Rumors and the Jonin Meeting

In the basement.

"Lord Yan, the clan head has been summoned by the Anbu to attend the Jonin Meeting!"

Uchiha Yashiro bent down beside Yan and whispered into his ear.

"In that case..." Yan curled his lips into a cold smile, stood up, adjusted his clothes, and said, "The plan can begin warming up as well!"

"Understood!" Uchiha Yashiro nodded.

His expression was somewhat hesitant, clearly unable to understand something.

"If you have a question, just ask."

"How did you know that the clan head would definitely bring back bad news from the Jonin Meeting?"

After all, the clan head attended several Jonin Meetings every year. They mostly discussed trivial matters before finding some excuse to let Shimura Danzō berate the Uchiha Clan.

That was the standard procedure. After that, nothing happened, and everyone went about their business.

But their plan was different.

For it to develop in the direction they wanted, it depended on the clan head bringing back bad news serious enough to affect the entire Uchiha Clan.

Otherwise, they might expose themselves ahead of time and end up at a disadvantage.

Yan clearly did not take Uchiha Yashiro's concerns seriously. He smiled and explained, "This time is different from the previous ones."

"The Uchiha Clan cannot shake off the blame from a year ago, even if they wanted to. And lately, many clansmen have awakened their eyes. Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others must know about this as well!"

"Most importantly, when the Anbu came to notify him, they did not give Uchiha Fugaku any time to prepare. They demanded that he immediately go to the Hokage Building for the Jonin Meeting."

"What does that mean? It means something major is definitely going to happen at this meeting, and it is aimed at the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Yashiro stood to the side, listening to those words, and could not help breaking out in a cold sweat.

If he followed Yan's line of reasoning further...

Perhaps the Hokage faction had already finished discussing the outcome of the meeting. They might have even reached a consensus with the other Ninja Clans, leaving the Uchiha no room to object at all.

"Do you understand now?" Yan turned and asked Uchiha Yashiro.

"I understand!" Uchiha Yashiro nodded repeatedly.

"Then go get to work." Yan waved a hand. "Start by heating up the atmosphere, then wait for our clan head to bring back the bad news!"

"I'll handle it right away!"

Not long after Uchiha Yashiro left.

Numerous rumors suddenly appeared in casinos of all sizes throughout the clan, spreading through the entire Uchiha Clan at astonishing speed.

People discussed them everywhere—on the streets, in restaurants, and even in bed.

"Is that rumor true? Are the casinos really going to shut down? I haven't even awakened my Sharingan yet!"

"You haven't awakened your eyes? You think you deserve to stand with us without awakening them? Get lost."

"Tch... Who wants to stand with you anyway?"

"..."

"Is the Uchiha Clan really going to relocate?"

"Who knows? But so many people are talking about it. It must be true, right?"

"Then what will happen to the little shops my family runs?"

"That's why I told you long ago—sell the shops and go all in at the casinos. Once you awaken your eyes, they'll give it all back to you!"

"..."

"No, what is the clan head even doing? Why would he agree to such terms?"

"You're counting on that useless fool? Maybe he was the one who suggested it to the Hokage in the first place!"

"No way. Isn't he the clan head? Wouldn't that be betraying his own people?"

"I think he's just jealous—jealous of Lord Yan's talent, jealous that Lord Yan can come up with a way for the clansmen to awaken their eyes while he can't!"

"Just like you're jealous that your son can awaken his eyes?"

"You make it sound like you aren't jealous of your husband!"

"..."

These rumors were like a fuse, spreading and fermenting throughout the clan.

Especially as the concept of social rank gradually took root, more and more clansmen became unwilling to remain at the bottom.

They all wanted to awaken the Sharingan and rise above others.

The Uchiha Clan now resembled an enormous powder keg. One small misstep could trigger an unprecedented riot.

Words like bloodline, kin, and brethren gradually lost their former luster.

At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku was completely unaware of what was happening within the clan.

He was currently at the Jonin Meeting in the Hokage Building, enduring everyone's criticism.

"Clan Head Fugaku, you understand Konoha's difficulties as well. I hope you can be considerate."

An elderly man seated at the head of the table, dressed in a white Hokage robe, spoke with a genial smile as he smoked.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku, seated at the very end, wore an expression full of resentment.

"Lord Hokage, I do not understand. Why must we close all the casinos within the clan and relocate the entire clan to a remote corner at the edge of the village? This is unreasonable."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said nothing. He merely continued smoking his pipe, not even sparing Uchiha Fugaku a glance.

But the elderly man sitting to the right, his body covered in bandages, took over the conversation.

"Uchiha Fugaku, we have already explained this to you very clearly."

"The casinos must be closed because your Uchiha Clan has become far too reckless. If the villagers follow your example and neglect their work, can you bear the responsibility?"

"As for relocating the entire clan, we have discussed it with numerous Ninja Clans. This is a restructuring of the village as a whole, intended to better plan and develop it."

"Do you have any objections?"

Listening to Shimura Danzō's shameless yet utterly confident words.

Uchiha Fugaku's face twisted slightly. Gritting his teeth, he said word by word, "Elder Danzo, you said you discussed this with numerous Ninja Clans. Then why was no one from the Uchiha Clan informed?"

Why had no one informed you? Didn't you have any idea? What allies did you Uchiha have in Konoha? And who would dare speak for you?

Shimura Danzō smiled faintly, a trace of contempt flashing through his eyes as he said righteously, "Konoha is a ninja village that loves peace and follows fairness. The minority obeys the majority."

"If you do not believe it, we can hold a vote right here. Simply raise your hands."

"What do you think, Clan Head Fugaku?"

Uchiha Fugaku fell silent.

Looking at the slightly evasive gazes of the jonin around him, he did not need to think to know what the outcome of the vote would be.

The Hokage faction had never given the Uchiha Clan a chance to refuse.

They would relocate, whether they wanted to or not!

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a ring of smoke and spoke with a solemn expression.

"Clan Head Fugaku, please be considerate of Konoha's difficulties."

"Although the ninja war has ended, Cloud Village still watches our borders like a tiger stalking its prey. The village is under great pressure."

"This is also a measure of last resort."

Uchiha Fugaku was still unwilling, but the matter had been stated this plainly.

Everyone present was looking at him, waiting for his answer. What else could he do?

"Fine. I accept."

After saying those words, Uchiha Fugaku slumped completely.

Like a defeated rooster, his eyes were filled with gloom and helplessness, as though he had lost all his spirit in an instant.