Seizing Power

"Why, Yashiro?!"

Fugaku Uchiha looked confused, even somewhat lost.

First Tekka and Inabi, and now even Yashiro...

These people had all once been his confidants, his right-hand men.

Was he really that much of a failure?

One after another, they were leaving him.

Yashiro Uchiha smiled bitterly to himself.

He had to step forward.

He knew Kazuna was dissatisfied with Fugaku.

If he did not interrupt now, Clan Leader Fugaku would be unable to save face.

Yashiro Uchiha did not answer Fugaku. He stood and said directly, "As a Jonin of the Uchiha Clan and one of the four Squad Captains of the Konoha Military Police Force, I, Yashiro Uchiha, have held this position for over ten years. I have discovered that the current Military Police Force has major flaws."

None of the Uchiha present spoke. They simply watched Yashiro in silence.

Waiting for him to continue.

Yashiro Uchiha went on, "We can set aside the minor problems for now. The most important issue is that as Konoha develops, the Military Police Force is clearly no longer strong enough. Many areas lack personnel, and management is chaotic. Therefore, I propose expanding the Military Police Force's four squads to eight!"

Setsuna Uchiha, Sougi Uchiha, and Fugaku Uchiha all changed expression.

The atmosphere instantly froze!

Expand the Uchiha Clan's power?

And double it outright?

At a time like this?

Had they gone insane?

At the very least, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other village higher-ups would go insane!

Fugaku looked furious. He stared coldly at Kazuna and demanded, "Uchiha Kazuna, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Kazuna looked innocent. "What do you mean, what am I trying to do? What did I do?"

"Cut the nonsense!" Fugaku barked. "Don't you know the Uchiha's current situation? And you still want to expand our armed forces?"

The Uchiha were already being targeted by the village, yet at a time like this, they wanted to expand the Military Police Force?

Were they trying to directly ignite a war between the village and the Uchiha?

"Clan Leader Fugaku, I, Uchiha Kazuna, am a member who loves Konohagakure. Everything I do is for the village!"

Kazuna looked aggrieved.

Fuck you.

The same words appeared in the minds of many Uchiha.

Led by Fugaku, Setsuna, and Sougi.

After cursing him, Setsuna's expression darkened.

He had cursed the wrong person!

The fierceness in Fugaku's eyes intensified.

He was the famous "Fierce Eyes" Fugaku, a ruthless figure even on the battlefield. Now that he was angry, he appeared even more intimidating. Even Kazuna could not help shrinking his neck, putting on a pitiful, frightened expression.

"Cough, cough!"

Sougi Uchiha, the representative of the Dove Faction, cleared his throat and said, "Kazuna, this is a clan meeting. Be serious!"

Look at the things you have done before. Do you really think anyone would believe you saying that?

Did you think we did not know how many times you had fought Danzo, openly and in secret?

Kazuna blinked and said, "That's not right. Why are all of you looking at me? I wasn't the one who made the proposal. This was clearly Big Brother Yashiro's proposal. Go talk to him!"

Yashiro Uchiha cursed Kazuna in his heart as well. Facing all those strange looks, he said, "Everyone, my proposal is entirely for the sake of the bigger picture. The Uchiha bear an important responsibility in maintaining the village's security, yet we can no longer fulfill that responsibility. We have truly disgraced the Uchiha name."

"Enough!" Fugaku said coldly. "I will report this matter to Hokage-sama and appropriately increase our manpower."

Anger flashed through Setsuna Uchiha's eyes.

Reporting it to the Hokage again!

Since when had Fugaku become the Hokage's dog?

At every turn, he wanted to report things to the Hokage. Even when it concerned his own clan's strength, he wanted to report it to the Hokage. Did he still remember that he was the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Clan?

Immediately, Setsuna Uchiha, who bristled at the mention of the Hokage, said flatly, "I believe Yashiro's words make a great deal of sense. Konohagakure is developing, and its population is growing. How can the Military Police Force remain as it was decades ago? I support adding more personnel and higher-ups!"

Sougi Uchiha smiled bitterly.

Well, this was going to cause trouble!

The moment Setsuna spoke, the nature of the matter changed.

He was the representative of the Hawk Faction and an Uchiha Elder. His status was entirely different; this was far too sensitive!

Sure enough!

Fugaku's anger subsided, and he returned to calmness. "Elder Setsuna, you support this?"

His voice was calm, yet it carried a chill that seemed capable of freezing one's soul.

An enormous pressure bore down on Setsuna Uchiha.

Setsuna's expression shifted slightly.

He had many grievances against Fugaku, but he still greatly acknowledged Fugaku's strength. Fugaku was absolutely one of Konohagakure's strongest.

"Heh heh!"

A soft laugh rang out, followed by an even more powerful pressure that forcibly pushed Fugaku's pressure back.

Uchiha Kazuna!

He glared at Fugaku with hostile eyes.

Who the hell do you think you are? You dared bully my old man?

"Cough, cough!"

Yashiro Uchiha gave a bitter smile and interjected, "Clan Leader, my proposal is not merely to add four more squads. They must also be equipped with corresponding Squad Captains. It would be best to add a Deputy Head as well, who would concurrently serve as the Uchiha Vice Clan Leader and help the Clan Leader share his burdens, so as to avoid management chaos."

Silence!

The room fell completely silent.

Quite a few people stared blankly at Yashiro, then looked at Kazuna.

Holy shit, isn't this going too far?

A Deputy Head, concurrently serving as Vice Clan Leader?

Good heavens!

Were they trying to usurp the throne?!

Most of them had their mouths hanging open, unable to say a word.

"Ha ha!" After a stretch of silence, Fugaku sneered. "Uchiha Kazuna, is this your goal?"

Just as he thought Kazuna would deny it again and kick the ball back to Yashiro—

Kazuna said lazily, "More or less."

"You..."

"However, such a major matter probably cannot be decided by any one person. How about we vote by raising our hands? Let's see how many Uchiha Jonin present agree with Big Brother Yashiro's proposal and believe that I, Uchiha Kazuna, am qualified to serve as Vice Clan Leader!"

"If the majority of the clan members agree, then I'll become Vice Clan Leader. If they do not, then treat me as a joke!"

At that moment, Kazuna was like a treasured sword, its edge fully revealed!

"Swish!"

Before Fugaku could even refuse, Tekka and Inabi were the first to raise their hands.

Then Yashiro raised his hand!

Fugaku sneered and was about to speak when, swish, swish, swish, several more people raised their hands.

In the blink of an eye, the number of raised hands had exceeded ten.

There were eleven in total!

Fugaku Uchiha was stunned.

Setsuna Uchiha was stunned.

Sougi Uchiha was stunned.

How could this be?

There were only twenty-five Uchiha present, yet eleven supported Kazuna becoming Vice Clan Leader. That was nearly half!

It could be said that apart from their diehard subordinates standing behind them, nearly all the other Uchiha supported Kazuna.

Do not forget that Fugaku, Setsuna, Sougi, and Kazuna himself would not raise their hands.

Excluding those four, more than half of the Uchiha Jonin present supported Kazuna!

Setsuna Uchiha had been about to raise his hand along with the Hawk Faction, but now he froze in place.

Sougi Uchiha had been inclined not to raise his hand, but he had planned to arrange for several people to do so, leaving Kazuna some dignity. After all, Kazuna was an outstanding junior of the clan.

Now, though, the number had already passed half.

...Better not raise his hand. He should leave Fugaku some dignity.

But this brat Kazuna had actually earned the recognition of so many people?

He was simply too...

Sougi Uchiha stared at Kazuna in astonishment.

Kazuna grinned and gave him a mischievous wink.

Sougi Uchiha: "...He's too damn punchable!"