Uchiha in Action

Fugaku closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his gaze had turned much colder.

"What do you want to do?"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone in the shrine fell silent.

The clan head was asking Uchiha You what he wanted to do.

That alone signaled a change in attitude.

Uchiha You did not answer immediately. Instead, he deactivated his Mangekyo Sharingan, and his eyes returned to the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"First."

"Starting tonight, the Uchiha Clan Grounds will enter a state of covert alert."

"No clan member is to act alone."

"The Police Force will be divided into overt and covert units."

"The overt unit will continue its normal patrols, giving the Hokage Building no excuse."

"The covert unit will handle counter-surveillance and record the movements of all ANBU and Root personnel."

"Second."

"The women, children, and elderly within the clan will begin relocating in batches to secret shelters under the pretext of training, visiting relatives, or transferring task families."

"We cannot move them all at once, or it will alert the higher-ups."

"Third."

"All clan members with Three-Tomoe Sharingan or above will secretly form combat squads."

"Every squad must have an escape route."

"No one is to launch an attack without authorization."

"Fourth."

Uchiha You's gaze swept across the crowd.

"From this day onward, the Uchiha Clan will not initiate a coup."

"But if Konoha's higher-ups dare to strike first—"

"Then we will make sure none of them return."

Inside the shrine, the clan members' breathing grew heavy.

This was not a plan made in a fit of rage.

On the contrary, Uchiha You was extraordinarily calm.

They would not initiate a coup, avoiding Konoha branding them rebels.

They would remain covertly vigilant and protect their clansmen.

They would relocate the vulnerable in batches to reduce casualties.

They would form combat squads and prepare to retaliate.

It was infinitely steadier than the radicals' previous cries of "Storm the Hokage Building!"

Uchiha Chuan said excitedly:

"I support it!"

"I support it too!"

"This is what we should be doing!"

"We can't keep waiting to die!"

"Clan Head, give the order!"

One of the conservative elders was still hesitant.

"But... if the Hokage Building discovers that we are relocating the women and children, they will definitely grow suspicious."

Uchiha You looked at him.

"That is why we have to be slow."

"And reasonable."

"Hasn't Konoha always considered the Uchiha Clan dangerous?"

"Then let the clan members spread out their residences, visit relatives, and carry out internal clan training under the pretext of reducing conflicts."

"There are plenty of reasons."

The elder frowned.

"ANBU are not fools."

Uchiha You said, "Of course ANBU are not fools."

"But neither are they gods."

"Besides, the Police Force is responsible for maintaining security within the village."

"We know the streets, patrol routes, and changes in pedestrian traffic."

"Within Konoha, when it comes to familiarity with the terrain, ANBU may not be better than the Police Force."

"We did not do this before because we still regarded them as companions."

"But things are different now."

Those words shook the clan members once more.

That was right.

It was not as though they lacked the ability to conduct counter-surveillance.

They simply had never been willing to truly tear their relationship with the village apart.

But now, Root had already extended its blade.

If they still treated the other side as companions, then they were fools.

Fugaku remained silent for a long time.

At last, he slowly spoke.

"Starting tonight, execute You's plan."

Everyone in the shrine was instantly energized.

The clan head had agreed!

Uchiha You's plan had passed!

But the next moment, Fugaku added:

"However, all actions must be reported to me."

"Uchiha You, you will be responsible for drafting the specific arrangements."

"Shisui will assist you."

"Itachi will participate as well."

At the mention of Itachi's name, many clan members wore subtle expressions.

After Itachi joined ANBU, he had never been especially trusted within the clan.

The radicals, in particular, believed that he favored the village.

Fugaku clearly understood this as well. Having Itachi participate was both an opportunity for him to return to the clan's side and a way to keep watch over Uchiha You.

Uchiha You did not refuse.

Perfect.

He had intended to pull Shisui and Itachi back anyway.

Keeping them close would make it easier to strike.

Shisui was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I will assist."

Itachi looked toward Uchiha You.

Their gazes met in midair.

After a moment, Itachi also said softly:

"I understand."

Uchiha You smiled.

"Very good."

He looked at every clan member present.

"Everyone."

"After tonight, the Uchiha Clan will still be Konoha's Uchiha Clan."

"The Police Force will still be Konoha's Police Force."

"We will not take the initiative to start a war."

"But remember this."

"From today onward, whoever dares to point a blade at the Uchiha Clan—"

His voice paused slightly.

"We will chop off his hand."

After a brief silence in the shrine, suppressed yet blazing growls erupted.

"Chop off his hand!"

"Chop off his hand!"

"Chop off his hand!"

Pairs of Sharingan glowed in the darkness.

That night, the Uchiha Clan's momentum changed.

In the past, they had been furious, but disorganized.

Unwilling, but lost.

They wanted to resist, but did not know how.

But now, Uchiha You had given them a direction.

Prepare in secret and wait for the higher-ups to bare their fangs first.

Then bite back.

Fugaku watched this scene with mixed feelings.

He was both gratified that the clan's spirit had gathered once more and faintly uneasy.

Because he realized that the way the clan members looked at Uchiha You was no longer merely the way they looked at a young genius.

It was the gaze they gave a leader.

Especially after Uchiha You revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan, this trend could no longer be suppressed.

The Uchiha Clan worshiped strength.

And Uchiha You possessed not only strength, but courage, plans, and ruthlessness.

A person like that was destined to gather hearts around him quickly.

Fugaku sighed inwardly.

Perhaps... the Uchiha Clan truly needs a blade like this.

But would this blade be so sharp that even he, the clan head, could no longer wield it?

After the clan meeting ended.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

The Uchiha Clan Grounds remained quiet, but this quiet was no longer the same as before.

Before, it had been oppressive.

Now, it was restrained momentum.

Members of the Police Force swiftly began moving.

The hidden sentries were redeployed.

The surveillance points around the clan grounds were quietly marked in reverse.

Lists for relocating the women, children, and elderly began to be drafted.

Three-Tomoe combat squads were secretly organized.

Everything advanced silently beneath the cover of night.

Uchiha You walked out of Nanga Shrine, and the system's voice sounded in his mind at just the right moment.

[The host revealed the Mangekyo Sharingan at the Uchiha Clan meeting, establishing a core position within the clan.]

[The Uchiha Clan faction's cohesion has increased.]

[Fugaku Uchiha's attitude: cautious support.]

[Shisui Uchiha's attitude: wavering assistance.]

[Itachi Uchiha's attitude: beginning to grow wary and reassess.]

[Behind-the-Scenes Points obtained: 8000.]

[Current Behind-the-Scenes Points: 38000.]

[First-stage main quest: Prevent the Uchiha Massacre Night. Completion progress increased.]

The corners of Uchiha You's mouth rose slightly.

Not bad.

This step at the clan meeting had gone more smoothly than he expected.

The Mangekyo Sharingan's effect was direct.

Within the Uchiha Clan, nothing was more convincing than those eyes.

Reasoning?

Better to open your eyes.

Evidence?

A Mangekyo Sharingan was better than evidence.

After tonight, his authority within the clan had truly been established.

Next, only three key points remained.

Shisui.

Itachi.

Danzo.

As long as Shisui did not die and Itachi was not turned into the butcher's blade of the Uchiha Massacre Night,

Uchiha Massacre Night would become a complete nightmare for Konoha's higher-ups.

At that moment, footsteps sounded behind him.

Uchiha You did not turn around.

"Itachi."

The footsteps stopped.

Itachi Uchiha stood behind him, his expression calm.

"You knew it was me?"

Uchiha You said flatly,

"Your footsteps are too light."

"The only people in the whole clan who walk around like thieves are you and Shisui."

Itachi: "..."

If anyone else had said that, he probably would not have reacted.

But coming from Uchiha You, it somehow felt like mockery.

After a brief silence, Itachi said,

"A lot of what you said tonight will make the clan hate the village even more."

Uchiha You turned around and looked at Itachi.

"Then how do you think I should have said it?"

Itachi said,

"At the very least, you should not make the clan prepare for war."

Uchiha You smiled.

"Itachi, have you gotten something wrong?"

Itachi frowned.

Uchiha You took a step forward, his gaze settling on Itachi.

"Preparing for war does not mean starting one."

"But if you do not prepare for war, then when it comes, all you can do is wait to die."

Itachi said in a low voice,

"If everyone thinks that way, war will become unavoidable."

Uchiha You looked at him and suddenly asked,

"Then if someone is already preparing to kill your whole family, would you still try to move him with love?"

Itachi's expression changed slightly.

"You."

Uchiha You cut him off.

"Don't rush to argue."

"I'll ask you a very simple question."

"If one day, the village orders you to choose between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha."

"Even orders you to personally kill your clansmen."

"What would you do?"

Itachi's pupils contracted slightly.

The question was both too sharp and too vicious.

Yet for some reason, he could not answer immediately.

If this had been before, he would have said that day would never come.

But tonight, he had seen Sasuke's name clearly on that Root observation list.

That alone made Itachi unable to remain as certain as he had been before.

Seeing his silence, Uchiha You let out a soft laugh.

"See?"

"You're just like Shisui."

"Neither of you can answer."

Itachi's gaze darkened slightly.

"Because you set up an extreme scenario."

Uchiha You said flatly,

"No."

"This is what is about to happen."

Itachi's heart jolted.

"Why are you so certain?"

Uchiha You looked at him and said each word distinctly,

"Because someone like Danzo will definitely do it."

"He will tell you that an Uchiha coup will trigger a war across the shinobi world."

"He will tell you that sacrificing one clan can protect the village."

"He will tell you that as long as you obey, Sasuke can live."

At last, Itachi's expression completely changed.

Uchiha You had brought up Sasuke again.

And what he said sounded exactly like something Danzo would say.

Itachi asked in a low voice,

"What exactly do you know?"

Uchiha You did not answer right away.

He merely looked past Itachi, toward a certain place in the distant clan compound.

That was where Sasuke Uchiha usually trained.

"Itachi."

"You're very smart."

"But smart people are the most likely to make one mistake."

"They always think they can bear everything."

"They always think that as long as they sacrifice themselves, they can protect the people most important to them."

"But have you ever considered what happens if the other side never intended to keep its word from the start?"

Itachi's fingers tightened slightly.

Uchiha You continued,

"Danzo can send Root to kill me."

"So he can send Root to control Sasuke."

"If he can take Shisui's eye,"

"then he can force you to turn your blade on the clan."

"You think you're making a choice."

"But in reality, they are only forcing you step by step onto this single path."

Itachi remained silent.

His heart was far from calm.

Before tonight, he had still believed there was room for reconciliation between the Uchiha Clan and the village.

But now, Root's assassination attempt, the list monitoring Sasuke, and Uchiha You's words were all gradually shaking his judgment.

Uchiha You patted Itachi on the shoulder.

"For now, I won't force you to choose a side."

"Stay in the ANBU."

"Keep watching."

"Use your eyes and see clearly."

"Is it really the Uchiha Clan that wants to destroy Konoha?"

"Or is it someone who wants to use Konoha to destroy the Uchiha Clan?"

With that, Uchiha You turned and left.

Itachi stood where he was, unmoving for a long time.

He suddenly realized that many things he had once firmly believed in seemed to be wavering.

And that wavering made him uneasy.