The clan members looked at Fugaku, their gazes filled with subtle ridicule as if to say:
"This is our clan head? He can't even control his own son!"
Noticing the look in their eyes, Fugaku's face darkened with frost.
"You ungrateful brat! I'll break your legs today!"
It was one thing to be disrespected by other clan members.
But when his own seven-year-old son said he wasn't fit to be clan head—in front of everyone—that was utterly unacceptable.
He's really lost all face today. Just wait till I beat the crap out of this little bastard...
Fugaku marched toward Rukawa, each step filled with growing rage.
Oh snap! Drama incoming!
The rest of the Uchiha sat back with popcorn in spirit, fully prepared to watch this "loving father-son bonding moment."
But halfway to his target, a figure stepped between them.
"Now, now, Fugaku. Don't get so riled up. He's just a kid. All he did was speak the truth."
Uchiha Sōjin stood in Fugaku's way, smiling.
"In fact, I quite like this kid. At least he's got some backbone—more than I can say for you."
"I can tell already, he's going to be a prodigy to rival Uchiha Itachi."
Then Sōjin turned to Rukawa and said with a wide grin:
"Hey kid! I like your style. You're Rukawa, right?"
"Good! You're just the kind of spirited warrior our Uchiha clan needs!"
He extended a hand dramatically.
"Come! Call me grandpa!"
"I promise, I'll bring out your true potential—way better than your old man ever could."
Fugaku: "….."
This guy...
He's trying to steal my kid right in front of me?!
If Rukawa actually called him 'grandpa,' wouldn't that make me his son?!
"Sōjin, you're going too far!"
"Heh heh. Just kidding, Fugaku. Don't take it so seriously," Sōjin said, shrugging as if it was all in jest.
He turned back to Rukawa with a smirk.
"So? What do you say, kid? Want to call me grandpa?"
Rukawa stared at him with a cold expression.
"Get lost. What the hell do you think you are?"
"You're just a mutt that won't shut up. You're not even worthy of shining my shoes."
"You little punk, what did you just say?!"
Sōjin's grin froze on his face.
"Trash."
"Who are you calling trash?!"
Sōjin's face turned completely black with anger.
"Oh, don't get me wrong," Rukawa said coolly.
"I'm not just talking about you."
His gaze swept across the room.
"I'm saying every single one of you here is trash."
BOOM!!!
It was like dropping a boulder into a still lake—chaos exploded.
Arrogant!
Insufferably arrogant!
Everyone present was at least a jōnin. When had they ever been so humiliated?
And by a seven-year-old, no less!
"Kid! Do you even know what you're saying?!"
"You brat! Watch your mouth—we won't go easy on you!"
"Fugaku, look at your son. He has no respect for his elders!"
Angry voices filled the room. Many activated their three-tomoe Sharingan, eyes blazing with killing intent.
"Hmph! Don't act like you're not trash."
Rukawa snorted. Even as dozens of elite Sharingan focused on him, he stood completely unfazed.
"In my eyes, both the so-called moderates and the radicals are garbage."
"The 'moderates' just bend over under pressure..."
"Always selling out the clan's interests. You'll end up as nothing but meat on someone else's cutting board."
"And the 'radicals'? All bark and no bite. Just a bunch of howling stray dogs shouting 'rebellion!' every damn day."
"If you really wanted to rebel, where's the preparation?"
"Any intel gathered? Emergency defense plans? Contingency strategies?"
"None! All you do is shout slogans."
"What, are you planning to yell Hiruzen and Danzō to death?"
"You clowns don't even realize the clan's secrets have already been leaked!"
"Pathetic!"
Rukawa's voice roared over everyone else's.
Having seen the original series, he genuinely thought the Uchiha 'radicals' were nothing more than slogan-chanting amateurs.
They talked a big game about rebellion but made zero preparations.
The proof? On the night of the massacre, the entire Uchiha clan—except Itachi and Rukawa—was wiped out.
And what about Konoha's side?
Zero casualties.
If the Uchiha had made any real preparations, at least someone else should have survived. And Konoha should've taken losses too.
"The clan is on the brink of destruction, and you idiots are still bickering over who gets to be clan head?"
"It's like your brains were eaten by pigs!"
"I came here hoping to discuss an impending crisis with you lot..."
"But now I see, talking to you is just a waste of my breath."
With that, Rukawa turned around and walked off.
Like everyone else in the room was beneath his notice.
With this many idiots per square meter, how the hell are you supposed to pull off a coup?
Forget these fools. I'll handle this myself before these clowns get me killed too.
"Hold it right there, brat! You think you can just insult us all and leave?"
Sōjin roared.
"You're going to pay for those words!"
Rukawa kept his hands in his pockets and didn't even glance back.
He strolled toward the exit like he was out for a relaxing walk.
He already said it—he's done wasting time with you lot.