As the loser, Uchiha Fugaku was now awash with conflicting emotions.
He felt sorrow and anger, but above all, an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
What would become of the Uchiha Clan?
Would it prosper, or be destroyed?
While Uchiha Fugaku sat there, brooding alone...
Masaki Uchiha looked at him. "Fugaku, you can use your Mangekyō Sharingan with all your might to see what the future holds and what the Uchiha Clan I lead will be like."
The clan members didn't understand what he meant, but Uchiha Fugaku did. Even so, he was startled. How does he know what my Mangekyō Sharingan can do?
After steadying his emotions, and wanting to know what the future held for the Uchiha Clan, he said:
"Hmph."
In response to Masaki Uchiha, he gave a cold snort.
Uchiha Fugaku channeled all his power into [Amenotachitatsu], the ability in his right eye. The intense pain in his eye grew as blood trickled from its corner.
"Argh!" The excruciating pain in his eye made him cry out, but for the sake of the Uchiha Clan, he endured it and continued expending his ocular power.
As his ocular power rapidly drained, images of the Uchiha Clan's future over the next three months gradually multiplied.
"How could this be?" Uchiha Fugaku was utterly shocked by the future he saw, and even more questions filled his mind.
But the pain in his eye had already become unbearable. With no other choice, he deactivated his Mangekyō Sharingan and stood to one side, gasping for breath.
"How... how did you... do that?" Uchiha Fugaku panted, his words halting.
The possibility of seeing things that might happen in the future had made him ask without thinking.
"Heh. Just watch and see how I lead the Uchiha Clan back to greatness." Masaki Uchiha didn't answer Uchiha Fugaku's question directly.
"As for you, I hope that, for the sake of the Uchiha Clan, we can work together wholeheartedly and create a better future."
"Will you join me in restoring the Uchiha Clan?" As he spoke, he held out his hand to Uchiha Fugaku.
Looking at the hand extended toward him and recalling what he had seen, Uchiha Fugaku felt torn.
"Phew." He slowly let out the breath he had been holding, then clasped the outstretched hand.
"I will."
You'll be a permanent guest on Orochimaru's operating table from now on. Masaki Uchiha added silently.
As the two clasped hands, the Uchiha erupted in cheers.
"Hail the Uchiha!" Elder Uchiha Setsuna shouted.
"Hail the Uchiha!"
"Hail the Uchiha!"
Many of the clan members echoed him.
Masaki Uchiha looked at the clan members and said, "Next, I'll reform the Police Force, increasing its numbers from the current 150 to 600."
"The Police Force's existing departments will all be dismantled and rebuilt."
"We'll establish a Legal Department, a Judicial Bureau, a Procuratorate, a Metropolitan Police Department, a Tax Department, a Logistics Bureau, a Press Department, a Special Operations Brigade, and a Science and Technology Bureau."
"Each bureau or department will have a director and a deputy director. The Special Operations Brigade will report directly to the head of the Police Force."
"In addition, we'll appoint two deputy heads of the Police Force to oversee the other bureaus and departments."
"I'll serve as head of the Police Force, and Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Tetsuya will serve as deputy heads. Any objections?"
Uchiha Tetsuya was a renowned elite jonin of the clan and a member of the hawkish, or hardline, faction. He had distinguished himself in the Third Great Ninja War and had been won over by Masaki Uchiha's strength on the battlefield.
The clan members had no objections to Uchiha Tetsuya becoming deputy head... The doves might have, but they didn't dare speak up under Masaki Uchiha's imposing presence.
"Tetsuya, you'll have even more on your shoulders from now on. If there's anything you don't understand at work, you can ask Fugaku. Understood?"
"Yes, sir. I understand." A stern-faced man with regular features immediately answered loudly from the crowd.
"For the next few months, we have just one priority: win over the other minor and mid-sized ninja clans in Konoha."
As soon as he said this, someone asked, "Clan Leader, what good will winning over those clans do for the Uchiha?"
At that, Masaki Uchiha's eyelid twitched. He scolded them, "Foolish! Surely you understand that those who follow the Way have many supporters, while those who stray from it have few?"
"Those minor and mid-sized clans may not be powerful on their own, but together, they're an indispensable force in Konoha."
"The Third Great Ninja War ended only a few months ago, and those clans have already suffered heavy losses. If we don't win them over now, should we leave it to the Fourth Hokage?"
"Winning them over is also preparation for our future bid for the Hokage Position. Didn't I lose the last time I ran for Fourth Hokage because I received too few votes?!"
"From now on, stop looking down your noses at everyone. When you go out and meet people, don't act like you own the place."
"Our Uchiha name is in poor standing because of you bunch of bastards!"
"The only way to turn around our rotten reputation is to pay whatever it takes to win people over."
The more Masaki Uchiha spoke, the angrier he became. He roared at the crowd, "Did you all understand me?!"
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
"That's more like it!"
"So I plan to invite the other minor and mid-sized ninja clans to visit the Uchiha the day after tomorrow. Ema, I'm leaving this to you." Masaki Uchiha looked toward a woman in the crowd who appeared to be about sixteen. She was tall and curvaceous, with fair skin and a hint of warrior-like spirit in her features.
Ema Uchiha replied, "Yes. I'll start sending out the invitations tomorrow." Her voice rang out, clear and bright as jade beads falling onto a plate. As she watched Masaki Uchiha speak confidently before the crowd, her eyes brimmed with affection.
As Masaki Uchiha's childhood friend, she knew exactly how he wanted to change the Uchiha Clan. All she could do was help however she could, for instance, by offering him comfort late at night...
"All right, one last thing. Activate your Sharingan, and I'll help you increase your ocular power."
At his words, everyone in the room seemed to go blank for a moment. The entire shrine fell silent.
Then the uproar burst forth like water hitting hot oil.
"Really? We can actually increase our ocular power?"
"It must be true. The Clan Leader wouldn't lie to us."
"Does that mean we'll all have a chance to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"Heh, now that I think about it, the Clan Leader has never gone back on his word."
"The Clan Leader truly is heaven-sent."
"There's hope for the Uchiha's revival!"
Masaki Uchiha waved his hand, looking impatient. "All right, all right, quiet down. Hurry up and activate your Sharingan. Once I'm done, I can go home and sleep."