Clan Rivalry

Not only the Clan Head's faction, but even the members of the Dove and Hawk factions looked toward Uchiha Mikoto with a hint of bewilderment.

If Uchiha Ren had said these things, no one would be surprised—the Hawk Faction had always been blunt and enjoyed clashing head-on with the Clan Head.

But why would you, a newly ascended leader of the Dove Faction, choose to tear away the fig leaf that the Clan Head's faction and the Dove Faction had tacitly agreed to keep in place?

Uchiha Yashiro also wore a look of surprise, but he was crystal clear on the truth—the person who had been passing along "reliable intelligence" was none other than Uchiha Mikoto.

During their exchanges of information, he had even sensed that Uchiha Koh was well aware of this, yet he didn't know why he hadn't stopped it, choosing instead to acquiesce.

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Uchiha Yashiro had reported this matter to the Young Lord of the Hawk Faction, and the only reply he received was the instruction to "continue the contact."

Later, during a chance encounter, Uchiha Hazuki, who had awakened her Sharingan, was invited back to the clan by Uchiha Mikoto.

Within a few years, she had attained the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Because they were both women, Uchiha Hazuki became Uchiha Mikoto's confidante, acting on her behalf to maintain contact with Uchiha Yashiro.

A moment of silence enveloped the main hall of the shrine, as if even the light falling from the skylight had stagnated.

The Old Clan Head's aged gaze slowly swept over Uchiha Mikoto's calm face; he had to accept the fact that the stance of the Dove Faction had shifted directly following the transition between the old and the new.

The young Uchiha Mikoto was redefining the voice of the "Dove Faction" in a way he had never anticipated.

He replied calmly.

"Mikoto, there is nothing wrong with what you have said."

The Old Clan Head paused slightly, his gaze growing profound, as if piercing through time to look back at the dust-covered past.

"The real problem has never been in the logic itself, but in the deep-seated, tangled grievances between the Uchiha and the Hokage lineage that have persisted since the very birth of Konohagakure."

His voice was low and slow.

"I will not dwell on the grudges from before Konohagakure was founded, but a few years after its establishment, our clan head, Uchiha Madara, left the village."

"By the time he returned, he was controlling the strongest Tailed Beast, Kurama, and engaged in an earth-shattering death match with the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, at the Valley of the End."

"In the end, Clan Head Madara died, the First Hokage was severely wounded, and he passed away a few years later. His brother, Senju Tobirama, succeeded him as the Second Hokage."

"Our clan's Great Elder, Uchiha Setsuna, raised an army in rebellion... and was immediately suppressed."

"Even when the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, took office, our clan expressed our dissatisfaction quite clearly."

The Old Clan Head's gaze swept across every face in the hall before returning to the present.

"Therefore, the grievances between our clan and the Hokage lineage cannot be clarified in a few words. All we can hope for now is to rely on time to demonstrate the sincerity of the Uchiha and slowly erode this deeply ingrained conflict."

His sincere words caused many of the Uchiha from the Clan Head's faction to straighten their hunched backs, their eyes filled with resentment as they looked toward the Hawk Faction.

--The Uchiha of today are paying the price for their mistakes.

The momentum in the room shifted instantly, but Uchiha Mikoto did not panic; she merely looked subconsciously at Uchiha Ren, her lips parting slightly.

"This history is indeed as you say. But what if the high-level officials of Konohagakure are merely using the name of 'acceptance' to carry out acts of weakening us, forcing our clan to bleed and suffer losses... then what?"

As her voice fell, a faint sound of gasping echoed through the hall.

This was also something the Old Clan Head worried about, but could one stop acting just because they were worried?

Ordinary Uchiha could escape, but as the head of the clan, he absolutely could not.

He knew this better than anyone.

Some paths, even if covered in thorns, must be walked.

"I understand your concerns."

Under the gaze of the many Uchiha, the Old Clan Head replied decisively.

"But would we stop holding blades forever just because we fear the steel might cut us?"

He looked around, his gaze passing over Uchiha Fugaku's furrowed brows, Uchiha Ren's deep eyes, and the flickering expressions of the many clan members.

"Whether we can succeed is a question to consider only after we have given our all. If we hold back just because we fear the risks, if we only make statements with words but take no actual action—"

The Old Clan Head's voice rose sharply, echoing through the solemn shrine.

"Then how could the Hokage lineage possibly believe in the sincerity of the Uchiha?!"

"Being able to fully control the Konoha Military Police Force now is already a rare act of goodwill from the high-level officials of Konohagakure!"

This thunderous question left Uchiha Mikoto, who lacked experience, frowning in deep thought, trying to find a strong argument to refute the Old Clan Head while considering her interactions with Uchiha Ren.

At this moment, even the Uchiha of the Hawk Faction were contemplating the validity of the Old Clan Head's words.

In the silence, a clear and firm voice cut through the heavy air like a sharp sword.

"The Clan Head's words are not without reason, but why should our Uchiha clan have to suffer such grievances?!"

Amidst the intertwined gazes of the crowd—some concerned, some reliant, some annoyed, and even more expectant—Uchiha Ren slowly stood up.

He surveyed the entire room, his voice clearly reaching the ears of every clan member.

"It is true that the Uchiha is not without fault. But is the root of the real error not with the Hokage lineage?"

"If the Senju Clan had not betrayed their faith and played their political schemes, Clan Head Madara would have become the First Hokage to protect Konohagakure; why would he have left in such indignation?"

"If Konohagakure had upheld justice from the moment of its founding, how could all these subsequent events have occurred one after another!"

"We are merely using our own hands to take back what should have been ours from the start; what is wrong with that!"

Finally, a cold, mocking smirk brushed across the lips of Uchiha Ren.

"Furthermore, after Clan Leader Madara defected from Konohagakure and attacked the First Hokage, after Elder Setsuna attacked the Second Hokage, and after we provoked the Third Hokage, we still manage to control the Konoha Military Police Force and live in Konohagakure to this day."

"This has never been due to the benevolence of the Konohagakure high command, but rather because of all of you present, because of the strength every Uchiha has forged with blood and fire!"

"They dare not truly go for the kill, but our compromises will only invite their repeated probing!"

Comparing Konohagakure to a dynasty, the Hokage is the emperor, while the Uchiha are the kings standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the throne, wielding an army of eight hundred thousand at the border.

If their strength were just a little greater, even if it were just one pair of Mangekyo, Uchiha Ren would truly dare to lead only the Hawk Faction of the Uchiha to purge the court and thoroughly strike terror into the hearts of everyone in Konohagakure!

But for now, the Hawk Faction has the heart but lacks the strength, though if the entire clan were of one mind...

Uchiha Ren took a deep breath, looked around at everyone, and dropped a bombshell.

"Take today for example: if we were to lead the entire clan to storm the Hokage Building, how many people in all of Konohagakure would be able to withstand the blades of the Uchiha!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room was left dumbstruck.