Uchiha Coup? Itachi's Choice

"Clan Head, these days the Guard Squad spends every day either looking for lost cats or helping villagers walk their dogs!"

"That's right—since when did the proud Uchiha have to take orders from those civilians?"

"Now every clan in the village bands together, and only we Uchiha are left out in the cold!"

"And... the village's finances seem to be in trouble too. We haven't received our stipends in a long time."

"Clan Head! If this keeps up, the Uchiha will be completely devoured!"

"With Shisui's Kotoamatsukami and Itachi, we Uchiha can definitely crush Leaf!"

Uchiha District, Council Hall.

Listening to his clansmen's complaints one after another, Fugaku's resolve began to waver.

Maybe it was time for a change.

Ever since the Nine-Tails' rampage, the Uchiha Clan had been forced to relocate to the village's outskirts.

They had become literal outcasts.

Even though they still held the post of the Leaf's Guard Squad, it only deepened their conflicts with the villagers.

Complaints—dozens a day!

Their pay had been slashed in half!

And the villagers grew more hostile by the day.

Even their clansmen on the battlefield started dying under suspicious circumstances!

No bodies to be found!

No compensation paid out!

A cornered dog will bite—let alone the Uchiha?

Over the past year, more and more clansmen had grown discontent.

Especially a few radical elders!

Even he, the Uchiha Clan Head, could no longer suppress them.

If they didn't fight back, the Uchiha might tear themselves apart from within.

"Everyone, quiet down."

He rubbed his throbbing temples, looked at the sea of Red Eyes before him, and finally gave a heavy nod.

"Very well. Tonight, when Shisui and Itachi return, we'll—"

Before he could finish, an urgent announcement came from outside the door.

"Clan Head! Shisui is back!"

"Back?"

An elder's face lit up with joy as he slammed the table in excitement.

"Clan Head! The day to rise up is today!"

"The glory of the Uchiha Clan begins now—"

He was about to continue when he was cut off.

The Uchiha messenger grimaced as if he had witnessed something bizarre, hesitating. "But... his eyes were gouged out."

Bam!

"Nonsense! Shisui has Kotoamatsukami—how could he go blind?!"

The elder pounded the table furiously.

He refused to believe it.

But!

Fugaku and the others had already rushed out.

The moment they stepped outside, they saw nearly a hundred clansmen gathered at the clan gate.

They were pointing and muttering—though the words were unclear, the fury in their voices was unmistakable.

Their shouts were deafening.

"Could it be..."

Fugaku's expression darkened as he quickened his pace.

Shove.

Pushing through the crowd, he saw Shisui before him—and his world collapsed.

He was still that bright, handsome young man, but those innocent, clear eyes were gone.

Only the eye sockets remained, filled with blood.

It had crusted into scabs at the corners of his eyes.

"Shisui! How could this happen?!"

"Damn it, this must be Konoha's doing!"

"Harming our Uchiha genius—this grudge must be avenged, Clan Head!"

Amid the wails, the Hawk Faction Elder who had spoken earlier stepped forward from behind.

His face was twisted, his expression pained.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes spun almost frantically.

He looked up at the surrounding clansmen, slowly pulling something from behind him as he said:

"Clan Head! The night is deep, the air is cold—put on this robe!"

With that, he unfurled the garment in his hands.

The five large characters on the back reading "Fifth Hokage" were strikingly clear!

"The Hokage—if that Sarutobi Hiruzen can sit in that seat, why can't our Uchiha Clan?!"

"Just give the order, and right now, our clan's four hundred thirty-two genin, one hundred eighty-three chunin, and sixty-nine jonin will charge straight into Konoha Headquarters and tear that old man apart!"

Shwoosh!

At those words, nearly a hundred clansmen and several elders instantly turned to look.

Except for a few moderate clansmen, everyone's eyes turned bloodshot.

New grudges piled on old hatreds!

Uchiha glory plus the Hokage seat!

Tonight, it was time to change the sky over Konoha.

"Hah..."

Fugaku stared at the Hokage Robe, as if seeing the Hokage seat not far away beckoning to him.

As if seeing countless Konoha Ninja flocking to him at a wave of his hand.

Was it satisfying?

Very satisfying.

But he...

Only hesitated for a moment before silently shaking his head.

To be fair, Fugaku truly had a strong will.

He forcibly tore his gaze away from the "Fifth Hokage" robe.

Looking at the agitated clansmen, he asked softly, "How about we ask Itachi what really happened?"

Only then did everyone notice that the one holding Shisui was actually Itachi.

For a moment, the clansmen fell silent.

Only heavy breathing spread through the Uchiha District.

"No wonder Jin insisted I bring him along..."

Itachi's eyes flickered as he decided to conceal part of the truth.

"Hah... sorry, Father. Shisui's eyes were... taken out by himself."

After saying this, he silently thought to himself, If Shisui were awake, he'd say the same thing, right?

He definitely wouldn't want to see conflict between the clan and the village.

But...

As he pondered, Itachi's gaze swept coldly over several elders.

Especially the one holding the Hokage Robe—a glint of chill flashed in his eyes.

To defile the Hokage seat!

His death is near!

As a ninja instilled with the Will of Fire, Uchiha Itachi could tolerate many things—but not the desecration of the Hokage.

That was his value system.

"Maybe the conflict between the clan and the village really can't be reconciled."

"Maybe I should go talk to the Hokage."

"Since it can't be reconciled, one side has to disappear..."

At that moment, Itachi's perception of his clansmen quietly shifted.

Hearing this, Fugaku let out a sigh of relief.

He clapped his hands reassuringly and said:

"Alright, everyone. Shisui's body has developed problems, and the clan's strength has taken a major hit!"

"As for the issues with the villagers and finances, I'll go discuss them with the Hokage."

Gradually, the restless hearts of the many clan members settled down.

The red gleam in their eyes slowly faded away.

Only Uchiha Itachi remained standing there, neither pleased nor sad.

"Itachi, you should head back too."

Fugaku shook his head and patted his eldest son on the shoulder.

His gaze flickered briefly over his eldest son's tightly clenched right hand.

He said nothing, simply picked up Shisui and turned to walk back into the clan grounds.

On the spot.

Itachi stood still beneath the moonlight, unmoving.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, his expression shifted as he looked behind him.

Outside the clan grounds, a man wearing a mask and dressed in black seemed to be watching him.

"Hm? Is that Root?"

His expression flickered, and he stepped forward to give chase.