"Even if a coup succeeded, we'd only be handing the victory to someone else."
He paused.
"But I will still stage the coup."
Fugaku and Yashiro stiffened.
"The coup is only to kill Hiruzen and the others—to vent this grievance."
"After that, we leave."
"We separate from Konoha and build anew."
"We'll create a New Konoha."
His voice trembled—not with doubt, but with fervor.
"Back then, we built Konoha with the Senju."
"Now we can build one without them."
He had crossed beyond reason.
This was no longer strategy.
It was fixation.
Yashiro glanced helplessly at Fugaku.
Fugaku's heart pounded.
This had spiraled beyond anything he had anticipated.
If allowed to spread, Setsuna's thinking could derail everything they had been carefully preparing.
And then—
A calm, cool voice cut through the tension.
"When a man clings too tightly to an idea, he becomes blind to the world around him."
A figure stepped into the hall.
"Uchiha Jin?!"
Both elders turned in surprise.
Only Fugaku allowed himself a faint, hidden breath of relief.
Jin approached, stopping beside Fugaku. He bowed slightly.
"First Elder. Second Elder. It has been some time."
Yashiro forced a thin smile.
"It has. The child who once ran through the compound now carries quite the name."
Under normal circumstances, he would have said more—drawn closer to this rising star.
Today, there was no energy left for pleasantries.
Setsuna wasted no time.
"You've come at the right moment," he said sharply. "Tell me—what do you think?"
Years ago, Setsuna had attempted to recruit Jin when his reputation first rose. Jin had refused, declaring loyalty to Fugaku alone.
The same had happened with Uchiha Shisui.
That was precisely why Setsuna had intended to pressure Fugaku publicly—win the clan head, and the young prodigies would follow.
Now he wanted Jin's stance.
Jin merely shook his head.
"First Elder, you speak of founding a New Konoha."
"Where?"
Silence.
"When the Uchiha and Senju first built Konoha, there were no hidden villages."
"Now the Five Great Nations stand established."
"Where would you build?"
"In a minor country?"
"Have you forgotten Amegakure? Kusagakure? Yugakure?"
"Small villages survive only by being crushed between larger powers."
"If the Uchiha were to settle in some minor land—do you truly believe the Five Great Nations would allow it?"
"Or would we be carved apart and divided like spoils of war?"
Setsuna's face darkened.
Yashiro seized the moment.
"Setsuna, the boy speaks truth. This is not the Warring States era. Without the village's protection, we cannot survive in this world."
A flicker of light flashed in Setsuna's eyes.
"So what?"
"Should we stay here, enduring humiliation?"
"I refuse to grovel."
"Better a glorious death than a coward's life."
Yashiro's face turned pale.
"Your death would be meaningless. And you would drag the entire clan with you."
Setsuna laughed coldly.
"If the Uchiha have even a shred of pride left, they will understand."
"If they only wish to live quietly—then they do not deserve the name Uchiha."
"And if they are not true Uchiha, why should I care about their survival?"
"Madness," Yashiro murmured. "You've lost your reason."
Jin watched silently.
These elders were carved from stubborn stone.
Words alone would not move them.
Enough talk.
"We are going in circles," Jin said evenly.
"No one here will persuade the other."
"Let us call a full clan assembly."
"Gather every Uchiha shinobi."
"Let the clan decide."
Setsuna and Yashiro exchanged a look.
Both were tempted.
Yashiro knew he could not convince Setsuna. Better to focus on swaying the younger generation.
"I have no objection," Yashiro said.
"I agree," Setsuna replied. "The more who stand with us, the better."
Jin nodded.
"Then it is settled."
"Clan Head Fugaku has already decided to hold a memorial ceremony in three days for those who fell in battle."
"On that same day—we convene the clan."
The decision landed like a stone dropped into still water.
Three days.
After the mourning—
The future of the Uchiha would be put to the test.
And somewhere deep in Jin's eyes—
A plan was already unfolding.
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