The Uchiha's Rise Begins on Sasuke's Third Birthday

In the study.

Looking at the people who had suddenly started plotting, Fugaku felt a bit bewildered.

He didn't understand.

Qing Xuan had only returned to deliver some information, so why had it escalated to the point of starting a war?

Although, after some thought, he felt it was feasible, but did they really have to go this far?

The Uchiha wanted the treatment they deserved, but they couldn't do this, could they?

What was the difference between this and rebellion?

He couldn't help but cast his gaze towards the source of all this—Setsuna Uchiha!

This old geezer only knew how to instigate things from the shadows. After everything Qing Xuan said, you're already pushing to assassinate the envoy? As expected, I've been too lenient normally.

Thinking this, he was about to interrupt their dark thoughts, when he heard a cold, disdainful snort from the little one beside him.

"Seize power through force?"

Qing Xuan withdrew his foot from the low table and then hopped onto it, shaking his finger dismissively.

"Isn't that too lacking in technical skill? As noble Uchiha, shouldn't our intellect be more powerful than our force? Can't we use our wits to make them obediently return what's ours?"

At his words, everyone was stunned.

There was another way using intellect?

Seeing their reaction, Qing Xuan was also taken aback.

"No way? No way? Have you all been thinking about how to seize the Hokage position by force all this time? Then what were you discussing in your previous meetings?"

His words echoed in the silence, not loud, but making everyone's ears tingle.

At this moment, even Fugaku began to reflect.

What had they all been doing in their meetings all these years?

Complaining about the Uchiha Clan's current situation? Cursing the Second Hokage for being unreasonable? Grumbling that the Third Hokage and the higher-ups didn't treat the Uchiha as people?

What else was there?

Discussing whether to use force to launch a coup?

After thinking for a long time, Fugaku shivered violently, and cold sweat immediately broke out.

For so many years, every single meeting seemed to have been... a gathering for nothing!

Always complaining! Always grumbling! Always arguing amongst themselves! And absolutely nothing useful!

Instantly, many old faces turned red.

After Elder Shana's coup was suppressed, the radical faction collapsed. Although the clan was dissatisfied with the Uchiha's current standing in Konoha, no one truly harbored any extreme thoughts anymore.

It was like frogs in warm water, content with the status quo, retreating step by step in the face of the village's pressure. When they finally had nowhere left to retreat and considered everything...

Suddenly, more people started to break out in a cold sweat.

[The fate of the entire Uchiha Clan has changed to a certain extent. Reward: One exquisite silver treasure chest! Congratulations to the host for obtaining—Skill Learning and Upgrading Function!]

The system notification rang in his ears. Qing Xuan raised an eyebrow, thinking, As expected of me. A few words changed the fate of a clan.

Where would these martial brutes who only know how to fight and kill have experienced the charm of stratagems from a great celestial empire?

Watch me trick you all until you're dizzy!

"As the saying goes, the highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without contention, dwelling in places that others disdain, thus it is close to the Dao. Dwelling should be in the earth; the heart should be in the abyss; benevolence in giving; trustworthiness in speech; governance in order; ability in action; movement in timeliness. It is precisely because it does not contend that it is without fault."

The six-year-old child spoke eloquently, leaving the Uchiha stunned.

Wait, we were just speaking in plain language, why did it suddenly switch to classical Chinese?

We don't quite understand!

The Uchiha were all bewildered, and then they heard Qing Xuan say, "The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to attack their alliances; the next best is to attack their army; the worst is to attack their cities."

Before they could even process that, they heard this guy continue:

"To win a hundred battles and a hundred victories is not the highest good; to subdue the enemy's army without fighting is the highest good."

We're done for! We're completely done for!

It made sense, we just didn't quite understand...

Some people opened their mouths several times wanting to ask, but they were afraid of appearing uncultured, so the study fell into another strange silence.

Finally, Elder Shana spoke.

"Qing Xuan, just tell us what to do!"

The Uchiha all chimed in, impressed.

As expected of the young clan head! Truly remarkable!

Such eloquence, such talent, no wonder the Third Hokage took you as a disciple!

Look, even Clan Head Fugaku isn't speaking right now.

He clearly tacitly approved of Qing Xuan's plan.

"Then I'll get straight to the point!"

Qing Xuan immediately waved his hand, then asked a completely unrelated question.

"Who has more money between us and the Hyuga Clan?"

All eyes immediately turned to Elder Homen, who had remained silent.

Elder Homen looked at Fugaku with a confused expression. He didn't know why Qing Xuan suddenly asked this, but after receiving Fugaku's permission, he thought for a moment and said, "It should be us who has more wealth."

Qing Xuan nodded and continued to delve into irrelevant topics. "I heard the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan's third birthday is coming soon?"

The other Uchihas became even more confused. They didn't understand why the conversation about the coup had suddenly shifted to the Hyuga family's birthday. They felt like they couldn't keep up with Qing Xuan's train of thought.

"It's within these few days."

Fugaku nodded solemnly. He also couldn't figure out why Qing Xuan was suddenly asking this.

"The third birthday of the Hyuga main family's direct heir..."

At this moment, an Uchiha elder suddenly spoke.

This was Elder Ganin. He was older than Elder Shana, with no special skills other than living a long life. He usually sat to the side during gatherings, acting as a mascot. However, when it came to the rules and bad habits of various clans, he was the one to ask.

"This is an extremely important day for the Hyuga, and it is also valued by all Hyuga ninja..."

The old man spoke slowly in his aged voice, raising his cloudy eyes to look at Qing Xuan. "Does the young clan leader intend to target the Hyuga?"

Upon hearing this, the others suddenly understood. Their gazes turned to Qing Xuan, but he didn't show any other attitude. He simply said to Elder Ganin, "It seems the Hyuga are more like a prominent clan than the Uchiha! Don't you think so, Elder Ganin?"

"Who says not? Traditions should be followed. Many rules left by the previous generation have already been forgotten by them..."

The old man looked at Qing Xuan with increasing satisfaction. Even the cloudiness in his eyes had dissipated quite a bit, filled with admiration.

The Uchihas frowned, and then they heard Qing Xuan ask, "Don't we, the Uchiha Clan, also have children celebrating their third birthdays?"

"Sasuke."

Under everyone's gaze, even Fugaku couldn't bear it at this moment. He looked at Qing Xuan with a serious expression for the first time and warned, "Don't get any ideas about your brother!"

"How could I have ideas about Sasuke?"

Qing Xuan pouted. "How are Sasuke's birthdays usually celebrated?"

This question stumped Fugaku.

How were they celebrated?

When Sasuke turned one, he was on a mission. When he turned two, the police force clashed with villagers, and the village's biased handling angered the clan members, so a clan meeting was held that day.

Thinking about it, he realized he hadn't really celebrated Sasuke's birthday in any significant way...

"You see, this is the difference."

Qing Xuan clapped his hands beside him. "The Hyuga can mobilize the entire clan to celebrate the main family's direct heir's birthday, while the son of the Uchiha clan leader has such a meager birthday."

His faint words echoed in the study. The proud Uchihas were so shamed by Qing Xuan's sarcasm that they couldn't lift their heads.

"How much can a birthday cost? If we can't even compare to the Hyuga Clan in this regard, how dare we call ourselves Konoha's number one prominent clan? Dignity is earned, and if you don't even do the superficial work, who will consider you a prominent clan? Instead of holding clan meetings every day, it's better to put more effort into enhancing your own prestige!"

At this moment, Qing Xuan's voice seemed to resonate in everyone's hearts.

"Does the Uchiha's prestige have to be gained through force? Other methods work just as well! Look at what the Hyuga Clan is doing? They are more awe-inspiring than the Uchiha!"

The Uchihas suddenly felt that what he said made sense, yet they also felt that something was not quite right