Night fell.
In just half a day, the story of Uchiha Chisen disregarding his closest blood relative and personally killing the only family member he had left, Uchiha Onigawara, had spread like wildfire through the excited whispers of the populace.
It caused quite a stir, especially within the Uchiha Clan.
After finishing his official duties for the day, Fugaku returned home to find his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, had also returned from the Anbu.
At that moment, Uchiha Itachi was playing with his second son, Sasuke.
Of course, it was mostly Sasuke clinging to Itachi.
"I've heard about it."
Uchiha Itachi brushed away Sasuke's small hand and looked at his father, with whom he often disagreed. He spoke first, "Whether it was Uchiha Chisen killing the Hokage's eldest son some time ago, or Uchiha Chisen killing Uchiha Onigawara today, I know all about these events."
Fugaku also looked at the child who had always made him feel proud and gratified.
Even though this child's thoughts were somewhat different from his own.
He believed that Uchiha Itachi would eventually be able to shoulder the great responsibility of the Uchiha Clan in the future.
He could lead the Uchiha Clan toward an even more glorious future.
At this moment, Uchiha Itachi continued, "Shisui told me before he died that Uchiha Chisen's 'caliber' far exceeded everyone's imagination. Looking at the current situation, Shisui was right."
"After today, there may be many Uchiha with extreme personalities who will want to follow that man's [Absolute Justice]."
"Father."
Uchiha Itachi gazed at the silent Fugaku and said earnestly, "This is not a good thing for the clan or for Konoha. Uchiha Chisen's [Absolute Justice] is indeed admirable and worthy of respect. However..."
"His pursuit of justice, disregarding the overall situation of the village, is too extreme. Uchiha Chisen's stance is independent of the village. Father, you should be able to see that clearly, shouldn't you?"
After a full minute of silence, Fugaku, who had been listening to his eldest son, finally nodded slightly.
Fugaku asked, "What are your thoughts, Itachi?"
Uchiha Itachi lowered his gaze and said, "As the head of the clan, you should restrain Uchiha Chisen's actions. Today, his blade of justice is directed inward, towards the Uchiha Clan, so it won't cause too much disturbance to the village for now."
"But if, like before, he turns his blade of justice outward, towards Konoha, he might be able to bear the consequences, but the Uchiha Clan cannot."
"The balance will be broken."
A hint of relief flashed in Fugaku's eyes. This was one of the few points where he and Uchiha Itachi agreed.
Neither of them wanted the balance to be broken, and both hoped for peaceful coexistence between the village and the Uchiha Clan.
However...
The word "peace" weighed heavily on both father and son.
"Itachi, but I can't control him either," Fugaku sighed, this being his greatest point of helplessness.
Although Uchiha Chisen had shown no hostility towards him, he had never truly looked him in the eye.
Fugaku didn't even understand why.
"Father," Itachi said after a long silence, "Sometimes, for the greater good, for Konoha, you need to be more decisive."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed suddenly.
He gazed at Uchiha Itachi, took a deep breath, and said word by word, "Itachi, you are the successor to the Uchiha Clan that I have chosen. As long as Chisen does not betray the Uchiha Clan or betray Konoha, you will forever! Forever not harm your own clansmen!"
Itachi lowered his head.
But he remained silent.
...
On the other side of the Uchiha Clan.
A group of Uchiha Hawks, led by "Uchiha Setsuna," who advocated for a confrontation with Konoha's higher-ups and proposed a coup d'état plan that would engulf the entire Konoha, were gathered.
The radical Hawks, consisting of three generations of Uchiha ninja—old, middle-aged, and young—numbered over a hundred people.
They had almost filled the entire hall.
It was precisely because of their large numbers that they could force the clan head to agree to some of their opinions.
"Tch, that Uchiha Chisen fellow really has some caliber."
A young Uchiha said with his arms crossed, "I used to scoff at his so-called [Absolute Justice]. But I never expected him to actually raise his blade against his own kin for the sake of [Absolute Justice]. I personally witnessed him kill Uchiha Onigawara, and I felt like he didn't hesitate one bit."
Another young Uchiha said excitedly, "Isn't this exactly what our Konoha Military Police Force should be doing? Whether it's our own blood relatives or the so-called Hokage standing in our way, we should unhesitatingly raise our blades against them!"
"Actually, we should try to win Uchiha Chisen over to our side. We can't let those weaklings get ahead of us."
The "weaklings" he referred to were the moderates within the Uchiha Clan who advocated for peaceful coexistence with the village.
The two factions had been at odds for more than a day or two.
Sometimes, their disagreements even led to physical altercations.
"Uchiha Chisen's caliber is indeed sufficient," someone nodded in agreement. "And his strength is also considerable. With him joining us, our power will completely overwhelm those weaklings."
"..."
Uchiha Setsuna, kneeling on a soft cushion, frowned.
Listening to the clamor of the younger generation below.
He felt a nameless anger surge within him—Uchiha Setsuna still harbored resentment towards Uchiha Chisen for once preventing him from contacting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He clearly remembered the chilling killing intent in that brat's eyes at the time!
For years, he hadn't felt threatened with his life until he encountered Uchiha Chisen.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
Uchiha Setsuna lightly tapped the ground with his fingertips, gradually quieting the buzzing hall.
All eyes fell upon him.
"Have you all forgotten? Uchiha Onigawara, who was brutally murdered by Uchiha Chisen, was once one of us! He killed our comrades! Our elite Uchiha!"
Uchiha Setsuna's gloomy gaze swept over them, startling some of the excited younger members of the Uchiha Hawks, who hastily lowered their heads.
Uchiha Setsuna's voice was hoarse as he characterized Uchiha Chisen's "kin-slaying" actions: "Uchiha Chisen, from beginning to end, has never once considered things from our perspective!"
"You think he'll stand with us? Hmph! Naive! Sooner or later, his blade will be turned against us too!"
"An Uchiha who wields a blade against his own clansmen is disloyal to the Uchiha Clan!!!"
A chilling glint flashed in Uchiha Setsuna's clouded eyes.
"The weaklings within the clan are indeed stumbling blocks hindering the Uchiha's progress. But Uchiha Chisen..."
"He is a detonating explosive tag that is burning."
"He will blow us all up!"
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