Impeachment (Seeking Votes! Seeking Investment!)

Impeach the current clan head for incompetence?

The clansmen were all stunned. Had something like this ever happened in the history of the Uchiha Clan?

Even Madara Uchiha's position as clan head was only automatically dissolved after he left Konoha. But given Madara's strength, no one dared to impeach him anyway—the Uchiha weren't brainless. Arrogance and idiocy could sometimes be equated, but no one could ever act arrogantly in front of Madara Uchiha.

"Sōken-kun, impeaching the clan head... do you truly understand what you've just said?"

An elder stepped forward.

This elderly person with graying hair and beard was named Shinzaburo Uchiha.

Among the six elders, his stance could be considered truly neutral—neither unconditionally supporting the clan head nor having any dealings with Sōken. All his words and actions were based on the interests of the clan.

"Elder Shinzaburo, I am fully aware of what I'm saying. If it weren't for the fact that the clan head is unfit for his position, has completely failed to fulfill his duties as clan head, and has made multiple decision-making errors in past history... would I be idle enough to impeach the clan head?"

"Perhaps many see this as nothing more than a power struggle. And indeed, this is a fight for power. But I can say with a clear conscience that everything I do is for the sake of the clan!!!"

Sōken declared with resounding force.

"Unfit for his position? I admit my talents are not particularly outstanding, but... Sōken-kun, regarding these multiple decision-making errors you speak of, I would like to ask—what exactly have I done wrong?" Fugaku Uchiha finally stepped forward at this moment.

Being impeached and stepping down voluntarily were two different concepts.

If Sōken succeeded in impeaching him here, his authority within the clan would plummet.

Seeing Fugaku Uchiha speak up himself, Elder Shinzaburo said no more. He was just as curious to hear what these decision-making errors were all about. He wasn't the only one curious—the surrounding clansmen all pricked up their ears.

Probably only Elder Genshi, Elder Ryuji, Shisui, Arashiyama, and others who had heard Sōken's theories knew what was coming next.

"The Nine-Tails' Rampage."

Sōken spat out this phrase.

Fugaku Uchiha frowned slightly. "What's wrong with the Nine-Tails' Rampage?"

"What's wrong? Everything is wrong, alright?" Sōken furrowed his brows and raised his voice. "Why didn't we send support to the Fourth at that time? Why did none of the clan's many jonin step out to protect the village that night? To be honest, you've all been complaining lately that the village is ostracizing and suppressing us. If you ask me, we deserve to be ostracized and suppressed."

His gaze shifted from Fugaku Uchiha to the assembled clansmen, especially those staunch 'Coup' faction members.

Sure enough, upon hearing Sōken's seemingly disloyal remarks, many changed expressions, their eyes turning extremely hostile toward him.

"What are you glaring at me for? Is there something wrong with what I said? Since the Uchiha were too afraid to act and cowered in the clan compound when the village was in danger, why should the village treat us as their own? Being ostracized and suppressed—isn't that the treatment we earned ourselves?"

Sōken stared back at those hostile clansmen and didn't hold back.

"Who said we were too afraid to act?" a hot-tempered clansman erupted in fury. "It was the clan head who ordered us to stay in the compound and not go out recklessly."

"The situation at that time didn't allow our clan to act rashly."

Fugaku Uchiha didn't wait for Sōken to respond and immediately explained: "That night, the Nine-Tails was controlled by someone using the Sharingan. Although the controller wasn't anyone from our clan, we were burdened with suspicion we couldn't shake. On top of that, the Third ordered us not to leave, and a large number of Anbu surrounded the compound..."

"Sōken-kun, you were only ten at the time, but you should still remember the situation clearly, shouldn't you?"

"Yes! I was there too, and I know exactly what that night was like. That's why I find it strange—why did you, clan head, obey the Third's orders? The Fourth was the reigning Hokage at the time, wasn't he? And since you understood we were under suspicion, you should have realized that was also our best chance to clear our name!"

Sōken retorted sharply.

"Making the wrong decision at a critical moment caused our clan to become completely disconnected from the village. It wasn't just the Third's faction—every clan that lost people to the Nine-Tails' attack that night also distanced themselves and grew hostile toward us. This state of isolation and betrayal is what you, Clan Head Fugaku, have brought upon us."

"It's a pity that back then, my words carried no weight. Even convincing my grandfather was useless." Sōken sighed regretfully as he spoke.

"Sōken, the decision to stay in the compound was made after discussion between Fugaku and us." Elder Shinzaburo felt he should say something fair.

"The problem is, Elder Shinzaburo, you are not the clan head. He, Fugaku Uchiha, is the clan head, isn't he? Offering advice is the elders' duty, but making the final decision and bearing the corresponding consequences—that is the clan head's responsibility, isn't it? Clan Head Fugaku, are you going to blame the elders for misleading your judgment?"

Sōken's words were laced with barbs, choking Elder Shinzaburo into silence.

At the same time, Elder Shinzaburo suddenly realized he might have made a mistake. What he just said practically admitted that the clan had made the wrong decision that night. Fugaku Uchiha's face was now completely dark. Elder Shinzaburo's well-intentioned meddling had put him in an extremely difficult position.

Without Elder Shinzaburo's interruption, he could have continued arguing with Sōken over whether that night's decision was correct.

But now, his options were limited to either admitting his decision was wrong or blaming the elders for misleading his judgment.

"Sōken, what I meant was that the decision that night was made jointly by us and the clan head. No, that's not right, I mean..." Elder Shinzaburo tried to salvage his mistake, but found he didn't know how to explain himself clearly.

In truth, he too felt no small amount of regret.

He had often thought that if they had intervened that night, the Fourth wouldn't have died, and the clan wouldn't have fallen to its current state.

"Elder Shinzaburo, I understand you want to share the burden with Clan Head Fugaku, but this concerns the Life and Death of the clan. This is not the time for mutual assistance. Please forgive me."

Sōken made use of a young man's sharp tongue.

His words completely shut down Elder Shinzaburo, who could only strain his neck in anger, helpless to do anything.

The clansmen were whispering among themselves, discussing and exchanging opinions. Uchiha Arashiyama led Uchiha Akitaro, Uchiha Hokuto, Uchiha Jun, and others, quietly blending into the conversations, steering the clansmen's views toward regretting not having defended the village on the night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage.

To be honest, they didn't even need to steer.

The Uchiha Clan's pride made them deeply despise cowards. Many didn't feel lucky to have survived the Nine-Tails' claws that night—on the contrary, they regretted not having the chance to show their prowess in such a grand occasion.

Moreover, they weren't fools who couldn't think. They could judge for themselves whether Sōken's logic was sophistry or not.

Hearts, began to shift quietly.

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