The Plan Was Set

Before this, Uchiha Itachi had believed that his father was utterly unqualified as Clan Head. Not only had he failed to suppress the rebellious voices within the clan, but he had even taken the lead in provoking an armed coup d'état.

That had been what Uchiha Shisui initially believed as well. That was why he had suggested to Sarutobi Hiruzen that Kotoamatsukami be used to control the Clan Head and nip the coup d'état in the bud. But after Uchiha Shisui was ambushed by Shimura Danzō, he must have realized that this conflict was not something Uchiha Fugaku alone could influence. That was why he had chosen to flee and commit suicide.

Only now did Uchiha Itachi understand that his father was actually just like Shisui, caught between the clan and the village. He wanted to protect the clan members, yet he had no way to calm down the village's suspicion and wariness. That was why he seemed so incapable and powerless.

"Yes, Clan Head. In my view, for you to have maintained peace between the village and the Uchiha for so long under such dire circumstances, that breadth of heart alone was enough to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Hearing this young genius, Minagawa Uchiha, affirm all his years of hard work, Uchiha Fugaku felt greatly comforted. The look he gave Minagawa Uchiha became noticeably warmer.

This was exactly the effect Minagawa Uchiha wanted from his flattering words. If a few compliments could earn Uchiha Fugaku's approval and turn him into his Tool Person, then even ten or twenty such remarks would not be too many.

After that, he would take Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke in as his underlings. With the talent and strength he had displayed, given Uchiha Fugaku's Son Complex and indecisive nature, he would naturally listen to Minagawa Uchiha's advice and might even let him influence some of his decisions.

Although Uchiha Fugaku had been an utterly pathetic Clan Head—from obeying Root's orders during the Nine-Tails Incident and failing to help the Fourth Hokage, the current Hokage at the time, to relocating the Uchiha Clan when ordered to move their territory, and finally choosing to follow along when the Uchiha plotted an armed coup d'état—his flaws were obvious. Whoever was forceful enough and could make a reasonable case would win his obedience. He had no firm convictions of his own.

But those were precisely the best traits for a Tool Person. He had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and possessed formidable strength, yet lacked any independent judgment. He was exactly the kind of person Minagawa Uchiha needed.

"But I cannot agree with your claim, Clan Head, that the Mangekyō Sharingan is a cursed eye."

"The reason you believe the Mangekyō Sharingan is a cursed eye is because its awakening is inevitably accompanied by pain too great for its wielder to bear, correct?"

When Uchiha Fugaku nodded in agreement, Minagawa Uchiha laid out his own view.

"But in my opinion, the Mangekyō Sharingan is not a cursed eye at all. Rather, it is an eye of protection. We only gained its power after enduring immense pain. Was that not so that, when we encountered the same kind of tragedy in the future, we would have the power to prevent it from happening again?"

"Is that not the final protection and hope the departed leave behind for the living? Therefore, I believe the Mangekyō Sharingan is the Eye of Protection—the final protection left by the people and things that have passed on for those who cared about them."

"The Eye of Protection?"

After accepting Minagawa Uchiha's novel viewpoint, both Uchiha Fugaku and the silently listening Uchiha Itachi unconsciously touched their own eyes. Recalling the moment their eyes had awakened, they absentmindedly found themselves agreeing with him.

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi both lost in their memories, Minagawa Uchiha did not disturb them further. Instead, he considered the issue Uchiha Fugaku had raised earlier, one they had overlooked.

I did overlook that. I only thought about how to take revenge on Shimura Danzō and force the Third Hokage to compromise, completely ignoring the Uchiha Clan's internal problems.

Judging from the Original Work, there really was a group of clan members who thought far too highly of themselves. They looked down on everyone else and had inexplicable confidence in their own strength. Right, that was exactly Seitenjo's personality. The moment they had a little strength, they started showing off, as if they could one-shot heaven, earth, and air. Their strength might be lacking, but their ability to cause trouble was second to none.

People who can ruin things but never accomplish them simply need a brutal beating. But it cannot be done by anyone on our side. Once they discover that we have experts here, Not Only will their confidence fail to take a hit, it will instead make them even more arrogant. After all, their current confidence comes from Uchiha Madara, who could rival Hashirama Senju.

So outsiders will have to give them that beating. This attack on Root is perfect for it.

Then let them charge at the very front. While recognizing their own limits, they can also do their part for the Uchiha glory in their hearts!

Those who survive should gain a clear understanding of themselves. They should not dare charge howling at the Third Hokage and all the other ninja again.

That would make casualties unavoidable. We cannot let them drag both Konoha and the Uchiha Clan into the ditch, nor can we keep them around to sabotage the Uchiha's future plans.

With his plan settled, Uchiha Fugaku and his son came back to their senses. Minagawa Uchiha then told the two of them what he had just been thinking and had them point out any flaws or omissions.

After hearing him out, Uchiha Itachi expressed strong agreement. He even wanted to bury every member of the Radical Faction in the Root Base, an idea that Uchiha Fugaku and Minagawa Uchiha naturally opposed.

However, Uchiha Fugaku fell into hesitation and did not approve the proposal. Minagawa Uchiha was speechless. As expected of you. No Way—he could only try to persuade him again.

"Clan Head, in the past, we could have slowly used force to make them understand their own weakness. But the current situation is urgent. We do not have that much time to correct their way of thinking."

"Moreover, if they remain in the clan territory, there is a greater chance that they will disobey orders and act on their own. We can only place them on the front lines and let the Root Ninja make them quickly Realized their shortcomings. Otherwise, both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha will be endangered by this small group of people. So, Clan Head, it would be best for you to make a decision soon."

Uchiha Itachi had watched everything unfold. Seeing that his father was still hesitating, he also began to persuade him.

"Father, please put the bigger picture first. We will need others to attack the Root Base alongside us anyway, so why can't it be them? Besides, we are not sending them to their deaths. We merely want them to recognize reality and stop being blindly arrogant. This would harm neither our Uchiha Clan nor Konoha, and it would benefit them as well."

After Minagawa Uchiha's words, Uchiha Fugaku heard his own son's advice as well, and finally made up his mind.

"Very well. I will select those clan members with radical ideas to serve as the vanguard. I only hope a few more of them can survive. Sigh..."

Seeing that Uchiha Fugaku had finally made up his mind, Minagawa Uchiha let out a sigh of relief—then immediately went Spartan.

What the hell is this? I talked myself hoarse, and you kept wavering. Then your son says one sentence, and you reluctantly agree. Looks like taking Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke in as my underlings needs to be put on the agenda sooner!