Minagawa's Advice

Minagawa Uchiha pondered for a moment. The Uchiha Clan and the Konoha High Command had reached a temporary balance, but that could not possibly make Sarutobi Hiruzen abandon his guard against the Uchiha Clan.

Therefore, no matter how covertly they acted, under the current tense circumstances, they would inevitably touch Sarutobi Hiruzen's frayed nerves.

Even taking a step back, suppose the Uchiha used three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan to assassinate Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other higher-ups without implicating anyone else, then took over Konoha.

The Uchiha Clan was full of Clan Members whose ambitions exceeded their abilities, and there were hardly any who could stand on their own. At that point, if they still wanted Konoha to remain standing in the Ninja World, they would have to rely on other clans.

It was not as if they could not tolerate members of other clans laying hands on power. But as one of the village's great clans, if one of them became Hokage yet had barely any trusted clansmen to assist him, would that not be like those emperors from his past life who had been stripped of all real authority?

At the end of the day, Konoha was still dominated by clan ninja. There had only been a handful of geniuses among civilian ninja, and without clan support, even if they occupied high positions, they were still merely pieces to be manipulated. Even someone as strong as Orochimaru or Namikaze Minato had been no exception.

As one of the Sannin and the Third Hokage's direct disciple, all of Orochimaru's privileges in Konoha had actually come from his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen. That was why, despite his outstanding achievements, he had lost the competition for the Hokage Seat to Namikaze Minato, who was a generation younger than him. The reason was precisely that he lacked steadfast supporters behind him. That was probably one of the reasons he later established the Sound Village.

Looking at Namikaze Minato, although he had successfully obtained the Hokage Seat in the competition for Fourth Hokage because of the Third Hokage's personal appointment, he likewise lacked the support of any other steadfast faction. Even after becoming Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage could intervene at any time. Without any real authority of his own, he became a puppet Hokage.

Therefore, rather than further deepening the wariness of the other clans and the higher-ups, it would be better to play along for now, buy time to put their own house in order, and strengthen the Clan Members' abilities in every area besides combat.

As for maintaining relations with other clans, there was no need to be so deliberate. As long as they showed that the Uchiha could accommodate others, then exposed the higher-ups' dirty deeds, that would be enough to win the support of most clans and ninja. Once they occupied the moral high ground, the Hokage Seat falling into Uchiha hands would be only natural.

With that in mind, Minagawa Uchiha organized his words and said:

"Under the current circumstances, no matter how secretly we act, we will touch the nerves of the Konoha High Command. Therefore, it would be best not to try to win over the major clans.

"But we can show the outside world the Uchiha's attitude. As long as we demonstrate that we are willing to govern Konoha together with those clans, then at a time when they see no hope of advancing within the village's power structure, they will naturally choose to support us as the one taking the lead."

"Of course, they could also bind themselves to the Senju Clan, like Ino-Shika-Cho, to gain enough influence.

"But judging by what Root has revealed so far, even Ino-Shika-Cho, which has always been close to the Senju Clan, probably cannot tolerate becoming the suckers in other people's eyes. They likely have other thoughts now. After all, they have the Nara Clan, known as the brains behind the group."

"Therefore, the most urgent task is still to straighten out the internal problems of the Uchiha Clan and unify the clan's ideals. We cannot remain divided into separate factions as before."

"After that, we must change the overly arrogant way our Clan Members conduct themselves. This is the key to changing the relationship between the clan and the village.

"As long as we correct this flaw, when the Military Police Force enforces the law, the people of the village will naturally see the Uchiha's changes. Gradually, they will come to accept the Uchiha Clan.

"Also, the Clan Members sent to the central clan grounds should preferably be mild-tempered and good at socializing. Only then can we gradually change the image people have of the Uchiha as difficult to get along with through long-term cohabitation."

"Finally, we must strengthen the Clan Members' abilities outside of combat, soft power such as administrative management. Otherwise, even if the Uchiha Clan takes the Hokage Seat, we will find ourselves in the awkward position of having no one within the clan capable of filling the posts of trusted aides.

"Once these matters are more or less handled, the higher-ups presumably will not Guard Against us so closely anymore. At that time, we can spread evidence of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other higher-ups' crimes throughout the village. When they step forward to explain themselves or crack down on us, that will be the time for us to join forces with the major clans and bring them down."

After hearing this series of strategies, both Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi wore expressions of admiration, staring at Minagawa Uchiha as though they were looking at an alien.

Although people in the Ninja World generally matured early, early maturity was still early maturity; they often failed to consider matters thoroughly. Yet Minagawa Uchiha had completely broken through that limitation. At just eleven years old, he could consider every aspect of an issue and even fill in the gaps for a Clan Head who had held a high position for years. He seemed like a god descended to earth. How could the two not admire and be astonished by him?

In truth, after Sarutobi Hiruzen's earlier provocation, although Uchiha Fugaku knew it was Sarutobi Hiruzen's scheme and showed no outward signs of anything unusual, he still harbored some misgivings about Minagawa Uchiha's somewhat overstepping actions.

However, for the sake of the Uchiha's hard-won improvement, Uchiha Fugaku had still fulfilled the responsibility expected of a Clan Head and endured it. If necessary, he could continue enduring it indefinitely.

It seems I judged a gentleman's heart with the mind of a petty man. I never expected Lord Minagawa to have already had everything under control back then, wholeheartedly considering the clan and the village, while also arranging the plans for our next steps so early. Compared with me, the Clan Head, perhaps letting him take the position would be more beneficial to the Uchiha's development.

Thinking this, Uchiha Fugaku made up his mind.

"Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen said, Lord Minagawa, you truly are a hero born young. Whether in strength, wisdom, or temperament, you surpass me by far. I believe you are more suited to be Clan Head. At tomorrow's clan meeting, I will pass the position of Clan Head to you!"

Hearing that Uchiha Fugaku intended to give him the position of Clan Head, Minagawa Uchiha grew somewhat anxious. Though he appeared powerful now, in reality he relied entirely on the Mangekyō Sharingan and Sage Body. He still lacked many of the fundamentals that ninja needed to master, so he had no desire to waste his time on such trivial affairs.

"No, I am still too young. There are many matters I cannot consider thoroughly, and I am even less capable of matching wits with so many old foxes. Therefore, Clan Head, please do not entertain such thoughts again."

After thinking it over, Uchiha Fugaku found that it was indeed as Minagawa Uchiha had said. If Minagawa became Clan Head, then given his current age and achievements, he would not be able to convince every Clan Member. He would inevitably be bullied by those Clan Members who relied on their seniority. The position of Clan Head would instead become a restraint on him.

Not to mention that, when dealing with other clans, they might look down on him. He could not possibly activate the Mangekyō Sharingan to intimidate everyone he met, could he? The Mangekyō Sharingan could not withstand that kind of expenditure either.

Thus, he did not bring up the matter again and continued discussing the Uchiha's subsequent arrangements.