As Uchiha Sō stared into Yuhara's Mangekyō Sharingan, he felt a mix of excitement and deep helplessness.
Excitement, because another Mangekyō had appeared within the clan—something that significantly boosted their strength.
But helplessness… because Yuhara himself was both powerful and extremely dangerous.
If that were all, it might still be manageable—offer him benefits, win him over, try to subtly reshape his ideology over time.
The problem was, this kid's perspective and intellect were beyond all that. Even Uchiha Sō had to admit that Yuhara's strategic vision far exceeded most of the clan.
How was someone like that supposed to be controlled? There was nothing Sō could do but quietly observe and start thinking very, very carefully.
"I don't know how much Shisui told you, but what I will say is this—the clan needs to change."
Yuhara broke the silence with a calm but resolute voice.
"The clan needs to be unified. That's what I told Shisui, and now I'm telling you."
"Whether it's you or the other faction—this division is paralyzing the clan. We can't even function properly anymore, much less deal with Konoha's growing hostility toward us."
"As for Fugaku Uchiha… he may have good intentions, trying to maintain internal stability. But in times like this, clinging to such ideals only proves one thing: he's indecisive. Completely unfit for this crisis."
"Think about it carefully—what has he really done during his time as clan head?"
Yuhara didn't repeat everything he'd told Shisui. Instead, he guided Uchiha Sō to reflect on the clan's reality himself.
After all, Sō was a veteran elder—while Shisui was a skilled shinobi, his experience navigating clan politics couldn't compare.
"You're right," Sō sighed heavily. Yuhara's words had already sparked something in him.
"Under the current head's leadership, the clan has only declined. Look where we live now—on the edge of the village, like outcasts."
After the Nine-Tails attack, Konoha needed to rebuild. During that process, the Uchiha were conveniently relocated to the village's outskirts.
That act bred deep resentment among the Uchiha and significantly strengthened the radical faction. As the rift with Konoha widened, that faction only grew more powerful.
"But we could try to open communication with the village. Shisui is in the Anbu—we could use him as a bridge."
Just as Sō voiced this idea, Yuhara interrupted him.
"You're being naive, Elder," Yuhara said, shaking his head and tapping the table lightly.
"You lived through the Second Hokage's era, didn't you? Uchiha Kagami was one of his students, right?"
"I'll admit, the fact that the Second accepted Kagami gave the clan hope. But did that hope ever lead to anything real?"
"What's the true purpose of the Police Force? Maybe Shisui can't see it, but after all these years, you still don't get it?"
Yuhara's words left Sō speechless. He didn't respond—because he couldn't. Or perhaps, because he dared not.
His eyes, wide and shaken, said enough.
"With the Police Force under our control—and with the village painting us as violent and untrustworthy—Konoha and the Uchiha were always going to clash. No matter how dutiful we were, public perception was shaped by Konoha."
"And the moment the Police Force became our personal fiefdom, the village began to retaliate even more openly."
"You sent Shisui to be the bridge. You even let Itachi join him. And what did that accomplish?"
"Nothing. They were both turned into double agents."
"Has your approach ever worked?"
Yuhara paused. He stared directly at the old man as he trembled, eyes closed, visibly shaken.
Whatever Sō was thinking, Yuhara didn't know—but he knew one thing: he had seized control of the conversation.
"So… if you succeed," Sō finally said after a long silence, his voice bitter, "what then? What will you do?"
Yuhara exhaled and gave a slow shake of his head, before answering.
"My plan has always been simple. I told Shisui: if I were the clan head, my first move would be unifying the clan's will."
"I know what you're afraid of, Elder. But let me make this clear—I have never intended to start a war with the village."
"I'm well aware that if we ever fight Konoha, the Uchiha will be wiped out."
"But if we just keep compromising the way you've been doing… the result won't be any better."
"A great man once said: 'Seek peace through struggle, and you may find peace. Seek peace through compromise, and you'll only find destruction.'"
At that, Yuhara locked eyes with the elder, his expression dead serious.
"Once the clan is unified, I'll establish a clear doctrine and set of demands."
"I'll make sure every member of our clan knows exactly what we want, where we must stand firm, and what lines must never be crossed."
"And I'll make sure the village understands exactly what we are willing to accept—and what we will never tolerate."
"Seek peace through struggle, and you may find peace. Seek peace through compromise, and you'll only find destruction."
That single sentence echoed in Uchiha Sō's mind.
He didn't know who this "great man" Yuhara quoted was—but the message rang true. Their compromises had bought them nothing. Deep down, he had always known that—but had clung to false hope.
"I think I understand now," Sō said at last, slowly. "Then let me ask you one final question—how do you plan to make Konoha hear our voice?"
Yuhara smiled.
"Besides the necessary show of strength… I've got a few tricks."
"We have the Police Force, don't we? It's the reason we enjoy certain privileges, but also why we carry the blame for everything."
"So let's change that."
"Let's make the Police Force truly Konoha's—open it to all clans, to civilian shinobi. Let everyone share in the authority."
"And let everyone share the blame."
"Once that happens, our voice will be heard in every corner of the village. And will the Third Hokage still dare to pin everything on us?"
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