After Madara Uchiha finished speaking, the enormous room packed with Uchiha Hardliners fell so silent that a pin dropping could have been heard. Even Ajin, who had been the most defiant despite being overpowered by Madara, had nothing to say.
Madara Uchiha's words were harsh, but they truly had no way to refute them.
"Go ask the silent majority of the Uchiha Clan. See whether they're willing to join you in this gamble with their lives at stake. And let me make one thing clear up front."
Madara Uchiha withdrew the long blade he had used to restrain Ajin and stood proudly among the Hardliners. His eyes met those of Uchiha Ajin, who had just climbed to his feet and was trying to intimidate him by looming over him.
"If most of the Uchiha Clan choose to rebel, I'll protect the minority. If every family in the Uchiha Clan except ours chooses to rebel, I'll still stand with the village. Before you launch your rebellion, think carefully about whether you can defeat me."
As Madara Uchiha spoke, his Sharingan began to change. By the time he finished, his eyes had fully transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Ajin had been about to rebuke Madara Uchiha for overestimating himself, but the sight of his Mangekyō Sharingan left him too shocked to speak.
Once he was certain Uchiha Ajin had seen his Mangekyō Sharingan, Madara Uchiha immediately deactivated his Sharingan. He trusted that this young man, who took such pride in being an Uchiha, would not casually reveal his strength.
After demonstrating his power, Madara Uchiha pushed past Uchiha Ajin and slowly walked over to Uchiha Fugaku.
"I understand why you're dissatisfied with Konoha, but ask yourselves honestly: hasn't the Third Hokage already been making amends to our clan lately? The village