They still didn't know Fugaku's Mangekyō had its limits, fundamentally different from Uchiha Madara's Eternal Mangekyō.
Of course, Fugaku wasn't the only problem. Those battle-hungry Uchiha were another enormous headache.
If they learned their clan leader had awakened the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't dare imagine what they might do.
Fugaku still said nothing. He merely fixed Hiruzen with a relentless stare from his Mangekyō.
Deep down, though, he wholeheartedly agreed with Xuanye's assessment of them.
They only understand force.
You won't take a warning seriously until there's a blade at your throat, will you?
Did you think my Mangekyō was just for show because I, Uchiha Fugaku, hadn't used it?
Under the unblinking gaze of those slowly turning Mangekyō Sharingan, Hiruzen felt the pressure bearing down on him.
Fortunately, someone stepped in to rescue him.
That someone was certainly not Shimura Danzō. Right now, Danzō would have loved nothing more than for Uchiha Fugaku to kill Hiruzen. Then, if he could find a way to make Namikaze Minato step down, he would become the Fifth Hokage in both name and fact.
He could also openly brand the entire Uchiha Family as rogue ninja and seize Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan while he was at it.
One move, several prizes. Shimura Danzō would come out ahead in every way.
Of course, Danzō hadn't given a thought to the crucial question of what he would do if he couldn't defeat the Uchiha.
As far as he was concerned, the Uchiha could never stand against all of Konoha.
Once he became Hokage, everything would work out.
The person who rescued Hiruzen was Xuanye.
Seeing that Fugaku had finally revealed his Mangekyō, Xuanye rose slowly and gave the clan leader's shoulder a light pat.
"Easy, Clan Leader. We came here today on important business."
He was genuinely worried that Fugaku, after seeing everything Xuanye had predicted come true, might open with a Susanoo right then and there.
That would overturn the board completely. With Xuanye on their side, the Uchiha could win, but even victory would likely come at a terrible cost.
Besides, a Konoha left in ruins did nothing for his interests.
Inside the Uchiha, Shisui was a ticking bomb. Outside, there was Obito, thoroughly led astray by Madara. This was hardly the time to break with the village leadership.
Now that his system had awakened, Xuanye needed time to grow stronger.
With Xuanye's hand on his shoulder, Fugaku calmed down a little.
Only heaven knew how badly Fugaku had been shaken when everything that had just happened matched Xuanye's predictions word for word.
But that only strengthened his conviction: Xuanye had definitely awakened an ocular technique that could see the future.
Leaving matters in Xuanye's hands now could not be a mistake.
"Hmph!"
Fugaku's snort was the first sound he had made since entering the office.
He let Xuanye take control of the situation, but he kept his Mangekyō active, glaring at Hiruzen and Danzō.
At the first sign of treachery from either of them, he would suppress them on the spot, consequences be damned!
Xuanye's value had risen beyond measure in Fugaku's eyes. Xuanye could not waste his ocular power on a pointless dispute!
Besides, Fugaku understood now that no amount of compromise would make the Hokage's faction leave them alone.
Only by showing enough strength to deter them could he make them talk properly.
Hadn't Hiruzen's and Danzō's eyes gone clear the moment he revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan?
Danzō didn't even dare make a peep now, afraid Fugaku might turn his gaze on him.
Hiruzen gave every order targeting the Uchiha. I only carried them out. If you want revenge, go after him!
Taking charge of the negotiations, Xuanye immediately produced two documents.
"First, Clan Leader Fugaku is resigning today. From now on, he'll handle only clan affairs. I'll take over as liaison with Konoha and as Captain of the Konoha Security Division."
Hiruzen rejected it almost reflexively. "How can that be allowed? The captain of the Security Division must be appointed by the Hokage. You can't simply name whoever you please."
"Hmph!"
The moment Hiruzen finished speaking, Fugaku snorted, and those oppressive Mangekyō locked onto him.
Once again, Xuanye came to his rescue.
"Clan Leader, don't get worked up. Hold off on the Susanoo for now."
"We're still negotiating. How could we attack them as soon as the talks end?"
"If word got out, people might think the Uchiha Family had no manners."
Sweat immediately broke out on Hiruzen's forehead.
What does Uchiha Genya mean by that?
If we reach an agreement, they won't attack. Does that mean if we don't, Susanoo will appear inside the Hokage Building?
However ridiculous the reason, Fugaku folded his arms tightly, grudgingly accepting what Xuanye had said.
Xuanye turned back and patted Hiruzen on the shoulder.
"Lord Third, you can see those Mangekyō right there. I wasn't lying to you!"
"For Konoha's sake, our clan leader has held back all this time. But today, he just couldn't bear it anymore."
"If I weren't here, Susanoo would be looming over Konoha in a moment. Wouldn't that frighten you?"
Hiruzen froze. It took him several seconds to realize he was being threatened.
A young man who wasn't even twenty dared threaten him. Hiruzen felt humiliated, and his face nearly flushed red with anger.
But the balance of power was against him. With a pair of Mangekyō fixed on him from just a few meters away, who wouldn't be rattled?
Xuanye continued.
"Besides, a member of the Uchiha Family has always served as Captain of the Konoha Security Division. Does it really matter which one?"
Only then did Hiruzen come to his senses.
Xuanye was right. As long as the captain remained an Uchiha, relations between the Uchiha and Konoha's villagers would stay tense. That was especially true after Xuanye had arrested someone in the street.
Given how arrogant and overbearing this Uchiha was, the clan would sooner or later have to offer him up to calm public anger.
Hiruzen had rejected the proposal on the spot only because Xuanye had made the decision without consulting him, leaving him, the Lord Third, with no dignity.
Couldn't you have brought this up at the Jonin Conference? It's not as if I would have refused.