The Blade Hanging Over Their Heads

"No matter who the opponent is, the Uchiha Clan can never become Hokage?"

Uchiha Tarou and Uchiha Fugaku's expressions changed once again.

Uchiha Tarou stared at Uchiha Yuzuru and said in a deep voice, "Tell us your reasons."

Feeling their gazes on him, Uchiha Yuzuru considered it and decided to explain.

After all, unlike him, a transmigrator, Uchiha Tarou and Uchiha Fugaku knew nothing about the future.

If he wanted them to face reality, he needed to present sufficiently convincing evidence.

After pondering for a moment, Uchiha Yuzuru said, "Clan Head Tarou, Fugaku, to understand my conclusion, we must start with the late Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who was extremely hostile toward the Uchiha."

When they heard Uchiha Yuzuru mention Tobirama Senju, Uchiha Tarou and Uchiha Fugaku exchanged a glance, confusion flashing through both their eyes.

The Second Hokage was hostile toward the Uchiha?

"Yuzuru, although our relationship with the Senju Clan was not harmonious before Konoha was founded, saying that the Second Hokage hated our Uchiha Clan... surely that is going too far?"

"Our Uchiha Clan's current status in the village was all due to the Second Hokage's policies."

"He established the Konoha Military Police Force and handed all authority for maintaining the village's security to our Uchiha Clan."

"Why do you think the Second Hokage was hostile toward our Uchiha Clan?"

Hearing Uchiha Tarou's words, Uchiha Yuzuru almost laughed.

No wonder the Uchiha, a powerful ninja clan, had gradually marched toward destruction. With political instincts like that, they would help count the money after being sold off.

All they knew was fighting and killing. It was ridiculous.

Seeing Uchiha Yuzuru remain silent, Uchiha Fugaku could not help urging, "Yuzuru, say something."

At that, Uchiha Yuzuru's tone gained a trace of helplessness. "It is precisely because of the Konoha Military Police Force that our Uchiha Clan has such a poor reputation in the village."

"Huh? Why would you say that?"

Uchiha Yuzuru explained, "Being responsible for maintaining security throughout the entire village sounds like we hold great power, but most important matters are handled directly by the Hokage's Anbu."

"The cases handled by our Konoha Military Police Force are, for the most part, merely disputes between villagers."

"Most everyday trivialities make it difficult to determine who is right and who is wrong. Even when it can be determined, the punished party will still resent us as the enforcers."

"And those we help will, over time, merely think that we are doing what we should have done in the first place."

"No one will be grateful to us. What accumulates instead is hostility."

"Three people make a tiger. Even villagers who have never been punished will distance themselves from us out of fear."

"Coupled with the Uchiha Clan's own dislike of smooth social maneuvering, we are destined to often provoke dissatisfaction among the villagers when dealing with problems. It was only to be expected that our relationship with them would grow worse and worse."

"The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, saw exactly this, which was why he specifically allowed only Uchiha ninjas to join the Konoha Military Police Force."

"Think about it. Aside from the Konoha Military Police Force, does Konoha have any other authority organization composed solely of ninjas from one clan?"

What Uchiha Yuzuru said was practically a universally accepted view in later generations, but to Uchiha Tarou and Uchiha Fugaku, who were living through it, those words were no different from a thunderclap out of a clear sky.

Thoughts they had never considered raced through their minds, and fear gradually wrapped around their hearts.

They had always wondered why, even after so many years, the Uchiha Clan still seemed so incompatible with the village.

So this was where the problem lay!

The Uchiha Clan had been schemed against years ago. If not for Uchiha Yuzuru, they might have remained in the dark forever.

At that moment, another policy established by the Second Hokage suddenly flashed through Uchiha Tarou's mind.

He licked his dry lips and asked in a trembling voice, "Yuzuru, then the Second Hokage allowing our ninjas to remain in the village indefinitely, without having to go out on missions..."

"It is exactly as you think." Uchiha Yuzuru's voice shattered Uchiha Tarou's last illusion.

"All it would take is spreading rumors among the villagers at the right time, saying things like, 'Why do the rest of us have to risk our lives going out on missions while the Uchiha Clan can comfortably stay in the village doing work with no risk at all?' Then our Uchiha Clan's reputation in the village would completely collapse."

"This was a bomb Tobirama Senju deliberately planted."

"A bomb powerful enough to blow our Uchiha Clan to pieces."

After hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's explanation, cold sweat streamed down Uchiha Tarou and Uchiha Fugaku's foreheads.

They were not fools.

It was one thing when they had not thought deeply about it before, but now that the veil had been lifted, they understood everything in an instant.

What Uchiha Yuzuru said was absolutely not alarmist. There truly was a sharp blade hanging over the Uchiha Clan's heads, ready to fall at any moment!

They had even regarded it as an honor all this time. Who would have thought that so many schemes were hidden behind it?

Evil Tobirama Senju!!!

After giving Uchiha Tarou and Uchiha Fugaku some time to think, Uchiha Yuzuru continued, "And Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and the others who inherited Tobirama Senju's will will be even less likely to give the Uchiha Clan a chance to rise again."

"So no matter who the competitors are, the Hokage will never choose the Uchiha."

At that, uncertainty filled Uchiha Tarou and Uchiha Fugaku's eyes. Uchiha Fugaku argued, "Yuzuru, after the Third Hokage took office, he has not taken any measures specifically targeting the Uchiha Clan, has he?"

"Perhaps he is different from the Second Hokage?"

Hearing that, Uchiha Yuzuru glanced at Uchiha Fugaku, his right hand unable to stop itself from reaching for the long sword at his waist.

He really wanted to cut this idiot down with one slash.

In the original story, Uchiha Fugaku had always harbored illusions about the Hokage's faction.

He named his son Sasuke, wavered between rebellion and compromise, and sent both Itachi and Shisui into the Anbu to be brainwashed...

Including himself, that made three pairs of Mangekyo!

Even if they did nothing at all, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and the others would not have dared act rashly against the Uchiha Clan, right?

But what was the result?

They had single-handedly destroyed the Uchiha!

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Yuzuru calmed his emotions.

Uchiha Fugaku was certainly not the only clansman who still held illusions about Hiruzen Sarutobi.

If he wanted them to truly unite behind him, he had to find a way to make every clansman see Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others for what they really were.

With that thought, Uchiha Yuzuru said evenly, "Clan Head Tarou, you can try suggesting to Hiruzen Sarutobi that we reform the Konoha Military Police Force and allow ninjas from other ninja clans or civilian ninjas to join."

"Of course, it would be best to also mention allowing Uchiha ninjas, like other ninjas, to freely form teams and go out on missions."

"That will be all for today. Thank you for the hospitality."

He had said everything that needed to be said. Some things needed time to ferment.

In any case, with him here, the Uchiha clansmen would certainly see Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others for what they truly were this time.

Let the bullets fly for a while.

Watching Uchiha Yuzuru's departing back, Uchiha Tarou could not help saying excitedly, "His vision and strength are both beyond reproach. It seems our clan is about to produce someone truly extraordinary."

Uchiha Fugaku, however, looked deeply worried. "Father, if the Third Hokage truly is as Yuzuru said, what should we do?"

After remaining silent for a moment, Uchiha Tarou sighed. "We will see. Perhaps Yuzuru already has a solution."

"Fugaku, if things truly head in the worst possible direction, then Yuzuru may be the key to breaking the deadlock for our Uchiha Clan. You must not hold a grudge against him."

"Don't worry, Father." Thinking of Uchiha Yuzuru's terrifying dojutsu power and the wisdom he had just displayed, Uchiha Fugaku muttered, "I am not that petty."