Once the Mangekyo Appears, All Uchiha Submit

After the three finished discussing matters, the Uchiha Clan's combat members had already assembled in the courtyard. Uchiha Fugaku led Minagawa Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi outside to face the clan members.

"I assume you all know the Uchiha Clan's current situation. The Anbu have sealed off the clan grounds, and the Anbu ninja led by Shimura Danzō intend to wipe us out completely. There is no longer any possibility of reconciliation. Naturally, we cannot sit and wait for death. Prepare yourselves now and fight to protect our clan members."

The moment Uchiha Fugaku finished speaking, the Uchiha below erupted into discussion. Some were numb and apathetic, some cursed in fury, some were deeply worried, while others burned with fighting spirit.

"Clan Head, let us kill our way out! Slaughter every last one of those Konoha High Command dogs, then storm the Hokage Building and kill the Third Hokage so you can take the Hokage Seat!"

"That's right, Clan Head! We nominate you for Hokage! Let us twist off Sarutobi Hiruzen's and Shimura Danzō's dog heads and add some prestige to your Hokage inauguration!"

"Kill Shimura Danzō! Overthrow the Konoha High Command! Let the Uchiha lead Konoha—kill anyone who refuses to submit!"

"..."

The more these people spoke, the more outrageous they became. Uchiha Fugaku felt utterly powerless before their brains and could only raise a hand to cut them off. If they kept talking, the Uchiha would be unifying the ninja world next. Fortunately, not every Uchiha Clan Member was like this. Uchiha Fugaku glanced at those who were silent or worried, intending to focus on cultivating them in the future.

"Enough. Konoha belongs to everyone, but more importantly, it belongs to the Uchiha. We are one of Konoha's two Founding Clans. Now that the Senju have gone into hiding, Konoha has grown weaker and weaker under the Third Hokage's leadership. The major clans have been suppressed, civilian ninja have no chance to rise, and youths are sent to the battlefield. At a time like this, the Uchiha Clan must set things right and restore a harmonious, prosperous Konoha to the Land of Fire."

"Therefore, we must not slaughter indiscriminately. Treat Konoha's citizens as our own clan members. We are proud Uchiha, and we disdain raising our blades against the weak. We are merely clearing out Konoha's cancerous growths, while also restoring the former glory of the Uchiha Clan."

"So, I expect every clan member participating in this battle to obey orders. Whoever acts on their own and disrupts our clan's revival plan will be a sinner for all eternity and must answer to the Uchiha ancestors."

Uchiha Fugaku's stance of treating the Uchiha as Konoha's masters suited the radical, indignant clan members below perfectly. They immediately cheered as if they had been injected with stimulants.

At the same time, he had warned them not to act on their own. This operation would involve special arrangements, and all those unusual arrangements were for the clan's rise. That way, they would restrain their own actions from the bottom of their hearts.

"Alright, we will now explain the group assignments."

Uchiha Fugaku gave them no time for further discussion and immediately began dividing the defenders from the combat members.

"Uchiha Setsuna, Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Tekka... You are one group. You will be assigned to Uchiha Itachi and Minagawa Uchiha's squad and strike first as the vanguard."

"The remaining Uchiha Clan Members will be divided into two squads led by Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Yakumi. Uchiha Yashiro will be with me, responsible for holding the rear and providing support. Uchiha Yakumi's squad will remain behind to guard the clan grounds and protect our people."

Uchiha Fugaku had just finished assigning the groups and had yet to give further instructions when the Radical Faction led by Uchiha Setsuna began arguing in open dissatisfaction.

"Why should your son and that brat still attending the Ninja Academy lead us?"

"Yeah, why? And Uchiha Itachi, you still haven't cleared yourself of suspicion regarding Shisui's suicide. I heard the commotion from the battle beside Naka Shrine earlier was caused by you slaughtering clan members. How can you possibly lead a squad?"

With a single sentence, Uchiha Inabi exposed Uchiha Itachi's abnormality. At once, everyone began discussing it. Earlier, time had been urgent, and only a few clan members knew the truth. But now, those who knew what had happened began recounting the events from before.

The clan members who learned the truth instantly erupted in outrage. Calls to condemn Uchiha Itachi resounded through the Clan Head's courtyard. Even Uchiha Mikoto appeared at the doorway with a worried expression, looking at Uchiha Itachi. The crowd glared furiously at Uchiha Fugaku as well, demanding an explanation.

Uchiha Fugaku shot Uchiha Inabi a furious glare, but Uchiha Inabi did not back down in the slightest and glared right back. Although he had learned the full course of events from the other clan members, he still disliked Uchiha Itachi.

There had already been a conflict when he investigated Uchiha Itachi over Shisui's death. Uchiha Itachi had even ambushed and knocked out him and three others, including Uchiha Tekka. Naturally, he refused to accept it and still remained suspicious of Uchiha Itachi even now.

Uchiha Fugaku was deeply troubled as well. Few clan members had originally known about this matter, and with the situation so urgent, he had intended to convene a clan meeting to discuss it after they overcame this crisis.

But after Uchiha Inabi stirred things up, everyone knew. Uchiha Fugaku had no choice but to settle the matter first to ensure that nothing went wrong in the operation to come.

"Uchiha Itachi was previously deceived by Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō and committed unforgivable crimes, but he has already repented and is willing to fight to protect the clan.

"Furthermore, he is strong enough and knows the Konoha High Command extremely well. We need his strength to prevent Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Konoha High Command from lashing out like cornered dogs. The victims' families have also tacitly accepted his efforts to atone.

"As Clan Head, I must take responsibility for the clan. Therefore, no one is more suited than him for the position of squad leader at the very front.

"Also, Uchiha Shisui was ambushed and killed by Shimura Danzō. It had nothing to do with him. The main objective of this operation is to destroy Shimura Danzō and his Root."

"So that's how it is. Since even the victims are temporarily letting it go, what more is there for us to say? I support the Clan Head's decision." Upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's explanation, some clan members relaxed and expressed their understanding and support.

However, Uchiha Inabi and the others who had unpleasant encounters with Uchiha Itachi were unwilling to let the matter rest.

"Even if no one is pursuing it, what qualifications does he have to lead us? He is only a teenager. And Minagawa Uchiha is merely a Ninja Academy student. Whether in strength or capability, isn't Elder Setsuna far more suitable?"

Minagawa Uchiha had been quietly watching the drama from the side. He was in no hurry—the Spore Technique monitored all of Konoha, and everything was under control. But he had not expected the drama to reach him. Feeling helpless, Minagawa Uchiha could only gesture to Uchiha Itachi beside him.

The two stepped forward together and stood beside Uchiha Fugaku. In an instant, all three activated their Sharingan. Their eyes spun, their patterns linking into one, forming a new design as they silently watched the clan members below, who were still arguing heatedly.