You Got a Hole in Your Head or What?

Uchiha Itachi realized he had lost his composure. At Uchiha Shisui's warning look, he chose to swallow his anger and silently stood aside.

The Hawk Faction was already fired up! Our leader drew first blood!

Uchiha Izuna paid no attention to what they thought. Instead, he smiled at Uchiha Shisui and continued, "I know it's hard for you to believe. Actually, you can tell the Hyuga Clan the nature and color of Grandpa Kagami's chakra and have them use their Byakugan to examine Shimura Danzō. Then you'll know whether it's true."

Although Uchiha Shisui didn't agree with Uchiha Izuna's baseless speculation, he remembered the method he'd suggested. He remembered Grandpa's chakra even as he'd died: warm, green, and full of life.

That was how people were. Sometimes, when coincidences piled up, they couldn't help but grow suspicious. And Uchiha Izuna's absolute certainty only deepened Shisui's doubts.

"Anyway, your main argument just now was that the Second wanted us Uchiha to integrate into Konoha, and gave the Uchiha Clan the Military Police Force, right?" Uchiha Izuna returned to his seat.

His men immediately brought over another desk and set it in front of him, their eyes burning with excitement.

Uchiha Izuna propped his legs on the desk, rested his hands behind his head, and leaned back in his chair as he looked at Uchiha Shisui.

Uchiha Shisui nodded. "I'd like to hear your thoughts." His expression was serious. Though he was close to Konoha, he wasn't stupid. He could think for himself.

Uchiha Izuna sneered. "Then let me ask you: what does the Konoha Military Police Force do?"

"Investigate, arrest people, and interrogate them," Uchiha Shisui answered at once.

"Do you think that's great? That we're maintaining Konoha's safety and stability?" Uchiha Izuna narrowed his eyes.

Uchiha Shisui nodded. It seemed Uchiha Izuna did have some common sense after all.

A few mocking laughs were the only response.

"Heh. And then what? The Military Police Force is made up entirely of the Uchiha Clan. That cuts us off from the people. When the force settles disputes, people question whether we're impartial. Even the lowest nobody can turn around and accuse us of using excessive force."

"Does that actually happen? No! But other people don't see it that way. They look down on us and suspect us. So why did he give the Uchiha a department with so much power instead of giving it to someone else?"

"Why?" Uchiha Shisui was stunned. He had a feeling Uchiha Izuna's next words would be outrageous—perhaps even enough to turn his whole worldview upside down.

"Because the Uchiha are too proud. Every one of us is still basking in the glory of the Warring States period. We can't be bothered to explain ourselves when people question us, and when we're wronged, we just bottle it up. Everyone thinks that makes us look cool."

"But don't forget how we earned that glory in the Warring States period. It was Uchiha Madara who beat it out of people, one punch at a time! Not so you could sit around swallowing humiliation, your chins held high as you act superior and cut yourselves off from the people!" As he spoke, Uchiha Izuna kicked the desk away.

The desk flew straight toward Uchiha Zongyi. His face went pale. With his old bones, he couldn't react in time. Uchiha Shisui formed Hand Seals.

The Phantom Body Flicker Technique activated. He flashed in front of the Dove Faction's leader, Uchiha Zongyi, and drew a Kunai, cutting the desk in two.

"Izuna! What are you doing? Debate all you want, but why resort to violence?" Uchiha Shisui frowned. He felt that Uchiha Izuna was getting a little unhinged.

Uchiha Izuna sneered. "I can't stand the sight of him. Got a problem with that?"

Uchiha Zongyi's face was deathly pale. He dropped to the ground with a thump, and several members of the Dove Faction rushed over to help him up. Once he'd recovered, he looked at Uchiha Izuna, then at Uchiha Fugaku.

"Clan head, Uchiha Izuna attacked a fellow clan member without provocation. He's violent and ill-tempered. I recommend that he be disqualified from attending this meeting," Uchiha Zongyi said coldly.

Uchiha Fugaku hadn't even had time to think before the Hawk Faction erupted. "Fuck you, Zongyi! So what if he hit you? I'm telling you, I'd like to fucking kill you!"

"You piece of shit! The clan raised you, but all you care about is the village? Everything you eat, wear, and use was provided by the Uchiha Clan!"

"If you've got the guts, gouge out your own eyes and go follow Konoha's leaders! Go on!"

"Was Uchiha Izuna wrong? You think the Uchiha earned their glory through the Dove Faction constantly backing down? We earned it through fighting!"

The Hawk Faction might have had fiery tempers, but they were entirely committed to the clan's interests and stood united. If Uchiha Izuna had been wrong, that would've been one thing. But he was right, so they weren't backing down for shit. Anyone who didn't like it could fight them!

Uchiha Zongyi's face turned pale. He hadn't expected the Hawk Faction to be this crazy. He glanced at the Dove Faction. They all looked displeased and frowned, but not one of them shouted back.

He gritted his teeth. He thought the Hawk Faction were a bunch of lunatics—and the Dove Faction were all a bunch of cowards!

Of course, he didn't think of himself as a coward. People never realized when they were in the wrong.

Uchiha Fugaku's lips curved upward, but he kept a stern expression as he said, "That's enough! Stop arguing! Let's keep listening to Izuna's analysis!"

Uchiha Izuna glanced at Uchiha Fugaku, who was looking back at him with shining eyes.

Uchiha Izuna's lips curved upward. "Shisui, think about it. Was the Second trying to trap the Uchiha Clan in a vicious cycle—a cycle where we were cut off from the people and the villagers, and turned against them?"

"As the saying goes, share the meat and make money together. The Military Police Force is a juicy prize. If we're the only ones who get to enjoy it, won't the others resent us? Won't they get jealous?"

"Have you ever considered that?" Uchiha Izuna looked at Uchiha Shisui. The pressure was getting to him, and sweat began to pour down his face.

He'd originally thought the Second had valued the Uchiha. Now, all he could think was that the Second had been a petty, despicable man!

"I..." Uchiha Shisui opened his mouth. His throat felt dry, and he couldn't get another word out.

But Uchiha Itachi said coldly, "All of this is just your speculation. Everyone knows that the Second was fair and impartial. He gave the position of Hokage to Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen instead of to someone from his own Senju Clan."

"Do you have a hole in your head? How old were the next generation of the Senju Clan, Senju Nawaki and Senju Tsunade, back then? Seven? Eight?"

"Would you make a seven- or eight-year-old child the supreme leader? Besides, how do you know Tobirama Senju was fair and had no selfish motives?"

"What, did you ask him yourself? You've only heard it secondhand. Can't you think for yourself for once, my foolish big brother?" Uchiha Izuna sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead.

"You!" Uchiha Itachi's eyes blazed as he glared at his second brother.

"Itachi!" Uchiha Shisui called out.

Uchiha Itachi immediately quieted down and said nothing more.