Fugaku sat at the head, his brow furrowed with worry.
He felt as if he had thorns in his back, a fishbone in his throat, and was sitting on pins and needles. He wanted to say a few words but closed his mouth.
What right did he have to speak?
Yesterday, he had already voluntarily offered to step down, but Satoshi had rejected him.
He said that he was still young, didn't understand many things, and needed Fugaku's guidance. He would only take over after he came of age.
The implication was that Fugaku should temporarily continue to hold this nominal position and stay put.
Just like the puppet Mizukage in the neighboring village.
In reality, what guidance could he offer?
Under his leadership, the Uchiha clan had almost been wiped out.
As for his eldest son's matter, Itachi was dead, and that was that.
The Uchiha didn't practice the concept of exterminating nine generations of a family.
Just as Fugaku was feeling unbearable agony and looking for an excuse to retreat, the tightly shut main door creaked open, and Satoshi's figure appeared at the entrance.
The moment he entered the room, he was immediately surrounded by a group of clansmen.
"Satoshi, all the Anbu monitoring us have withdrawn."
"What do you say? When are we rebelling?"
Satoshi cleared his throat and said, "It's still the same thing. From now on, there should be no more talk of rebellion within the clan."
"I've already said it, this village was founded by Madara-sama and Hashirama-sama together. We Uchiha are also one of the village's masters. What we need to do has always been to reclaim our rights."
This viewpoint immediately gained the approval of Inaho and Tekka.
After spending so much time together, they had come to a conclusion. That rascal Satoshi was full of schemes. Listening to him was definitely the right choice.
Then, Satoshi briefly explained to the clansmen the initial consensus he had reached with the Hokage and the direction of the subsequent plan.
The meeting then concluded.
After it ended, Satoshi walked out with the clansmen.
Suddenly, a tender, resentful roar broke the temporary calm. "You're the one who killed my brother!"
From the shadows, Sasuke suddenly rushed out, clutching a gleaming kunai.
He had somehow learned the truth. Satoshi had personally killed his brother, Itachi.
What rogue ninja?
The young Sasuke couldn't understand, nor was he willing to believe. All that remained in his heart was deep-seated hatred.
Sasuke, like a thoroughly enraged small beast, roared recklessly. He poured all his strength into the kunai, fiercely stabbing at Satoshi.
Facing this sudden attack, Satoshi didn't even frown. He merely waved his hand very casually.
Whack.
Sasuke, along with his kunai, was sent flying as if struck by an invisible, immense force. He flew backward without any resistance, crashing heavily onto the ground several meters away.
"Live on with this hatred, Sasuke."
Fugaku stepped forward and helped Sasuke up. "Sasuke, calm down."
He said no more, and with a strong arm, he hoisted his struggling son onto his shoulder.
Sasuke's fists and feet landed uselessly on his back. "Let me go! I'm going to kill that bastard!"
Fugaku ignored him. He quickly walked through the courtyard, and headed straight for Sasuke's room. He roughly threw his son inside, with a loud bang.
The thick wooden door separated the inside and outside worlds, and also isolated Sasuke's hysterical roars.
"Let me out! Let me out!"
Fugaku leaned against the cold door panel, sighing silently. "Sasuke, think about it carefully in there. For school, I've asked for a week's leave for you."
Hearing the intense commotion outside, Mikoto walked quickly from the bedroom, filled with worry. "Fugaku, what's wrong with Sasuke? Is it because of..."
Her words trailed off, the answer already in her eyes.
Fugaku turned around, facing his wife, his voice even lower. "It's still about Itachi... That child can't accept the truth."
Mikoto's gaze dimmed, and she sighed softly. "I see..."
The couple exchanged a silent glance, their eyes reflecting a deep sense of powerlessness.
"Let's both stay home with Sasuke for a while. The clan's matters can be handled by the other elders."
"Mm."
To be honest, Fugaku felt much more relaxed after stepping down.
When he took over as the clan head back then, he was full of vigor. All he thought about was how to lead the Uchiha clan to restore its former glory and splendor.
But with the various things that happened later, he was under immense pressure every day. Sometimes he even regretted why he had taken on the heavy responsibility of clan head.
Wouldn't it have been nice to be an ordinary middle-aged man, fishing every day?
Now, he finally got his wish, but at a great cost. A cost so heavy that he couldn't accept it.
Fugaku pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Sasuke hasn't eaten all day. I'll go fry him an egg."
—
The next day, in front of the Root base gate.
Satoshi stood at the very front of the line. Behind him were a dozen elite Uchiha in Konoha Military Police Force uniforms.
If there was one place the Uchiha hated the most, it was definitely Root. In the past, Danzo had often found excuses to bring them there.
Interrogations, blood draws, and extracting body cells, among other things. His methods were endless.
It was even rumored that there were multiple incidents of stolen bodies, which they suspected were also Danzo's doing.
However, the Uchiha clansmen dared not speak out in anger. Because... their clan head was simply too weak.
He constantly talked about prioritizing the greater good, and all he ever said was to endure.
They had been retreating for many years. They'd almost retreated out of the village.
But—
Today, the Uchiha were back!
This time, they were no longer prisoners to be slaughtered, no longer suspects to be interrogated.
They were acting on the Hokage's orders, armed with search warrants, to interrogate you bastards who couldn't stand the light of day.
Those clansmen who had suffered humiliation in this place even felt their eyes welling up, and the Chakra in their bodies surged uncontrollably.
A crimson light flickered faintly in their eyes, almost breaking through the restraints of reason to activate their Sharingan.
One could only say that the Uchiha bloodline was too overpowered.
"Let's go."
Satoshi very politely knocked on the door. "Excuse me..."
Before he finished speaking, Inaho kicked open the dark iron door.
"Satoshi, why are you wasting words with them? Arrest them all, I'll interrogate them one by one."
Satoshi scratched his head.
This habit of not following procedures was bad. He'd have to remind everyone to be careful about it in the future.
Besides, could they just kick open doors like that? These were all his assets.
"The cost of the door will be charged to your account, deducted from your salary."
Inaho: ?
Satoshi waved his hand, and a dozen clansmen followed him inside.
The sound of the forced entry had already alerted the Root members inside the base.
This was Root, not some villagers' homes, could you just break in whenever you wanted?
They gathered together, gripping their blades.
The leading Root member sternly rebuked, trying to intimidate the newcomers with his aura.
"Arrogant, who dares to break in..."
Before he could finish, he was slapped away, embedded in the wall, unable to be pried loose.