Leaving and Persuasion

Leaving aside the Konoha High Command, which Mitokado Homura's cleverness had thoroughly led astray, after Uchiha Itachi resolutely kowtowed in the Uchiha Clan Compound, he used Body Flicker and fled the compound as though escaping, arriving at the Ninja Academy.

During his final moments in Konoha, Uchiha Itachi planned to see his younger brother one more time. After all, their enemy was the man claiming to be Uchiha Madara, and with his strange space-time ability, even though Minagawa Uchiha had told him how to deal with it, there was still no certainty. This journey was a matter of life and death. As a devoted older brother, Uchiha Itachi naturally wanted to bid a silent farewell.

Yet after arriving at the Ninja Academy, he discovered another Minagawa Uchiha there. Clearly, this was a clone Minagawa Uchiha had sent to protect Uchiha Sasuke in case Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other higher-ups resorted to desperate measures.

Neither side spoke. After exchanging nods, Uchiha Itachi handed a scroll to Minagawa Uchiha. He quietly watched Uchiha Sasuke, who was still being held back in the classroom by the school, for a while before silently choosing to leave.

Watching Uchiha Itachi depart, Minagawa Uchiha's clone relayed what had happened here to Minagawa Uchiha in the clan compound through the Wood Style Clone's ability to communicate with its original body.

Meanwhile, Naka Shrine had Caused an Uproar. The reason was that Uchiha Fugaku had announced the list of clan members relocating to the central clan compound, as well as the future operating principles of the Uchiha Military Police Force.

The point of conflict was that many elderly clan members also wanted to move back to the central clan compound. However, Uchiha Fugaku considered most of these elderly members stubborn in temperament, arrogant and rigid in conduct, unwilling to let go of the Uchiha glory of old. With their personalities, Not Only would they fail to achieve the Uchiha's goal of deepening communication with the village's other clans and ninja, they might even worsen the divide.

Only the younger, mild-tempered clan members, who had not been overly influenced by entrenched ideas, could live harmoniously and peacefully with the other clans and ninja, changing the Uchiha's arrogant image among the villagers.

As for Uchiha Fugaku's demand that the Military Police Force enforce the law with restraint, it made those members who considered themselves elites feel deeply insulted. As elites, why should they have to humble themselves to serve civilians and weaklings? This mindset occupied nearly the majority of the Military Police Force's members.

Seeing this, Minagawa Uchiha had no mood to concern himself with Uchiha Itachi's departure. He directly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, and an immense Chakra pressure erupted from his body. The powerful oppression immediately silenced the clan members who had been loudly clamoring just moments ago.

"What? You all don't want what's best for the Uchiha, is that it?"

This sharp question made everyone look at one another. No one immediately rebuked him. After all, Minagawa Uchiha's standing within the clan was no longer ordinary, and the pressure radiating from him was intense. They were simply confused. How had their perfectly reasonable demands become actions that harmed the Uchiha?

"Why does moving to the center of the clan compound mean we don't want what's best for the Uchiha? Would we deliberately tarnish the Uchiha's reputation in the center of the village? No one loves the Uchiha more than us old people."

"Then is it wrong for the Military Police Force to enforce the law according to the rules? As guardians of village security, shouldn't we be stricter? Only by making others afraid can we deter them from making the same mistakes again. Is that wrong too?"

"..."

Hearing that these clan members still had not Realized the clan's crisis and were still indignantly defending themselves, Minagawa Uchiha was almost angered into laughter by their stupidity.

But upon further thought, this also exposed how few people in the Uchiha Clan could think calmly and see the larger picture. Even these elders who had lived so long and the Military Police Force members holding important positions lacked such ability. The younger clan members were likely even worse, which left Minagawa Uchiha somewhat worried.

Sighing over the arduous, lengthy road to the Uchiha's revival, he had no choice but to patiently explain things one by one.

"Everyone knows what happened yesterday, right? Haven't you realized the Uchiha Clan's crisis yet? Do you think the Mangekyō Sharingan of the Clan Head and me alone can contend against the entire village?

"I assume everyone has read the records on the Mangekyō Sharingan. These are cursed eyes. The more they are used, the further they lead toward darkness. From the moment our eyes awaken, they inevitably begin down the road to blindness.

"How many of the clan members who attacked the Root Base last night are still left? How many were injured? A mere Root reduced our three hundred most elite clan members to this state. Count them—are there even a hundred of the vanguard members who went into battle with me left?"

"Can't you recognize your own weakness even now? How long can you rely on the Mangekyō Sharingan of the Clan Head and me?

"Either way, I certainly won't waste my precious Dojutsu Power on such meaningless disputes. You want me to pay the price for the Uchiha pride in your hearts? All I can say is, you're thinking too much.

"You should fight for your own arrogance yourselves. Whether it was the Uchiha's former glory or our ability now to turn the tables and kill Shimura Danzō and his Root, you know perfectly well how much you yourselves contributed.

"If things truly cannot be done, I will stop caring about the Uchiha Clan. I can live freely in the Ninja World on my own. Don't think I'm being heartless—I'm only an eleven-year-old Ninja Academy student. My parents also died fighting for Konoha and the Uchiha. You have no right to demand that I risk my life for the Uchiha."

His cutting words instantly filled everyone with shame. Especially the clan members who had survived last night's assault on the Root Base—each of them flushed red and lowered their heads. Even the elders who usually threw their weight around due to their age were left speechless by Minagawa Uchiha's rebuke.

For a time, the entire Naka Shrine fell utterly silent, so quiet that it seemed deserted.

After this scene continued for a long while, Uchiha Fugaku saw that everyone was so embarrassed and had recognized their mistakes, so he finally stepped forward to soothe them.

"All right, there is no need for you to blame yourselves. You only need to understand that the clan's arrangements this time are meant to change the Uchiha's current predicament.

"I believe everyone has noticed that the members on the relocation list I announced are all mild-tempered and sociable. They are not moving to the central clan compound to enjoy themselves. They also shoulder the important task of befriending other clans and ninja, and changing the Uchiha's image in the village.

"The Military Police Force is the same. So long as we enforce the law with restraint—explain the reasons behind serious crimes, seek everyone's opinions, and finally make them public; let minor offenses go lightly, focusing on criticism and education—then we will naturally earn the villagers' respect and affection.

"This is Not Only to gain the goodwill of other clans, ninja, and villagers, but also to gain their support for the Uchiha Clan in the coming Hokage election."

"So please, everyone, be understanding of the clan. Only by giving something yourself can you gain a harvest. We cannot merely talk about the Hokage Seat. These arrangements are all for the clan's revival, so you must abide by them!"

After speaking, Uchiha Fugaku did not forget to bow in respect. The clan members all understood his painstaking intentions and began making their promises.