A transfer order was required to head to the front lines, so Uchiha Fugaku was sent to the Hokage Office by Uchiha Kyu that very day to obtain one.
The list of those heading to the three front lines was quickly stamped with the Hokage's seal as well.
Uchiha Kyu did not want the people he had carefully arranged to be targeted by schemers like Danzo. Otherwise, wouldn't he become the scapegoat?
The three elders he had previously stripped of their authority could finally be put to use.
Having each of them lead a team to the front lines offered at least some measure of security.
The clan still had far too few people it could use.
The clan's former three elders had originally been stripped of their authority and confined to their homes by Uchiha Kyu, but he had now released them again.
They had drained so much blood from the clan. Letting them off just like that would be far too lenient.
Uchiha Kage, who was responsible for delivering Uchiha Kyu's orders, handed a scroll bearing a list to each of Uchiha Shita, Uchiha Niura, and Hirota Uchiha.
"The locations you'll be responsible for and the personnel assigned to you are listed inside."
"Go to the front lines without worry. Your relatives will receive the clan head's protection, so you have nothing to fear from behind."
Uchiha Kage's cold Three-Tomoe Sharingan swept over the three men, warning them not to harbor any illusions.
"Please tell the clan head that the three of us will do everything in our power to complete the mission."
The situation was stronger than the individual. Uchiha Shita knew that his era had completely passed, and for the sake of his relatives, he could only accept his fate obediently.
Uchiha Niura stood to the side, not daring to speak. Only after Uchiha Kage left did he finally speak out angrily.
"That bastard is far too arrogant. He actually dared to threaten us to our faces."
"And then? What can you do?" Uchiha Shita looked at him expressionlessly.
Uchiha Niura was instantly furious, but the words he wanted to use in rebuttal stuck in his throat.
By comparison, Hirota Uchiha seemed rather carefree. "The three of us are old relics from a bygone era. It's a good thing that young people have the drive to fight."
"Although Uchiha Kyu stripped me of my status as an elder, I still believe he's the one who can lead the Uchiha Clan back to its peak."
Uchiha Shita agreed with Hirota Uchiha's view and consoled Uchiha Niura.
"Enough. He only reclaimed our authority; he won't lay a hand on old men like us."
"No matter what, I'm still a member of the clan. Put your personal feelings aside for now. If something happens to these three hundred people, we'll be sinners against the clan."
Uchiha Niura gave an unwilling grunt and said nothing more.
"Have they left?"
"They've all gone. But can we really rest easy leaving them in charge? Could it be that you have another backup plan?"
"I don't."
Uchiha Kyu shook his head and glanced at the puzzled Uchiha Fugaku.
"It's precisely because they've always been at odds with you that they'll give it everything they have. Think about what you did to them before. I trust even more that they won't betray the clan."
Uchiha Fugaku's face darkened. He really wanted to take back what he had just said. If I'd known, I wouldn't have asked.
Uchiha Kyu marked three streets on the map. Together, they resembled a wall enclosing the entire Uchiha Compound.
"Tomorrow, we'll take over these three streets. Arrange for some ordinary clan members who aren't ninjas to conduct business there."
Uchiha Fugaku gave a bitter smile. "Conduct business? Do you really think anyone will come buy things from shops belonging to the Uchiha Clan?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll make people come willingly."
Uchiha Kyu naturally knew how terrible the Uchiha's standing was in the eyes of Konoha's villagers.
But what if they don't buy anything? Are you sure?
Then I'll start exercising the authority of the Security Department. I can find an excuse that you threaten Konoha's security and seal your shop in minutes. It'll be effortless.
Authority was the greatest source of confidence when it came to making big money through business.
Without authority backing you, no matter how large your business grew, you would only be a piece of fat in other people's eyes.
With the powerful Konoha Military Police Force supporting them, the three streets would be forced to prosper.
Uchiha Fugaku buried his doubts in his heart. His current position was merely that of an assistant, so he would simply do what needed to be done.
"All right, then. I'll select clan members to go open shops on the three streets."
"Thanks for the effort."
"It was nothing."
Uchiha Fugaku replied before turning back to glance into the room as he left.
He saw Itachi receiving instruction from Uchiha Kyu and asking questions about the finer points of ninjutsu.
As expected of my pride and joy.
Uchiha Fugaku left with a heart full of satisfaction.
Just as Uchiha Kyu began discussing the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Itachi suddenly spoke. "Teacher, I don't want to go to the Ninja Academy."
"Hmm?"
Uchiha Kyu let out a surprised sound, but there was not the slightest hint of anger on his face.
"May I know why?"
"Because I don't think the Ninja Academy can teach me anything."
Uchiha Itachi suffered from the Uchiha Clan's common ailment as well: an overwhelmingly arrogant personality.
That could be seen from the flashbacks in the original story, where he used a clone to attend class.
That arrogance kept him from understanding himself. He looked down on his fellow clan members, believed only he was right, and went down a crooked path.
He had even personally driven the Uchiha Clan off the stage of the Shinobi World, leaving only Sasuke Uchiha as its sole surviving heir.
Uchiha Kyu ruffled Uchiha Itachi's hair and smiled in satisfaction.
"It's not only that the Ninja Academy can't teach you. Even Konoha can't teach you."
"No one understands the Uchiha better than the Uchiha."
Uchiha Kyu stared at Itachi's eyes with absolute confidence. "Do you want to become stronger?"
"I do." Uchiha Itachi nodded firmly.
"Kage." Uchiha Kyu called toward the outside.
Hearing him, Uchiha Kage pushed open the door and entered from outside. He knelt on one knee before Uchiha Kyu and lowered his usually proud head.
"Clan head."
"Bring Shisui here."
"Yes." Uchiha Kage respectfully withdrew.
At present, the two people Uchiha Kyu valued most were Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi. Their later strength had been guaranteed by the original story, so there was no reason for him not to value them.
An hour later, Uchiha Kyu brought Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi to a river.
Uchiha Shisui looked around at the surrounding environment, asking curiously, "Clan head, what are we doing here?"
"What a grand gesture, Kyu."
"Who's there?"
The sudden unfamiliar voice immediately put Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi on alert as they cautiously scanned their surroundings.
Uchiha Kyu said nothing. Instead, he gestured for the two of them to look toward the river.
When they turned around, they saw a several-meter-long water snake poking its head out from the center of the rushing river, its mouth stretched wide open.
After the person inside the water snake's mouth crawled out, Uchiha Kyu pointed at the river and suggested, "Why don't you wash yourself off? Otherwise, I'll have a hard time suppressing the urge to attack you."
"You're a major figure in Konoha, after all. Every time we meet, you're in such a miserable state. I really don't know what to say about you."
Hearing this, Orochimaru laughed wildly. What a major figure in Konoha. Still, he formed hand seals and cleaned the filth from his body.
"You came to find me this time. Is there something important?"
Orochimaru stared at Uchiha Kyu with curiosity. Shouldn't he have been very busy at a time like this?
"You've already been sold out by Danzo. The fact that you secretly researched Wood Release with Danzo has probably already been placed before Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Uchiha Kyu had not come to find Orochimaru because he had nothing better to do. He intended to continue funding him.
In this Shinobi World, there were many scientists, but the only one Uchiha Kyu valued was Orochimaru. Even Hiruko did not qualify.
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