After the exchange of interests ended, the previously tense atmosphere finally subsided somewhat.
Overall, Uchiha Rengoku had already achieved his goal.
The Third Hokage had completely lost control over Konoha's greatest military power.
But there was nothing to be done. This time the Uchiha's merits were too great, even he could not stop them.
Just as he said, whether he could control Naruto or not, Rengoku really didn't care anymore.
With Rengoku taking the stance of developing the clan, the probability of forcibly controlling the Nine-Tails for a rebellion had actually decreased a lot.
After all, if he wanted to control the Nine-Tails, whether Naruto was in the academy didn't make a difference.
Rengoku's strength, there was no one left in Konoha who could stop him.
"Rengoku, what do you plan to do with the One-Tails Jinchuriki and the Tsuchikage's granddaughter?", The Third Hokage probed.
"Heh…", Rengoku let out a light laugh, "Those are my Uchiha clan's spoils of war."
"I'll have Sunagakure and Iwagakure follow the Uchiha's rules and pay money or goods to ransom them."
Then Rengoku looked at the Hokage with a sinister gaze, "Heh, you didn't think I would keep the Jinchuriki as reserve power for our Uchiha clan, did you?"
The Third Hokage froze, 'Isn't that the logical thing to do?'
Facing over twenty elders, Rengoku laughed wildly and arrogantly, "What's a Jinchuriki? What's a tailed beast?"
"They're just toys for my Uchiha clan."
"Even the perfect Jinchurikis, Yugito, Killer B, Yagura, none of them are my match."
"It's only you all who have to be cautious when facing a Jinchuriki."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA…", Rengoku laughed maniacally and activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. The immense pressure made everyone present feel heavy in their hearts.
The chakra on his body surged like a tsunami.
The insects inside the Aburame clan elder's body trembled as if encountering a natural enemy.
The elders beside Rengoku all leaned their bodies back, trying to distance themselves from him.
The Third Hokage and others looked at Rengoku with gloomy expressions. The atmosphere that had just relaxed cooled again with Rengoku's mad laughter.
"Konoha has already been too weak. So weak that any random shinobi village dares to pick a fight."
"Kumogakure still thinks it's like a few years ago, sending some guy to die and we have to pay a clan's life as compensation?"
Hiashi and the Third Hokage's expressions both shifted slightly.
Rengoku crossed his arms, "With me here, Jinchuriki and Kage are all trash."
"Hereby I inform you all of one matter: I, Uchiha Rengoku, will officially take on the position of Uchiha clan head next month."
"You're all welcome to attend!"
"Let's go, Fugaku," Rengoku turned his head and took the lead to walk out.
Fugaku stood up, composed and neither humble nor overbearing. He put away the Raikage's severed arm and bowed to everyone, "I will formally resign from the position of Uchiha clan head on the seventh of next month. The new clan head will be Rengoku. You are all welcome to attend."
The Third Hokage looked surprised, "Fugaku, is this true? Why are you stepping down?"
A look of fervor appeared on Fugaku's face, "Only Rengoku can lead the Uchiha to greater heights."
"The clan head should naturally be Rengoku."
"Excuse me, everyone," Fugaku was just like Rengoku's lackey. Once Rengoku left, he immediately followed.
After the two Uchiha left, the entire meeting room was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
All the elders looked somewhat shocked.
The Uchiha had never really entered the inner power structure. Last time Rengoku and Fugaku came, it was as honorary elders.
This time they came already promoted to advisor elder. The speed was incredibly fast, and everyone still didn't understand Rengoku's character well.
No one expected the seemingly normal Rengoku to suddenly reveal this side.
Clearly, the previous Rengoku had been pretending all along. Now that he had reached the core of Konoha's power, he finally showed his true face.
Compared to the cowardly Uchiha Fugaku of before, Rengoku was obviously a hawkish leader.
Now that Rengoku was taking over as clan head of the Uchiha, things probably wouldn't be peaceful anymore.
However, there was another group of people who had different thoughts. Just as Rengoku said, Konoha had been too cowardly.
Clearly capable of fighting, yet always retreating.
Now with such a strong Uchiha in the village's leadership,
It seemed, they wouldn't have to swallow their pride anymore.
The Third Hokage was getting old. How many more years could he serve as Hokage?
In that moment, many elders began harboring their own thoughts.
The Third Hokage also frowned. When Uchiha Madara defected, he had only been a small child and had never seen Madara's imposing presence.
But his teacher was Tobirama, who had drilled into him the most, was the Uchiha clan's uncontrollability and emotional instability.
He wasn't surprised by Rengoku's current mental state. The Uchiha were just naturally hawkish like this.
But the real problem was Rengoku's strength.
This time, Rengoku had truly shown his fangs. Just that surging eye power and vast, tidal-like chakra made the Third Hokage feel completely unsure in his heart.
Moreover, Uchiha Rengoku alone had successively defeated Yagura, Yugito, Killer B, and the Raikage.
His battle record was solid and undeniable. As he himself said, Jinchuriki were just toys in his eyes.
'An Uchiha with this kind of power, can he possibly stay low-profile? Naturally not.'
But the Third Hokage no longer had any trump cards.
At least, there was no one who could match Rengoku now.
The other elders all had contemplative expressions, clearly having thoughts of their own.
The Third Hokage felt dejected inside, but he forcefully suppressed his emotions, not letting the others see.
"Since everything has been dealt with, today's high-level meeting is over. The bulletin board will be updated tomorrow."
After the Third Hokage announced the end of the high-level meeting, everyone also stood up one after another, greeted each other, and left the meeting room.
———
Rengoku kept a wild smile on his face until he walked out of Konoha's central area before withdrawing the fake smile.
Even though he was strong enough now, it still wasn't the time to truly act arrogant.
All of this was a mask he put on. He needed the other top brass of Konoha to know what kind of political stance he held.
And he also needed to have that kind of battle record and capital to lead Konoha down another path.
Lastly, it was true that the Uchiha had three Mangekyo Sharingan, but aside from his own abundant eye power, Fugaku and Itachi were using theirs up with every use.
In the battle with the Raikage, Rengoku had also consumed nearly one-fifth of his eye power.
Though he still had plenty now, he couldn't squander it recklessly.
Before the Uchiha gained Eternal Mangekyo, they still needed a period of development.
The sheep-shearing and sheep-raising plan also needed to move forward.
If his plan proceeded smoothly, the Uchiha would experience explosive growth in strength.
Now, Rengoku didn't need to fight for time himself.
The Third Hokage and other advisor elders would help him fight for time.
At that moment, Fugaku caught up from behind, "Rengoku, your face-changing speed really is fast."
Although they had discussed all of this beforehand, Rengoku's manic laughter had still surprised Fugaku.
Rengoku gave a faint laugh, "This is just our Uchiha's normal expression. The crazier a Uchiha is, the stronger they get. You don't even know how to laugh maniacally, no wonder your strength keeps declining."
Fugaku looked slightly stunned, but as the Uchiha clan head, he knew many secrets of the Mangekyo.
He now began seriously reflecting, 'Is my cautiousness incompatible with the Mangekyo Sharingan?'
At that moment, Rengoku noticed that his bond value with Fugaku had increased significantly, nearly reaching the fourth stage.
He didn't know what Fugaku was thinking.
He patted Fugaku on the shoulder, "Come on, we still have to return to the clan and announce this matter."
"Alright, let's go."
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