"If you want to laugh at me, just go ahead."
Uchiha Fugaku seemed to see through Uchiha Hui's thoughts and spoke without a hint of concern.
Uchiha Hui gave a couple of dry chuckles but did not actually mock him.
In his eyes, Uchiha Fugaku was an incredibly contradictory man. On one hand, he wanted to revive the Uchiha, or rather, truly integrate them into Konoha. On the other, he refused to make any real effort toward that goal.
It was as though making that effort would send the Uchiha plunging into an abyss!
"You know who's behind this, don't you?"
Uchiha Hui asked seriously.
If anyone could pull these underhanded tricks within the village, he could figure out the sole candidate without even using his brain.
The Darkness of the Shinobi?
Darkness, my ass!
The Third was called the Shinobi Hero, so you wanted to make yourselves a matching pair and call yourself the Darkness of the Shinobi? Have you no shame?
I won't complain when people outside call you the "Darkness of the Shinobi World." You're from Konoha, so everyone gives you some face. But here among the Uchiha, do you really think you can live up to that title?
Uchiha Hui genuinely looked down on that elder.
It had nothing to do with strength.
Nobody knew what he was ranting about anyway, so even insulting the man's parents would have no consequences whatsoever!
After hearing Uchiha Hui's question, Uchiha Fugaku pondered for a moment. But looking into those bright eyes, he finally chose to speak. "That man is the darkness lurking within Konoha, the root buried deep in the soil. Hui, you aren't strong enough to investigate any further yet!"
He thought Uchiha Hui was asking because he wanted to make trouble for the man, so he could not help warning him.
"So you're really going to let them dump this piss bucket over the Uchiha Clan's head?"
Uchiha Hui could not help asking in return.
Fugaku fell silent.
A coup.
It was not as though the Uchiha had never brought up such a thing.
As far back as the Second Hokage's time.
Uchiha Setsuna had already taken action, but it had not caused much of a stir back then. Few people knew about it; only the inner circles of the village's major clans had some vague knowledge of what had happened.
And the final outcome had been nothing more than a few years of imprisonment.
"The Third won't let something like this keep escalating either. I think..."
Uchiha Fugaku spoke again, looking thoughtful.
"Stop right there!"
Now that Uchiha Hui understood his "dear big brother's" stance, he had no intention of continuing this discussion.
Was the Third a good man?
Strictly speaking.
Yes!
At least for most people in Konoha, the Third's reign had marked the village's peak, and many of his decisions had brought considerable benefits.
But this student of the Second Hokage.
He was simply too nice.
So much so that he verged on being a pushover.
A large part of Konoha's gradual decline was due to the Third's inaction.
And so.
Uchiha Hui did not believe the Third would make a wise decision regarding this latest "rumor" incident.
After all, the shinobi who had confronted the Nine-Tails that night had clearly seen the Sharingan in its eyes. "Weakening" the Uchiha was therefore inevitable. Everyone knew the Uchiha had not reached the end of their rope yet, so surely they would never do anything terrible!
Uchiha Fugaku felt somewhat helpless in the face of Uchiha Hui's attitude.
He knew that his younger brother was a staunch member of the "revival faction," distinct from both the "militant faction" and the "shared prosperity faction." Put simply, the revival faction wanted to "make the Uchiha great again."
Put even more simply, it meant, "Pick up your weapons and fight. Only those left standing get to lead Konoha!"
"I'll do my best to speak with the Third. This matter certainly won't be allowed to keep escalating. As for the person spreading the rumors, I'll visit him myself. I'm sure we'll have a satisfactory outcome soon."
Uchiha Fugaku seemed unwilling to let Uchiha Hui see an expression that said, "It isn't that I don't want to do anything, but doing anything won't help." He quickly spoke again, sharing his intentions.
Uchiha Hui paid it little mind.
Once something like this happened, it would happen again. If they wanted to break the deadlock, they had to be tougher. Whoever dared run their mouth should get a beating.
After all, the Uchiha were going to be massacred in the future. Nothing could be worse than that outcome!
However, Uchiha Hui knew he only had that awareness because he had the benefit of an omniscient perspective.
At this stage, even “militants” like Uchiha Setsuna merely wanted a greater say in the village so that the Uchiha could gradually take the lead. They were willing to use force to achieve that.
But charging in without any regard for reason.
That was something most Uchiha shinobi would not want to see.
Unless they were cornered with no better way out...
"Want to go another round?"
Uchiha Hui looked at Uchiha Fugaku. Since he was already here, how could he leave without a fight to shake some loot out of him? Wouldn't that make the trip a waste?
"Huh?"
Uchiha Fugaku froze for a moment, then understood what Uchiha Hui meant. A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
Does my little brother really think I went all out yesterday?
So now he can't wait to try again today.
"Sure!"
Uchiha Fugaku did not refuse and headed toward the training ground out back.
Perhaps it was because of their "bond."
He could actually relax here with Uchiha Hui.
Even though his mind was filled with matters that required thought.
The two arrived at the training ground in the Wooded Grove behind the house.
Uchiha Hui took his position.
Once he noticed Uchiha Fugaku signal to him.
The next second.
He activated the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from where he stood.
Tap, tap, tap!
Within a single breath, Uchiha Hui appeared at Uchiha Fugaku's side. Without wasting words, he swung the kunai in his hand and attacked.
Whoosh!
A forward thrust.
Dodged.
That sent Uchiha Hui's temper flaring, and he instinctively activated his Sharingan.
Whoosh!
An elbow strike.
Dodged again, though this time he brushed his opponent's clothes.
But that still was not enough!
At least, it was nowhere near enough for an ambitious Uchiha Hui.
Even if he was only a Chunin, while his opponent was Uchiha Fugaku, a man concealing his strength whose true abilities were unquestionably at Kage level.
He circulated his Chakra.
Uchiha Hui instantly unleashed the Ninjutsu he had only recently learned.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Thick white mist began spreading. In just two breaths, Uchiha Fugaku had lost his visibility. He could no longer seem to see beyond the meter or two directly in front of him.
“This Ninjutsu?”
Uchiha Fugaku looked surprised.
It appeared that Hui had acquired this Ninjutsu during his earlier fight with that Kirigakure spy. Finding a few “Ninjutsu scrolls” on the enemy after defeating him was clearly plausible.
As for copying it with the Sharingan.
Uchiha Fugaku had not considered that possibility.
After all, Uchiha Hui currently had only “One-Tomoe,” while copying was an ability that could only be used proficiently with Three-Tomoe!
He narrowed his eyes.
Uchiha Fugaku felt a surge of delight.
It was as though Uchiha Hui's “talent” had been unlocked in an extremely short time. Only a day had passed, yet he could already spring another surprise on him.
Whoosh!
Within the mist.
Uchiha Hui's attack appeared in an instant.
It tore through layer after layer of obstruction.
Kunai in hand, he continued slashing toward Uchiha Fugaku.
Bang!
Bang!
Clang, clang, clang!
Their figures collided and intertwined again and again.
Even with the Hidden Mist Technique.
Uchiha Hui did not seem to gain much of an advantage. This degree of interference was child's play to an experienced Jonin.
Whoosh!
After separating, both threw their kunai. The two blades collided in midair and fell toward the ground.
But before the kunai hit the ground.
Both unleashed Ninjutsu at the same time again.
“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!”
Uchiha Hui could clearly tell that Uchiha Fugaku had used his Sharingan to copy his Ninjutsu. His opponent had even unleashed it a fraction faster.
Boom!
The same scene as yesterday unfolded again.
Only this time, something seemed a little different.
With Uchiha Hui's improved proficiency in the Great Fireball Technique, its power had also increased. For a fleeting moment, it even seemed to overpower the Ninjutsu Uchiha Fugaku had unleashed.
Unfortunately.
That, too, seemed to fall within Uchiha Fugaku's calculations.
The two Ninjutsu techniques soon burst apart.
Once again, it ended in a draw.
Before you continue