The Gap in Political Tactics

Jinghuo Uchiha's words were like an ice-cold blade that kept slicing into his heart. He said coldly, "Second, it demonstrated Sarutobi Hiruzen's methods as Hokage and made the clans that had turned their backs on him come back into the fold."

"Third." Jinghuo Uchiha looked at the Uchiha Clan Members drinking shoulder to shoulder and said, "It was a gesture of goodwill meant to placate the Uchiha Clan and reduce the clan's hostility."

Uchiha Shisui's mouth went dry. He opened his mouth with difficulty, wanting to say something, but Jinghuo Uchiha remained merciless. "Fourth, it restricts me. It keeps me from causing trouble in the Village Center again. Otherwise, the Uchiha Clan Land will also be implicated, and the clan members' interests will suffer. Sooner or later, it will turn me and the clan members against each other."

"Fifth." Jinghuo Uchiha looked at Uchiha Shisui.

"Me?" Uchiha Shisui could not believe he was involved too.

"You used to trust Sarutobi Hiruzen greatly. Now you are the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan, so there is a chance Sarutobi Hiruzen can win you over. That is why he needs to test your attitude before deciding how to deal with the Uchiha Clan in the future."

After saying that, Jinghuo Uchiha left, unwilling to concern himself with anything else.

Uchiha Shisui was left standing there alone, dazed and miserable, completely out of place among the celebrating clan members.

A Clan Member saw Jinghuo Uchiha leave and walked over to Uchiha Shisui in confusion. "Shisui, why does Jinghuo seem unhappy?"

Before he could speak, another Clan Member laughed. "Well, he was only half a year old back then. How could he remember what the Clan Land used to look like?"

As Uchiha Shisui listened, his heart felt terrible. He understood why Jinghuo Uchiha's expression had been so dark.

What was there to be happy about in moving back to the Clan Land...

The current Uchiha Clan was like a dog that had been tossed a bone, wagging its tail and stupidly following it home.

It was pathetic.

So pathetic that he felt deeply sorrowful.

The Uchiha Clan, himself included, was far too foolish.

The clan members nearby immediately became displeased when someone joked about Jinghuo Uchiha.

Who were you showing that elder's attitude to?

Scarlet pupils appeared in an instant, followed by an icy voice.

"Are you looking down on Jinghuo?"

The surroundings immediately fell silent.

Pairs of scarlet Sharingan stared coldly at that Clan Member.

The shock sobered him up at once, leaving his entire body stiff.

The next second, cold sweat poured down his face. He hurriedly explained, "No, no, I was just drunk and muddled. I wanted to make a joke, but I didn't think it through. My fault, my fault."

As he spoke, he hurriedly slapped himself several times and kept admitting his mistake and apologizing.

Only then did the clan members let him off.

The scarlet Sharingan in their eyes gradually faded, and the oppressive atmosphere finally eased.

The Clan Member let out a breath as though he had just survived a great battle. He was drenched in sweat, his limbs weak and powerless, nearly collapsing onto the ground.

But the atmosphere was no longer as heated as before.

Not because of the interruption, but because they noticed that Uchiha Shisui, who had been so happy just moments ago, had lost the smile on his face. There was even a kind of sorrow and self-blame in the way he looked at them.

"What happened to Shisui?"

"If you have something to say, say it. Even though I don't recognize you as the Clan Head."

"Yeah, we are all from the same clan. Even though I don't recognize you as the Clan Head either."

"Even though I don't recognize you as the Clan Head, just say what you have to say!"

"Exactly!"

Uchiha Shisui had originally worried that the clan members had lost themselves in an illusion of happiness, but now it seemed there was still hope.

He said, "Do you remember how our Uchiha Clan was moved here?"

The clan members fell silent.

Then everyone began voicing their indignation at once.

"Of course we remember! It was humiliating!"

"They called it a move, but we were driven out!"

"They even promised relocation compensation. Seven years have passed, and I haven't seen so much as a hair of it!"

"If it happened now, we would have gone berserk on the spot!"

"It was far too humiliating!"

"Exactly!"

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.

The clan members nodded repeatedly in agreement, sharing the same feelings.

But now that they could move back to the Clan Land, their former humiliation had turned into exhilaration.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had caved to the Uchiha Clan.

Hahahahaha!

The Uchiha Clan was going to rise!

At that moment, Uchiha Shisui's powerless voice rang out.

"Then tell me, if I said we were allowed to return to the Clan Land, would you still be happy?"

In an instant, it was as if someone had pressed pause on everything around them.

Allowed to return?

They were speechless. A pin could have been heard dropping.

Their smiles remained frozen on their faces, but they could no longer laugh.

They stared blankly at Uchiha Shisui.

Gradually, the corners of their mouths fell.

They lowered their heads, their gazes dim.

They understood everything.

"Is... is that why Jinghuo was unhappy...?"

Yes. If it had been them, they would have worked tirelessly to help the clan rise, only for the enemy to toss out a bone. Then the entire clan would abandon him and eagerly rush to bite the enemy's bone.

It was so pathetic that they wanted to slap themselves a few times.

It was truly pathetic!

Uchiha Shisui sighed. "Jinghuo said, 'Do not fear godlike opponents; fear only pig teammates.'"

"Do not fear godlike opponents; fear only pig teammates..."

The clan members seemed to see the future, to see themselves stubbornly insisting on returning to the Clan Land and refusing to understand Jinghuo Uchiha...

Without Jinghuo Uchiha, could the Uchiha Clan, even with the Root as it was now, really outplay those black-hearted people around Sarutobi Hiruzen?

A coup... clan extermination...

They were instantly afraid.

Their faces were now filled with unease and anxiety. All they wanted was to apologize to Jinghuo Uchiha and hope he would not be disappointed in them.

Seeing their frightened and uneasy expressions, Uchiha Shisui sighed and said sorrowfully, "And this is only one of the five points."

The clan members who had been about to go apologize to Jinghuo Uchiha suddenly froze, their raised feet hanging motionless in midair.

Everyone turned stiffly to look back at Uchiha Shisui.

Though they were all screaming Impossible! in their hearts, no one said it aloud.

Only Uchiha Shisui's voice sounded in the silence.

"Second, the Uchiha Clan yielding demonstrates the Hokage's methods and wins back the clans that turned away from him..."

"Third, it placates the Uchiha Clan..."

"Fourth, it restricts Jinghuo Uchiha..."

"Fifth..." Uchiha Shisui sounded even more powerless. "It tests my attitude and determines how he will deal with the Uchiha Clan in the future. Clearly, I am a failure."

The more the clan members listened, the colder their hearts became.

Some clan members' eyes filled with tears, unwilling to accept the cruelty of the truth.

At that moment, they clearly realized that politically, they could not compete with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The gap was simply too vast.

Not far away, Fugaku Uchiha's entire body had gone stiff as he stood there blankly.

Mikoto Uchiha and Second Pillar looked at him in shock.

"Fugaku?"

"Father?"

Fugaku Uchiha came back to himself and asked, "What is it?"

"You're crying." Mikoto Uchiha reached out painfully, wanting to wipe away his tears.