Uchiha Setsuna realized he couldn't wait any longer.
After some thought, it became clear: whether Uchiha Akainu had dragged the Uchiha clan into trouble or offended every noble in the land, Setsuna had to launch this coup.
He needed to sit in the Hokage's seat and lead the Uchiha to glory.
Otherwise, the mighty Uchiha clan would crumble under Fugaku's weak leadership!
But before that, the Uchiha clan had to be under his control—not in the hands of that spineless Fugaku.
"Someone, come here!"
Setsuna's voice was low and commanding as he ordered, "Notify all clan members in the village. Tonight, we're holding a clan meeting! The location is the main hall of the Naka Shrine!"
"Elder Setsuna, what about Clan Leader Fugaku?" one of the radical Uchiha ninjas asked cautiously.
Setsuna snorted, his face cold. "If we're calling all clan members, that naturally includes them. The purpose of this meeting is to make it clear to everyone: Fugaku must step down!"
"And we'll lay out our plan to the entire clan. Everyone will be tied to the same rope—either they stand with me and fight to the death against the village's higher-ups, or they betray the Uchiha and get purged. No one gets to sit this out!"
But then, Setsuna added sharply, "Except for Uchiha Itachi. In my eyes, he's no longer part of the Uchiha clan—just a traitorous dog!"
The radical Uchiha ninja's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, sir!"
…
The Uchiha clan's unusual activity naturally caught the attention of Konoha's higher-ups.
Koharu Utatane frowned deeply. "Are those guys finally losing their patience? What's Fugaku doing? Why is the Uchiha clan so restless? Didn't Hiruzen tell him to keep them in check before he left?"
Her expression was tinged with frustration as she continued, "Uchiha Setsuna, that old fossil, never stops stirring trouble. I still don't understand why Hiruzen let him out back then."
Mitokado Homura, sitting nearby, was about to respond when a young, muffled voice cut in, masked by the speaker's ANBU gear. "Elders, I can infiltrate the Uchiha and find out what's going on."
Both Homura and Koharu turned their gazes to a short ANBU ninja standing not far away.
Homura remembered Hiruzen's strict instructions. He was about to shake his head when Koharu placed a hand on his shoulder.
Homura froze. Koharu stepped forward, past him, and addressed the ANBU ninja—Uchiha Itachi. "Itachi, go check it out. Report back immediately with any news. And don't get caught."
"Uchiha Akainu's prophecy has made you a pariah among the Uchiha. If you're exposed, you might not make it back."
Itachi lowered his head slightly. "Understood."
With a flicker, Itachi vanished.
Homura looked at Koharu, puzzled. "What are you thinking? Itachi's an unstable factor himself!"
Koharu's eyes glinted mysteriously. "Using one unstable factor to counter another—isn't that perfect? It's not a bad thing for the village."
Homura rubbed his temples, exasperated. If Hiruzen were here, he'd probably shut down Koharu's scheming with a single sentence.
But Homura couldn't sway her. They were equals, after all.
"I just hope Itachi stays rational," Homura muttered helplessly.
…
As night fell, every Uchiha clan member gathered in the main hall of the Naka Shrine.
Their expressions varied—some solemn, some nervous, some grim, others excited—as they sat upright.
At the front of the hall, two cushions were placed side by side. On the left sat Uchiha Fugaku, and on the right, Uchiha Setsuna.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Why the sudden clan meeting? Are we really electing a new clan leader like they mentioned before? Or is this about what Uchiha Akainu's been up to?"
"Who knows…"
"Why's Elder Setsuna sitting at the same level as Clan Leader Fugaku? Are we actually picking a new leader?"
"Hmph! Fugaku's been protecting that traitor son of his who'll supposedly destroy the Uchiha. Someone like that doesn't deserve to be our leader."
"Setsuna's no better. Look at him—how many years does he even have left? Can an old relic like him really lead the Uchiha? I'd do a better job!"
"Why hasn't the meeting started? Isn't everyone here? We've been waiting ten minutes already."
"Not everyone. There's still an empty cushion over there."
…
Setsuna, sitting level with Fugaku, glanced at him and said coolly, "Fugaku, aren't you going to start the meeting?"
Fugaku turned to him, his face expressionless. "Elder Setsuna, weren't you the one who called everyone here? Since you've got the clout and reputation, why don't you kick things off?"
Setsuna snorted coldly.
Since they'd already torn off the masks of civility, there was no need for pleasantries.
His gaze fell on the empty cushion in the crowd, his expression darkening. "We're still missing one tardy brat."
Fugaku replied, "Akainu's in the Fire Country's capital. He can't make it back. Or are you saying even the absence of Akainu's little sidekick is enough to make you, Elder Setsuna, delay the entire clan meeting?"
"Looks like Akainu's influence is something else. Even when he's not in Konoha, just his little follower is enough to keep you on edge."
Fugaku's biting sarcasm made Setsuna's face twist with anger.
A surge of rage boiled in his chest.
Just as he was about to snap back, a clear, youthful voice rang out from the shrine's entrance. "Sorry, I'm late."
All eyes turned to see Uchiha Izumi, her face showing traces of exhaustion, stepping into the Naka Shrine.
Everyone noticed the bloodstains on her—blood that clearly wasn't hers.
As she entered, a faint smell of blood wafted through the hall, making some Uchiha clansmen inexplicably tense.
Izumi, a fervent believer in "absolute justice," had become one of Akainu's key representatives in many eyes.
Her presence alone reminded people of Uchiha Akainu.
The whispers in the crowd died down.
Fugaku's eyes flickered with complexity as he thought to himself, This girl has completely taken on Akainu's shape.
And it was partly his fault as clan leader.
If he'd stopped Izumi from choosing Akainu as her examiner for the Police Force back then…
Her life might have taken a different path.
She wouldn't have clashed with Itachi.
"Hmph! Some youngsters are starting to treat Uchiha clan meetings like a joke, showing up with no sense of punctuality!" Setsuna sneered, addressing the crowd. "Tonight's clan meeting officially begins!"
…
"Trouble's brewing…"
Not far from the Naka Shrine, Kakashi and Might Guy crouched on a sturdy tree branch, peering at the shrine under the dim moonlight.
Kakashi, with his signature dead-fish eyes, sighed. "They're probably using some kind of soundproof sealing jutsu. We can't hear a thing from here."
Guy rubbed his chin. "How about we just walk in openly and listen in?"
Kakashi's mouth twitched. "You've got some genius ideas, don't you?"
Barging into an Uchiha clan meeting to eavesdrop? Only a muscle-brained, hot-blooded idiot like Guy could come up with that!
They'd probably get beaten to a pulp the moment they stepped inside.
And with the Uchiha's volatile tempers, who knew if they'd go for the kill? They might not even make it out alive.
"Hm?" Kakashi suddenly covered Guy's mouth, his gaze locking onto something else. "That's… an ANBU uniform?"
Most of Konoha's ANBU had been taken by Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving only two behind.
One was Kakashi Hatake.
The other was Uchiha Itachi.
"Uchiha Itachi…" Kakashi's brow furrowed. Itachi, branded a "traitor" by the Uchiha, was daring to show up at their clan grounds?
What was he doing here?
"Guy, keep an eye on him," Kakashi whispered, recalling Akainu's "clan annihilation prophecy." "Don't let him do anything stupid. That kid's even more extreme than Akainu."
In Kakashi's eyes, Akainu's methods were extreme, but at least they were in pursuit of absolute justice.
Every person Akainu killed deserved it.
Not a single one was innocent.
But Itachi was different. Kakashi had heard of the "clan annihilation prophecy." He couldn't fathom why Itachi would destroy the entire Uchiha clan in the future.
Sure, some Uchiha ninjas weren't exactly saints, but what about the civilians? The women, children, and elderly?
Killing innocents…
Killing his own kin.
Even his own father and mother.
Kakashi had seen a lot in his time, but he couldn't wrap his head around that.
"Correction," Kakashi added. "Itachi's not just extreme. There's something wrong with his head."
…
Elsewhere, the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans—Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, and Choza Akimichi—were also watching the Uchiha clan grounds from a distance.
It was obvious the Uchiha radicals' coup plans weren't exactly a secret among Konoha's ninja clans. Their movements had drawn plenty of attention.
"With Akainu, the Hokage, and the ANBU gone, they wouldn't actually make a move now, would they?" Choza squinted, sounding uneasy. "I really don't want to go up against a bunch of Sharingan-wielding nutcases."
Shikaku, one hand in his pocket, spoke up. "Akainu's killing of the daimyo probably made the Uchiha radicals realize they can't wait anymore."
"For the Uchiha to pull off a successful coup, they'd need the support of the nobles and the daimyo. But Akainu's actions have burned those bridges. The radicals have no choice but to go all-in now."
Inoichi, expressionless, said, "If the Uchiha make a move, the Yamanaka clan will step in to stop them."
Shikaku looked at him, surprised.
Inoichi explained, "A reckless coup like this will only get innocent people killed—villagers and Uchiha civilians alike. If Akainu were here, he'd step in too."
Shikaku grinned. "Fair enough. If you're siding with 'absolute justice,' you've gotta follow through."
He clapped Inoichi on the shoulder. "Don't worry. If you're set on this, the Nara clan's got your back."
Choza chuckled. "Same for the Akimichi clan."
"But," Shikaku added, his tone shifting, "the real issue isn't the Uchiha radicals. For their coup to succeed, they'd need the village's approval, so they'll likely avoid harming civilians."
"The real problem is Uchiha Itachi," he said slowly. "That kid's mentally unstable. With Akainu and the Hokage gone, and Fugaku distracted by clan drama, no one's keeping tabs on him."
…
Inside the Naka Shrine's main hall.
"Everyone, the situation in the Fire Country has become chaotic because of one person's actions. I believe the Uchiha clan needs to elect a new leader now—someone who can guide us to new heights."
"Not someone clinging to outdated ideals that keep getting us pushed out of the village, dimming our clan's future!"
Though Setsuna didn't name names, everyone knew he was targeting Fugaku.
His words resonated with many in the crowd.
It was no secret the Uchiha were being sidelined.
How else had their clan grounds been pushed from the heart of Konoha to its outskirts? How had they gone from having a say in village politics to being relegated to the Police Force?
Fugaku's constant compromises had bred widespread discontent.
Setsuna was just voicing what many already felt.
His face solemn, his voice raspy, Setsuna continued, "So, I propose we use tonight's meeting to elect a new clan leader! And I, Uchiha Setsuna, ask for your support to become the next leader of the Uchiha clan!"
"I promise that once I take charge, every ninja clan in Konoha will bow to the Uchiha! The village's higher-ups will stop sidelining us! No…"
He corrected himself. "The higher-ups won't just stop—they'll be Uchiha. Konoha won't belong to them anymore. It'll be our Konoha."
"But," Setsuna sneered, "if some of you are fine with being pushed around, fine with being looked down on with suspicious eyes, then go ahead and stick with Fugaku. Keep being the higher-ups' loyal lapdog."
Below, sitting with Mikoto, Sasuke's eyes widened in anger.
He started to stand, but Mikoto gently pressed him back down.
"Sasuke, this isn't something a kid like you can jump into," she said, shaking her head.
Her worried gaze fell on Fugaku, who sat silently, his face unreadable but clearly hiding a storm of anger. Yet, she could also see the crowd below—many Uchiha, even the moderates, were nodding along with Setsuna's mocking words.
Mikoto sighed.
But in that eerie silence, a voice suddenly broke through, jarring and out of place. "So, tonight's about picking a new clan leader from the two of you?"
Mikoto froze.
She realized the voice came from behind her. Turning, she saw an elite Uchiha jonin standing up, hands in his pockets, staring boldly at Fugaku and Setsuna without a hint of deference.
"Yes," Setsuna replied. "Fugaku's still the clan leader, so he's eligible to run. As an elder with plenty of support from the younger generation, I'm naturally qualified too."
The jonin smirked. "Then there's no point in choosing. A weak coward or an old has-been? I'd rather pick a pig to sit in that seat."
He turned his back on the crowd, heading for the exit. "Let's hold this meeting when Uchiha Akainu's around."
Two other Uchiha jonin stood up beside him.
One said flatly, "No interest in choosing between a failure and a fossil."
The other grinned. "Sorry, but a clan leader like Fugaku who keeps giving ground, or an elder like Setsuna who's stuck in the past? We're more into 'absolute justice.' At least Akainu's got the guts we respect."
He glanced at Izumi in the crowd. "You're probably fed up with this too, right? You're only sitting there out of politeness. Makes sense—you're half-Uchiha, so you think and act differently. Fine, then. Let us three troublemakers start things off."
With that, the two jonin followed the first, walking out of the Naka Shrine's main hall.
The remaining clansmen were stunned.
Many couldn't help but look at Izumi.
"What a pointless election game," Izumi said, standing up, her exhausted frame moving toward the exit. "Even if Senior Akainu were in Konoha, he probably wouldn't bother with this meeting. It's meaningless. Whoever becomes clan leader, their vision and perspective are too small—either chasing balance or power."
"If you could spare a thought for the ordinary Uchiha who have no voice, or look down from your high-and-mighty perch for once, maybe the clan would have a chance."
Her figure disappeared into the night.
The main hall of the Naka Shrine was suddenly four cushions emptier.
"Akainu's justice… it's really swayed a lot of people," Mikoto murmured, her eyes wide with surprise. But on second thought, it wasn't that shocking.
Akainu's uncompromising pursuit of absolute justice and his bold demeanor naturally resonated with many younger Uchiha.
Even without actively forming a faction, some clansmen were drawn to his side.
Including herself…
Mikoto sighed softly. If she hadn't believed in Akainu's "absolute justice," why would she have entrusted Sasuke to him, asking Akainu to look after her son?
…
On the platform, Fugaku's stoic face hid his emotions, but Setsuna's expression was dark as a storm cloud, his wrinkled face nearly contorted with rage.
He recognized those three jonin—they were core members of the radical faction. But lately, they'd stopped following his orders.
Only now did it hit him.
Those three had chosen to side with Uchiha Akainu!
That extreme justice-driven kid wasn't even here today, yet those three were still licking his boots!
Setsuna nearly snapped his cane in half, veins bulging on his hands.
"Indeed, we're short one person," another young Uchiha from the Police Force stood up. "Compared to Clan Leader Fugaku or Elder Setsuna, I respect Uchiha Akainu more."
"He might not care about leading the Uchiha to glory, but I admire his resolve. I'll only follow someone I truly believe in. That's all."
He left too.
Uchiha Hazuki, Izumi's mother, quietly stood as well.
With her daughter gone, she couldn't linger either.
She bowed to the two men on the platform and left.
Crack. Under the weight of Setsuna's emotions, his cane finally splintered.
Wood shards pierced his palm, blood seeping out.
"Sorry, Elder Setsuna," a few younger radicals hesitated, then stood, taking a deep breath. "We're not that invested in the coup plan. The Uchiha don't have to become Hokage to earn the village's respect."
"Uchiha Akainu's respected, isn't he? So maybe there's another path for the clan. We're going to try exploring that."
Crunch. Setsuna bit down so hard, half a false tooth broke off.
No one had expected this, especially the radicals who'd sided with Setsuna.
They glanced around, exchanging looks.
Logic told them to stand up, denounce the defectors, and argue back.
But…
They suddenly felt the defectors had a point.
Could Fugaku or Setsuna really lead the Uchiha?
One was too cowardly for anyone's liking.
The other? If he had any real skill, he wouldn't have been locked up by the Second Hokage decades ago, rotting in a cell for years.
Not a single person spoke up for Setsuna.
The room fell into an awkward silence.
Ahem. An elderly Uchiha stood up, chuckling nervously. "My eldest son just left, so it'd be a bit awkward for me to stay."
Setsuna's eyes widened. That man was another radical elder who'd been there when he challenged Fugaku!
Looking around, nearly a tenth of the hall's cushions were now empty. Some of the remaining clansmen were wavering, unsure whether to stand.
The silence was deafening.
As Setsuna stood there, dazed and grim-faced, Fugaku, who'd been silent, let out a heavy breath. "Elder Setsuna… you didn't win. I didn't win either. We both lost. The real winner didn't even need to show up to beat us."
Fugaku stood. "After tonight, I doubt many will still see me as clan leader. The title's probably just an empty name now."
"Elder Setsuna, no need to be so angry. At least you half-achieved your goal. I had no way to fight back against your challenge, did I?"
Setsuna was speechless.
Half-achieved?
I wanted to be clan leader!
I wanted to be Hokage!
His heart roared as his face darkened like the bottom of a burnt pot.
…
"What's going on?" Outside the Naka Shrine, Itachi watched as clansmen trickled out.
First, he saw Police Force ninjas—prominent Uchiha jonin—leave.
Then Izumi walked out, followed by more Uchiha ninjas and civilians.
The unexpected scene made the killing intent in his chest falter.
His brows furrowed tightly.
Finally, he saw his father, mother, and Sasuke leave the shrine. For a moment, he thought his father glanced his way.
"It ended that fast?" Itachi muttered, confused.
…
"Kakashi, look! They're coming out!" Guy's sudden slap nearly knocked Kakashi off the branch. Kakashi grabbed the trunk to steady himself, glaring.
"…I'm not blind!"
Kakashi turned his attention to Fugaku. "The Uchiha clan leader doesn't look happy."
"Maybe the rumors from earlier today were true," he murmured. "His position as clan leader might be slipping. Trouble's coming. His rival's the radical Uchiha faction, and those guys are anything but tame."
Then he noticed another group leaving the shrine, led by Setsuna.
Kakashi was stunned. The elder's face looked worse than Fugaku's—like he'd stepped in dog crap, fallen face-first, and gotten some on his face.
"He… didn't become the new clan leader?"
Kakashi blinked.
Then who won?
…
Ten minutes later, Itachi returned to the Hokage's office. Homura's first instinct was to check Itachi's shoes and sleeves for fresh blood.
Thankfully, there was none.
"There was an unexpected development," Itachi said, head lowered, expression blank, before the elders could ask. "I tailed an Uchiha civilian and used Sharingan genjutsu to get details."
He laid out everything he'd learned.
Homura let out half a sigh of relief.
Koharu's face darkened. "Him again!?" She felt like Akainu's shadow loomed over everything in Konoha. Even absent, he was at the center of every major event.
Homura said, "Koharu, this is actually good news. The Uchiha aren't just split into two factions anymore—they've got three now. The more factions, the more stable they are. It's harder for them to cause trouble."
"Fugaku's faction and Akainu's faction balance out the radicals. They're realizing their coup plan doesn't have universal support."
It wasn't clear if Homura was speaking to Koharu or Itachi.
Koharu frowned. "The problem is, those who support Akainu aren't like Fugaku, who leans toward the village and us."
"In fact…" Her voice grew heavy. "They're more dangerous than the radicals! The radicals at least see themselves as part of Konoha and want more influence."
"But Akainu? That extreme kid doesn't care about Konoha or the village. Those who follow him will likely mimic his behavior."
"Do you realize how terrifying it is to have a group of Uchiha who don't care about the village? They'll be Konoha's biggest internal threat!"
"Even more unpredictable than Orochimaru ever was!"
Her words made Homura pause.
Itachi, head still lowered, had a flicker of something in his eyes.
…
The next day, in the Fire Country's capital.
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze at a sudden report.
"Akainu's gone?!"
An ANBU ninja reported solemnly, "Last night, we lost track of Uchiha Akainu. Today, there's been no sign of him in the capital. Mitarashi Anko and that ninja cat are gone too."
The ANBU paused, then added, "We suspect Akainu has killed everyone he deemed guilty and decided there's no reason to stay."
"Or he's already on his way back to Konoha. With his speed, he might be halfway there by now."
Hiruzen felt dazed.
Killed everyone…
Right.
The capital had been a bloodbath these past few days because of Akainu.
When Hiruzen tried to intervene, the daimyo's eldest son insisted he not stop Akainu.
In the end, Hiruzen felt like his trip to the capital as Hokage was pointless. Besides attending the daimyo's simple funeral, he'd done nothing.
Just then, the daimyo's eldest son hurried over, flanked by retainers.
"Lord Hokage," the son said, wiping sweat from his brow, "last night, Lord Akainu visited me. He told me to become the new daimyo of the Fire Country. He also… cough… warned me that if I do evil or allow it, he'll kill me."
"Then he left. Does… does that mean Lord Akainu's leaving the capital? Why else would he come to me at midnight to say that?"
Hiruzen fell silent.
A single ninja had, with a few words, decided the next daimyo of a major nation—and no one dared object.
The daimyo's son, now chosen by Akainu, stood there nervously, as if afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Akainu's actions…
Were they even those of a ninja?
It was outright audacious!
Utterly defiant of the natural order!
"He's probably gone," Hiruzen said, taking a deep breath, his voice resigned.
"Then… Lord Hokage," the son swallowed hard, "am I really supposed to take the daimyo's position?"
The question made Hiruzen's hair stand on end.
He quickly replied, "Your Highness, the daimyo's succession is decided by the daimyo's estate. As Konoha's Hokage, I'm not subordinate to the Fire Country's daimyo, but it's inappropriate for me to meddle in such matters. It could spark rumors."
The son blinked. "But Lord Akainu…"
"He's him, and I'm me!" Hiruzen, sweating profusely, tried to distance himself. "Your Highness may not know the… dynamic between me and Akainu. Please don't assume his will is mine."
He didn't want the rumors to spiral further!
Too late.
…
"The Fire Country's daimyo was killed in a plot by Konoha's Hokage. And the one who struck him down in broad daylight was a Konoha ninja named Uchiha Akainu?!"
In the Earth Country's capital, the daimyo's face was pale with shock. He turned to his retainers. "Is this true? Did Konoha's ninja really turn on their own daimyo?!"
The retainer replied, "That's what we've heard so far."
The daimyo took a deep breath.
Despite tensions between their nations, hearing that a daimyo died at a ninja's hands gave him a chilling sense of shared fate.
And a faint unease.
"Tsuchikage Onoki…"
He swallowed, his voice uncertain. "He wouldn't be as ambitious as Konoha's Hiruzen Sarutobi, would he?"
The retainer froze.
In the past, he could've confidently said Iwagakure was loyal to the daimyo.
Now, with the Fire Country's precedent, he wasn't so sure.
…
In Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Onoki's weathered face flickered with uncertainty. "Hiruzen Sarutobi… I never thought that monkey would go this far. He's broken an unspoken rule. This will throw the ninja world into chaos!"
Onoki didn't need to guess—the Earth Country's daimyo was surely growing wary of Iwagakure now.
And likely, daimyos across many nations were starting to fear their own ninja villages.
They didn't want to end up like the Fire Country's daimyo.
"Hiruzen's opened a Pandora's box," Onoki sighed. "I underestimated him."
…
In Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage, Ai, had a stormy glint in his eyes. "Uchiha Akainu…" he muttered, his voice gruff. "That name's familiar. A kid with two bloodline limits, a near-unstoppable Lava Release. Hard to forget."
Ai studied the intel scroll closely, his face growing serious.
"Hmph. I knew that kid was off, and I wasn't wrong. Killing a nation's daimyo? He's lost it…"
He stood, tossing the scroll to a Kumo ninja.
"Show this to Bee. The kid who nearly melted his arm off is back in our sights."
Ai paused, then added, "And he's making himself an enemy of the entire world!"
He could already see it—Akainu's actions wouldn't be tolerated by the ninja world.
As long as the daimyos and nobles valued their lives, they'd do everything to eliminate the one who broke the rules.
"Yes, Lord Raikage!"
…
Evening, at Konoha's gates.
Seven-year-old Shikamaru Nara, with his lazy dead-fish eyes, looked at Choji Akimichi, exasperated. "Stop eating and sweep the ground already! Can't believe my first time skipping class got me caught by Iruka-sensei, and now we're stuck cleaning the village gates… What a drag. Dad's gonna laugh his head off when I get home."
Choji, munching on chips, mumbled, "There's still time. Let me finish… Huh? Shikamaru, why're your eyes so wide?"
Choji noticed Shikamaru's expression shift to pure shock, like he'd seen a ghost in broad daylight.
"Behind… you…" Shikamaru stammered, sweating.
"Uchiha Akainu!"
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