Everything That Happened Was Caused by You, Fugaku Uchiha

"You Uchiha only know how to bully powerless civilians like us. If you have what it takes, go capture the ninja from those major clans!"

"Exactly! I only drank a little too much. You even used violence when arresting me."

"And me! I paid for my meal at the restaurant. I only got drunk and argued a little, then accidentally broke a few things. And now you arrested me? As expected, none of you Uchiha are any good."

The buzzing sounds of arguments and curses reached Uchiha Kyu's ears, forcing him to end his lunch break. He opened his eyes and looked at the civilians wearing ugly expressions, his brows furrowing with a trace of impatience.

These people really had no idea what they were talking about.

Relying on the so-called Hokage, they openly spouted nonsense at ninja who could easily decide whether they lived or died. They were practically begging for death.

Damn useless clan head.

Damn coward, Fugaku.

Whenever Uchiha Kyu thought of the clan's awkward position in the village and the still-undetected danger of the clan's extermination, he could not help cursing that weak and incompetent Fugaku Uchiha in his heart.

"Men, arrest all these troublemakers obstructing official business. Don't let a single one of them off."

"Yes, Vice-Captain."

Uchiha Huo, who had been suppressing his anger nearby, immediately waved his hand and ordered the other Security Force members to carry out the vice-captain's command.

He did not care who was right or wrong, nor did he have the ability to interfere. All he needed to do was obey orders.

When the fearless civilians saw that the Uchiha ninja were actually moving against them and taking them into custody, they immediately panicked.

"What are you doing? I'm going to appeal to the Hokage! I'm reporting you for abusing your authority and enforcing the law violently!"

"Let go of me! You Uchiha can't bully people with your power! The Hokage will stand up for us!"

No matter how fearless these troublemaking civilians were, how could they possibly resist the Uchiha's strength? They were promptly taken away and locked in prison.

"Vice-Captain, how are we supposed to explain this to the clan head?"

The deed was done, and worry began to appear on Uchiha Huo's face.

"What's there to fear? If there's a problem, have Fugaku come and see me himself."

Uchiha Kyu snorted coldly, his icy gaze turning toward the Hokage Building.

"Some people fear the strength of the Uchiha Clan and keep shrinking the space in which we can survive. Our clan has never lacked geniuses. What we lack is someone willing to stand up in times of danger and shield our clansmen from the storm."

With a sigh, Uchiha Kyu left the scene.

He had considered everything that needed considering and prepared everything that needed preparing. It was time to let Konoha hear the Uchiha's voice.

"The person you were talking about... is that person you, sir?"

Uchiha Huo watched Uchiha Kyu leave and remained motionless for a long time. The choice he had always wavered over finally became utterly firm in his eyes.

"Kyu, I need to talk to you."

After receiving the news, Fugaku Uchiha could not approve of Uchiha Kyu's actions. He had always wanted to draw closer to the village and kept choosing to yield in order to prevent the Uchiha's situation in the village from worsening.

Now, Uchiha Kyu's actions had undoubtedly pushed the Uchiha toward an irreversible abyss.

The villagers were not frightening. What was frightening was the human heart.

In Konoha, the Uchiha had long since lost the people's support, and their reputation was equally in tatters.

In the courtyard, beneath a cherry tree, there was a tea table, a cup of hot tea, and a white-clad young man with flowing black hair sitting leisurely.

Uchiha Kyu was not surprised by Fugaku Uchiha's arrival.

"Should I call you clan head, or cousin?"

Sitting opposite him, Fugaku Uchiha frowned. His usually unsmiling face was stern. "Just call me cousin. There's no need to be so formal in private."

"So, cousin, did you come to advise me to restrain myself?"

Uchiha Kyu looked at him with a faintly mocking smile and pushed the hot tea in front of him forward. His tone gradually turned cold. "If so, then please leave, clan head."

Fugaku Uchiha lowered his head with a complicated look and stared at the cup of hot tea before him. His former self had also been as passionate and full of vigor as this tea, but by now, he had already seen reality clearly.

If he wanted to restore the Uchiha's standing and repair the clan's circumstances, he had to draw closer to the Hokage's faction.

"Kyu, in the entire clan, only you and I can recognize our situation clearly."

"If we cannot work together, then revitalizing the Uchiha will be nothing more than empty talk."

"Oh?" Uchiha Kyu gave a derisive laugh and looked at Fugaku Uchiha mockingly. "May I ask, exactly what common goal do we share? What strength are we combining?"

"Ultimately, you, Fugaku Uchiha, bear the main responsibility for the Uchiha's awkward position today."

Uchiha Kyu's tone changed. He slammed the table, making the tea slosh and spill. His eyes burned as he stared at Fugaku Uchiha and coldly demanded an answer.

"Is it because our Uchiha Clan lacks the courage to burn our boats and fight Konoha to the bitter end?"

"Is it because our Uchiha Clan is in decline and lacks geniuses?"

"Or is it because the backbone we lost after losing to the Senju back then has yet to grow back?"

"No, no, no... None of those are the reason."

"The greatest reason is you, our wonderful clan head. You personally stifled the growth of all of this."

Uchiha Kyu shook his head mockingly as he asked and answered his own questions, then raised his cup and drained the tea in one gulp.

"Kyu, I never expected you to become so radical."

Fugaku Uchiha looked at him with deep disappointment.

"And this counts as radical?"

Uchiha Kyu had long since stopped hoping that he could change Fugaku Uchiha's mind.

He had been in the Naruto World for nearly a year and had already gained a deep understanding of how stubborn Fugaku Uchiha's worldview was. It was fundamentally impossible to change.

The only person he could change was the devoted son Uchiha Itachi, through subtle influence over time.

The reason he had said so much just now was that he had accumulated too much frustration in his heart. He had wanted to scold Fugaku to his face, and once he had gotten it all out, he felt much better.

Indeed, if he wanted the Uchiha Clan to become great again, he could not rely on anyone else. He could only rely on himself. Fortunately, he had made plans long ago.

"Kyu, you're still young. Many things can't be done just because you want to do them. Konoha has deep strength and foundations. If our Uchiha Clan truly did as you suggested, we would only bring about our own destruction."

"This is no longer the chaotic Warring States Era. Our Uchiha Clan is no longer capable of ruling as kings and dominating the world."

"Even our ancestor Madara Uchiha couldn't accomplish what you're talking about. There's even less chance that we can do it now."

Fugaku Uchiha, consumed by self-pity, grew agitated.

"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and I have an excellent relationship. As long as we help Minato secure his position, the clan's predicament will resolve itself."

"Change through subtle influence, without opposition from the higher-ups and without bloodshed or sacrifice—that is the only way out for our Uchiha Clan."

Fugaku Uchiha earnestly tried to persuade Uchiha Kyu to abandon this dangerous idea.

Uchiha Kyu turned his teacup upside down on the table. His words were sharp, striking directly at Fugaku Uchiha's heart.

"I also want to tell you something. Konoha is Konoha, and Konoha's higher-ups are Konoha's higher-ups. The two cannot be treated as one and the same."

"Putting our hopes in others—is that still the Uchiha way?"

"The things you, Fugaku Uchiha, don't dare imagine, I have imagined."

"The things you, Fugaku Uchiha, don't dare do, I'll do."