Night had fallen.
In only half a day the story of how Uchiha Chizumi—heedless of blood ties—personally slew the only close relative he still had in this world, Uchiha Oniwa, spread like wildfire by word of mouth.
Within the Uchiha clan the news caused a considerable stir.
After finishing that day's duties, Fugaku returned home to find his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, just back from Anbu service. At the moment Itachi was rough‑housing with his younger brother Sasuke—or rather, Sasuke was simply clinging to him.
"I've heard," Itachi said, gently peeling Sasuke's small hands away. Looking at the father whose views so often clashed with his own, he continued: "Whether it was Uchiha Chizumi killing the Hokage‑sama's eldest son a while ago, or his killing of Uchiha Oniwa today—I know about it all."
Fugaku gazed at the child who always filled him with pride, even if their thinking differed. He still believed Itachi would one day shoulder the clan's great burden and lead the Uchiha toward a more glorious future.
Itachi went on:
"Before he died, Shisui told me that Uchiha Chizumi's breadth of mind is far beyond what anyone imagines. Judging by what's happened, Shisui was right.
"After today, many Uchiha with extreme dispositions may want to follow that man's Absolute Justice.
"Father, this isn't good for the clan or for Konoha. Chizumi's Absolute Justice is admirable—even awe‑inspiring—but his justice ignores the village's overall interests. His stance is independent of the village. You can see that clearly, can't you?"
Fugaku listened in silence for more than a minute before giving a small nod.
Fugaku: "What do you think we should do, Itachi?"
Itachi lowering his eyes: "As Clan Head, you ought to rein him in. Today his blade of justice was turned inward on the Uchiha, so the village won't feel much shock—for now.
"But if he turns that blade outward again, toward Konoha, the storm he unleashes may be one he can weather—but the Uchiha clan cannot.
"The balance will be broken."
A sliver of relief flickered in Fugaku's eyes; this was one of the rare points on which father and son agreed. Both wished to preserve the balance and for the village and clan to coexist in peace. Yet the very word "peace" felt oppressively heavy to them.
Fugaku sighs: "Itachi, I can't restrain him. Chizumi has shown me no hostility, yet he's never once looked me squarely in the eye. I don't even know why."
Itachi after a long pause: "Father, for the greater good— for Konoha—you sometimes have to be decisive."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. He fixed his gaze on Itachi, took a deep breath, and spoke deliberately:
"Itachi, you are the successor I have chosen for the Uchiha. As long as Chizumi has not betrayed the clan—has not betrayed Konoha—you must never, never harm a clansman!"
Itachi bowed his head but said nothing.
…
Elsewhere in the Uchiha compound
On another front, a hawkish faction led by Uchiha Setsuna—advocating a total break with the Konoha leadership and a coup that would sweep the entire village—had gathered in force.
Radicals from the elder, middle and younger generations numbered in the hundreds, filling the hall to capacity. Their sheer numbers obliged the clan head to accept at least part of their agenda.
"Tch, that Uchiha Chizumi really has some nerve," a young Uchiha said, arms crossed. "I used to scoff at his so‑called Absolute Justice, but I never thought he'd actually swing his blade at his own flesh and blood for it. I saw him kill Uchiha Oniwa with my own eyes—he didn't hesitate for even a second."
Another youth chimed in excitedly: "Isn't that exactly what our Police Force should do? Whether the one in front of us is a blood relative or the so‑called Hokage, we ought to swing the blade without hesitation!
"We should pull Uchiha Chizumi to our side before those weaklings do."
The "weaklings" were the moderates who pressed for peaceful coexistence with the village; the two factions had long been at odds, sometimes violently.
"Chizumi's capacity is certainly enough," someone agreed. "And he's strong. With him on our side, we'd utterly crush those softies."
Seated on a soft cushion at the head of the room, Uchiha Setsuna frowned while listening to the chatter of the younger men below. A nameless anger welled in him—he still nursed a grudge over Chizumi blocking him from approaching the Nine‑Tails jinchūriki. He vividly remembered the murderous intent in that brat's eyes: a threat to his life he hadn't felt in years.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Setsuna's fingertips rapped the floor, and gradually the hall quieted; all eyes turned to him.
"Have you forgotten? Uchiha Oniwa—brutally slain by Uchiha Chizumi—was once one of us! What he killed was a comrade of yours and mine, an elite of our clan!"
Setsuna's glare swept over the room; some of the excited youths hurriedly lowered their heads. His hoarse voice delivered judgment:
"Uchiha Chizumi has never—not once—considered anything from our standpoint.
"You think he'll side with us? Hmph! Naïve! Sooner or later his blade will even turn on us.
"Any Uchiha who swings his blade at his own clan is disloyal to the Uchiha!"
A chilling light glinted in Setsuna's clouded eyes.
"The weak in our clan are stumbling blocks to Uchiha progress—but Uchiha Chizumi…
"…is a burning explosive tag.
"And he'll blow every one of us to pieces!"
~~~
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