Next Target: Uchiha Fugaku

Deep beneath the Naka Shrine, within the most secretive meeting hall of the Uchiha Compound, dozens of members of the Uchiha Clan had gathered.

There were no windows here, only torches flickering dimly against the walls, casting a heavy, oppressive atmosphere over the room.

Those seated here were all elites of the Uchiha Clan.

At the very least, they were jonin who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

They were the backbone of the Military Police Force and the foundation of the Uchiha Clan's pride.

Among them were even several elders whose strength approached that of Kage-level individuals.

These were the true top-tier combatants of the clan, elders who possessed both seniority and power.

At a rough glance, there were twenty or thirty of them.

If this force were to be twisted into a single rope, it would be enough to topple a small nation.

Uchiha Fugaku sat upright in the main seat. He was not wearing his usual attire today, but rather the traditional dark, high-collared clothing of the Uchiha, his expression more stern and cold than usual.

He scanned the room, and everyone his gaze touched could not help but straighten their backs involuntarily.

Uchiha Fugaku announced, "I have summoned you all here because our Uchiha Clan has reached a critical juncture of life and death."

He paused, letting the weight of those words sink into the hearts of everyone present.

"Since the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Lord Uchiha Madara jointly founded Konoha, our Uchiha Clan has rendered distinguished service." Fugaku's voice rose, tinged with indignation, "Yet, what have we received in return?"

"The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, established the Military Police Force. It appeared to be a position of great responsibility, but in reality, it was a way to isolate us from the core of power, binding us firmly within the village's rules and regulations, making us the target of everyone's resentment."

"The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, appears benevolent, but in truth, he indulges Shimura Danzō and his Root organization, subjecting us to the utmost surveillance, exclusion, and suppression."

"Not only has the authority of the Military Police Force been repeatedly curtailed, but our reputation within the village has been secretly slandered."

As he said this, whispers began to ripple through the crowd below.

In the eyes of many, their Three-Tomoe Sharingan began to spin involuntarily, the crimson glow intensifying.

Fugaku slammed his hand onto the low table in front of him, his voice turning sharp, "What is most intolerable is the slander against us during the Nine-Tails Incident. That night, how many Konoha ninja and civilians died, and the Fourth Hokage and his wife sacrificed themselves? Yet, afterward, the higher-ups actually suspected our Uchiha Clan of being the masterminds."

"They didn't need evidence at all. They only needed an excuse to pour filth upon us."

"For these years, we have endured, we have retreated, and we have tried to prove our loyalty through harder work. But what was the result? It was met only with intensified suspicion and relentless pressure."

Uchiha Fugaku said with passionate indignation, "Tell me, how much longer must we endure? Must we wait until Danzō's 'Root' secretly eliminates us one by one? Must we wait until the higher-ups find some random excuse to label us as rogue ninja and then openly exterminate us?"

"To be discarded in a mass grave like trash, our bodies flowing with the blood of glory."

"We cannot endure this."

"The Clan Head is right, we have had enough."

"Konoha is no longer the village that Lord First and Lord Madara dreamed of."

"The blood of the Uchiha cannot be shed in vain."

The crowd was incensed; no one knew better than these Uchiha what kind of stifling days they had been living through all these years.

Fugaku pressed his hands down, and when the noise subsided slightly, he continued:

"Therefore, the fate of the Uchiha Clan must be held in our own hands; it cannot be entrusted to the kindness or charity of others."

He took a deep breath, his gaze burning, "I propose, and I inform you all tonight, that we must take action. We must overthrow the weak rule of Hiruzen Sarutobi, eliminate scourges like Danzō, and have our Uchiha Clan take hold of the reins of power in Konoha."

"We shall rebuild a Konoha that is truly fair, powerful... and one where the Uchiha can stand proudly!"

"Long live the Uchiha!"

"We follow the Clan Head!"

"Take back everything that belongs to us!"

The shouts from the Uchiha clansmen rose one after another, filled with intense emotion.

A few of the older, more composed members still showed signs of excitement, but deep in their eyes, a trace of doubt or worry remained.

Yet, amidst these cheers, their voices were completely drowned out.

"Good," Fugaku said in a deep voice, "Since you are all of one mind, I will hide nothing more. I have been preparing for this plan for a long time. The covert lines, intelligence, supplies, and potential responders within the village... all are in place."

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, making it sound even more murderous, "Three days from now, at the hour of the rat at midnight, will be the time we raise our banner and rewrite the history of Konoha."

Following this, Uchiha Fugaku deployed several key strike teams in detail and set objectives, including raiding the Hokage Building and important administrative departments, controlling all access points and the Barrier Team, prioritizing the elimination of stubborn opposition, and preparing for potential counterattacks from other clans...

The plan sounded meticulous and bold, clearly the result of long-term planning.

"For these three days, everyone must act as usual; there must not be the slightest abnormality."

"All instructions will be conveyed through the most secretive channels when the time comes."

"Remember, this battle concerns the survival of our entire Uchiha Clan. We either succeed or we perish."

The torches continued to burn, casting the empty secret chamber in a mix of light and shadow.

However, during the course of the secret meeting, no one noticed that in the shadows of a narrow crawlspace above the chamber, a pair of eyes was coldly watching everything happening below, until only two people remained at the scene.

That was Uchiha Du Yang.

Fugaku spoke silently, addressing the other Uchiha:

"How did the investigation into the matter I tasked you with go?"

The Uchiha member replied respectfully:

"Clan Head, the results are hard to believe. All signs indicate that the last person to meet with Itachi Uchiha was Uchiha Du Yang..."

"So it really was him."

In an instant, Uchiha Fugaku flashed his Mangekyou Sharingan, the scene in his eyes matching exactly what he had just been told.

Following this, Uchiha Fugaku and the Uchiha member both withdrew.

"It seems that even after killing his son, I still couldn't keep it from Uchiha Fugaku. I underestimated this clan head's control over the Uchiha Clan."

"It's confirmed. Fugaku knows his son like the back of his hand, and his understanding of the entirety of Konoha exceeds what most people imagine."

"No wonder he willingly walked to his death on the night of the clan's annihilation."

It could be said that Fugaku allowed his son to kill him.

If Fugaku had truly wanted to fight back, Itachi Uchiha would likely have been in grave danger.

Du Yang, however, was in no rush at all.

After all, the aftermath of their battle had been too intense, and the signature stances of the ninjutsu used made it clear to anyone that it was an Uchiha clansman fighting.

Everything he did was within his expectations.

Moreover, this only further proved that Fugaku was completely unfit to lead the Uchiha.

Not to mention, with him in the picture, the destruction of the Uchiha had only accelerated.

What truly occupied his thoughts was... since he had killed Itachi Uchiha, driven off Obito Uchiha, and prevented the night of annihilation, the Uchiha Clan's rebellion would soon be upon them.

"Without a doubt, under the leadership of Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan will still be wiped out."

Du Yang wore a wry smile at this moment.

Who exactly gave Uchiha Fugaku the courage to think that the current Uchiha Clan could successfully pull off a coup? Fish Leong?

Within the Uchiha Clan, aside from himself, the only one who could be considered a Kage-level powerhouse was likely Fugaku.

On the side of the Third Hokage, Danzo counted as one, and the Hokage himself was another.

As for Hiruzen Sarutobi's own two students, Jiraiya was one, and Tsunade was another.

Even if Kakashi hadn't fully matured yet, there was still the heavyweight Might Guy.

Furthermore, the Hyuga Clan, Sarutobi Clan, Shimura Clan, Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Akimichi Clan, Yamanaka Clan, and Nara Clan were all standing on the side of the Third Hokage.

The Hyuga Clan alone would be enough to give the Uchiha a headache.

Not to mention the vast number of Chunin and elite Jonin in Konoha; how could they possibly allow the Uchiha to revolt?

Therefore, for the Uchiha to plot a rebellion now was simply asking for death.

Uchiha Du Yang possessed immense personal strength, but helplessly, he had family to protect and was currently just a young junior within the Uchiha Clan.

He had no real say within the Uchiha Clan.

Even if a rebellion were to happen and power were to be seized, it absolutely could not be in three days' time.

Uchiha Du Yang spoke as if to himself: "Uchiha Fugaku, are you the next target?"

Even if he didn't take action, Uchiha Fugaku would likely try to kill him anyway.

He had said it before: when necessary, in order to protect his family, he would resort to any means.