"Because I didn't want to hide it from you, Clan Head. Besides, the Third intended to reveal this to certain people in the clan, including you—especially to let that person know, to see whether our clan or that fellow would make any other moves, if some people in our clan truly had a problem."
Without backing down or yielding, Shōji met Uchiha Fugaku's gaze head-on.
A strange gleam flickered in Shōji's eyes as he spoke in a clear, ringing voice.
Fugaku's expression changed almost at the same instant. A cold glint emerged from the depths of his black-and-white eyes as he stared fixedly at Shōji, his face seeming to darken. "Shōji, do you know what you're saying? A problem within the clan? What problem do you think there could be?"
"You should know better than I do, Clan Head. Although it has been a year since it happened, have you truly never investigated the clan's problems at all? Isn't that precisely why the Uchiha Clan has fallen to this point? Or do you still think this matter is unimportant?"
Shōji gave a derisive smile.
"Hmph! You have become more direct than before, Shōji. And this is the Third's intention? Are you planning to stand entirely on the village's side?"
"On the village's side? So this is how shallow the Clan Head's vision and tolerance are? I said it long ago: individuals, clans, and the village are bound together by inseverable ties. Konoha was indeed founded by the Uchiha Clan, but the Uchiha are also Konoha's Uchiha. You cannot deny that, can you, Clan Head? I will not allow certain people to exploit the clan and lead it into an irredeemable situation, but I likewise do not wish to see the clan and the village become completely irreconcilable!"
"If you truly