Patting Itachi on the shoulder, Natsuki clenched his fist.
"This is the root of it all."
"Senior, do you mean power?"
Natsuki shook his head. "Yes… and no."
"Yes, because in the ninja world, power is everything. When our Uchiha's strength is enough to completely overwhelm Konoha, then we can decide who becomes Hokage."
"No, because even if we suppress Konoha, there are still the Cloud, Stone, Mist, and Sand."
"In Madara and Hashirama's time, Hashirama's power was enough to suppress every hidden village—that's why he became Hokage."
"But the current Hokage is just the result of clans compromising with each other."
"If one does not strengthen themselves, the title of Hokage is completely unworthy of its name."
"In my Mangekyō, you've seen countless disasters. If you still don't broaden your horizons, then what's the point?"
"I suspended the Uchiha only to help them see things more clearly, so they won't be blinded by the immediate unfairness in front of them."
"What we need is strength. When every single one of us Uchiha can stand on their own, Konoha will beg us to take the position of Hokage."
Fugaku listened in a daze. He pressed Natsuki's shoulder. "Natsuki, this clan leader position should be yours."
Natsuki laughed and brushed off his hand. "Clan leader, you're joking. As long as the Uchiha are strong, it doesn't matter who leads. If we are destroyed, then what difference does it make who the clan head is?"
Everyone fell silent.
"Yes!" Shisui nodded heavily.
"It's about time. The mental problems of most of the clan have already been guided through."
"It's time we broke free from this circle."
"It's time to prepare for a 'rebellion.'"
Fugaku was silent for a moment. "Notify those people according to the plan."
Natsuki pulled out a sealing scroll and handed it to Itachi. "Itachi, this contains some of the clan's reserves, as well as business proposals I've written."
"Once you leave, life will be tough. Everything will depend on you."
They had already decided earlier—Itachi and Shisui would lead part of the clan to leave Konoha.
Natsuki and Fugaku would stay behind. Fugaku originally wanted Natsuki to lead, but since Konoha still had plenty of talent, Natsuki needed to recruit them away first.
Only then could they seize control of their own destiny.
Itachi accepted the scroll with a heavy heart.
In recent times, his mindset had gone through a drastic change, as if a whole new world had opened before him.
Previously, his perspective was far too limited—confined within Konoha's walls.
He didn't want to leave Sasuke behind, but Shisui's nature was too soft; he couldn't bear such responsibility. He could only serve as a warrior. Thus, Itachi would lead, with the three elders as support.
Fortunately, with Natsuki around, he could feel reassured.
"Don't worry, Father, Senior—I'll do my best. Senior, I'll leave Sasuke in your care."
Natsuki waved his hand. "Don't make it sound like a farewell. Your father's still here. I'll teach Sasuke well."
"Clan Leader Fugaku, gather them."
"I know all of you here want nothing more than for the Uchiha to thrive."
Natsuki sat at the head seat, with the others by his side.
Below sat Uchiha clansmen—mostly hawkish radicals, many of them former members of the Police Force.
"But Konoha's long-standing oppression has denied us the treatment we deserve."
"For all this time, the Uchiha have never held the position of Hokage."
"Not even an elder's seat has ever gone to one of us."
At Natsuki's words, the Uchihas below began breathing heavily.
Most Uchiha were emotional people, easily roused.
"The other day, when I had the Fourth Elder suspend all your duties, it was to show you something."
"Konoha cannot function without the Uchiha!"
"The Uchiha must seize the rights that belong to us!"
From below, Uchiha Yayo asked, "But Deputy Clan Leader, how do we obtain these rights?"
Natsuki secretly gestured to Shisui. Shisui's Sharingan began spinning wildly.
At the same time, Natsuki discreetly activated the ocular amplifier to expand the range of Kotoamatsukami.
"The only path to power is for us to become strong enough. What the Uchiha lack most is autonomy."
"As long as we guard the Police Force, we'll never move beyond it—an institution that only earns resentment!"
"The Uchiha cannot remain as mere hired soldiers. We must build our own industry!"
"We must become strong! Strong enough that Konoha can no longer ignore us!"
"Why is it that the Land of Fire, though constantly invaded, remains the strongest?"
"Because it is the richest and most prosperous!"
"Our land has endless lives to throw into the battlefield!"
"The Land of Fire can lose countless men, while other nations collapse after losing only a few!"
"We must develop our economy! Grow our population! Until Konoha begs us to take the Hokage's seat!"
Natsuki's voice rang like iron, while Shisui's Mangekyō released its power like mercury spilling.
Using Kotoamatsukami consumed tremendous energy—especially over such a crowd.
Shisui's eyes began to bleed tears of blood, but fortunately, the amplifier was in place.
Elder Takuya, seeing Shisui nearly collapse, raised his arm and shouted,
"Develop the economy! Revive the Uchiha!"
The atmosphere surged as the clansmen roared with excitement.
Under Kotoamatsukami's sway, Shisui commanded their loyalty to Uchiha Itachi—before collapsing.
—
Hokage's Office.
An ANBU was reporting.
"Report, Lord Third. Today the Uchiha held a gathering of unknown purpose."
"The attendees were mostly radicals of the clan. The purpose of the meeting was unclear."
"But soon after it began, chants of 'Revive the Uchiha!' rang out, extremely fervent."
The Third rubbed his tired forehead. Hadn't the Uchiha just shown goodwill? They had even withdrawn so many from the Police Force.
What was Fugaku plotting now?
"Boom!" From afar, a thunderous explosion shook the ground. A massive wave of chakra pressure swept out.
The Third's expression stiffened. That was—from the Uchiha compound.
Smoke rose into the sky above their district. Soon, the ANBU received a message via summoned beasts.
"Lord Third! Fighting has broken out in the Uchiha clan. The scale is enormous—the combatants are Uchiha Itachi and Fugaku."
"Their jutsu's pressure is overwhelming—our scouts cannot approach."
"Suspected to be the legendary Susanoo."
"Susanoo!?" The Third's hands clenched tight.
"Assemble the ANBU. Head to the Uchiha compound immediately."
In a flash, the Third Hokage leapt from the window.
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