"You've come."
Elder Setsuna's voice was a little hoarse as he pointed to the seat next to him.
"Sit down. Coming back at this time is quite risky."
"After receiving your message, I felt it necessary to come back."
Shaoyu sat down and, without any further pleasantries, went straight to the point.
" Fugaku... what exactly happened? The atmosphere at the funeral wasn't good."
Elder Setsuna's expression darkened further, and he sighed.
" Tiandao's departure was sudden. Although his old injuries were a factor, the timing... was terrible. Fugaku, that kid, had enough strength and prestige, but his temperament... sigh."
He shook his head.
"He's so much like his father when he was young, always thinking about balance, about stability, and about securing the greatest possible benefit for the clan within the framework of Konoha."
"But he didn't understand that things are different now. The suspicion and suppression of us Uchiha by the higher-ups can no longer be resolved with gentle methods."
"These past few days, he has been receiving the Hokage's envoy, dealing with condolences from various clans, and handling clan affairs. He appears calm and composed, but in every aspect, he reveals a rigid adherence to rules and the overall situation."
"He chose to suppress and appease the voices of some radical factions within the clan who wanted to use this opportunity to pressure the higher-ups and fight for more rights."
Shaoyu listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee.
The situation seemed a little worse than he had anticipated.
Given the current escalating conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha, this is tantamount to slow suicide.
"What about the attitudes of the other elders and important figures in the clan?" Shaoyu asked.
"There are significant differences."
Elder Setsuna said.
"Some old guys like me, and quite a few mid-level Jonin, are dissatisfied with Fugaku's approach, believing it's tying their own hands."
"But some support Fugaku, believing that it's not advisable to escalate the conflict now, and that we should first stabilize the situation and build up our strength. Many others are simply observing; morale is wavering."
"It seems we need to have a serious talk with this new clan leader." A cold glint flashed in Shaoyu's eyes.
Uchiha Setsuna looked at him.
"You plan to meet him directly? There are many spies both inside and outside the clan territory, Fugaku's circle is probably not clean either."
"It's alright."
Shaoyu's tone was flat.
"Since he's here, we should at least meet him. Invite him over in your name to discuss important clan matters; he shouldn't refuse. As for spies... I have a way with them."
Elder Chana pondered for a moment, then nodded.
He knew that Shaoyu must be confident to say that.
Moreover, having Shaoyu meet Fugaku in person might allow him to better assess the new clan leader's background and perhaps even... exert some necessary influence.
"Okay, I'll send someone to fetch him right away."
Elder Setsuna stood up, walked to the door, and whispered a few instructions to the personal guards standing outside.
The guards obeyed and left.
The two fell silent, and the study was quiet for a moment, broken only by the occasional soft popping of the lamp wick.
A heavy, impending storm hung in the air.
Shortly after, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the voice of a guard.
" Elder Setsuna, Clan Chief Fugaku has arrived."
"Please let him in."
Elder Setsuna Na said in a deep voice, while giving Shaoyu a wink.
The door was pushed open, Uchiha Fugaku walked in.
He was dressed in solemn black mourning clothes, his face was calm, and his brows showed the sorrow of losing his father and the heavy pressure of just taking over as clan leader, but he still tried his best to maintain the composure of a clan leader.
" Elder Setsuna."
Fugaku bowed slightly, his voice steady.
"You were looking for me?"
Just as he was about to ask Elder Setsuna what it was about, a slightly amused voice came from the darkest corner of the study behind him.
"Oh, it's the new Uchiha Clan Head."
The sound wasn't loud, yet it exploded in Fugaku's ears like a thunderclap! That sound... he would never forget it!
Although several years have passed, the name of the clan leader who led eleven clan members to defect from Konoha to Kumogakure and was listed as an S-rank rogue ninja remains vivid in memory.
Uchiha Shaoyu!
He was a genius of the Uchiha Clan since childhood, and was originally a strong contender to become the clan leader.
Fugaku turned around abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply as he stared intently at the source of the sound.
The shadow in that corner seemed to come alive, and a tall figure slowly emerged.
With black hair and a handsome face, yet carrying a chilling indifference, it was Uchiha Shaoyu.
He was even dressed in casual dark clothing that allowed him to move around easily, which seemed out of place with the solemn atmosphere of mourning around him. He just stood there casually, as if he were just a guest, rather than an S-rank rogue ninja who had infiltrated Konoha.
" Uchiha Shaoyu?! What are you doing here?!"
Fugaku's voice rose instantly, filled with shock, anger, and disbelief. He instinctively took a half step back, adopted a defensive stance, and shouted sternly.
"You traitorous Uchiha! How dare you infiltrate Konoha and the clan's territory?! Guards—"
Before he could even finish uttering the last word, "person," his voice was abruptly cut off, as if choked by an invisible hand.
Because he met Shaoyu's eyes.
Those once deep black eyes turned crimson in an instant.
It's not an ordinary Three Tomoe Sharingan, but a more complex, more eerie pattern, filled with ominousness and immense power.
Mangekyō Sharingan!
The Uchiha Setsuna Fugaku's gaze met those Mangekyō Sharingan, he felt as if his spirit had been plunged into an endless vortex.
Before his own Three-Tomoe Sharingan could even react effectively, he felt an irresistible and terrifying eye power brutally invading his consciousness.
Time, space, perception...
Everything was distorted and stripped away in an instant.
Fugaku felt like an insect frozen in amber, his mind blank, his body stiff, unable to move even a finger.
His prized Three Tomoe Sharingan eye power was as fragile as thin ice in front of these Mangekyō Sharingan.
Illusion? No, it's more than just illusion!
This is an absolute suppression, a ruthless domination from a higher level of eye power!
With just a glance, the outcome was decided.
Before Fugaku could even see how the opponent activated the illusion, he had already completely lost control of his body and consciousness.
He could only feel like a puppet, standing frozen in place, his eyes vacant, his mouth slightly open, maintaining the ridiculous posture of someone who had only half-said a reprimand.
A deathly silence fell over the study.
Elder Setsuna watched this scene with a deep sense of shock in his eyes.
He knew Shaoyu was strong, but he didn't expect him to be this strong.
With just a glance, he completely subdued the Uchiha Clan Head, who possessed Three Tomoe Sharingan and whose strength reached the level of an elite Jonin. Is this the true power of the Mangekyō Sharingan?
Fugaku is quite strong, at least stronger than this old man who's about to die.
The Uchiha Clan's revival is promising!