Chapter 8 Who is in favor and who is against
Countless eyes watched as the patriarchs of several major clans followed Uchiha Fugaku into the Hokage Building, the atmosphere so quiet that a dropped needle could seemingly be heard.
The Uchiha, Ino–Shika–Chō, Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans are Konoha Village's top noble families; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they control Konoha Village.
Of course, the Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan could also be added.
But now that the two most prominent figures in those two clans were dead, they were nothing.
Uchiha Fugaku suggested that the clan heads discuss things together, and they truly dared not participate, fearing the Uchiha Clan might slaughter them too. There would be nowhere to cry then.
The intelligent Sarutobi Clan head, upon realizing that a fight was impossible, had already secretly slipped away with his clan's Ninja, preparing to flee.
He was aware that Hiruzen had used his power to accumulate money over the years to nurture Sarutobi Clan Ninja outside the village; as long as the Sarutobi Clan's high-ranking members were alive, there was still hope for a comeback.
He had no confidence in resisting the Uchiha Clan, whom even Lord Hiruzen couldn't handle. Retreat was the best strategy, and he was now going to rendezvous with the Sarutobi Ninja outside.
Uchiha Ryoichi stared at the Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan members in the crowd. When he noticed the Sarutobi Clan members secretly slipping away, he immediately informed Elder Uchiha Sihu. Lord Patriarch had previously instructed that these two clans were to be eradicated Root and branch.
Uchiha Sihu did not hesitate. He left only ten clan members and took the remaining 20-odd Three-Tomoe clan members to intercept the Sarutobi Clan Ninja.
After all, Lord Patriarch was so powerful that he didn't need clan members to stand for him here.
The Ninja, who had surrounded the Hokage Building so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through, saw the Uchiha Clan members making a move and reacted as if facing a formidable enemy. They intended to intercept, but remembering that the patriarchs of several major clans had just entered the Hokage Building, and that these Uchiha were leaving the area, they thought it over and decided not to intercept, choosing to wait and see.
Nara Shikaku followed Uchiha Fugaku into the main hall of the Hokage Building and saw familiar headless bodies lying haphazardly on the ground.
He quickly scanned them.
From the injuries, they had all been killed instantly, decapitated, and the battle seemed to have ended quickly.
Had Uchiha Fugaku become so powerful without showing it?
Nara Shikaku was secretly startled, but he showed no emotion, his expression unchanged.
However, Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza did not possess his composure; both of them practically had their worries written on their faces.
The other clan heads also had a flicker of concern in their eyes.
Uchiha Fugaku was too powerful; this was not good news.
Fugaku didn't go upstairs but found a room on the first floor and took the main seat first.
Nara Shikaku and the others had no complaints about this; in this world, strength was everything.
Uchiha Fugaku could easily kill the Third Hokage, indicating that his strength had already made him the strongest in Konoha.
Furthermore, the Uchiha Clan was already Konoha's most powerful clan, so they had no objections to him taking the main seat.
"Please, all of you, take a seat."
Fugaku greeted them.
He had no fundamental conflict with these noble families. The moment Nara Shikaku took the lead in agreeing to negotiate, he knew these people wouldn't stubbornly seek revenge for Hiruzen and the other three by fighting to the death.
The Hyuga Clan, in the Kumogakure-Konoha peace talks four years ago, was forced by Hiruzen to cause the suicide of Hyuga Hizashi, the head of the Hyuga Branch Family. If anything, the Hyuga Clan would be celebrating Hiruzen's death.
As for the remaining clans, Danzo had requested their clan's geniuses for Root, and although Hiruzen was not directly involved, Hiruzen's protection of Danzo likely caused these clans to resent Hiruzen as well.
It was because he knew all this that he chose negotiation instead of forcefully suppressing and killing everyone.
He could kill, but there was no need.
After all, he still wanted to be Hokage and enjoy it. If he killed all these people, he wouldn't have many people to command, so what kind of Hokage would he be? What would be the point?
Nara Shikaku and the others took their seats one after another, then looked at Uchiha Fugaku, intending to hear how he planned to negotiate.
Fugaku coughed a few times and said, "Konoha Village was jointly established by my clan's ancestors, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. After the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, took office, Konoha became increasingly weak. We won wars but were forced to cede land and pay reparations like the defeated side. White Fang's suicide and the Sannin's departure—behind all of this were the actions of Hiruzen and Danzo. As a part of Konoha, I could not bear to see Konoha decline, and thus I decisively eliminated the traitors."
He first found a reasonable excuse for the Uchiha's coup, setting the tone, then went straight to the point:
"I want the Fifth Hokage position. Who agrees and who opposes?"
Fugaku's expression was stern, his gaze deep and sharp, his words concise and direct, leaving no room for doubt.
Hyuga Hiashi almost cried out. The moment he saw Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, his memory almost made him believe he was seeing Uchiha Madara.
It turned out that at this moment, Fu Yue had activated his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan to display his strength.
Hyuga Hiashi suddenly understood several points that had previously puzzled him.
Why was the Third Hokage killed in one blow?
It turned out that this Uchiha Fugaku possessed the same eyes as Uchiha Madara!
The Hyuga Clan had a long heritage and naturally knew some secrets that others did not.
Hyuga Hiashi's mouth was bitter. Why could the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan continuously evolve, while his Hyuga Clan's Byakugan stopped there?
Heaven is unfair!
Every stage of evolution of the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan brought a qualitative leap in strength. As long as one activated the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, they could immediately rival a Jonin. With Uchiha Fugaku activating the Mangekyo Sharingan, he must have Kage-level strength or higher.
Meanwhile, his Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could at most grant one the strength of an Elite Jonin, and that was its limit.
Hyuga Hiashi's heart bled with envy.
He had seen Uchiha Madara defeat enemies when he was young, and he deeply understood the power of Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, so he did not voice any opposition.
The clan heads of the Aburame and Inuzuka clans all showed some dissatisfaction. Is the Fifth Hokage position yours for the taking? No rules!
But seeing that Nara Shikaku, who was called the strategist, and Hyuga Hiashi both remained silent and did not object, they also chose not to speak up.
Nara Shikaku quietly waited for what was next; they were here to divide Konoha. He knew that Uchiha Fugaku would definitely take the lion's share, and it would be good enough if their clans could get some scraps.
Sure enough, they heard Uchiha Fugaku continue, "Nara Clan Head can be Hokage Assistant, Hyuga Hiashi can be Hokage Advisor, and the industries in each clan's hands will remain untouched, business as usual."
Aburame Shibi and Inuzuka Tsume exchanged glances. That's it?
Nara Shikaku could be Hokage Assistant, Hyuga Hiashi could be Hokage Advisor, but what about them?
Just a single line about their clan industries remaining untouched was supposed to satisfy them?