Toyoma's words made Fugaku go quiet.
He didn't reply immediately.
What Toyoma said… was true.
And that made it worse.
Saying it like that—right in front of the younger ones—
Fugaku felt it shouldn't have been said so openly.
"Guard force salaries aren't what you should be worrying about," Fugaku said, his voice a little colder now."First, tell me, what is this weekly security fee you introduced?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I thought the security fee structure would stop. But it's been more than two years… and it still hasn't changed."
Just thinking about it made his expression tighten.
That system…
It didn't feel like protection.
It felt no different from extortion.
The proud Uchiha… reduced to this.
His jaw clenched.
What must the village think of us now…
His eyes shifted to the side.
Uzuku.
Then Shisui.
Both of them were watching silently.
No…
I need to go back and see this myself.
I won't let the Uchiha name turn into a joke.
Toyoma watched Fugaku's face change again and again.
Then he glanced at Uzuku for a moment before looking back at Fugaku.
"Why would we stop taking it, Clan Head?" Toyoma said.
"We protect their businesses. We stop theft."
He spoke like it was obvious.
"We let them work without worrying about anything."
There was clear pride on his face.
"They even give us the fee themselves now. Their businesses are growing because of us."
He looked straight at Fugaku.
"If they're not complaining… then why are you so worked up about it?"
Fugaku's teeth clenched.
"That's because you're forcing them to com—"
"Clan Head."
Toyoma cut him off.
"Don't give me excuses."
The air turned heavy.
"Just say it clearly."
Toyoma's voice didn't rise.
But it became sharper.
"You're angry because your way of licking the Hokage's feet and grovelling before him didn't change anything."
The room froze.
"And now we've done something you could never do."
His eyes held no respect now.
Only contempt.
"That's why you're jealous."
Shisui heard Toyoma, but he didn't move. His fingers tightened slightly.
Silence filled the room.
"If the clan is living without worry now… if they're finally satisfied," Toyoma continued,
"Can't you stop this petty behaviour?"
He looked at Fugaku as if he were looking down on him.
"It doesn't suit you."
A small pause.
"And it's a disgrace to the title of Uchiha Clan Head."
Fugaku didn't respond immediately.
For a moment—
He just stood there.
Then slowly…
His expression settled.
The anger didn't disappear.
It… went quiet.
His clenched jaw loosened.
His shoulders straightened.
When he looked at Toyoma again—
There was nothing emotional left in his eyes.
Only calm.
"Are you finished?" Fugaku asked.
His voice was steady.
Too steady.
The shift was subtle.
But everyone in the room felt it.
Toyoma didn't answer immediately.
For the first time—
He paused.
Fugaku took a step forward.
Not fast.
Not aggressive.
But deliberate.
"You've said what you wanted," Fugaku continued.
"Without hesitation and with no restraint."
A brief pause.
"Good."
That single word didn't carry approval.
It felt like a conclusion.
"Now listen carefully."
The room grew still again.
"I allowed this."
Fugaku's voice remained calm.
"Because I trusted the clan would not forget what it stands for."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"I just don't want you all to stop trying to make peace with the village in your own way… or even trying to build bonds with people inside the village."
He looked at Shisui, then Uzuku.
"I don't want you all to think I am using my authority as Clan Head to force you to live your lives according to my interests."
"What I have done has always been with considering the well-being of the clan and the interests of my people first ."
Fugaku's voice started growing louder.
"And now a brat who hasn't even grown up yet tells me not to be jealous of my people's happiness?"
His voice now contained anger.
"And tells… me that I am a petty person because I cannot see the Uchiha living without worry?"
He looked at Toyoma and spoke in a loud tone, his words now filled with venom.
"Listen, brat. From before you were even born, I had a simple goal—to let every Uchiha live without worries, to give them the respect they deserve."
"For that, I have been fighting till now."
"Do you understand?"
Fugaku shouted the last words in front of Toyoma.
Everyone present looked at him with concern.
His eyes were red—not from anger.
The Uchiha present there, from children to adults like Uzuku and Suki—
Everyone was looking at Fugaku with sympathy.
Uzuku knew about Fugaku's struggle.
How, at every step, he tried to show the Uchiha's willingness to work for Konoha—
so that the people of the village would accept them wholeheartedly.
Every move of his, which looked like foolishness in front of the village leadership—
was only for the clan.
Uzuku was certain.
Right or wrong… that never changed his intent.
It didn't change the fact that everything Fugaku had done till now was with only one motive:
For the people of the clan.
And that—
No one could deny it.
Uzuku stepped closer to Fugaku, trying to calm him down.
Suki also felt bad for the Clan Head.
The younger generation present there looked at one another, unsure how to react.
This was the first time they had seen something like this.
Their Clan Head… losing control of his emotions—
It was something they had never imagined.
It felt unexpected.
Even a little heartbreaking.
Toyoma looked at Fugaku.
He wanted to say something—
But Uzuku and Suki's eyes stopped him.
The message was clear.
Don't make it worse.
Toyoma sighed.
Then he looked at Fugaku and spoke.
"Clan Head, it was not my intention to insult you."
"But the situation is not clear to you… And you started accusing me."
His gaze shifted briefly to Fugaku's red eyes—
Then to Uzuku.
"But I can assure you of one thing."
"Right now, the image of the Uchiha—"
He paused slightly.
"—not just in Konoha, but even in the Fire Capital—is far better than before."
"So don't jump to conclusions."
"Right now, the time for the Uchiha is delicate."
His tone grew more serious.
"There are many people who are not happy with our sudden rise in fame… and this changing image of the clan."
"They will spread rumours about us. They will try anything to stop us."
Toyoma exhaled slowly.
"You need to understand that."
Fugaku didn't reply.
He just looked at Toyoma.
Silent.
That silence alone was enough for Toyoma to understand—
Fugaku was listening.
Toyoma held his gaze.
"Clan Head… there is one last thing."
"I didn't want to say it this bluntly…"
A brief pause.
"It's true—everything you have done till now…"
"...was for the betterment of the Uchiha."
"You fought for the clan."
Then—
"But—"
His eyes locked with Fugaku.
Uzuku and Shisui unconsciously held their breath.
"It would have been better…"
"If you had fought the village leadership—"
"—instead of your own people."
"Maybe…"
"...that would have given us a better result."
Toyoma's words stunned everyone.
The room fell silent again.
They looked at him—
With a baffled look.
The silence filled the camp.
Outside—
Konoha was already changing.
Whispers had started to spread.
At first, they were quiet.
Just assumptions passed between people.
Then—
They grew.
Faster.
Louder.
"They've already decided the next Hokage…"Some people in the village whispered among themselves.
"They say it's Minato Namikaze…"
One man replied as he looked at the group.
"A young one… easy to control…"
"A puppet," someone retorted.
The word spread like smoke.
Slow.
But impossible to stop.
Some said it with doubt.
Some with curiosity.
Some with quiet anger.
And some—
with satisfaction.
Talk of the new Hokage being a puppet of the Third Hokage and the elders began to grow.
People started looking at Minato's achievements with suspicion.
What once seemed impressive—
now felt… planned.
To them, it no longer looked like talent.
It looked like something decided long ago.
Even some clan shinobi began discussing it.
And when their eyes turned toward the Hokage Building—
Their expressions grew dark.
Disgust.
Doubt.
And something deeper—
something that hadn't been there before.
Inside the Hokage office—
The atmosphere was heavy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk.
Silent.
Across from him—
Koharu UtataneandHomura Mitokado
Neither of them spoke at first.
A scroll lay open on the table.
Reports.
Complaints.
Rumours.
All saying the same thing.
"Minato Namikaze… a puppet Hokage."
Hiruzen's fingers rested lightly on the desk.
He didn't move.
But his eyes—
had grown heavier.
Suddenly—
The scroll was thrown onto the desk.
"Which bastard started this nonsense?"
"And now it's spreading faster day by day," Koharu said.
Her voice carried a hint of anger.
Homura nodded slightly.
"The civilians are talking among themselves."
"And not just them."
A small pause.
"Some clans have started questioning it as well."
Silence returned.
Hiruzen finally spoke.
"…Too early."
"Who started this rumour first? Did you find anything?"
His voice was low.
"We haven't even made any announcement about the Hokage candidate…"
"And yet they speak as if the decision has already been made."
Koharu's gaze sharpened.
"That's exactly the problem."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Someone wants this to spread before we say anything publicly."
Homura's eyes narrowed.
"They want to disrupt the atmosphere inside Konoha."
"And turn people against the Hokage position itself."
Hiruzen closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Minato.
A name that should have brought hope—
was now being twisted.
"Do we know when it started?" Hiruzen asked.
Koharu shook her head.
"No clear source."
"That's what makes it dangerous."
Homura added quietly:
"It means this was planned."
The room grew heavier.
For a moment—
They looked outside the window.
Outside—
The village looked the same.
But underneath—
Something had started to shift.
Trust.
Doubt.
And something else.
Fear.
Hiruzen opened his eyes again.
He understood—
He couldn't let this continue.
"This cannot go on," he said.
His voice was still calm.
But firmer now.
"If Minato becomes Hokage…"
"…then things will become even more difficult."
"There is a chance public outrage could rise."
Koharu and Homura didn't respond immediately.
Because they both knew—
The problem wasn't just the rumour.
It was the people behind it.
And the timing.
Homura looked at Hiruzen with a slightly worried expression.
"Hiruzen… we have to do something."
"And shift people's attention away from Minato… to someone else."
Right now, Minato was the centre of attention in the village.
It was true—he was one of the best candidates for Hokage.
But if people kept talking about him like this—
Their suspicion would only grow.
And that would make things more difficult.
Hiruzen looked at Homura and nodded.
After a moment of thought, he spoke.
"How about… we start highlighting the Uchiha's achievements?"
"And Fugaku's name."
The room went quiet.
It was clear to all of them—
There might be some connection between the Uchiha and these rumours.
But they weren't certain.
Right now… no clan fully trusts the Uchiha.
If we publicly acknowledge their contributions…
It might ease things.
Hiruzen remained silent after that.
Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance.
They had reached the same conclusion.
They looked back at Hiruzen.
"This is a good move."
Koharu and Homura spoke in unison.
Hiruzen nodded.
Then he looked toward the window.
"Whoever has done this… has gained the upper hand."
"We need to be careful now."
"Things are no longer going as we planned."
Koharu and Homura both nodded.
Just then—
The door opened.
"What is not going as planned, old man?"
Jiraiya walked in.
Behind him—
Tsunade
Hiruzen and the elders froze.
Their eyes shifted toward the two.
For a brief moment—
The atmosphere inside the Hokage office turned completely silent.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
******************************************************************************************
Author note :
This chapter was a bit heavier than usual.
It focuses more on conflict, perception, and how different people see the same situation in completely different ways.
Fugaku and Toyoma are not simply right or wrong — they represent two paths, and both come with consequences.
At the same time, the situation in Konoha is starting to shift. Rumours, even when small, can slowly change how people think… and once that begins, it's not easy to stop.
This chapter sets up a lot for what's coming next, so take your time with it.
Thank you very much for your support.