'Haven't you been the one inciting the idea of a coup all along? Isn't that what you've been pushing for? Even I, the clan head, was pressured by you. If it weren't for you, I would never have considered such madness!
So why… why has it suddenly become me? How did it turn out that I'm the one plotting a coup?
Elder Setsuna, have you lost your mind?'
Uchiha Fugaku stared at Uchiha Setsuna in disbelief, completely stunned and unable to find words for this absurd situation.
"Patriarch, is this true?" someone shouted. "Why…why would you collude with Shimura Danzo?"
"Clan leader, how could you? It turns out this was all a conspiracy between you and Danzo? Why? You're our leader, what were you doing?!"
The dovish Uchiha members' voices filled the room, echoing with confusion and disbelief. None of them wanted to believe what they were hearing, yet the accusations from the Hawks struck deep.
Chief… why?
You are our patriarch. We can't understand at all!
Fugaku's eyes widened in frustration. "How is that even possible? As the clan head, how could I ever betray our clan's interests and collude with Shimura Danzo? How could I ever do something like that? Elder Setsuna, you're mistaken! You must be! I would never do such a thing! I'm the clan leader, what reason would I have?"
He forced a weak chuckle, trying to sound calm. "Elder Setsuna, there has to be some misunderstanding. Hah, since you claim you have no intention of a coup, then release me! We can discuss this. As the patriarch, I would never harm the Uchiha's interests."
Fugaku's tone trembled between fear and desperation.
"Yeah… what for?" Setsuna muttered, his face hidden beneath the shadow of the flickering lamplight. He paused, his voice low and deliberate.
"Who knows what Danzo promised you? Maybe he wanted to help you consolidate power within the clan, eliminate dissenters and seize total control. Maybe he offered you something… some benefit. Who can say?"
Yes… who indeed?
Who could truly know whether Fugaku's words were truth or deception? If there really was a conspiracy, would he admit it now?
The dovish Uchiha glanced at one another. Their doubt deepened. Everything about this felt unbelievable, absurd even but when they thought carefully, it started to make a strange kind of sense.
After all, this was what Elder Setsuna had claimed from the beginning.
And deep down, none of them wanted to stage a coup. They had been dragged into this by pressure, by fear, by the Hawks' constant insistence.
So their hearts naturally leaned toward any explanation that freed them of guilt.
It was human nature to believe what you want to be true.
Just like how a man deceived by love still convinces himself that his goddess is pure and faultless, even when all signs say otherwise.
Uchiha Fugaku was speechless. Every attempt to defend himself only made him sound guiltier. He truly had no ties with Shimura Danzo, but no matter how he tried to explain, it only came across as denial.
"Fugaku," Setsuna said coldly, "stop struggling. You can't fool us anymore."
"Elder Setsuna!" someone called from the doorway, breaking the tension. "Kazuto-sama has returned!"
A smirk crept across Setsuna's face. "Hahaha… perfect. Perfect timing."
Moments later, several figures entered the room. Fugaku and the doves turned their heads and froze.
Those eyes…
The Mangekyō Sharingan!
Every Uchiha present felt their blood run cold.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan…?" one dove whispered in awe. "When did such a pair appear among us?"
"That's right," Setsuna said proudly, stepping aside. "This is the same power once possessed by Madara-sama himself! Thanks to Kazuto's Mangekyō Sharingan, we discovered Fugaku and Danzo's conspiracy. Without him, our clan would've been dragged straight into the abyss by Fugaku's deceit!"
Setsuna took a respectful step back, standing behind Uchiha Kazuto.
Kazuto lifted his head, his crimson eyes glowing with that ominous, whirling pattern.
"Yes," he said firmly, "I awakened my Mangekyō long ago, but Elder Setsuna advised me to keep it hidden. Originally, I intended to use its power during the coup but through these eyes, I discovered the truth about Fugaku and Danzo's plot."
His expression was calm and righteous. "I couldn't let our clan fall into ruin because of their scheme. I couldn't let Elder Setsuna and the rest become victims of Fugaku's betrayal!"
His words struck like thunder.
The dovish members exchanged looks, their doubt melting into conviction. Now, seeing Kazuto's Mangekyō with their own eyes, they began to believe. If he had truly killed Danzo… then maybe everything the Hawks said was true after all.
"Hmph!" Kazuto snorted. "Fugaku, you never expected your conspiracy with Danzo to be exposed, did you? I've even slain your accomplice, Shimura Danzo himself!"
"What?!"
Gasps rippled through the room. Even Uchiha Setsuna's eyes widened in shock before lighting up with joy.
In that moment, the Hawks' faith in Kazuto solidified completely. The one who possessed the ultimate eyes of their clan had eliminated Danzo, their oppressor.
Uchiha Kazuto had become their savior.
Then, with cold efficiency, Kazuto dragged Fugaku into a nearby room.
"You…" Fugaku rasped, his voice hoarse. "What are you planning to do?"
Kazuto looked down at him, his face utterly indifferent.
"What for?" he repeated softly, almost to himself. "To change the Uchiha clan. To change Konoha."
He leaned lazily against a wooden pillar, his Mangekyō gleaming in the dim light. "To do that… I'll have to blame you, Clan Leader."
Fugaku's breath caught.
He understood it now. Everything; the accusations, the poison, the illusion of Danzo's conspiracy had all been Kazuto's plan from the very start.
Kazuto continued calmly, almost wistfully.
"This was all planned. From the beginning. To survive in this world, we can't afford weak leaders. Letting a bug like you stay in power would only drag the Uchiha into ruin. I refuse to let us die by the hands of that beast, Uchiha Itachi, in the future."
His eyes narrowed into crimson triangles.
"To change our fate," he said, his voice cold as steel, "I must take the position of Clan Head myself."
…
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