A Best Actor-Caliber Performance

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The higher-ups' obvious suspicion and suppression.

The visible rejection and isolation from the other ninja clans. Just from the situation at the new compound after this relocation, any intelligent person could see it clearly—especially these eight elders. As Elder Chie's words fell, all the Uchiha Clan's senior figures in power, including Fugaku, looked at Shōji with appraising eyes.

Elder Genran, Shōji's direct-line elder, had a faint trace of worry in his eyes.

He was somewhat concerned that this younger member of his family had spoken on a whim.

Judging by Shōji's usual personality and his performances at the past two or three Clan Meetings, there should have been no need for such concern. But Shōji was still young, only fourteen. Even in this world of extreme precocity, he was still a boy.

Great strength

did not mean mature thinking.

That was one of the key reasons why Uchiha Itachi had been so thoroughly led astray in the Original Work.

How could a brat who had only been ten when he joined the Anbu possibly have mature ideas? He would believe whatever others told him. Elder Genran now held similar concerns about Shōji. But this was a solemn Clan Meeting, and as an elder of the clan, he had to observe its rules.

"Yes, Elder Chie. I am not making empty boasts. I am genuinely considering this from the clan's standpoint. I also ask everyone to calm down and listen carefully to what I have to say."

He maintained a composed and steady demeanor at all times.

His bearing was neither arrogant nor servile.

Leaving aside the ordinary clansmen seated below,

the eight elders at the head of the room each showed a faint hint of appreciation in their eyes.

"First, I wish to state my position. Restoring the clan's prestige and standing in the village to what it was when the village was founded is our fundamental goal. But to achieve that, we must earn the trust of others. There has never been a free lunch in this world. If we want something, we must give something in return!"

"This is an immutable truth!"

"I have already said it: Konoha was founded by the Uchiha, but the Uchiha also belong to Konoha. We cannot confuse this point. When we devote ourselves to the village and fight for the village, we are not doing it for others—we are doing it for ourselves! Just as the clan is a collective to each of us as individuals, is the village not likewise the collective corresponding to the Uchiha Clan as a single 'individual'?"

"I know that all of you are angry over the rejection, isolation, and suspicion shown by certain people in the village. But precisely because of that, should we not step forward all the more to prove that our clan will always be Konoha's Uchiha?"

"Human emotions have always been a two-way street. Before demanding that others do something, we must first look at what we ourselves have done!"

"If we want a higher status, more support, and even the admiration of others, should we not prove it through concrete actions? Is that not why every previous Hokage was able to become Hokage—because they proved themselves through their actions?! Konoha was founded by our ancestors with their own hands. Must we allow others to slander us as 'the filth within the village' from now on?!"

"We are the proud Uchiha Clan. Any stain upon us must be cleansed by our own hands. Not to prove anything to others, but simply because we are one of the two great ninja clans that founded Konoha, and the strongest Uchiha Clan in the world today. We have a duty to protect Konoha, and an even greater duty to defend the supreme dignity of the Uchiha Clan!"

An utterly resolute expression appeared on Shōji's face. Once his forceful words rang through the entire chamber, apart from a few hot-tempered, simple-minded people who still watched him with cold smiles of complete disapproval, the remaining clansmen—including Fugaku, Elder Genran, Elder Chie, and the other Uchiha leaders seated at the head of the room—each wore thoughtful expressions.

Naturally, they had not been easily swayed by Shōji.

In most cases, many things were several times easier to say than to do.

But they had to admit it.

A great deal of what Shōji had said was indeed worth considering.

In particular, the idea that 'the Uchiha belong to Konoha, and Konoha is the ninja village built by the Uchiha with their own hands' easily prompted deep reflection in some people, even resonance.

For instance, Shisui, who was seated beside Shōji at that moment.

So this is how you see the clan and the village, Shōji? You really are my...

A different kind of light flickered in his eyes as he looked at Shōji.

At the head of the room, Fugaku also gazed at Shōji with profound eyes, and the expression on his face shifted ever so slightly.

Although at that morning's meeting,

the Third Hokage had not explicitly stated which ninja clans had to provide manpower, convention dictated that major clans such as the Uchiha, Hyūga, Aburame, Nara, and Inuzuka Clan would all dispatch the appropriate personnel. During the Third Shinobi World War, the Uchiha had in fact sent more than two hundred clansmen into battle. Most of them had been concentrated on the battlefield against the Kiri Ninja, and Shisui had made his name in that war.

If nothing had been stated outright, then convention would be followed.

It was only because the current circumstances were unusual that Fugaku had hesitated and struggled.

But Shōji's words now seemed to open a door for Fugaku. The higher-ups were suspicious, and the clan carried a stain—then could they not wash it away through action?

They could even use this opportunity to probe the higher-ups in return, especially to see what attitude Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, currently held toward the Uchiha Clan!

There was another, even more important point.

If that mysterious Uchiha clansman truly was hiding within their clan,

then if the other party acted again during an operation like this, they would most likely expose some traces of themselves.

During the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack half a year ago,

Fugaku had deeply regretted not going to support the Fourth. Not only had he failed to gather even the slightest clue about that mysterious Uchiha clansman, but it had also directly resulted in the Fourth's death. Fugaku knew very well just how powerful the Mangekyō Sharingan's ability to restrain a Tailed Beast was.

Even though his own strength was worlds apart from that of their ancestor, Uchiha Madara,

if he had provided support, that mysterious Uchiha clansman would surely have revealed a flaw, and the Fourth might not have had to die!

This was what Fugaku had regretted most over the past half year.

Now,

they could take the initiative and seize an opportunity for a breakthrough.

Fugaku did not intend to let it slip away.

It was very possible that they would be risking the lives of more than a hundred clansmen.

But the odds of that risk could be controlled, and Fugaku did not believe the village could be so sinister.

It is still worth trying!