Uchiha Is Doomed?

The mockery in those words was far too obvious. No one present was stupid enough to miss it.

The more that was the case, the angrier they became, yet they had no way to refute Genkawa Uchiha's words.

Fugaku Uchiha was also somewhat enraged. He stared hard at Genkawa Uchiha and said in an unfriendly tone, "I know you've always held grievances against the clan, but at a time like this, you shouldn't be saying such things."

Seeing him like this, Genkawa Uchiha's smile grew even brighter.

"So? What should I do, then?"

That question stumped Fugaku Uchiha somewhat.

He stared at Genkawa Uchiha, then ultimately could only leave behind a single sentence before returning to his seat at the head.

"Be quiet."

Hearing that, Genkawa Uchiha shrugged and smiled as he returned to his place and sat back down. Propping his chin up with one hand, he quietly watched the scene unfold.

The others were naturally still brimming with anger, but they had no particularly good way of dealing with Genkawa Uchiha either.

Some understood the meaning behind the look Uchiha Yashiro had cast earlier. He had likely been wondering whether Genkawa Uchiha had controlled the Nine-Tails, but upon further thought, the possibility seemed unlikely. Thus, Uchiha Yashiro deserved the scolding he got.

As for Genkawa Uchiha's battle with the Nine-Tails, they chose to ignore it.

It had clearly been an achievement that benefited the village and demonstrated Uchiha strength, yet they deliberately refused to think about it.

People's feelings were just that complicated.

So after Genkawa Uchiha sat back down, they treated his earlier words as though they had been an illusion, as if nothing had happened, and turned their attention back to Fugaku Uchiha.

"We cannot agree!"

"That's right! If we agree to something like this, the Uchiha Clan's prestige will certainly suffer!"

Everyone present was indignant, clearly unable to accept this.

Fugaku Uchiha did not look pleased either, but all he could do now was keep a grim face.

"This is the Jonin Meeting's resolution. It can no longer be changed."

That alone was enough to make everyone feel immense pressure.

The Uchiha present were merely arrogant and somewhat disdainful of others. That did not mean they were fools.

Going against the entire village would bring absolutely no benefit.

Yet they would never agree to simply accept this.

"Make the village produce evidence that the Sharingan controlled the Nine-Tails!"

"Right! Even if the Nine-Tails really was controlled by the Sharingan, the person who controlled it might not have been one of our clansmen. After all, that was a Tailed Beast. Even the strongest Three-Tomoe Sharingan could not possibly control it."

"Exactly! The village is targeting the Uchiha Clan far too obviously. We cannot agree to this!"

"No matter what, we are one of the strongest ninja clans that founded Konoha alongside the Senju Clan. Is the village not afraid of pushing us too hard and causing a major upheaval?"

In short, all kinds of things were being said, but the message was the same: the village had no reason and no right to target the Uchiha like this, or they would cause trouble.

The place was in utter chaos, with everyone talking over one another, yet no one got to the heart of the matter.

Or rather, the moment Fugaku Uchiha said the Nine-Tails had been controlled by the Sharingan, they no longer had any good options.

Unless they found the person who had controlled the Nine-Tails, the Uchiha Clan's punishment was already set in stone.

They were saying all this only because they could not accept it.

Genkawa Uchiha yawned, rose to his feet, and headed outside.

That action immediately drew everyone's attention again.

Though Genkawa Uchiha had been sitting in the corner as if no one paid him any mind—

In reality, quite a few people had been secretly watching his every move.

"Where are you going?"

A young Uchiha spoke up.

Genkawa Uchiha did not stop walking. "Going home to sleep. This clan meeting is too boring."

His refusal to even turn around truly angered the one who had asked. He stood up and crossed the distance to Genkawa Uchiha in a few strides.

"Don't you have even a shred of Uchiha pride?"

As he spoke, the man pointed around the room and shouted, "Can't you see that so many people are worrying over the clan? What about you? What have you done?"

Everyone fell silent.

Genkawa Uchiha stopped and placed a hand on the other man's shoulder.

"I remember, your name is... Yakumi Uchiha, right?"

Yakumi Uchiha glared at him, his eyes filled with crimson as three tomoe slowly spun within them.

"Three-Tomoe at such a young age. Not bad talent."

That single assessment made Yakumi Uchiha's face twitch.

There was no other reason. Genkawa Uchiha had revealed his Sharingan as well—also Three-Tomoe, yet he was even younger than Yakumi Uchiha. There was a three-year gap between them.

If another Uchiha had said that, Yakumi Uchiha might have found it pleasing.

But the one saying it was Genkawa Uchiha, which made Yakuhi Uchiha struggle to keep his composure.

I'm young? I have good talent?

Then what about you?

Genkawa Uchiha patted his shoulder. "You're still too young. Learn more from Clan Head Fugaku. Just endure for the sake of the whole clan like he does. Don't jump out like this, or you'll only expose your weakness."

Someone had already lowered his head, while Fugaku Uchiha at the head of the room unconsciously clenched his fist.

"Genkawa Uchiha, the clan meeting isn't over yet," he said.

Genkawa Uchiha shoved Yakuhi Uchiha aside and walked out without looking back.

"Then carry on. I'm an Uchiha outcast anyway. It makes no difference whether I'm here or not."

This time, no one stopped him.

When he reached the entrance and opened the doors, he was about to leave when he stopped, turned back, and said, "Oh, one more thing. Let me make this clear beforehand: I'm quite comfortable living here. So whether the village makes the Uchiha Clan move away from here or not, I won't be moving."

With that, he casually waved a hand and walked out.

The doors closed again, separating the inside from the outside—and cutting off the departing Uchiha's silhouette.

The room fell silent for a moment before erupting.

"That damned bastard! How dare he act like that?"

Someone stood and cursed, unable to hide the fury on his face.

"Exactly! This is a clan meeting. How can that guy behave like that? He relies on his talent and has never respected the clan rules. If you ask me, we should strip him of his surname."

"What a detestable bastard. He is simply the Uchiha's shame."

Remarks like these rose one after another.

For a time, it seemed that everyone present had vented the anger they felt over the village leadership's targeting of the Uchiha onto Genkawa Uchiha.

Unfortunately, they had not said any of it while Genkawa Uchiha was there. They only exploded after he had left.

What that represented was self-evident.

Yakumi Uchiha watched this scene, feeling deeply conflicted.

He had summoned the courage to challenge Genkawa Uchiha just now, fully expecting to get beaten up. That was something Genkawa Uchiha had often done as he grew up.

Of all the people who had provoked Genkawa Uchiha in the past, regardless of age, nearly every one of them had been dealt with by him.

Yakumi Uchiha was no exception.

Yet this time, he had been an exception.

And seeing his clansmen's reaction now gave Yakuhi Uchiha a realization.

It seemed that aside from venting their emotions behind closed doors, they had no solution whatsoever, whether faced with the village leadership's decision or Genkawa Uchiha.

Was this still the Uchiha Clan?

When had the Uchiha become so hypocritical?

Could it be... that what Genkawa Uchiha had said years ago about the Uchiha being finished... was true?

Meanwhile, Genkawa Uchiha paid no attention to any of this.

It was as if such matters meant nothing to him.

After leaving the Shrine, he returned home and immediately saw someone lying facedown over the low table inside.

The way she lay there accentuated her graceful curves, and coupled with her married woman's charm, she was naturally full of allure.

Sensing movement outside, Mikoto Uchiha opened her eyes and pushed herself up, only to see Genkawa Uchiha returning.

Before she could speak, Genkawa Uchiha's voice reached her.

"Mikoto, have you finally decided to come live with me?"