Ever since Byakuya led the Uchiha clan's elite forces to the battlefield, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Konoha elders moved swiftly behind the scenes to undermine the clan.
The first step was the quiet release of Uchiha Fugaku from the prison cell where Byakuya had previously confined him. Without public ceremony or clan consensus, Fugaku was reinstated as the Uchiha clan head. At the same time, the Hokage and his advisors began appropriating Uchiha clan resources under the guise of "protecting village stability." Their goal was obvious—dismantle the Uchiha's growing autonomy in Byakuya's absence.
Despite his title, Fugaku found himself powerless against the political weight of Hiruzen and his supporters. Brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire, Fugaku offered no resistance, repeating the same tired line: "It's for the good of the village."
But to many Uchiha who had once stood behind him, this was a betrayal.
The Uchiha commercial district became desolate. Family compounds were seized. Discontent simmered.
At least under Byakuya, they thought, we were respected. Fed. Safe.
Now? Stripped of resources and ignored by leadership, their frustration turned to resentment. Those who had backed Fugaku began to question everything.
"If we had known he'd become a puppet," they muttered, "we would've followed Byakuya to the end—even in rebellion."
When Byakuya returned to Konoha, he encountered Uchiha Chi—a former supporter of Fugaku—who now ran to him with open arms.
"Fugaku? Wasn't that guy locked up?" Byakuya said, frowning.
"After you left, Hokage-sama released him… and made him clan head again," Uchiha Chi explained quickly.
Byakuya remained cold, but Mikoto, who had been standing beside him, was visibly shaken.
"What!? Fugaku is the clan head? Where's my father!?"
Before Byakuya's departure, the clan was led—at least in name—by Uchiha Gen, Mikoto's father. Though aging, his position was secure, especially since Byakuya had no interest in leadership and supported Mikoto implicitly.
"The old patriarch… died shortly after you left. His injuries worsened suddenly."
"That's impossible!" Mikoto snapped, her eyes flashing red with the Sharingan.
She remembered how worried she had been about her father's condition. Before departing, she had personally asked Tsunade to stabilize his injuries. Tsunade had assured her: no full cure, but the old man would easily live another five to ten years.
Which meant only one thing.
"Did Fugaku do this?" Mikoto demanded, her Sharingan locking onto Uchiha Chi. "Did he kill my father?"
"I—I don't know," Chi stammered, visibly shaken. "But before Gen-sama died… Fugaku visited him often. More than usual…"
Mikoto clenched her fists, rage bubbling to the surface.
"That bastard. I'll kill him."
Without another word, Mikoto stormed off toward the Uchiha compound. Byakuya followed silently, his presence like a blade in the wind. He didn't stop her.
Instead, he turned and gave orders to Uchiha En, his most trusted enforcer.
"Reclaim every asset the Uchiha lost. Now."
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"And root out the Shimura clan. Root and Danzo have no place in this village anymore."
His voice was calm. But there was no mistaking it—judgment had been passed.
"Yes, Lord Byakuya!" Uchiha En answered at once.
"You guys, follow me!"
At Byakuya's command, Uchiha En, familiar with the layout of Konoha, swiftly led several elite Uchiha clan members toward Shimura Danzo's hidden base.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Mikoto moved with blinding speed, chakra-enhanced steps leading her straight to her target—Uchiha Fugaku.
"Fugaku!"
Mikoto's voice rang with anger as she confronted the man who once led their clan.
"Mikoto...? Byakuya!?"
"You two… you're alive!?"
Fugaku's eyes widened in disbelief.
From what he'd been told—and what he assumed—Byakuya had led the Uchiha clan straight into a hopeless battle against Sunagakure's invasion force. In Fugaku's mind, their survival had been impossible. Seeing them now was like seeing ghosts.
In truth, when word first reached Konoha's high command that Byakuya had survived, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his advisors had immediately distanced themselves from Fugaku. The man they had reinstated as clan head in Byakuya's absence was nothing more than a disposable puppet.
But Fugaku remained unaware of how badly things had unraveled behind the scenes. He didn't yet know that not only had Byakuya survived, he had crushed the Sand Village's forces almost single-handedly—securing a legendary victory that was already reshaping Konoha's balance of power.
"What's wrong, Fugaku?"
"Surprised we're still alive?"
Byakuya stepped forward, his voice steeped in scorn.
"A coward like you thought we'd die while you crawled back to Konoha to take the clan leader's seat?"
"You insolent brat!" Fugaku snapped, fists clenched.
"Don't forget—I'm the clan leader now. Watch your tone!"
Though he had been humiliated and even imprisoned by Byakuya before, Fugaku now clung to the only thing he had left—his title. But it meant nothing to Byakuya.
"Clan leader?" Byakuya scoffed, his gaze full of disdain.
"You're nothing but a pawn—used and discarded."
Turning away, he added coldly,
"Mikoto, I'll let you deal with this trash."
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