Hesitation Means Defeat

"So, Father, are you agreeing or refusing?" Uchiha Izuna asked with a bright smile. Uchiha Fugaku's face was full of hesitation. "Give me a few days to think about it."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Uchiha Izuna's smiling expression vanished. Disappointment, conflicted feelings, coldness, and mockery flashed through his eyes.

"Father, I asked if you were agreeing or refusing, and you tell me you need a few days to think?" Uchiha Izuna's chakra erupted!

The outburst instantly alarmed the entire Uchiha Clan, including Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui. They saw Uchiha Izuna standing in the courtyard, his hair whipping about as chakra poured from him.

"Izuna, what do you mean by this? Do I not even have the right to think it over?" Uchiha Fugaku rebuked him.

"Think it over? Do you even realize what's happening? The other ninja clans are starting to side with the Uchiha, and you're still thinking about whether to launch a coup d'état?"

"What is there to think about?"

"If we launch the coup, we're still family. If we don't, fine—anyone willing to join me, come along! We'll break away and form our own faction!" Uchiha Izuna sneered.

In an instant, all the Uchiha ninja dropped to their knees. "We await your command, Lord Izuna!"

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Fugaku were stunned by the sight. Even Uchiha Shisui had joined the kneeling ninja.

Uchiha Fugaku staggered. He understood now: he was no longer the Uchiha Clan's leader. Or rather, he was still the clan head, but his son had stripped him of all real power.

He looked at Uchiha Izuna, who looked back at him. The difference was that Izuna had once believed Fugaku shared his resolve to launch a coup.

But now Fugaku had once again shown his indecision, sending Izuna's heart plummeting. As the Uchiha Clan's leader, you either acted or you didn't. What was the point of all this deliberation?

Uchiha Fugaku sighed. "Very well. From today onward, I'll leave the Uchiha to you. Perhaps I really am not suited to being clan head."

The others' eyes flashed with excitement. They had long been fed up with Fugaku. He had been part of the Neutral Faction, unwilling to offend anyone, and now, with a coup on the horizon, he was still hesitating.

Uchiha Izuna said nothing. He turned and left, followed by the Uchiha, leaving Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi standing there.

Uchiha Itachi watched Uchiha Izuna enviously. So this is what it's like to have everyone's support?

"Itachi, you should go too. Perhaps only your younger brother can save the Uchiha—and Konoha." After saying this, Uchiha Fugaku headed inside.

Uchiha Itachi watched Fugaku's retreating figure, his feelings in turmoil. In just a short while, there had been a decisive shift in power.

He shook his head and walked after Uchiha Izuna.

Uchiha Izuna arrived at the meeting room. It was already the middle of the night, but every ninja in the clan had gathered, all except Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Izuna strode straight toward the clan head's seat. Uchiha Zongyi started to speak, but a group of Uchiha activated their Sharingan and fixed their eyes on him.

The pressure made him clamp his mouth shut. He lowered his head and stood there.

Uchiha Izuna looked at the clan head's seat, his feelings complicated. He had thought it would take a long time to reach this position, but he hadn't expected it to happen today.

He turned to face everyone, then sat down without hesitation in the seat reserved for the clan head.

"Everyone, the former clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, is unwell. For the time being, I'll serve as acting clan head and exercise his authority."

"According to our usual practice, we'll decide by a show of hands and draw on everyone's wisdom," Uchiha Izuna said coolly. Then he propped his legs up on the table and looked down at the ninja below.

It took just ten seconds for everyone to raise their hands, including Uchiha Zongyi. He understood that Uchiha Izuna's rise to power was unstoppable. He might as well go along with it.

Uchiha Izuna stood. "In that case, I ask you all to cooperate with my decisions from now on."

"Yes!" Everyone knelt on one knee.

"Tomorrow, split into twenty groups and sell the newspapers across twenty different districts."

"I'll also need everyone to put in some effort, and we'll need a few plants. Once they've bought a paper, have them read it aloud."

"At the same time, the Uchiha Police Force will patrol all twenty districts tomorrow. If anyone causes trouble, even if they're Anbu or Root, take them down!"

"The rollout of these newspapers is imperative! No one is allowed to interfere!"

"If there's anything you can't handle, come straight to me. I'll deal with it." Uchiha Izuna began issuing orders. He had one goal: to distribute the newspapers!

In this era, when entertainment was scarce, controlling Konoha's public opinion meant winning the people's hearts.

Besides, only the ninja clans knew about what had happened today. Many civilian ninja and villagers were still in the dark. To them, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still the benevolent, kindly Third.

Uchiha Izuna's goal was to destroy all the goodwill Sarutobi Hiruzen had built up over the years. That way, his once-overwhelming reputation would plummet.

Besides, the news he was publishing was all true and could stand up to scrutiny. What was there to fear?

The only real trouble would be getting discovered by the Anbu Ninja tomorrow, but compared to the benefits, that was nothing.

Under Uchiha Izuna's direction, the Uchiha Clan set to work, each member taking on their role, ready for action.

Uchiha Izuna returned to his room, intending to sleep. But Uchiha Mikoto was waiting for him inside.

"You're back, Izuna." Uchiha Mikoto sounded as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Uchiha Izuna froze, then bowed. "Mother."

Uchiha Mikoto smiled. "Sit." She gestured for him to take the seat opposite her.

Uchiha Izuna sat across from Uchiha Mikoto, kneeling upright with his back straight as he looked at her.

"Did you argue with your father? When he came back, he didn't say a word. He went straight to the bedroom and went to sleep."

"I tried asking him, but he wouldn't say anything. So I want to know what happened." Uchiha Mikoto looked Uchiha Izuna in the eye as she asked.

Uchiha Izuna pressed his lips together. He could be cold and blunt with his father, Uchiha Fugaku, but he couldn't bring himself to talk back to his mother.

That was because, as far back as he could remember, Uchiha Mikoto had always protected him.

In his eyes, Uchiha Mikoto was gentle. He couldn't bring himself to defy his mother.

So Uchiha Izuna took out Minato Namikaze's little note and explained his father's hesitation, as well as how dire the situation had become.

The Uchiha were now at a life-or-death crossroads. They could only move forward, not retreat. Every clan member had put their life on the line.

Even he, Uchiha Izuna, would be hacked to pieces by the brothers at his back if he said the wrong thing now.

Uchiha Fugaku's hesitation was even worse. They had all agreed to launch a coup, and now he wanted to think it over? How could he let such a good opportunity slip away? Was he crazy? Hesitation meant defeat!