Deprivation.

243 Blades.

After hearing that number, a dull, painful groan suddenly erupted from Yashiro Uchiha's knuckles, and a horrifying Three Tomoe appeared in his eyes!

But he ultimately restrained himself.

Now was the time for the clan to judge Arata's life and death. Yashiro knew clearly that he could not make any excessive move, or everything would be over.

In truth, it was not just Yashiro Uchiha.

Upon hearing that answer, all the clan elders and elites present, including Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha, were shocked by such a cruel scene.

For a time, the entire hall fell silent.

Perhaps...

Arata Uchiha's actions were understandable.

Seated to one side, Yashiro slowly closed his eyes.

This time, he had no right to participate directly in the discussion. He only had the right to observe.

As for Arata—

He was still lying unconscious in Konoha Hospital, guarded by four clan jōnin with awakened Sharingan.

Naturally, these four experienced clansmen were not there to prevent him from escaping.

During that time, Shimura Danzō, one of Konoha's higher-ups, had immediately brought Root medical ninja over to help, but they were ultimately stopped.

Just as the village guarded against the Uchiha approaching the young Nine-Tails, the Uchiha had always been wary of Konoha's higher-ups coveting their clansmen with awakened Sharingan.

According to the attending physician, Arata's nerves had suffered severe trauma. Combined with his frenzied, round-the-clock training over the past few days, his body had been unable to keep up.

Now that he had finally gotten a chance to rest, it was only natural that he had yet to awaken.

"Foolish child."

As the stream of information reached his ears, Yashiro Uchiha could only repeat those words.

After enduring such brutal torture, Arata had still managed to gather enough strength to throw a shuriken. Yashiro no longer knew what words could describe such an obsession with protecting the clan.

"Arata's sneak attack cannot be tolerated, especially at a time like this!"

"The village's exclusion and suspicion of us are plain for all to see. If such unnecessary internal conflict, even clan-on-clan slaughter, continues, then the Uchiha's end will not be far off."

"What the clan needs now is unity, not a genius who only chases fame and profit."

After a brief silence, Fugaku Uchiha broke the deadlock.

His voice was deep and powerful, carrying the rarely seen authority of a clan head!

Even if Arata possessed the exceedingly rare dual Kekkei Genkai, he had to be punished—or even executed as a warning to others!

After all, yesterday, Fugaku had nearly lost his most beloved son!

"Then was Itachi without fault?"

"243 Blades, sustained for a full hour within the Kasegui world, until his ocular power was exhausted!"

"Is treating a fellow clansman like that right? Is that the unity the Clan Head speaks of?"

Inabi Uchiha immediately spoke up.

There was not the slightest hint of concession in his words, and his narrow eyes burned with fury.

He had already been deeply dissatisfied with Itachi's recent behavior.

Last night, Yashiro had knocked on the doors of both him and Tekka, recounting every word Arata had said on the day he challenged Itachi, without adding a single thing.

Once they understood Arata's motives, both fell silent.

Although Inabi and Tekka had not given Yashiro Uchiha an answer immediately, after a night of restless thought and considering the results of the clan's search of Arata's home, they finally made their decision.

That room, so sparse it was nearly empty; that half-empty box of Military Ration Pills...

If Arata had truly been pursuing fame and profit—

Did such a living environment, such a life, look like that of someone who coveted fame and profit?

At those words—

A flicker of anger appeared in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes.

His gaze passed straight over Inabi Uchiha, who was questioning him sternly, and landed on Yashiro.

The other man's defiance was surely inseparable from Yashiro!

What was this supposed to mean?

Was he plotting to seize the position of clan head?

At that thought, the gloom in Fugaku's eyes deepened.

The fact that he had nearly lost his beloved son caused his already suppressed emotions to grow somewhat uncontrollable.

"I believe Arata is not the sort of person who covets fame and profit."

"If he truly wanted it, everything here would be within his grasp."

At the moment of stalemate, Shisui Uchiha stepped in.

After the duel, he had spoken with Itachi and tried to ask why Arata had been so persistent, but the answer he received was that Itachi did not know.

Even Itachi himself was unclear.

The Sharingan's interrogation had only received a disdainful snort.

That Masked Man with the Sharingan might have been the key, but that was only Shisui's guess. Besides, should Itachi tell Shisui about that person's existence?

In the end, Itachi hesitated and did not reveal that piece of information.

Shisui Uchiha held considerable prestige within the clan, and his name as Shunshin was renowned throughout the Ninja World. His words made the clan elites present instinctively begin to ponder.

Indeed, judging from Arata's performance that day and his status as the possessor of dual Kekkei Genkai, he had no need for such fame and profit.

Especially since he had already surpassed Itachi in both swordsmanship and movement techniques. Even on the path of ninjutsu, where Itachi excelled, everyone had witnessed the might of Ice Release.

Whatever Arata wanted, so long as it was not excessive, the clan would never refuse him.

Then, if they discarded that preconceived motive, what other reason could have driven him to want to kill Itachi so badly?

The answer was obvious.

Only that hour-long torture remained. 243 Blades was likely merely one of the tortures!

Such speculation grew increasingly convincing, because everyone present was from the Uchiha Clan and understood the effects of the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique all too well.

The tide began to turn.

A hint of hesitation also appeared in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes.

Like Fugaku, Shisui belonged to the clan's conservative faction. He had spent many years stationed outside the village and had little involvement with the clan's factions.

He often stood outside their circles, judging right and wrong with an objective attitude.

Moreover, it was Shisui who had saved Itachi at the most critical moment.

But at this time, as a father, Fugaku Uchiha still chose to stand by Itachi.

"Are you saying that Itachi lied?"

His voice was much calmer than before.

After all, he was speaking to Shisui, who also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. If strength determined the candidate for clan head, then Shisui's support among the younger generation would undoubtedly be the greatest.

"No."

"I believe Itachi would never lie to me."

Shisui Uchiha replied at once, his words decisive and firm.

At the same time, his gaze seriously settled on Itachi, who had remained silent for a long time.

That was his closest friend. He was willing to believe him.

"However, there must be some misunderstanding in all this, or perhaps another reason."

"Arata is currently unconscious, and we cannot ask the Yamanaka Clan to probe his memories. Once he wakes up, leave everything to me."

"I will get the answer."

Shisui spoke slowly.

No one objected to the proposal. Even Fugaku could not help nodding slightly.

After all, Shisui's genjutsu was unmatched within the clan. It would not be difficult for him to get some answers.

Of course, the most important thing was his stance. He would not favor anyone.

"Even so, Arata must be punished. Otherwise, it will be impossible to convince the others."

"First, Arata is now a genin. From this day onward, he will be stripped of all clan resources and must fend for himself."

"Second, Arata is forbidden from joining the Military Police Force for life."

"Third, Arata is forbidden from participating in clan gatherings for life!"

Fugaku Uchiha's voice rang out forcefully, his imposing aura faintly spreading.

One had to know that he, too, was a Shadow-level powerhouse who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!