[Read up to 69 Chapters in advance on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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Patriarch's Mansion, Uchiha Compound
Mikoto was reporting Uchiha Makoto's arrest.
"He confessed to plotting your overthrow and aiding Fugaku in his attempt to reclaim the position of Patriarch. He also provided several names… Among them, Uchiha Seiji is involved. According to Makoto, Seiji leans more toward placing the Hokage in full control rather than supporting Fugaku. He only sided with Fugaku because Fugaku became ANBU Commander and now works directly under the Hokage."
"Hmph… why am I not surprised? A dog's son will always remain a dog," Kanzou snorted. He wasn't shocked at all that Kagami's son had chosen to betray the clan.
This was one of the reasons Kanzou had never bothered much with Seiji. The only reason he paid any attention to Shisui at all was the boy's potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. If not for that possibility, Kanzou would have dealt with Shisui long ago.
'Hmm… maybe I should kill Shisui right in front of Seiji. Perhaps that would push him into awakening the Mangekyō…' Kanzou considered.
But the idea was uncertain. If Seiji still failed to awaken those eyes even after witnessing his own son's death, it would be a complete waste.
'Brainwashed fools are troublesome… He might chalk up his son's death as a noble sacrifice for the so-called Will of Fire,' Kanzou thought with irritation.
Thinking so, he dismissed the idea. Killing Shisui purely to stimulate Seiji was too unreliable, especially if Seiji didn't awaken the Mangekyō. It simply wasn't worth the waste.
"Putting Seiji aside… for so many traitors to appear in the clan… I truly didn't expect this. I've been treating them well, haven't I?" Kanzou muttered, genuinely confused.
Ever since he became patriarch, the Uchiha clan had enjoyed more benefits than at any other time. Kanzou might have been ruthless, oppressive, and exploitative toward outsiders, but toward his own clan, he had been nothing but generous.
The clan's welfare had improved dramatically. The Uchiha Compound had become one of the most luxurious areas in the entire village, with large mansions, redesigned streets, gardens, new infrastructure, everything refined and elevated under his rule.
Those who contributed to the clan were rewarded abundantly: powerful Jutsu, high-quality weaponry, bonuses, and so on…
Beyond these, he also provided training equipment, personal guidance from his elites, and medical support whenever needed, never once withholding resources.
And yet, despite all of this, some still chose to betray him.
"Is it human nature… to bite the very hand that feeds them?" he murmured, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes.
"Kan-sama… none of this is your fault," Mikoto said, taking a hold of his hand. "It's all because of that man, Fugaku. As long as he's alive, he'll keep trying to cause trouble for you."
She wanted to say that every bit of fault lay with that cuck, Fugaku, an incompetent man who still dared to imagine he could compete with her Kan-sama.
But the truth was, in her heart, Mikoto did indeed feel that this situation was partly their own failure.
The fact that the incompetent cuck in her eyes had managed to approach and solicit so many clan members without being discovered meant they had been careless. And honestly, it all stemmed from the way Kanzou had been treating the rest of Konoha. Naturally, many Uchiha who still had friendships and ties outside the clan were unhappy with the current state of things.
Because the Uchiha Police Force was exploiting others, these people who had been brainwashed with the Will of Fire felt that their bonds that they have with the non-Uchiha were being destroyed.
It's just that because of Kanzou's strength and status, these people had no way of opposing him and chose to contain their frustration.
But with Fugaku's newfound position, his late father's remaining influence, Makoto's quiet networking, and Seiji's reputation as Kagami's son, they had actually managed to sway quite a lot of shinobi without alerting Kanzou.
This was a failure on his part as well; he had been so absorbed in developing the Mark of Ownership that he had neglected to properly monitor the internal situation.
Of course, even if she understood this… she still didn't want Kanzou to blame himself, thus she chose to pin all the fault on Fugaku.
In fact, if Kanzou didn't still have a use for Fugaku and insisted on keeping him alive, Mikoto would have already gone to the Sarutobi compound, stormed into his house, and driven her blade through his heart for daring to vex her Danna-sama.
But since she couldn't simply kill Fugaku, she focused on the immediate issue instead and asked, "What are we going to do about these traitors?" After all, Kanzou was the patriarch; only his will mattered.
"What are we going to do? Is that even a question?" Kanzou replied, his voice cold. "Every last one of them must die."
Contrary to what Mikoto thought, Kanzou wasn't particularly upset by their betrayal, nor did he see it as a failure on his or her part. Yes, the fact that Fugaku managed to sway them was irritating, but their disloyalty itself didn't trouble him.
After all, if those who enjoyed every privilege and benefit he provided could still abandon him for someone as incompetent as Fugaku, then their betrayal was not a loss; it was a relief. It only proved they had never been loyal to him in the first place, and they never will be.
If he had mistreated them and driven them away, then perhaps this outcome could be called a failure. But that clearly wasn't the case here.
Now, their true faces were exposed, laid bare before him.
In fact, he considered them idiots… for they were choosing a side that clearly intends to bring harm to them.
And these idiots who prospered under him only to turn their backs and support Fugaku… In Kanzou's world, there was simply no reality where such people would be allowed to live.
In Kanzou's eyes, they were nothing but traitors.
Of course, they did not see themselves that way.
To them, even if Kanzou had expelled Fugaku from the clan, Fugaku still possessed Uchiha blood and the Sharingan, making him, in their minds, a fellow clansman who is not only willing to struggle and lead them against the tyranny of Kanzou, but is also backed by the most powerful authority of the village, by the Hokage.
On one hand, while Fugaku has the support of the Hokage, on the other, Kanzou's actions have put him in open conflict with the Hokage. And despite his overwhelming strength, some Uchiha believed that no matter how powerful Kanzou was, he could never defeat the Hokage and the entirety of the village.
After all, even someone like Uchiha Madara, wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan, had been defeated by Senju Hashirama, the man who later became the First Hokage.
If Madara could fall, then why not Kanzou? Especially when he is facing the strongest Hokage of all time.
Moreover, many feared that with the way Kanzou was leading the clan, he would ultimately drag the Uchiha into ruin.
In contrast, they placed their hopes in Fugaku, recently appointed as the ANBU Commander and already establishing himself within Konoha's political center. To them, Fugaku had a real chance of becoming Hokage and potentially elevating the Uchiha clan to unprecedented heights.
Indeed, the possibility of Fugaku gaining influence within Konoha's central political sphere was far more appealing to them than Kanzou's methods.
After all, securing the Hokage's seat or at least holding an influential position within Konoha's central administration had always been one of the clan's deepest desires.
Despite Konoha being founded through the alliance of the Senju and Uchiha clans, not a single Uchiha had ever claimed the Hokage's position.
Forget the Hokage's seat, Uchiha didn't even hold any meaningful position in the village's central governing bodies.
Naturally, many among the Uchiha yearned for political influence, recognition, and representation. Some even dreamed that one day, one of their own would finally become Hokage.
But with everything Kanzou was currently doing, antagonizing nearly every clan and high-ranking official in Konoha, how could he possibly be accepted as Hokage? The idea was nothing more than a delusion.
Fugaku, however, despite being exiled from the Clan, seems to have become a trusted confidant of the current Hokage and is far more likely to be supported by the establishment.
That was why those Uchiha who still clung to the dream of an Uchiha Hokage had begun to shift their allegiance toward Fugaku.
It was a pity that their delusion would never come true with Fugaku. After all, Fugaku was nothing more than a tool Sarutobi Hiruzen intended to use, someone to sow conflict within the Uchiha clan and ultimately push Kanzou out of power.
Once Kanzou was removed, Hiruzen would keep Fugaku around, perhaps, but he would never grant him real authority. As the student of Senju Tobirama, Hiruzen would never allow a Uchiha to gain true control over the village.
In fact, even now, Fugaku's so-called power was nothing but an illusion. His title as ANBU Commander was merely for show, to deceive the Uchiha clansmen, a trick that had worked flawlessly.
The real ANBU operations were handled entirely by the deputy captain, who oversaw everything within the department while Fugaku served as a convenient figurehead.
But none of that mattered to Kanzou. He wasn't going to waste his time telling these traitors that their hopes would never be fulfilled under Fugaku's leadership. He didn't care. He would simply eliminate them all.
Mikoto wasn't surprised by his decision; this was exactly what she expected. Even so, she still needed to warn him. "The number of shinobi Fugaku may have contacted… it might even be more than a hundred. To execute all of them…"
Even if Kanzou felt displeased to lose a hundred or so Clansmen of his, he was still going to go through with it.
"These people can bite the very hand that feeds them, then they have no sense of loyalty." Kanzou replied coldly and added, "If a limb turns rotten, mercy and hesitation only feed the rot; the only sensible choice is to cut it off completely… otherwise the rot spreads to the whole body."
Mikoto understood the implication, "I see… if that is the decision you've made, then so be it."
Kanzou nodded, "Keeping them alive would only create more problems. They're far more useful to me dead."
After all, once they were dead, their Sharingan could still be put to use, either for Mikoto or for other shinobi in the clan. By transplanting those eyes into non-awakened members, the recipients would gain an awakened Sharingan.
In this regard, even Mikoto didn't disagree either…
Even though she felt this choice could return to haunt them later, stirring even more dissatisfaction within the clan, if Kanzou had chosen this path, then she would follow it without hesitation. After all, she was his Black Swan. Not to mention, she trusted Kanzou far more than she trusted herself. He would never allow things to end so simply…
"Call all the clansmen who are on active duty and all the others whose names were given by Makoto. We're holding a clan meeting; each and every traitor must die."
Hearing his words, Mikoto nodded. "Very well… I'll send out the orders."
"Hm." Kanzou hummed in acknowledgment.
Then Mikoto brought up another matter. "Also, Kan-sama… what should we do about Makoto-san and his family?"
"They're imprisoned at the moment, correct?" Kanzou asked.
Mikoto nodded. "Hazuki-chan placed them in the Isolation Chambers."
Keeping them in a normal holding cell could have drawn attention from clan members who shouldn't be alerted yet, so they had been placed in the Isolation chambers known only to Kanzou and his zodiacs.
Kanzou stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Makoto-san… he seems to care deeply for his wife and daughter, doesn't he?"
"…Yes," Mikoto confirmed quietly.
"In that case…" Kanzou murmured, his mind turning over the possibility.
'If his wife and daughter die right in front of him… he should awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, shouldn't he?' Kanzou thought. Makoto had both the talent and the strength. Age might be a factor; he was already in his thirties, but still… he should be able to awaken those eyes.
Realizing where Kanzou's thoughts were headed, Mikoto hesitated, then gently grasped his hand.
"Kan-sama… Nashiko… she… she betrayed Makoto-san only to protect her daughter. She acted out of desperation, not malice. To do something like that to her… I… I think…" Her voice faltered. She couldn't finish the sentence. She didn't want to oppose him, but she truly didn't want him to go through with that plan.
As a woman and as a devoted wife, Mikoto understood all too well how impossible it was to go against one's husband. If she were ever asked to betray Kanzou, she knew she could never do it. She would sooner die than have a thought of betraying him.
Yet Nashiko had betrayed her husband.
Mikoto wanted to respect that courage.
True, Nashiko had not done it out of loyalty to Kanzou, but out of desperation to protect her daughter, but that resolve, that determination of a mother, was something Mikoto could not bring herself to trample on, nor did she want Kanzou to trample on.
Hearing Mikoto's plea, Kanzou paused in mild surprise. 'Even with those cold, obsessive eyes… there's still a trace of gentleness left in her, even if it's buried,' he thought.
But he didn't dislike it.
In truth, he preferred that Mikoto's gentleness be reserved for him alone, but at times like this, he couldn't bring himself to disapprove of it.
Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms and held her close. Hugging her tightly, he whispered into her ear, "Don't worry… I was only considering an option. Just because I am considering it doesn't mean I would do something like that."
Yes, he could have earned a large amount of Evil Points.
Yes, he might even have obtained another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from Makoto, which he needed for Mikoto.
But even he knew that acting on that thought would be foolish.
Even if Nashiko's decision had not been made out of loyalty to him, it was still ultimately an act of loyalty, one born from a mother's determination to protect her child. And Kanzou was not the type of man who would answer loyalty with murder.
He still had principles and a bottom line, thin as they might be.
"The one who will die," Kanzou said quietly, "is Makoto. Not her… and not her daughter."
Hearing this, Mikoto let out a quiet breath of relief and bowed her head. "Thank you, Kan-sama…"
She had feared he might reject her plea… but he didn't. And that alone made Mikoto genuinely happy.
It was just that Kanzou wasn't finished yet.
"But as the wife and daughter of a traitor… they'll still need to be punished. It won't be death, but they will have to prove themselves useful."
Mikoto's expression tightened slightly at those words, but she didn't argue this time. She simply bowed her head and said quietly, "Please… don't be too cruel to them."
Kanzou hummed lightly in response. "Hmm."
Though whether he had truly accepted her plea was something even Mikoto wasn't sure of.
Kanzou didn't elaborate. He simply gave a curt order:
"Go. Make preparations for the clan gathering. It will be a purge this time… so prepare accordingly."
"I understand," Mikoto replied, her eyes hardening as she stepped away from him.
Kanzou then handed her a Fuinjutsu scroll. "Use this in the hall. It will make the purge easier."
"I see…" She bowed, accepted the scroll, and left the study.
Once she was gone, Kanzou rose to his feet as well. It was time to meet Makoto, Nashiko, and their daughter, Mira.
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A/N: Yandere Mikoto is here to talk with everyone again.
Author:A-hem… Mikoto-sama, the floor is yours…
Mikoto:Everyone… thank you for listening to my humble words and for showering me with so many Power Stones. I'm truly delighted—my heart trembled with joy.
But then… a troubling thought crept in.If you have so many Power Stones to give… why aren't you offering them to Kan-sama's story every single day?
Hmmm… the only explanation is…You must be cheating.You're giving your Power Stones to other stories… aren't you?That is unacceptable.
The only place your devotion should go is to Kan-sama.All of your Power Stones belong to him.Every. Last. One.
I don't like cheaters.Cheaters make me want to stab them until they stop breathing…Of course, Kan-sama is the exception, but that is only because I am deeply in love with him and can't bring myself to ever do anything that's make him hate me...
But the rest of you…If you dare continue your betrayal…I am warning in advance... he consequences wouldn't be good.
So, be good readers.Drop all your Power Stones.And don't forget to comment how much you love Kan-sama's story. I'll be watching.♥
Oh, and if you desire to read up to Chapter 69 in advance…You may do so on P atreon — p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley
Now go, my sweet readers…Don't disappoint me. I wouldn't want to… correct you.