Fugaku: Was I Tricked by Him?

"They are still mocking our Uchiha Clan!"

"They say it's because the Uchiha are incompetent and can't defeat the Raikage, which is why we're cowering in our caves, afraid to come out."

"They claim that if it were the Hyuga Clan, they would have defeated the Raikage in under 24 hours."

Uchiha Kurohane's words caused an uproar.

The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan are collectively known as the two most powerful ninja clans in Konoha.

The Uchiha have always felt deeply dissatisfied with this.

What abilities do the Hyuga even have?

What achievements have they made for Konoha?

On what grounds are they ranked alongside the Uchiha?

Though the Uchiha are arrogant, they are not brainless.

If they were ranked alongside the Senju Clan, they would accept it, but to be ranked alongside a clan that only uses their Byakugan for reconnaissance on the battlefield—they feel a profound sense of humiliation.

The Uchiha clansmen were absolutely furious.

"The Hyuga can't even beat the Mist Ninja; what kind of ability do they have?"

"Ask them if they dare to go fight the Raikage!"

"The Hyuga defeating the Raikage in 24 hours? What a joke. Those three clowns have truly lost all shame just to belittle the Uchiha!"

Seeing the gnashing teeth of the crowd, Uchiha Kurohane felt the atmosphere was sufficiently stoked. With a look of grief and indignation, he said, "I was furious at the time and got into an argument with them. They threatened to beat me up. Even though there were four of them, and three of them were Genin older than me, I didn't back down. I put everything on the line and fought them!"

Many clansmen clapped and cheered excitedly.

"You did the right thing! Our Uchiha Clan has won and lost over the years, but we have never been cowards. Just fight them!"

"Those three Genin are idiots; you should have killed them!"

Some clansmen were even moved to tears.

"You faced all four of them alone without retreating—you are truly brave! You are the real hero!"

"I looked down on you in the past and thought you were the Disgrace of the Uchiha. I was wrong. I apologize to you..."

[Ji~ The Uchiha clansmen feel regret and wish to apologize to you. Host has achieved "The Uchiha Clan's Apology" and obtained the entry "Uchiha Clan Fire Style A."]

(Uchiha Clan Fire Style A: The host automatically learns and masters the Uchiha Clan's Fire Style ninjutsu. This includes the Great Fireball Technique, Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Dragon Fire Technique, Great Dragon Fire Technique, and more.)

Uchiha Kurohane only wanted to find an excuse to avoid punishment from the clan, so he was secretly surprised and delighted to have triggered an achievement.

As an orphan, he had no ninjutsu scrolls left to him by his family, so he knew no elemental ninjutsu.

He didn't even know the Uchiha's signature Great Fireball Technique.

Now, not only had he learned it instantly, but he had also skipped the time required for training and reached a level of mastery. This was a massive win.

After hearing Uchiha Kurohane's explanation, Uchiha Setsuna secretly agreed with him.

He thought that if he had encountered such a situation, he wouldn't have held back either; he would have done even worse than Kurohane and killed those three Genin outright.

This kid is a bit like me.

However, he hadn't killed them, only stabbed their kidneys. Compared to me, there is still a significant gap.

Young man, you still have a long way to go.

Uchiha Setsuna felt this wasn't entirely Kurohane's fault. He considered himself the most outstanding member of the Uchiha Clan, second only to Madara.

He was the second-best Uchiha!

How could a dead-last kid compare to him?

Still, Kurohane was already quite talented; he could compare to Fugaku.

While admiring Kurohane, Uchiha Setsuna quickly realized a problem: the title "Disgrace of the Uchiha" for Kurohane had been his own idea.

Now, hearing the clansmen express regret and offer apologies, he felt as though he had been slapped in the face.

He felt incredibly awkward and didn't know what to say.

Just then, Uchiha Fugaku spoke up.

"Regardless of the reason, because of his mistake, we are now forced to send three people to the Land of Rain battlefield. He must be punished for this!"

Seeing the crowd beginning to worship Kurohane instead, Uchiha Fugaku gritted his teeth in anger. He believed the clansmen had been deceived by Kurohane's flowery words and immediately reminded them of the situation.

They had to send three people to the Land of Rain battlefield—that was the point!

Uchiha Kurohane immediately retorted.

"I defeated four Genin who were mocking the Uchiha Clan, proving our strength. From now on, whenever they hear the name of the Uchiha Clan, they will be scared enough to wet their pants. Isn't that enough? Why should I be punished?"

The clansmen all nodded in agreement.

"That's right! Kurohane-kun is a hero who brought glory to the Uchiha; he shouldn't be punished!"

Uchiha Fugaku saw that all the clansmen were siding with Uchiha Kurohane, his face flushing red with anger as he retorted agitatedly.

"That is why I say, since he is the one who caused us to be sent to the Land of Rain battlefield, he must be punished!"

Uchiha Kurohane let out a cold sneer and asked loudly in return.

"Fugaku, are you perhaps the coward those three genin were talking about? Are you too afraid to go to the battlefield in the Land of Rain?"

As soon as Uchiha Kurohane's words fell, all the clansmen present turned their gazes toward Uchiha Fugaku, waiting for his answer.

Feeling the weight of everyone's eyes, Uchiha Fugaku swallowed nervously.

He was a genius of the Uchiha clan, regarded as the future hope of the Uchiha; how could he ever admit to being afraid?

He, Fugaku, was capable of anything!

"What a joke! Why would I be afraid? Of course I dare to go!"

Uchiha Kurohane pursed his lips into a smile and continued to press him.

"Are you saying that you are going to the Land of Rain to prove the strength of the Uchiha clan?"

Of course not; who would want to go to such a dangerous place to fight?

I want to stay by Mikoto's side and train with her...

Uchiha Fugaku subconsciously wanted to deny it, but as he opened his mouth, he noticed Mikoto's gaze.

Mikoto was watching him!

Uchiha Fugaku hesitated.

No!

If I say I dare to go but don't actually go, I will be seen as a hypocrite who says one thing and does another.

Mikoto will look down on me!

Mikoto is watching me right now; I cannot back down!

"Of course I will go! It's just the Land of Rain, what's so special about it?"

"As for that so-called God of Shinobi, Hanzo, he is just a self-proclaimed braggart. If he really had any strength, he would have driven away the invading Sand Shinobi and Rock Shinobi long ago. I am not afraid of him at all!"

Uchiha Kurohane immediately began to applaud.

"Brother Fugaku's words are truly magnificent! You are the real hero; I am completely inspired by you!"

"Go for it! Please, you must vindicate our Uchiha clan in the Land of Rain!"

The crowd of clansmen immediately followed suit, cheering and applauding.

"Well said, Fugaku! Let those Konoha shinobi witness the power of our Uchiha clan!"

"This is the capacity of our Uchiha genius; it is truly magnificent!"

Hearing the flattery of the crowd, Uchiha Fugaku felt a surge of intense vanity. His blood began to boil, and he couldn't help but shout in response.

"Leave it to me! I won't just let Konoha see it; I will make the entire shinobi world witness it!"

Uchiha Fugaku felt immensely proud of himself, but soon, he felt like something was wrong.

Wait, did I just get played by that dead last?

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Kurohane's radiant smile and only then realized he had been set up, a wave of intense fury rising in his heart.

Damn it!

It was supposed to be that guy who had to take responsibility and go to the Land of Rain to fight.

How did it end up being me?

He is too treacherous!