Chapter 51: Uchiha Fugaku's Compromise
Uchiha Fugaku's residence was located in the deepest part of the Uchiha compound. Uchiha Akira walked along the flagstone path leading to the Clan Head's mansion. The clan members he met along the way, whether they were patrolling Police Force members or ordinary women and children, would immediately stop and bow in respect. Their eyes were filled with fervent admiration.
Finally, Akira stopped in front of the heavy wooden door. The two guards, seeing him, instinctively tensed their bodies, then respectfully pulled the door open. "Elder Akira, the Clan Head is already waiting for you."
"Have a seat." Fugaku gestured for Akira to sit down.
Akira did not stand on ceremony, directly sitting opposite Fugaku and meeting his gaze. "Akira, were you not too aggressive a few days ago?" Fugaku was referring to Akira's iron-fisted actions of arresting people on the street and rounding up all the troublemakers.
"The Uchiha Police Force directly suppressing villagers' rumors has never happened in Konoha's history. This will intensify the conflict between us and the Village, making the Uchiha's situation even more difficult. I hope you can slow down the reform of the Police Force and adopt a gentler approach toward the villagers. This is for the stability of the family."
Fugaku tried to use his identity as Clan Head and the Uchiha clan's past experiences to suppress this young man who was on the verge of losing control.
Akira picked up the teacup in front of him but did not drink, merely feeling the warmth emanating from the cup. "Stability? Clan Head Fugaku, is your so-called stability allowing Root to spread rumors among the common people, slandering the Uchiha, and shaking our foundation? Is your so-called stability letting our clan members, when faced with baseless accusations, only remain silent in humiliation, like Sakumo Hatake, or even head toward destruction?"
Sakumo Hatake was a taboo in Konoha that could not be easily mentioned.
"You!"
"I'm not interested in debating these ethereal principles with you." Akira interrupted Fugaku, taking a scroll from his arms and gently placing it on the tea table, pushing it over. "This is my progress report since taking over the Police Force's training a month ago."
Fugaku's gaze fell on the scroll. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and unrolled it. "The Police Force's elite squad's Chakra reserves have increased by an average of 15%. 37 Chūnin, under the 'High-Efficiency Training Mode,' have already touched the threshold of Jōnin. There are 26 new clan members who have awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan, which is five times the number from the same period last year. The most important point: now, over 90% of the Police Force members only obey my orders. The clan members' loyalty and sense of honor to the family have reached their peak since the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Incident."
"Clan Head Fugaku," Akira's direct gaze made Fugaku feel an unprecedented pressure. "These are the results obtained from the 'aggressive' methods you spoke of. Now, do you still want me to slow down?"
Uchiha Fugaku was speechless. He had no rebuttal. His proud authority as Clan Head was so fragile in the face of these undeniable facts. Uchiha Fugaku, this man's greatest sorrow, was placing his hope in the mercy of his enemies. This was true for the Konoha high-ups, and it was true for himself.
Fugaku always thought that compromise and concession could bring peace and tranquility. Little did he know, in the eyes of wolves, this was merely a sign of weakness, only making their fangs sharper. It was no wonder that Uchiha Fugaku would eventually die at the hands of Uchiha Itachi, the "dutiful son" he personally raised. Such an indecisive person might be more than enough to lead an ordinary small family, but to be in charge of a prestigious family like the Uchiha was destined to be a tragedy.
After a long while, Fugaku looked somewhat dejected, as if all his spirit had been drained, and he slumped back against the chair. He knew that from the moment Uchiha Akira used those 12 guards to crush the Police Force elites in the meeting, he had already lost. For the sake of the family not falling apart in internal strife, he had no choice.
"From now on," Fugaku was very bitter. "You can participate in decisions regarding the deployment of the Police Force, the allocation of family finances, and… the formulation of external strategies."
After he finished speaking, Fugaku stood up and walked to a bookshelf in the depths of the room, activating a mechanism. The bookshelf slowly moved aside, revealing a hidden compartment where several scrolls lay quietly. Those were the Uchiha clan's most core secret techniques and historical records, things that only the Clan Head was qualified to keep.
"You should also review these." Fugaku handed the scrolls to Akira. This action was tantamount to personally handing over the entire Uchiha's authority.
Akira accepted the scrolls.
[Ding! Detecting that the Host has overpowered Uchiha Fugaku and become the de facto ruler of the Uchiha!]
[Reward Issued: Glory Value * 100,000, Mangekyō pupil power greatly enhanced! Susanoo development progress increased!]
A pure energy surged into his eyes, and Akira could feel that the power contained within his Mangekyō Sharingan had made another qualitative leap.
Just as Akira was about to leave, Fugaku called out to him. "Akira." His voice carried a plea. "Even so, I still hope you… can find a way for the Uchiha, and for the Village, to coexist. Don't truly reach that point." This was his last, and most powerless, insistence as Clan Head.
Akira stopped, turning around. "Clan Head Fugaku," his tone softened. "I admit, your endurance and compromise over the years did indeed buy the Uchiha a moment of respite. Under the circumstances at the time, this might have been the only choice."
Fugaku was stunned; he hadn't expected Akira to affirm him.
"However, that era has passed. The period of dormancy you fought for ends here." Akira's voice carried a domineering quality. "Because I, Uchiha Akira, have appeared. From today onwards, my Uchiha clan will no longer need to grovel to anyone. The dignity we lost, we will take back with our own hands. It's time for someone from our Uchiha to sit in the Hokage's seat in Konoha."
With those words, Akira no longer lingered, turning and leaving. For him, the position of Clan Head was already within reach.