Uchiha Clan Meeting Stunned: Who Was the Hawk Faction?

Fugaku's mind frantically analyzed the battle.

He was certain that Itachi's defeat had not been due to a lack of strength, but insufficient intelligence.

He had not guarded against Kaze's genjutsu attack.

That had exposed a flaw.

If he were given another chance, he would definitely be evenly matched with Kaze, perhaps even slightly superior.

Thinking that, Fugaku found a sliver of comfort.

However...

If the fact that Itachi Uchiha had lost was set aside.

The power Kaze had displayed truly left Fugaku incredulous.

"Genjutsu."

"Combined with his unique Lightning Release Nintaijutsu."

"If we look at overall strength, the only people within the clan who can steadily overpower Kaze are probably Shisui and me."

Fugaku had always acknowledged Shisui's strength.

Although Kaze's performance had been astonishing, he still believed Shisui was stronger.

As for himself...

That went without saying.

He had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan during the Third Shinobi World War.

Naturally, his strength was no weaker than Shisui's.

That was right.

In Fugaku's eyes, he was now the man worthy of bearing the title of the strongest Uchiha.

"It seems..."

Fugaku scanned the room.

Whether the Hawk Faction Elders or the rest of the clan, everyone had silently accepted Kaze taking the position of Konoha Military Police Force Vice-Captain.

"No one has any objections."

"Then, as both a member of this clan and the Captain of the Security Force, I will formally announce the result."

"Starting today, Kaze will be the Konoha Military Police Force Vice-Captain."

With his arms folded across his chest, Fugaku declared in a firm, resounding voice.

Having witnessed Kaze's strength, the clan members seated on round mats naturally voiced no further opposition.

"Kaze, you can announce the second matter."

Just as Kaze thought Fugaku would go on to reveal the second matter.

Fugaku, the Clan Head, directly tossed the right to speak to Kaze.

Kaze: "???"

Kaze instinctively glanced at Fugaku and could not help grumbling inwardly.

This Fugaku really was the kind of man who never took responsibility...

Whenever there was something he was not completely certain about, Fugaku always pushed it away if he could, or blocked it if he had to.

Though he was the Clan Head, he practically had no convictions or courage.

The Night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage and the military coup had both been like that...

Even now, when it came to reform, he wore the same attitude of wanting to stay out of it.

Even though he was clearly the Clan Head.

Letting someone like that lead the entire Uchiha Clan...

The Uchiha really had terrible luck.

"Forget it..."

Kaze shook his head. He had thought he could count on Fugaku to speak up on this matter.

Now it seemed he had truly expected too much.

"Since the Clan Head has said so."

"Then I will announce the second reason I gathered everyone here."

"Everyone..."

Kaze raised his voice, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Though his body was only that of a fifteen-year-old boy, the experiences of two lifetimes had made his mind far more mature than that of ordinary people.

"I wonder if you still remember the Night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage five years ago."

When Kaze brought up the old matter and mentioned the Nine-Tails.

The Hawk Faction Elders' expressions immediately turned livid.

Their brows twisted tightly together like two ropes.

They would never forget what had happened that night.

It had been the turning point in the Uchiha Clan's status.

And it was not only the Elders whose expressions changed.

Even Fugaku froze where he stood.

Because what Kaze had discussed with him before was reforming the Konoha Military Police Force.

Bringing in talent from Konoha other than members of the Uchiha Clan.

That was why he had hesitated, deciding to let Kaze speak first and see how the clan members reacted.

Only then would he decide whether to carry out the matter.

But who would have thought...

Kaze would suddenly bring up the Night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage for no reason?

What exactly was he trying to do?

"Of course we have not forgotten what happened that day..." An Uchiha Elder spoke in a low voice, nearly grinding out those words through clenched teeth.

No one could forget what had happened that night.

Nor would anyone dare forget the humiliation that incident had brought upon the Uchiha Clan.

Danzo had used baseless accusations to place all the blame on the Uchiha.

From that day onward, the other villagers had begun viewing them through colored glasses.

They developed a resistant attitude toward the Security Force's law enforcement.

They believed that no Uchiha was a good person.

Claims of violent law enforcement had also begun spreading from that time onward.

Seeing that his words had successfully stirred everyone's emotions.

Kaze continued.

"In the founding of Konoha, our Uchiha Clan was unquestionably one of its great meritorious officials."

"Yet how did the Konoha leadership treat us?"

"Not only did they kick us out of the center of power."

"They even drove us to the outskirts of the village."

"That alone would have been one thing."

"But they actually slandered us, claiming the true culprit behind the Night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage came from among us."

"They neither listened to our explanations nor produced sufficient evidence."

"They simply used baseless accusations to suppress us for five whole years."

"Everyone, do you not think the Konoha leadership has gone too far?"

Kaze's tone was neither hurried nor slow, yet every word rang with force.

No one could remain unmoved after hearing such words.

Furthermore, the Uchiha Clan had long harbored deep resentment toward the Konoha leadership.

Many people clenched their fists at that moment.

Shisui and Itachi exchanged looks, both suddenly gripped by a bad feeling.

"Kaze, what exactly are you trying to say?" Fugaku frowned, a trace of worry surfacing in his heart as well.

Because this was not what they had discussed at the beginning!

Kaze was clearly inciting everyone's emotions now!

"What I mean is..."

"Our Uchiha Clan should not have to endure such treatment."

Kaze paused briefly. "We should take back everything that belongs to us."

"Restore the Uchiha Clan's prestige."

"We..."

"Need a coup."

"To change all of this!"

As Kaze's words fell, every Uchiha gathered at Naka Shrine drew in a sharp breath.

All of them were stunned.

The Hawk Faction Elders in particular widened their eyes until they were even larger and rounder than a cow's.

They could not help wondering whether they had misheard him.

Or whether they were hallucinating.

Good grief.

Kaze was even more hawkish than them, the Hawk Faction.

At most, they had been weighing whether to stage a coup and what their chances of success would be afterward.

Yet Kaze, a fifteen-year-old boy.

Had directly asked everyone whether they wanted a coup!

"What did you say!?" Shisui shot to his feet.

After witnessing Kaze's many talents, the thing Shisui feared most was Kaze joining the Hawk Faction.

Being influenced by them and ultimately standing against the village.

Yet compared to Kaze, even the Hawk Faction seemed like the Dove Faction.

"Wait, Kaze." Fugaku, the Clan Head, was utterly dumbfounded as well.

That was not in the prepared script!

What the hell was this coup supposed to be!?

Kaze took in everyone's reactions.

"Of course, the coup I am talking about is not a military coup."

"It is a coup carried out through political means."

"A bloodless way to achieve our goal."

Only after enjoying everyone's shock did Kaze slowly continue.

In his previous world, someone had once said something like this...

People always prefer compromise and moderation.

For example, if you say that a room is too dark and needs a window, everyone will surely object.

But if you propose tearing off the roof, they will come around and agree to open a window.