Fan the Flames

"Brother, brother! Your old brother is suffering!"

"Why is the Third so damn clueless? Is something wrong with his head?"

"Our clan finally outlasted the Second, and after taking office, the Third started copying that unlucky teacher of his. Does he have nothing better to do?"

"You have no idea, brother. Yesterday, I practically talked myself hoarse trying to calm the clan down! At this crucial moment, can't the higher-ups just settle down?"

Hyuga Clan Land, inside the clan head's reception room.

Watching Uchiha Fugaku pour out his grievances, Hyuga Hitoshi shook her head helplessly.

There was a term in history: oppression drives the people to rebellion.

It might not have been entirely fitting for the Uchiha Clan, but it was almost the same. Of course, both sides bore responsibility for the clan massacre that came later.

Still, this move by the higher-ups was truly a bad move. Sarutobi and Danzo were even worse. Each had learned only a tiny bit of their teacher's methods, but if you wanted to imitate the Second's tactics, you had to have the ability to back them up!

Just look at them. They were spying on people and got discovered. They were practically clearly telling the Uchiha Clan that the village didn't trust them and thought they might rebel at any time.

"Brother, don't repeat this outside."

After venting for a while, Fugaku suddenly added a reminder.

He had gotten a little too worked up just now. The Third's actions had truly angered him, and he had treated Hyuga Hitoshi as one of his own. Otherwise, he would not have said so much.

"Hey, we're brothers."

Clan Head Hitoshi nodded readily. Watching Fugaku's actions, she came to a conclusion.

This old brother had come seeking help.

After all, in all of Konoha, only Hitoshi had ever spoken up for the Uchiha Clan. Moreover, on the battlefield before, Fugaku had witnessed the Hyuga Clan's strength and seen Hitoshi in action.

Now that he had come to visit the Hyuga Clan, he probably wanted to turn them completely into Uchiha allies.

That was only natural.

Once the two great dojutsu clans joined forces, even the higher-ups would have to think twice before making a move.

So, anyone who truly thought Uchiha Fugaku had no brains would be gravely mistaken.

This good brother might well have wanted to use the Hyuga Clan as a weapon.

But Fugaku did not know that there was a tactic called playing along with the enemy's scheme.

The higher-ups had made a bad move, but it was highly advantageous to the Hyuga Clan!

"So, what are you planning to do, brother?"

With a casual gesture, a feather fan appeared in her hand, and she began fanning herself. Clan Head Hitoshi looked at Fugaku expectantly.

Was this guy not cold?

Fugaku looked at Hitoshi, then pondered for a moment.

"What wisdom do you have, brother?"

What could he do?

If he knew what to do, would he have come all this way to drag the Hyuga Clan into this with him?

By his own thinking, they would probably have to bow their heads for a while longer and reduce the Uchiha Clan's presence. Yet even that would not change the fact that the clan was under surveillance.

"Brother, this matter is actually very simple."

Hyuga Hitoshi smiled faintly and fanned harder, sending long hair fluttering in the breeze.

"I'm all ears!"

Fugaku pulled his clothes tighter around himself, his expression solemn.

"As far as I know, the Uchiha Clan bears the mission of the Konoha Military Police Force and is responsible for maintaining order and safety within the village. Is that correct?"

Hyuga Hitoshi's eyes flashed, giving Fugaku a chilling sensation.

"That's right."

"Then that settles it!"

Clan Head Hitoshi patted Fugaku on the shoulder.

"As the Konoha Military Police Force, you discover petty individuals lurking about, seeking to gather Konoha's intelligence. They are even brazenly watching the Military Police Force's every move, attempting to learn everything before attacking Konoha. With such wolf ambition, how can the Military Police Force sit by and do nothing? Striking like thunder to arrest them is entirely reasonable!"

Uh...

Fugaku was completely dumbfounded.

His brother meant that he should directly lead people to arrest those spying on the Uchiha?

What the hell? Wasn't that standing up and charging straight ahead, choosing to tear all pretense with Konoha apart?

"Brother, isn't that a bad idea? If I do that, the higher-ups will probably suppress and target the Uchiha Clan."

How naive!

"If you don't arrest them, do you think they won't suppress and target you? If you endure it today, they'll push even further tomorrow! Maybe they'll even have your son spy on you!"

Before Fugaku could finish, Hyuga Hitoshi directly cut off his train of thought.

Holy shit.

Was it really that serious?

"But those are ANBU..."

Fugaku looked troubled, unable to make up his mind.

"How do you know they're ANBU?"

Hyuga Hitoshi sneered.

"Did your ANBU inform me before spying on me?"

"Say it louder. Even if you slaughtered those people on the spot, it would still be entirely justified!"

"The Military Police Force bears the enormous mission of safeguarding an entire village, especially during this reconstruction period, when the village is extremely vulnerable and easily exploited!"

"At this crucial moment, anyone spying on the movements of Military Police personnel is a traitor, isn't he? If you don't arrest them, that's negligence of duty! If you do arrest them, it's a great achievement!"

"If it were me, I'd throw them into the square and hold a public assembly, letting the villagers judge those petty infiltrators who snuck into the village!"

"What the hell, this is a perfect chance to show your face and build prestige!"

Fuck!

Put that way, didn't he have to act?

Fugaku stared at Hyuga Hitoshi in shock. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made!

Damn it, you were spying on me. Did you tell me beforehand?

How was I supposed to know those people were sent by you to watch me? What if some of them were spies from another shinobi village?

That made too much sense!

Seeing Fugaku's reaction, Hitoshi nodded slightly.

Well.

She had never thought a few words could make the Uchiha Clan stand up and charge. This was merely the beginning.

It could only be said that the higher-ups had cooperated beautifully this time.

In the Original Work, it seemed the higher-ups began monitoring the Uchiha Clan somewhat later. She had not expected it to have already started now.

First they framed the Uchiha Clan for controlling the Nine-Tails, then they immediately began spying on them.

What were the higher-ups trying to do?

Were they picking an auspicious day to wipe out the Uchiha Clan?

That old village chief was bad news!

"Brother, what you said makes a lot of sense, but the clan isn't mine alone to decide for. I need to return and discuss it with the clansmen first."

After a brief moment of thought, Fugaku spoke solemnly.

"But I will never forget your guidance, brother."

Tsk.

What the hell was this?

This was only the first step. Once the Uchiha Clan truly found the courage to arrest people, they could seize back some of the initiative in this matter!

Once the Uchiha Clan got a taste of the benefits, that would be the real time to fan the flames.

Wasn't the old village chief's legitimate reason for spying on the Uchiha Clan his suspicion that they were behind the Nine-Tails Attack?

On this matter, the Uchiha Clan had to react fiercely. They had to view things from the perspective of the victim. Constantly backing down would only make people think they had a guilty conscience!

Clan Head Hitoshi remained perfectly calm. According to her plan, if she did not make the Uchiha Clan and the old village chief fight so fiercely that the entire village heard about it, then her surname was not Hyuga!

After all, the fiercer they fought, the less attention the Hyuga Clan would attract.

As for whether the Uchiha Clan was prepared to tear all pretense with the higher-ups?

It didn't matter. The "restless" clansmen would help Brother Fugaku make the first move. When that happened, he would have no choice but to stand with the clan and charge at the old village chief.

Of course.

Hyuga Hitoshi had always felt that this was not setting Brother Fugaku up. To some extent, she was even saving the Uchiha Clan!

The conflict between that clan and Konoha was a Historical Issue.

It could be clearly said that ever since the day the Uchiha Clan joined Konoha, they had never truly integrated into it. The higher-ups had also been suppressing them all along.

Until now, the conflict had become nearly irreconcilable.

If things continued, once Filial Sons had just grown up, the clan would inevitably face annihilation.

But from another perspective, the tougher your attitude, the more wary the higher-ups would become. The more wronged you acted, the more people would think the Uchiha Clan was innocent. This was a matter of principle.

Besides, they were going to tear all pretense sooner or later anyway, so why was the Uchiha Clan still putting on airs?

There were countless paths in the future. Letting your own son wipe out the entire clan and leave only Uchiha Sasuke behind was already the worst possible ending, so why not struggle a little more?

"Brother, you need to understand."

Standing up, Hyuga Hitoshi looked earnestly at Fugaku, who was about to take his leave.

"This Konoha was founded by the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan!"

Damn.

What kind of trash was that old village chief?

Why should Brother Fugaku suffer such humiliation?

Why didn't he dare fight the old village chief?

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