Before Uchiha Inabi arrived, he had already suspected as much. His expression darkened as he said coldly, "Captain, Tekka can't have died for nothing."
Uchiha Fugaku's expression stiffened slightly.
No one cared more about their comrades than the Uchiha.
Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Tekka weren't brothers by blood, but they were closer than brothers.
Tekka's death had turned Inabi, once a moderate who leaned toward the Hokage faction, into a hardliner.
A coup?
If there had been even a fifty percent chance of success, Fugaku would have secretly gathered forces and waited for the right moment.
But there wasn't even a thirty percent chance.
Even without considering the attitudes of the village's other shinobi clans, the Uchiha couldn't take on the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans alone.
The reason was simple: the Uchiha were divided among themselves.
Those who supported a coup and those who favored peaceful negotiations with the village were roughly evenly matched.
If they couldn't unite, how could they stage a coup?
Uchiha Fugaku sighed inwardly and said helplessly, "Inabi, don't do anything rash. I—I'll find a chance to speak with Konoha's High Command."
Hyuga Neji waved in greeting as he examined the Nine-Tails in its cage.
The Nine-Tails looked much as it did in his memories, with a massive body.
Even one of its paws could match several people in size.
Its chakra radiated savagery and madness, like that of a monster ready to rampage at any moment.
The Nine-Tails noticed the intruder, too.
It snapped its eyes open and stared at Hyuga Neji through the bars.
Sensing how weak Neji's chakra was, the Nine-Tails snorted. "Where'd this annoying little brat come from?"
Despite its words, the Nine-Tails was quite happy to have someone visit.
It had been locked in this cell for five