Clan Members Bullied? I'll Go to Their Doorstep and Pay It Back Tenfold!

The confrontation between Uchiha Xuan and Konoha's higher-ups in the meeting room had been intense, though the specifics were kept under wraps.

But anyone with eyes could see that the two sides had completely fallen out.

Senju Tobirama's hatred for the Uchiha, Shimura Danzō's killing intent toward Uchiha Xuan, and Xuan's unruly attitude had all become the talk of Konoha's upper circles.

When a wall was about to fall, everyone pushed it. When a drum was broken, ten thousand people beat it.

In Konoha, the Uchiha clan was that crumbling wall.

Ever since Xuan had "backed down" in the meeting room and received Tobirama's "final ultimatum," some clans and ninja who had long been dissatisfied with the Uchiha had begun acting without restraint.

They believed that even the Uchiha clan's most outstanding genius had been thoroughly put in his place by the Hokage.

What was there left to fear from the Uchiha?

Thus, all kinds of exclusion, bullying, and provocation began occurring frequently around the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

When they walked down the street, people pointed at them with contemptuous looks.

When they went shopping, merchants deliberately raised their prices.

Even Uchiha children at the Ninja Academy were isolated by children from other clans, and sometimes even beaten.

These things were like poisoned thorns, piercing deep into every Uchiha clansman's heart.

They were angry. They were unwilling. But they dared not speak out.

Because they knew that with the Second Hokage's tacit approval, even if they reported it to the Police Force or filed a complaint at the Hokage Building, it would only end up being labeled an "ordinary dispute between villagers" and quietly dismissed.

Until this day.

A fourteen-year-old boy named Uchiha Tetsuya was carried back to the clan grounds by his companions, covered in blood.

His arm had been broken, his face was black and blue, and blood hung from the corner of his mouth. Even his One-Tomoe Sharingan, which he had only awakened not long ago, had dimmed from the immense mental blow.

"What happened?!"

The Police Force members on patrol flew into a rage at the sight.

"It... it was people from the Sarutobi clan!"

The companion supporting him shouted through tears.

"Tetsuya was just arguing with a Sarutobi genin in a ninja tool shop... over the price of a kunai..."

"That bastard said our Uchiha were 'descendants of traitors' and a 'cursed clan,' then... then he attacked Tetsuya!"

"We tried to help, but there were too many of them! They even said... said that if we Uchiha dared fight back, every one of us would end up like Tetsuya!"

This news was like a spark thrown into a vat of oil, instantly igniting the entire Uchiha Clan Grounds!

The crowd erupted in outrage!

"This is going too far! The Sarutobi clan has gone too far!"

"This isn't an ordinary argument anymore! They're deliberately provoking us! They're slapping every Uchiha in the face!"

"Where is the clan head?! Where is Lord Setsuna?! We have to demand an explanation!"

Countless clansmen gathered spontaneously outside Clan Head Uchiha Setsuna's home, all of them filled with righteous fury and shouting for revenge.

But Uchiha Setsuna did not show himself for a long time.

It was not that he did not want to intervene. He did not dare to.

The Sarutobi clan was the home clan of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Clashing with the Sarutobi clan at a time like this was no different from openly opposing the Hokage!

Then Senju Tobirama would have the perfect excuse to crack down on the Uchiha clan even more harshly!

Everyone understood that.

But understanding did not mean they could accept it!

Were they supposed to watch their own clansman get his arm broken and still swallow their anger?!

Just as the clansmen's rage and humiliation were about to reach their limit.

A calm voice came from behind the crowd.

"Why are you all blocking the way here? Holding a meeting?"

The crowd automatically parted to make way.

Uchiha Xuan approached slowly in a fitted black outfit, his hands tucked into his pockets.

He glanced at the boy with the broken arm, then at the clansmen around him, their faces filled with anger and helplessness, and frowned slightly.

"What? Someone came knocking and beat you up, and instead of getting even, you're holding a struggle session in your own home?"

There was undisguised mockery in his tone.

"Lord Xuan!"

A young ninja from the radical faction said with reddened eyes, "It's not that we don't want to go! It's... it's the clan head..."

"Clan Head Setsuna has his considerations."

Xuan cut him off, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

"He is thinking about the clan's future, about the so-called 'bigger picture.' He fears that if we make a move, we'll fall into the Hokage's trap."

"That way of thinking isn't wrong."

Xuan paused, then his tone abruptly shifted, his voice turning icy and piercing.

"But!"

"With me, Uchiha Xuan, there is no such bullshit as the bigger picture!"

"I only know one rule!"

"And that is—"

"Whoever dares touch even a single hair on an Uchiha's head will pay with a life!"

Those words were like thunder, striking fiercely into the heart of every Uchiha clansman present!

They stared blankly at Xuan, at that young face filled with boundless dominance, feeling the blood throughout their bodies ignite completely in that instant!

When everyone had believed that even Xuan, their strongest genius, had chosen "forbearance" and "retreat" before the Hokage.

He used the most arrogant and domineering way possible to tell them all—

He, Uchiha Xuan, had never backed down!

"Lord Xuan! We'll go with you!"

"That's right! Let's fight them!"

"Our Uchiha clan would rather die standing than live on our knees!"

Every clansman had been roused. They grabbed their weapons, ready to charge out with Xuan.

"Stay where you are."

But Xuan raised a hand to stop them.

"There's no need for such a grand display to deal with a bunch of trash."

He turned around and walked alone toward the gates of the clan grounds.

Under the lingering glow of the setting sun, his back looked proud and resolute.

"You stay here and wait."

"Wait for me to bring back the dignity that belongs to us Uchiha... intact!"

Outside the gates of the Sarutobi clan grounds.

Several Sarutobi clansmen assigned to guard duty leaned against the entrance, chatting and laughing.

"Did you hear? That kid Awu beat up an Uchiha brat today and even broke his arm!"

"Haha, well done! Those bastards with their noses in the air needed to be taught a lesson!"

"Exactly! Who in the village doesn't know that the Hokage has completely crushed the Uchiha? And they still dare challenge the Sarutobi clan? They're courting death!"

Just as they were smugly discussing it.

Bang—!

A deafening explosion rang out!

The enormous gate of the Sarutobi clan, made from ancient timber and symbolizing the clan's honor, was kicked from the outside with pure brute force, shattering into pieces!

Amid the flying splinters.

A black figure, bathed in the final blood-red rays of the sunset, slowly stepped into the Sarutobi clan grounds.

He raised his head, revealing eyes like those of a god or demon, burning with golden flames.

"Extend the hand that injured my clansman."

His voice was cold and devoid of emotion, yet it clearly reached the ears of every Sarutobi clansman who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

"Or I'll cut off every hand you have."

"Y-you're Uchiha Xuan?!" The leading Sarutobi clansman recognized him and cried out in horror.

"Y-you... what are you trying to do?! This is the Sarutobi clan grounds!" another guard roared, putting on a brave front.

Xuan did not answer. He merely slowly raised his right hand.

"Looks like you don't intend to choose for yourselves."

His voice was like the judgment of a death god from the depths of hell.

"Then... I'll choose for you."