The Deal That Made Me the Scapegoat

Fugaku looked at the surface of the pool.

"The Konoha Police Force appears to be the Uchiha Clan's authority, but in reality, it has pushed us into opposition against every villager."

"After Nine-Tails Night, our clan grounds were moved to the edge of the village."

"Konoha's higher-ups have never truly trusted the Uchiha."

"They need our strength, yet they refuse to let us near the core."

Lie Yang picked up the teacup by the pool.

"So what is the clan saying now?"

"Some praise you."

"Some believe you are the Uchiha's true path forward."

"Others have suggested that the Uchiha should leave Konoha, establish themselves independently, and build a new ninja village."

Lie Yang nearly choked on his tea.

He set down the cup, a strange expression appearing on his face.

"They certainly came to that conclusion quickly."

"You're unhappy about it?"

"I just find it ridiculous."

Fugaku looked at him.

"What is ridiculous about it?"

"What the Uchiha truly want has never been to establish a new ninja village."

Lie Yang's tone was calm.

"What they want is equality."

"They want clan members to no longer be suspected, no longer be treated as tools, and no longer have to stand forever outside the village."

"Leaving Konoha is merely a retreat they found for themselves when they could see no hope."

"But now, they have mistaken that retreat for their goal."

Fugaku fell silent.

He had to admit that Lie Yang had hit the mark.

The radical rhetoric within the clan had gradually strayed from their original demands.

Some had begun to hate the Third Hokage.

Some had begun to deny Konoha's system.

Some even believed that as long as the Uchiha possessed enough power, they could replace the Hokage faction and rebuild an order belonging to the Uchiha.

"The