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Instead of answering the Grand Elder's question, Fugaku continued speaking.

"What exactly is your purpose in doing this?"

Fugaku couldn't understand why the Grand Elder would do something so thankless. "You're not a child anymore, how can you still do something so thoughtless?"

What Fugaku didn't realize was that everything the Grand Elder did was for his grandson.

"Did you find out yourself, or did the Hokage tell you?"

The Grand Elder's question went straight to the heart of the matter. If it was only Fugaku who discovered it, there was still room for maneuver. But if it was the Konoha High Command, the consequences would be unimaginable. At the same time, the Grand Elder also realized that there was something shady going on around him. The matter was so secretive, yet it had still been uncovered. The Grand Elder kept thinking back, trying to figure out who was most likely to have betrayed him.

Seeing that the Grand Elder was still clinging to a sliver of hope, Fugaku gave him a sorrowful look. At the same time, he felt sorrow for himself, realizing that after so many years in charge of the Uchiha Clan, he hadn't even been able to see through the thoughts of his subordinates.

"Grand Elder, you overestimate me. Do you really think I have the ability to find out the truth after you've fooled me for so long?"

Fugaku said in a mocking tone.

Upon hearing Fugaku's words, the last shred of hope in the Grand Elder's heart vanished.

"Clan Head, we are now driven to the brink of despair."

As the situation drew to a close, the Grand Elder became increasingly calm. He fully understood that only by making rational judgments could they possibly find a way out of this desperate situation. And the Grand Elder's path to survival lay with Fugaku, the Clan Head. He knew that Fugaku Uchiha deeply loved the Uchiha, and if he didn't intervene, the Uchiha might face annihilation. After all, the higher-ups were known for their ruthlessness, preferring to kill the innocent rather than let one go free.

"Clan Head, let's join forces!"

With the intervention of external forces, the Grand Elder's true intentions were revealed. Originally, the Grand Elder did not intend to go this way, but now time was of the essence, and he had to bring Fugaku to his side as soon as possible. Only when the two of them worked together could the Uchiha be a complete Uchiha; otherwise, a disorganized Uchiha could only be devoured by others.

"Ah?"

Fugaku was also stunned by the Grand Elder's ingenious idea. At this point, if I didn't try my best to distance myself from you, I would be out of my mind to want to join you. I have a wife and children, unlike you who are all alone.

"Clan Head, we Uchiha have always been suppressed in Konoha. Is there any place for us Uchiha in Konoha like this?"

"Now the leader of Akatsuki Organization has promised us that if we Uchiha cooperate with them, the future of the Ninja World will be decided by us Uchiha."

The Grand Elder's extremely inflammatory words resounded in Fugaku's ears. Fugaku thought the Grand Elder only wanted to lead the Uchiha to defect from Konoha, but he never expected that the elder would have an affair with the leader of the Akatsuki Organization.

"Karot, do you think Fugaku can accomplish this?"

On the rooftop of the Hokage Building, Orochimaru and Karot looked towards the location of the Uchiha Clan.

"What does it matter whether he can do it or not? Hasn't Orochimaru already laid out numerous backup plans around the Uchiha Clan?"

Karot sensed that the group's power was not to be underestimated. Crucially, there was also an Otsutsuki, whom Orochimaru had actually summoned. It seemed Orochimaru was determined to succeed in this operation.

"I can't hide it from you Karot!"

Orochimaru knew how strong Karot's sensory abilities were. After all, in Konoha, if you were to ask who understood Karot's strength best, it wouldn't be Hatake Sakumo, Karot's father, but Orochimaru himself.

Anyone wanting to pass through the Uchiha Clan was stopped by the Anbu Orochimaru had deployed there. This resulted in a stark contrast between the quiet Uchiha side and the bustling activity outside.

The air in Konoha was thick with tension tonight. Some of the clan Clan Head and even some of the stronger Jonin could sense it.

Orochimaru still doesn't trust Fugaku!

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, a pipe dangling from his lips.

"Isn't that normal? Orochimaru only trusts himself!"

Jiraiya, Orochimaru's good friend, said that it would be Jiraiya if Orochimaru didn't have a backup plan.

"Tonight will decide the fate of the Uchiha."

Tsunade saw the Uchiha as helpless prey tonight, like meat on a chopping board. This was Konoha's elite clan! The Senju had already perished. Would the Uchiha follow in Senju footsteps? This was undeniably a source of sorrow for Tsunade, who had witnessed the glory of Senju and Uchiha.

"Tonight, it's not just us, it's not just us spectators!"

The Third Hokage looked around before speaking.

"Orochimaru is killing the monkey to intimidate the chicken!"

Orochimaru orchestrated this scheme to quickly consolidate the village's power. Hiruzen Sarutobi knew he couldn't do it himself, which was related to his personality—he was somewhat hesitant and indecisive. Orochimaru, however, had no such concerns. In his eyes, there were only two kinds of people: those who could be used and those who were dead.

"Third Hokage, is this really okay? There are so many innocent Uchiha!"

Kind-hearted Minato wanted to plead for the Uchiha, knowing that only the Third Hokage could change Orochimaru's mind. However, Minato was unaware that Orochimaru was willing to listen to Third Hokage's advice because it was in Orochimaru's best interest.

"Minato, you're still too kind. Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back."

"And that's one reason why you can't compare to Orochimaru."

Looking at his most favored grand-disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but offer some advice. He wanted Minato to take another step forward. Once Minato became Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi could naturally regain power, unlike during Orochimaru's time as Orochimaru, when Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't hold onto even a shred of power. This was incredibly painful for someone who had once been at the pinnacle of power.

"If this is the price of becoming Hokage, then I will definitely become a different kind of Hokage."

Minato said firmly to himself.

"Grand Elder, there's no chance. You won't be able to go back tonight."

Fugaku looked at the Grand Elder who was still trying to persuade him and said, "I didn't expect that even after things have come to this point Grand Elder still doesn't know how to repent."

"Are you going to attack me, Fugaku?"

This time, the Grand Elder addressed Fugaku by his own name, indicating that he had completely broken ties with the Uchiha.

Do you think the people in your tribe will agree?

The Grand Elder looked at Fugaku with a mocking expression. At this moment, his status was his best protection.

"You think this is just targeting you? Your entire lineage will become history tonight."

Fugaku looked directly at the Grand Elder and spoke each word clearly.

"What?"

The Grand Elder's expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected Fugaku to be so bloodthirsty. This was an entire Uchiha!