"Didn't I say it last time? We should resist directly! Konoha has already humiliated us to this extent, and we're still supposed to endure it? If this keeps up, there will be no place for the Uchiha in Konoha at all!"
"What nonsense! How exactly are we supposed to resist? Isn't the most important thing right now to at least talk with Konoha?"
"Talk my ass! If talking worked, it would've been done long ago! Right now Konoha clearly wants the Uchiha clan dead!"
"You're the one courting death! To rebel now is to walk the path of ruin!"
As soon as Uchiha Fugaku finished speaking, the entire council chamber erupted into a fierce quarrel.
Led by Uchiha Tetsu and Uchiha Setsuna, the conservative and radical factions clashed endlessly over whether to compromise or resist.
Just like last time, a trace of distress flickered in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes.
These two sides had been arguing for ages without persuading each other. In the end, Fugaku had decided to let them think it over and discuss again later.
But last time, nothing concrete had come of it. And this time, it looked no different.
Seeing things repeat yet again, Fugaku grew conflicted.
If it was just going to be like this, perhaps it was better to stop the meeting altogether.
After all, it was no different than before.
"Actually… I think the real issue is that the focus of your quarrel is misplaced."
Uchiha Akiro rose to his feet and looked around. The moment he spoke, the noise vanished. Everyone turned to him in surprise, clearly not expecting him to actually voice an opinion.
Though he had attended many clan meetings before, he had never once spoken. Most had simply ignored him.
He didn't belong to any faction.
Now, after he spoke, every gaze landed on him.
So—was he finally about to choose a side?
"Akiro, speak."
A gentle expression passed over Fugaku's face. He valued this genius almost as much as his own son.
The conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha had left him uncertain. Otherwise, he wouldn't have convened meeting after meeting.
"I want to know—what is it that you truly want?"
For so long, Akiro had been unable to figure out what the clan was even striving for with all these meetings.
"What we want? Of course we want peace!"
"Bullshit! A humiliating peace! What we want is equality—Konoha treating us as equals!"
"No! Why can't an Uchiha become Hokage?"
One voice demanded peace. Another demanded equality. Another demanded the Hokage seat.
One said peace was hard-won. Another complained that the Uchiha were denied fair treatment. Another asked why the Hokage had always been from the Senju line—when Konoha had been founded by both Senju and Uchiha!
Now Konoha's Hokage had always been from the Senju side, while the Uchiha, once the village's strongest clan, had been shoved to the outskirts—watched over by other ninja.
Listening to them argue, Akiro shrugged.
"See? You don't even know what you want. How could you possibly argue to a conclusion?"
They couldn't even clarify their own goals. No wonder they were indecisive.
"So then, what's your meaning?"
Uchiha Setsuna's eyes glimmered with interest. Did Akiro have an insight of his own?
"To put it simply—the reason we're in this situation, aside from being targeted, is because of how much offense we've caused. The Konoha Police Force has practically alienated every civilian and lower ninja. So now, the great clans don't want to associate with us. The smaller clans don't want to associate with us. Even the common ninja and villagers don't want us. How could our position possibly be good?"
The truth was harsh. The Uchiha had become so disliked that even facing extermination, not a single ninja in the village would stand up for them. That showed just how unwelcome they'd been.
The great clans were rivals. Konoha was a giant cake, and the Uchiha had taken a huge bite—so others naturally wanted less to do with them.
The smaller clans were met with arrogance whenever they dealt with Uchiha. Akiro, living among them, had seen how haughty many acted, always flaunting "the clan's glory" while looking down their noses at others. Naturally, that made no friends.
As for civilians and common ninja? They had been the direct targets of Uchiha arrogance in the Police Force, day after day. Please one, and another would be offended. Over time, their reputation had soured completely.
"For us, the Police Force never brought any benefit. When the Second Hokage set it up, it looked like giving us power—but it was really a trap, pushing us far away from the true center of authority.
You all keep asking: why can't the Uchiha become Hokage?
The answer is simple—because we've offended every possible group! Tell me, who would ever support us as Hokage?"
His words thundered.
Everyone fell into a daze, mulling over every sentence Akiro had spoken.
They had understood.
Teacher… they had understood!
"So then, teacher—no, Akiro—you're saying we should resist, aren't you?"
Setsuna's eyes lit with sudden realization. So that was it! Akiro was urging them to fight back!
He had hidden his fangs all this time, but now was revealing them at last!
"You're insane. That's clearly the conservative stance! Maybe with a touch of aggressiveness, but he never once said rebellion!"
Uchiha Tetsu burst out in protest. He absolutely disagreed with Setsuna's conclusion.
Akiro's constructive suggestion was clearly about mending ties with the other clans and with the civilians. How could that possibly be the radical hawks' position?
"What did you say? Are you picking a fight with me?"
"Come on then! You think the conservatives are pushovers!?"
Was this… about to turn into a brawl?