After another long while, Fugaku's brows slowly relaxed, and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Perhaps, it's just as you said! But the clan members' personalities are like this, and even though I am the clan head, I cannot…"
Sensing Fugaku's difficulty, Chishimo smiled slightly and offered the solution he had already thought of.
"Clan Head, to change the clan members' attitude towards the villagers, you must start with their thoughts about the villagers and the Village. Only when they truly feel a sense of belonging to the Village, even if they are as arrogant as the Uchiha, I believe they can treat others with a calm mind."
Chishimo's words were not without basis. One must know that the Uchiha Clan inherently values emotions greatly. Arrogance is just a facade for outsiders. For those they truly accept from the bottom of their hearts, the Uchiha will value them more than anyone else. Otherwise, there wouldn't be the Sharingan, a Bloodline Limit that can only be awakened under extreme emotions.
"I understand what you mean, but it's still impossible. You also know that the conflict between the clan and the Village is not a new thing. It's truly difficult to make the clan members feel a sense of belonging to the Village!"
With that, Fugaku shook his head slightly.
"Clan Head, the conflict with the Uchiha is not with the Village itself, but only with the high-ranking officials of the Village. How can we generalize?"
"That's true, but the Village is also ruled by the high-ranking officials. The Village and the high-ranking officials are essentially tied together."
"What if we had the ability to replace Konoha's high-ranking officials with our own people?"
Chishimo's lips curved slightly, and he looked at Fugaku with a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Fugaku pondered for a moment and then understood Chishimo's intention, his pupils contracting. "You want me to launch a coup? No, the current situation is even more unfavorable for the Uchiha. A coup would only be harmful and useless. Your meaning is that you want me to show the intention of launching a coup, thereby dismantling the connection between the Village and Konoha's high-ranking officials in the clan members' minds, and thus improving the clan members' attitude."
Hearing this analysis, Chishimo sighed inwardly. He had only given a slight hint, and Fugaku had already deduced most of it himself.
But after a moment, he also understood. After all, as the head of a clan, it would be truly unreasonable if he didn't have some brains and cunning.
"As expected of the Clan Head, to be able to think this far so quickly. This junior indeed plans to do so!"
Clan Head Fugaku, who was in a great mood after clarifying a major problem in his mind, twitched his mouth when he heard this. This idea was originally proposed by Chishimo, and his praise for his own quick understanding was just a roundabout way of praising his own good idea, wasn't it?
However, Fugaku didn't say much. After all, Chishimo was a meritorious minister for solving such a big matter. Fugaku nodded slightly, and the expression on his face was no longer as stern as it was at the beginning.
"Now that the first problem is solved, what about the other problem?"
Chishimo frowned slightly, thought for two seconds, then relaxed again, and respectfully said, "Clan Head, may I first ask for a small request?"
Fugaku waved his hand, "Go ahead, I'll listen."
The next second, Chishimo suddenly knelt on one knee.
"I wish to ask Clan Head to accept me as your disciple!"
The reason Chishimo didn't bring this up at the beginning of the conversation but instead prioritized giving advice was to ease the atmosphere with Fugaku and allow them more time to get acquainted.
And now the time was ripe. Furthermore, Chishimo intended to use the matter of becoming a disciple to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha's high-ranking officials, which is why he now put forward his request without hesitation.
This statement piqued Fugaku's interest. After all, he had a good grasp of Chishimo's talent from the previous test. Even without an intention to take a disciple, he couldn't help but be slightly moved.
But moved as he was, the sect of Fugaku, the dignified Clan Head, was not so easy to enter. Who in the Uchiha Clan didn't want to become a disciple of the Clan Head? Fugaku had no sufficient reason to accept Chishimo as a disciple.
Moreover, he still didn't know much about Chishimo's background.
"Tell me, why do you want to become my disciple?"
"Because the Clan Head is very strong, so much so that it's not an exaggeration to say he's the strongest in the clan, right? I want to possess power to protect my family and clan members. I don't want to experience that feeling of powerlessness again, like when my parents passed away two years ago!"
Recalling the most painful memory in his heart, Chishimo, who had lived two lives, still couldn't help but redden his eyes, which held determination and a hint of stubbornness.
Hearing the words "parents passed away," Fugaku already roughly understood Chishimo's experience. A deep sense of guilt arose in his heart, and the look in his eyes towards Chishimo softened slightly.
"Regarding your parents, I am deeply sorry. This is my dereliction of duty as Clan Head, but I still have no reason to accept you as a disciple."
"What if I could become your eyes to monitor Konoha's high-ranking officials in the future?"
Chishimo had anticipated that Fugaku wouldn't easily agree to take a disciple, so he decisively threw out the important task that Fugaku entrusted to Uchiha Itachi in the original work.
"Oh? Monitoring Konoha's high-ranking officials? Do you have any ideas?"
In less than two quarters of an hour, Chishimo's unique ideas had already gained Fugaku's deep attention. At this moment, Fugaku no longer had any of his initial contempt.
"This junior boldly declares that in the future, I will surely gain the attention of the high-ranking officials and be entrusted with important responsibilities!"
"Hmm, I believe you can gain their attention, but I don't agree with the latter half. Don't forget, your surname is Uchiha. The more outstanding you are, the less likely they are to entrust you with important responsibilities!"
"The Clan Head is right," Chishimo nodded slightly, but then said noncommittally, "But the premise is that my heart also bears the surname Uchiha!"
Chishimo paused, looking at Fugaku's thoughtful gaze, and continued, "I have been studying at the Ninja Academy since childhood, and the Will of Fire is ingrained in my heart. If an Uchiha who is wholeheartedly devoted to the Village stands before them, what do you think they will do?"
Upon hearing this, Fugaku didn't know how many times he had looked at Chishimo in surprise, but he still forced himself to calm down and organize his thoughts.
"What you're doing certainly has a chance of success, but you're gambling, gambling that they will value talent. If you lose the gamble, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den."
Fugaku looked at Chishimo with a solemn gaze. He couldn't quite understand how this five or six-year-old boy could have such a bold idea. Even if it was a newborn calf not fearing a tiger, this was too brave!
As if sensing Fugaku's thoughts, Chishimo smiled slightly, "That's why I want to become your disciple, Clan Head. If I can't even protect myself, what good is talking about the clan!"
"Alright, since you wish to become my disciple, I will give you a chance. Wait for me at the training ground behind the mountain tomorrow morning. If you can satisfy me, I will accept you as my disciple!"
With that, Fugaku walked towards the house without looking back.
"Thank you, Clan Head!"
Chishimo, kneeling on one knee, bowed slightly. He slowly straightened up only after watching Fugaku enter the house, then once again transformed into a wisp of breeze and merged into the darkness.
Chishimo was in a great mood after leaving Fugaku's residence. His main goal for the night had been largely accomplished. As for the opportunity Fugaku mentioned, Chishimo was confident that his current combat strength was enough to pass tomorrow's test, but to be on the safe side, Chishimo still returned home to cultivate.