"Fugaku—why has the Uchiha fallen to such a state? Shunned by both man and spirit?"
Shuoye's voice rang out once more, striking directly at the heart.
"Because the village targets us… because the Sharingan is feared…"
Fugaku frowned and finally spoke, resentment and helplessness bleeding through his words—
But Shuoye cut him off mercilessly.
"Wrong."
The single word crashed through the hall like thunder.
The Uchiha chamber trembled beneath the force of his voice.
He stepped forward slowly.
His presence surged outward like a tidal wave, forcing those nearby to instinctively retreat.
"The real reason is your leadership, Fugaku."
"You led the Uchiha into decline."
The words struck like a slap across Fugaku's face.
Rage and humiliation surged within him.
Shuoye's gaze was merciless.
Even now—
Fugaku still did not understand.
In this turbulent era, only resistance could pave the path for the Uchiha's revival.
"You are the Clan Leader."
Shuoye's tone was cold and unwavering.
"If even you shrink back, what future could the Uchiha possibly have?"
The air inside the chamber thickened like suppressed flames.
Fugaku's eyes flickered as he fought to contain his anger.
"You cannot judge me so unfairly!" he snapped. "Everything I did was for the safety of the Hidden Leaf Village!"
Shuoye cast him a sideways glance, a faint sneer tugging at his lips.
"When the White Fang died under suspicious circumstances," he said quietly, "why did the Uchiha remain silent?"
The words landed like a hammer.
Fugaku's expression stiffened.
"Because… because the Uchiha were under suspicion as well!" he retorted through clenched teeth. "The Anbu under the Third Hokage surrounded us. I had no room to act!"
Shuoye laughed coldly.
"If that were true, then wouldn't that have been the perfect chance to clear our name?"
"You had the strength—but chose silence."
"Your weakness widened the rift between the Uchiha and the villagers once again."
Whispers rippled across the hall.
Time itself seemed to freeze.
Every word pierced like a needle.
"But the Uchiha cannot fight the Hidden Leaf Village right now!" Fugaku's voice grew more urgent. "I did what I did to preserve our remaining strength!"
"Preserve strength?"
Shuoye stepped back slightly, eyes sharp as blades.
"You retreated once. Then again. And again."
"In the end, did that preserve our dignity?"
"Now anyone dares to trample over the Uchiha. Is this the future you wanted?"
Cold sweat beaded along Fugaku's forehead.
The truth hurt.
The Uchiha were not merely weakened—
They were isolated.
Stripped of even their final shred of pride.
"The management of the Military Police Force is a farce!" Shuoye continued. "All responsibility—no real authority!"
"And tell me—does the current leadership of the Hidden Leaf Village include even one Uchiha?"
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Fugaku's anger gradually drained into helplessness.
Finally, he lifted his head.
"What do you intend to do?"
Shuoye paused.
Then a faint, cold smile appeared.
His eyes were deep as an abyss.
"Everything that is rotten must be purged."
"I will restore the Uchiha's dignity and power."
"And if the Hidden Leaf Village continues to ignore us—"
"Then the village will pay the price."
The chamber erupted.
"Shuoye is right!"
"We can't just sit here and wait to die!"
"The Uchiha's honor cannot be trampled! We've endured long enough!"
Voices rose.
Resolve ignited.
And at that very moment—
A cold mechanical voice echoed in Shuoye's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Special Fate Branch Triggered!]
[Option One: Act decisively. Force Fugaku to abdicate immediately and seize control of the Uchiha. Reward: Awaken Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.]
[Option Two: Proceed cautiously. Form a cooperative alliance with Fugaku. Reward: Complete Collection of Lightning Release Ninjutsu below S-rank.]
Shuoye's gaze darkened.
No hesitation.
"Option One."
The moment the decision was made—
An overwhelming surge of power erupted within his eyes.
Pain.
Intense.
Unbearable.
Yet magnificent.
Crimson bled outward.
The pattern within his Sharingan twisted—
Evolved—
Deepened—
Until it transformed into something far more profound.
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
The air distorted.
A crushing pressure descended upon the chamber.
Several Uchiha instinctively activated their Sharingan—
Only to recoil in shock.
"This… this chakra…"
Fugaku's pupils contracted violently.
He felt it clearly.
That ocular power—
It surpassed his own Mangekyō Sharingan.
It was absolute.
Shuoye lifted his gaze slowly.
The intricate eternal pattern rotated within his eyes like a divine mechanism.
"From today onward…"
"The position of Clan Leader—"
"Belongs to me."
The pressure exploded outward.
Fugaku's knees buckled instinctively under the weight.
For the first time—
He felt true fear.