Upgrading the Golden Finger

"What the hell is Sarutobi Hiruzen? What right did he have to pin my Uchiha Clan in the village as watchdogs?"

Konoha.

A roar rang out from the clan head's residence in the Hyuga Clan compound.

The more Fugaku thought about it, the angrier he became. He picked up a cup from the table, intending to smash it on the floor, but when he caught Clan Head Hitoshi's gaze, he sheepishly set the teacup back down.

Fine, he would lose his temper after going home. Smashing someone else's things was not very nice.

The meeting had already ended, but judging by the outcome, Fugaku's short-sighted perspective told him that the Uchiha Clan did not seem to have gained anything.

But he clearly did not know that merely clearing themselves of suspicion in the Nine-Tails Attack was already a guaranteed profit for the Uchiha Clan. He knew even less how important it was to the Uchiha, especially the hard-earned goodwill from ordinary villagers—their greatest gain.

At the very least, no one could use that point to attack them from now on.

On top of that, the Military Police Force had been quite active lately, beginning to change the villagers' impression of the Uchiha Clan.

No matter how one looked at it, this was a good start toward changing the Uchiha Clan's situation.

But Fugaku did not see it that way. He only wanted tangible benefits—he wanted to see the Uchiha Clan's standing in the village rise and the authority in their hands expand further.

That was what counted as real gains to him.

So, he wanted to lead the Uchiha to the front line to earn merit, rather than stay home to stabilize the rear and guard against the Nine-Tails going berserk.

Anyone knew that the Nine-Tails had gone berserk because the Jinchuriki's seal had weakened during childbirth, allowing Petty Individuals to exploit the opening. Now that the Nine-Tails had been sealed again, it would be difficult for it to go berserk unless someone used it.

Preventing any possible mishap in the village was the Military Police Force's duty, but Fugaku still felt Very Awkward and unwilling to accept it.

"There's no need to be so angry."

Hitoshi said calmly.

"Didn't I tell you to have the clan members settle down and wait for an opportunity?"

Although Clan Head Hitoshi understood that Fugaku alone could not restrain the clan members at all, he did not intend to help this time.

He did not owe the Uchiha Clan anything.

He had already done all he could for them. Next, it was time for the Uchiha to stand up, charge ahead, and cover the Hyuga Clan's retreat.

"Ah, brother, you have no idea how much pressure I'm under."

Uchiha Fugaku sighed with a troubled expression. Facing those Aggressive Kids in the clan every day, he felt as though he was about to be assimilated by them.

After a pause, Fugaku's expression grew serious. He clasped his hands toward Clan Head Hitoshi.

"But Brother Hitoshi, I still have to thank you!"

In truth, Fugaku himself had been deeply shocked.

Brother Hitoshi had actually rejected the olive branch extended by the Old Village Chief, then firmly chosen to stand on the same front as the Uchiha.

That was different from speaking up for the Uchiha during the previous meeting. He had outright chosen the Uchiha's side!

Fugaku was deeply moved. On the spot, he told Brother Hitoshi that whenever his sister-in-law came over to visit in the future, she could stay as long as she wanted. He did not give a damn. This was a true brother, someone he absolutely had to maintain properly!

"Come on, why the fuck are you being polite with me?"

Hitoshi Hyuga waved dismissively, completely unconcerned.

Fugaku was stunned, unable to tell whether his brother was genuinely being courteous or merely putting on an act.

But regardless of whether his brother was being polite, as the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan, he had to make his position clear.

"This time, Brother Hitoshi gave up a chance to earn merit for the Uchiha. I won't feed you empty words. If you ever need the Uchiha in the future, just say the word!"

Fugaku slapped his chest, his face full of forthright sincerity.

"I don't have much else, but I have one word: loyalty!"

I hope that day comes.

Clan Head Hitoshi gave a mocking laugh and could not even be bothered to respond. He was someone who clearly distinguished between debts and grudges. His relationship with the Uchiha was also one of mutual exploitation—while they stood up and charged as the main force, he would quietly slip through the back door.

If Fugaku could truly represent the Uchiha and speak up for him when they faced a difficult situation someday, then he would not mind giving the Uchiha Clan another helping hand.

"But if you really can't control your clan members and they insist on giving the Old Village Chief trouble, then besides spreading the previous conspiracy-theory version of the Nine-Tails Attack, you can focus on publicizing the Old Village Chief's glorious achievements on the battlefield."

Though the meeting had ended, when faced with Hitoshi Hyuga's pressure, the Old Village Chief had never stated whether he would go to the battlefield. He had only said that he would do his utmost when the village needed him, muddling through the matter directly.

"Glorious achievements?"

Fugaku frowned. After racking his brains for a long time, he Shook His Head.

"The problem is, he doesn't have any. Does accompanying the Second Hokage to the Land of Lightning to sign a treaty count? The problem is that he came back, while the Second Hokage died. What the hell kind of glorious achievement is that?"

Hitoshi Hyuga spread his hands. "There you have it. Let our great villagers know about that, then leave the rest for them to ponder themselves. The point isn't that he's afraid of fighting. According to the Old Village Chief, he's coordinating the overall situation."

Holy shit?

Coordinating the overall situation?

He coordinated jack shit. All he did was let Konoha get beaten senseless. Otherwise, would he have been Laid Off?

Fugaku was stunned, then Suddenly Realized and Gave a Thumbs Up to Brother Hitoshi.

It had to be you!

"And there's no need for you to worry, Fugaku."

Hitoshi Hyuga pressed on while the iron was hot.

"The Uchiha will still have an opportunity in this war."

"According to this clan head's analysis, the Sarutobi Clan's bunch of trash will definitely get pinned to the ground and beaten by the Raikage. There's no way they can hold back Kumogakure."

Every situation required its own analysis.

Hitoshi Hyuga knew what happened in the Original Work.

If this battle had not been so devastating, then the clan heads and department heads would not have been so cold and indifferent when Hizashi Hyuga was Forced to Death later on.

Konoha must truly have been unable to keep fighting then, while Kumogakure was likely in much the same situation. With the battle line stretched out, their losses would not have been small either, which was why they gave up on that war.

Based on that, Konoha had surely needed the entire village's strength just to withstand this wave.

The Uchiha Clan's situation was unclear, but this battle was destined to be the Hyuga Clan's battle for fame. After it, the Raikage became even more fixated on the Byakugan. He knew that forcing the Hyuga Clan Head to death during negotiations might cause the talks to fail and let the Flames of War continue spreading, yet he still did it.

And now, Hitoshi Hyuga had already issued an order for the clan members at the front line to withdraw to the rear. It was foreseeable that the Sarutobi Clan and Konoha's other Secret Technique Clans would not be able to hold out for long by themselves!

"When the Third can no longer bear the pressure, he'll take the initiative to suggest sending you to the battlefield. Wouldn't that make it easy to handle the Old Village Chief?"

Hitoshi Hyuga offered his analysis.

"After all, everyone knows that when the Uchiha number fewer than ten thousand, they are nothing special—but once they reach ten thousand, they are unstoppable! Not sending the Uchiha out would be like cutting off one's own arm!"

The Uchiha were nothing special below ten thousand, but unstoppable at ten thousand?

Fugaku's face was full of astonishment. How did he not know that himself?

Since when had the Uchiha's reputation become so resounding?

"In short, make more preparations after you return, Fugaku. This is a contest of foundations. There probably won't be a winner anytime soon, so there will be plenty of opportunities!"

This was an indirect way of seeing him out.

Although Fugaku still wanted to continue, he nodded to show that he understood.

And with the end of this meeting,

the major event of guiding the Uchiha to charge forward had come to a successful conclusion, and the plan entered a new chapter.

At the most appropriate moment, he had made the correct choice and completed the major event he was supposed to complete.

Naturally, an enigmatic aura from the Golden Finger washed over Hitoshi Hyuga's soul.

Clan Head Hitoshi knew it.

The moment for the Golden Finger—or perhaps himself—to upgrade had arrived!

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