Chapter 52: Gathering the Elders to Prepare to Remove Uchiha Fugaku
Akira slowly closed his eyes. A surge of pupil power, far purer and more immense than before, silently flowed deep within his eye sockets, nourishing the Mangekyō Sharingan that harbored forbidden power.
[Susanoo development progress increased!] This was the reward previously given by the system. Akira could feel that his development of Susanoo had advanced to the Third Stage, not far from the Fourth Stage, the Perfect Susanoo.
In his mind, a gigantic energy skeleton, emanating an ominous aura, rose from the ground. Flesh and meridians rapidly attached themselves to it. Immediately after, a dark purple Karasu-Tengu armor covered its entire body, and a ferocious mask protected its ethereal face. A massive arm lifted, grasping a Chakra longsword entwined with lightning out of thin air.
Susanoo Third Form. Susanoo Divine Tool, Totsuka Blade. This was Akira's confidence to challenge Uchiha Fugaku, who was known as the "Fierce Eye." The position of Elder, for Akira, was far from enough. The Uchiha clan must, and can only, have one voice: that was his, Uchiha Akira's voice.
Akira's figure disappeared from the rooftop.
…
Inside a secret room, candlelight flickered. Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Honoka were already waiting. It was Akira who had summoned these two Elders, one from the Hawk Faction and one from the Dove Faction.
Upon seeing the two Elders, Akira did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "I need your support. To remove Uchiha Fugaku and have me take over as Clan Head."
"I agree." Uchiha Yashiro, almost without any hesitation, immediately chose to support Akira's decision. Compared to Uchiha Fugaku, the Elder of the Hawk Faction preferred Akira to lead the Uchiha. "Fugaku is too weak; he will only lead the clan to ruin! Akira, only you can lead us Uchiha to reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to us!"
Now, looking at Uchiha Honoka. The old man opened his mouth, and the hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. "Elder Akira… this… isn't it too soon? Clan Head Fugaku is, after all, the Clan Head, and his prestige within the clan is still present. Forcibly removing him like this might cause internal strife within the clan. This is exactly what Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to see."
"Do you think that our recent assertiveness, the Third Hokage would truly just sit by and do nothing?" Akira said coldly. "He can't wait to see me, this new Elder, and Fugaku, that Clan Head from the old era, fight to the death. A Uchiha that is internally depleted and divided is the best Uchiha in his eyes. He can sit securely in the Hokage's position, watching us exhaust ourselves. The more fiercely we fight, the more at ease he will be. Fugaku's compromise will not bring peace. Shisui's sacrifice will also not bring understanding."
Akira mentioned that name. Uchiha Honoka's body trembled violently, his heart filled with pain and struggle. Shisui was the last hope of their Dove Faction and the beginning of the collapse of their beliefs. Once, the Dove Faction had also fantasized about reconciling with the Village and moving toward peace under the leadership of Uchiha Shisui. But the result was that Shisui, who was regarded as a bridge for communication, was framed by the Village, unhesitatingly abandoned, and finally forced to commit suicide.
"Are you still trying to entrust the Uchiha's fate to the enemy's mercy?" Akira stood up, looking down at Uchiha Honoka. "I am sitting here today not to discuss with you. I am informing you. The Uchiha cannot wait any longer. Fugaku's era must end. A unified, powerful Uchiha that listens to only one voice is qualified to contend with the Third Hokage, Danzō, and those people. I am the one who will lead the Uchiha."
Overbearing. Beyond doubt. Uchiha Honoka recalled Shisui. He recalled the humiliation when clan members were ostracized. He recalled everything the Uchiha had endured over these years. Yes, was compromise truly useful?
For a long time, Uchiha Honoka slowly lowered his head. "...I understand. Everything will be arranged by Elder Akira."
Akira sat down again. "Very good. I will arrange the specific plan. What you need to do is to support my resolution at the Elder Council. Fugaku… he will agree. If he doesn't agree, I will make him agree!"
Akira was absolutely confident. Whether he voluntarily yields or is passively dethroned, Uchiha Fugaku's position as Clan Head could not be saved. The outcome was already determined.
The meeting ended, and the two Elders left with complex feelings. In the secret room, only Akira remained. He picked up the now cold tea and drank it in one gulp. Removing Fugaku was just the first step. Next, what he had to face was the entire Konoha power structure. And that Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the "God of Shinobi." Oh, and Danzō, the Darkness of the Ninja World, hiding in the shadows.
…
In the Naka Shrine of the Uchiha clan, in the underground meeting room, Uchiha Akira once again summoned numerous Elders and important members from both the Hawk Faction and the Dove Faction. Uchiha Fugaku was not notified to attend.
Akira sat in the main seat. To his left was the Hawk Faction Elder, Uchiha Yashiro, whose eyes gleamed with barely suppressed excitement. To his right was the Dove Faction representative, Uchiha Honoka. The most core members of both factions were present.
"Everyone," Akira spoke. "I have gathered everyone today for only one matter." He paused, slowly scanning everyone present. "The Uchiha clan needs a new Clan Head. The current Uchiha, under Konoha's oppression and surveillance, has reached the edge of a cliff. Clan Head Fugaku's compromises and concessions have not brought peace, but rather intensified isolation. We can no longer entrust the family's fate to a leader who only knows how to endure."
Akira stood up, and Kenji and Shunichi immediately stepped forward behind him, successively unfolding several thick scrolls on the long table. "These are the results of my taking over the Police Force for one year. The patrol efficiency of the Police Force has increased by 40%. The crime rate within the Village has decreased by 20%. The total assets of the clan's various industries have grown by over 25%. The most important point," Akira's gaze finally fell on the scroll that recorded the strength of the new generation. "In the past year, a total of 38 young clan members within the clan newly awakened their Sharingan. This is the sum of the previous three years. Among them, 7 have already activated their Two-Tomoe Sharingan."
These statistics were glories that Uchiha Fugaku had not achieved in decades under his leadership.
"I need your support. At the clan meeting 3 days from now, remove Uchiha Fugaku. And I will take over as Clan Head."
Since Akira had previously informed Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Honoka in advance, the process went exceptionally smoothly. Uchiha Yashiro was the first to stand up and express his support, and then Uchiha Honoka also expressed his support for Elder Akira. With the two Elders leading the way, the remaining Elders and Uchiha elites all chose to support Akira in taking over as Clan Head.