Was I… truly wrong?
As the former head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku had always placed the clan above all else.
Yet now, facing Shuoye's resolve—
For the first time, he wavered.
Shuoye paused slightly, as if seeing through the turmoil in Fugaku's heart.
"Remember this, Fugaku," he said calmly. "Retreat again and again, and the blade will only rust. The future we seek can only be seized by moving forward without hesitation. Think carefully."
Shuoye had no intention of discarding Fugaku.
After all—
He was still an important… fighter.
Ahem.
Member of the Uchiha.
At that moment, a system notification rang out in Shuoye's mind.
[Congratulations, Shuoye! Special achievement completed. Bonus reward triggered: Armament Haki Training Method! (Can be taught. Others' training progress will accelerate Host's growth.)]
Shuoye's eyes lit up.
Armament Haki.
Exactly what he needed.
Although he possessed the Whitebeard template, for some reason his mastery over the Tremor-Tremor Fruit advanced at astonishing speed—
Yet his progress in the three forms of Haki had remained stagnant.
Now—
With the entire Uchiha clan cultivating it and feeding the results back to him—
His growth would skyrocket.
He took a deep breath.
Power surged within him.
It felt as though an invisible barrier had shattered.
His blood roared.
His strength swelled.
Looking at the Uchiha around him, a radiant smile appeared on his face.
The future had already taken shape in his mind.
"Begin preparations. Recall all clan members stationed elsewhere. In three days, I will reveal the path of the Uchiha's future."
His voice rang out like a war drum.
"Yes, Clan Head!"
The young Uchiha rose in unison, eyes blazing with fervor.
To them—
Shuoye had become a symbol.
The dawn of a new Uchiha era.
The training grounds erupted in thunderous cheers.
Fugaku stood to the side, silently watching.
Reluctance lingered in his heart—
But even he could not deny it.
His era had ended.
Perhaps—
Only Shuoye could lead the Uchiha forward.
As dusk settled over the Hidden Leaf Village, lights burned within the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, a scroll in hand, brows deeply furrowed.
Unease shadowed his expression.
Beside him, Danzō Shimura appeared even more impatient, his visible eye cold and sharp.
"There was turmoil within the Uchiha… Shuoye has taken leadership?"
Hiruzen's voice carried disbelief.
"Yes. The result of your hesitation."
Danzō's reply was cutting.
"The Uchiha have always been a threat to the Hidden Leaf Village. Especially with someone like Shuoye in power."
Hiruzen sighed.
He knew Danzō was not entirely wrong—
But at this moment, there was little he could do.
"Danzō. Do not act rashly. Any move from you will only escalate tensions."
"Hmph. Hiruzen, stay out of it."
Danzō turned and left, his final words lingering in the air.
"I have my own way of handling this."
Night fell.
Within the Uchiha clan hall, the atmosphere was heavy.
Shuoye sat at the head seat, eyes sharp as he surveyed the gathered clan members.
Uchiha Xuanjing stepped forward.
"My lord, all external spies have been eliminated."
"Good."
Shuoye nodded, satisfied.
The Great Elder frowned deeply.
"Shuoye… will this not intensify our conflict with the Hidden Leaf Village?"
Fugaku spoke up as well, though hesitation colored his voice.
"Our chances of successful rebellion are extremely low. But if needed… I am willing to act."
He was already calculating how to restore his standing.
Shuoye chuckled softly.
"Who said I intend to rebel now?"
The hall fell silent.
"What do you mean?" Shisui asked, confusion in his eyes.
"If we defect now," Shuoye said as he rose to his feet, gaze steady and wise, "the Uchiha will suffer catastrophic losses."
"A fractured Uchiha fleeing the village would only grant the Hidden Leaf Village moral justification. And do you truly believe the other villages would not covet the Sharingan?"
"The Hidden Leaf Village was built by the Uchiha."
"Why should we be the ones to flee?"
Gradually—
Understanding dawned on Shisui and the elders.
Fugaku's unease deepened.
His influence was slipping further.
"This is our village too!"
A young Uchiha suddenly shouted.
"Yes! Why should we run?"
Voices rose one after another.
The hall filled with fervent pride.
Shuoye stood calmly amid the surging emotions.
Then—
A single question lingered in everyone's mind.
If not rebellion—
Then why eliminate the spies?