The group headed toward the Uchiha Compound. Once they reached the entrance, Uchiha Fugaku finally asked, "Izuna, why exactly did you reject Shikaku Nara's proposal?"
"The Third signed his abdication document, leaving the Hokage Position vacant. You also avenged the Fourth Hokage and the villagers by driving off the mysterious man."
"And you showed everyone your strength, proving that you're the strongest in Konoha. Why didn't you seize such a great opportunity?"
Uchiha Fugaku had voiced what everyone was thinking. They all watched Uchiha Izuna, hoping he would explain.
Uchiha Izuna chuckled. "We'd just published the newspaper, and then the Third stepped down. If the Uchiha Clan took the Hokage Position, wouldn't people say it was a conspiracy—that the Uchiha had deliberately set a trap to seize it?"
Uchiha Fugaku laughed in frustration. "So what if someone says that? Right now, we have every advantage. Whoever says it, we can just kill them."
Uchiha Izuna looked at him and said slowly, "If one person says you killed one person, and ten people say you killed ten, what if a hundred or a thousand people say it? What if half of Konoha says it? Could you kill them all?"
Uchiha Fugaku fell silent and lowered his head. To be honest, he'd been blinded by the victory that seemed within reach. The Uchiha were about to ascend to that supreme position, but Uchiha Izuna had wisely put on the brakes, breaking everyone's hearts.
"If all you want is to vent your anger on the Uchiha Clan's behalf, I can take people right now to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō, and wipe out their clans."
The Uchiha shinobi trembled. They shook their heads. They only wanted the village to stop ostracizing the Uchiha. They'd never considered wiping out anyone's clan.
Uchiha Shisui smiled at Uchiha Izuna. He'd known Uchiha Izuna wasn't bloodthirsty. Uchiha Itachi looked at Uchiha Izuna and couldn't help feeling that his younger brother's perspective was even broader than his own—or even the Hokage's.
"If the Uchiha want Konoha and its villagers, then don't dwell on temporary gains and losses! The day we win the people's hearts will be the day we take the Hokage Position." Uchiha Izuna smiled faintly.
Everyone relaxed. As long as Uchiha Izuna had ambition, they could feel at ease. They followed him because they wanted to change their fate. He was the one they could all rely on!
Seeing that he'd reassured everyone, Uchiha Izuna grinned. "Still, I'm going to help you collect a little interest right now."
Uchiha Itachi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" He looked at Uchiha Izuna in confusion.
Uchiha Izuna turned to everyone. "Tell every Uchiha shinobi and villager to come with me. We're moving the Compound to the heart of Konoha!"
The entire crowd fell silent for three seconds. Then came the cheers.
"Whoa!!!!!!"
"Long live Lord Izuna!"
"Back to the heart of Konoha!!!!"
They shouted as they headed home to gather their belongings. Uchiha Izuna's lips curved upward. His clansmen really were a simple, down-to-earth bunch. The mere thought of moving had them dancing with joy.
But Uchiha Izuna knew the story. He couldn't blame them. They'd been oppressed for so long, and now they could return to the heart of Konoha. Wasn't that something to celebrate?
At the same time, it was a declaration to Konoha: the Uchiha Clan was back!
In less than an hour, every Uchiha had packed their belongings and gathered at the entrance to the Compound. They left behind anything too difficult to move.
Zongyi Uchiha volunteered to guard the Compound and said he'd return to the heart of Konoha once everything was settled.
Uchiha Izuna gave him a thumbs-up for that. The two of them had argued at first over their different ideals, but Zongyi Uchiha seemed to be coming around to Uchiha Izuna's way of thinking.
So Uchiha Izuna had no reason to hold a grudge against Zongyi Uchiha. They were all family, after all. There was no need.
Watching the scene, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes grew moist. Back then, when everyone had moved to the outskirts in disgrace, many people had complained.
It took an hour just to buy groceries, go to school, or take on a mission. It was terribly inconvenient.
Now, under his son's leadership, they were going back to the center.
Uchiha Izuna looked at his clansmen, all burdened with bags and bundles, and called out, "Let's go!"
"Let's go!!!"
"Back home!!!"
Uchiha Izuna led the way, with Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui flanking him to protect him. Uchiha Fugaku followed behind the three of them, organizing the clansmen's move.
Though they were exhausted, they walked with their heads held high. A sense of pride welled up in them.
Their procession through Konoha's streets drew plenty of attention. Almost everyone knew what had happened with the Hokage, and that the Uchiha Clan had been falsely accused. One after another, people came out to greet them and offer them water.
Uchiha Izuna smiled and returned their greetings. He allowed his people to drink the water, but told them not to touch the food. They wouldn't take so much as a needle or thread from the villagers.
The Uchiha shinobi's loyalty to Uchiha Izuna had reached its peak. He had helped them regain their dignity, and now they were going back to the center.
Seeing how disciplined the Uchiha Clan was, the villagers cursed their past selves, thinking how beastly they'd been to treat such good people so harshly.
Before long, news that Uchiha Izuna was leading the Uchiha Clan toward the heart of Konoha spread throughout the village.
Hyuga Hiashi cheerfully brought Neji, Hinata, and his trusted followers to the route they were taking to welcome them.
But when Hyuga Hiashi arrived, he saw Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka waiting for Uchiha Izuna with a whole procession, beating drums and gongs.
Hyuga Hiashi's mouth twitched. Why the hell are you trying to outdo us? You're making us look like idiots!
Neji Hyuga glanced at his uncle, blinked, then took Hinata Hyuga and ran over to Shikaku Nara.
"Uncle Shikaku, could you give us a drum? Uchiha Izuna and I are good friends!" Ever since Neji Hyuga had been freed from the Caged Bird, he'd become much kinder. He was polite and humble to everyone.
He was nothing like the arrogant boy in the original story, who used his talent for fighting to hide the inferiority buried deep inside him!
Shikaku Nara grinned at those words. "What are you saying? The Ino-Shika-Cho clans have always had a good relationship with the Hyuga Clan. Besides, we may be working together in the future."
"So take this drum!" He pointed to a large red drum and a pair of drumsticks.
Neji Hyuga's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Uncle Shikaku!" He picked up the drum and headed back to the Hyuga Clan, with Hinata Hyuga right behind him.
Shikaku Nara looked at Hyuga Hiashi with a smug expression, as if to say, "We may all be colleagues, but when it comes to dealing with people, you just can't keep up."
Hyuga Hiashi snorted and turned away. He had to admit that when it came to this sort of thing, he was no match for Luming Nara.
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