After the new year.
Uchiha Sora clearly sensed that the Uchiha Clan had grown much more guarded toward outsiders.
Once, when Yugao came to practice swordsmanship with Uchiha Sora, she was driven away before she could even enter the Uchiha Clan's compound.
This made Uchiha Sora realize that Fugaku probably could no longer wait to launch his coup.
If events followed the original storyline, Shisui's death was probably not far off either.
Uchiha Sora had been silently keeping track of the timing. The actual massacre should happen two years later, led by a more mature Uchiha Itachi. For now, Fugaku had only just recommended Itachi for entry into Root, where he operated in secret as the clan's spy within the Konoha High Command.
At present, however, Shisui Uchiha's prestige had reached its peak. He was also the overall commander of Konoha's ANBU and enjoyed the Third Hokage's deep trust.
Under these circumstances, Uchiha Fugaku's desire to launch a coup actually made sense.
Once the coup succeeded, putting Shisui forward as Hokage would be a perfectly natural next step.
As for Fugaku himself, he had no desire to become Hokage. Whether in strength or prestige, he, the clan head, fell short of Shisui Uchiha.
That was why Fugaku had been grooming Itachi, hoping he could succeed Shisui and become the Hokage of the next generation.
Of course, there was one other person he could not overlook: Uchiha Sora!
Ever since Uchiha Sora had rejected him during that genjutsu encounter, Uchiha Fugaku's opinion of him had steadily declined.
Especially after joining the ANBU, Uchiha Sora had become even more independent, prioritizing ANBU missions at every turn and completely disregarding his words as clan head.
He had even missed several previous clan meetings because of missions.
This left Fugaku increasingly disappointed in Uchiha Sora. In his heart, he had even labeled him a traitor to the clan.
That day, Fugaku called another clan meeting and notified the clan members to attend.
Of course, only those with at least chunin-level strength were eligible to attend.
When Uchiha Sora heard about the clan meeting, he frowned slightly. He had missed the previous meetings because he had missions and could not be bothered to attend. He knew their content amounted to speeches designed to stir up the clan members' emotions, deepen their bonds, and make them increasingly resentful of the Konoha High Command-little different from the brainwashing used in pyramid schemes.
This time, however, he happened to be free, so he decided to take a look.
Dressed in his usual white clothes, with the longsword that had replaced his former weapon at his waist, Uchiha Sora, now nearly 170 centimeters tall, walked through the clan's streets and arrived at the clan shrine where the meeting was being held.
Quite a few people had already arrived.
When they saw Uchiha Sora arrive, they all cast curious looks his way.
Ever since the Chunin Ninja Exams, people had been spreading word of Uchiha Sora's genius.
But because he had hardly ever attended a clan meeting before, many of them were unfamiliar with him.
"Sora, you came too?" As Sora entered the shrine, Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi, who had already arrived, greeted him together.
Within the Uchiha Clan, Shisui and Itachi were probably the only ones who knew Uchiha Sora relatively well.
Shisui was, after all, Sora's direct superior in the ANBU, and they saw each other often.
Sora had rarely seen Itachi since he joined Root, but Itachi and Shisui remained close and often trained together.
After greeting them, Sora looked toward the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, who sat in the center of the shrine with his eyes closed, resting.
As though sensing Sora's arrival, Uchiha Fugaku slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
He said coldly, "Uchiha Sora, your name wasn't on the list for this clan meeting. What are you doing here?"
Sora froze for a moment at his words.
Uchiha Fugaku had notified him about every previous meeting. Although he had received no notice this time, he had simply come after hearing about it. He had never expected Fugaku to show him such hostility.
After a little thought, however, Uchiha Sora understood the problem. He smiled faintly and said, "Clan head, it seems you're upset that I missed the previous meetings?"
"Hmph! I wouldn't dare! Uchiha Sora, you'll probably become an ANBU squad leader before long. How could our little Uchiha Clan possibly deserve your attention?" Fugaku sneered.
"Heh. What nonsense!" Uchiha Sora's expression turned cold.
The clan members immediately perked up at this exchange. There was a show to watch!
The clan head seemed deeply hostile toward their prodigy, Uchiha Sora!
Sensing the tension between them, Shisui Uchiha and Itachi exchanged a glance. Itachi spoke up. "Father, Sora missed the previous meetings because he had missions..."
Before Itachi could finish, however, Uchiha Fugaku waved a hand and cut him off. "Itachi, don't make excuses for him. Clan meetings are of utmost importance! Missions certainly matter, but repeatedly failing to attend clan meetings violates our ancestral teachings. I'm afraid his heart is no longer with the clan!"
Itachi could only fall silent.
Shisui Uchiha frowned slightly.
Though Fugaku's words were harsh, Uchiha Sora's repeated absences did suggest that he did not take the clan seriously.
Still, as long as nobody deliberately pursued the matter, it was hardly a big deal.
Yet Uchiha Fugaku clearly seemed intent on making an example of Uchiha Sora today.
He probably wanted to use this opportunity to warn those clan members whose loyalties were not firm enough.
It seems the clan head wants to tell me that the clan comes before everything, Shisui Uchiha thought helplessly.
By then, Uchiha Sora had also understood Fugaku's intentions. He asked, "Clan head, what do you want me to do?"
Fugaku said calmly, "If you still want the clan's recognition, resign from the Hokage's ANBU and take a position in the Konoha Military Police Force!"
He himself was the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force.
For someone like Uchiha Sora, who clearly refused to follow his orders, only bringing him into a department under his own control and keeping him under his watch would put Fugaku at ease.
"And if I refuse?" Uchiha Sora asked calmly.
"Then leave. You aren't welcome at this meeting either!" Uchiha Fugaku said coldly.
"Fine. In that case, I might as well skip this meeting." Uchiha Sora shook his head, turned, and left.
As everyone watched Uchiha Sora leave, they exchanged bewildered looks.
"All right, is everyone here? Let the meeting begin!" Fugaku rose and announced to the others.
The night grew late and quiet.
The meeting finally ended.
The clan members departed one after another, leaving only Uchiha Fugaku and Shisui in the shrine.
Looking at Shisui before him, Fugaku said earnestly, "Shisui, your prestige has already reached its peak. If you want to advance any further, you must become Hokage. Do you want to become Hokage?"
Shisui gave a bitter smile. "Clan head, becoming Hokage isn't that simple. Besides strength and prestige, you also need the approval of the Konoha High Command."
Becoming Hokage was the dream of almost every Konoha ninja.
"You've already earned the Third Hokage's trust. I believe you have a very good chance of becoming the next Hokage! And as long as you stand with the clan, the clan will do everything in its power to support you!" Fugaku said.
"If you become Hokage, the clan's position in the village will immediately change. That would benefit the clan tremendously!" Uchiha Fugaku continued, "But there are several problems before us. One is that Konoha's leadership doesn't trust the Uchiha Clan. There are many historical reasons for that, and we cannot change them. Only through your efforts can we change their views."
"The other problem is the clan's internal unity!"
"Uchiha Sora is arrogant because of his talent and holds the clan in contempt. Unless someone disciplines him properly, he'll become a rotten apple!"
"Shisui, I want you to keep a close watch on him. If he harbors any thoughts that could harm the clan, I want you to use the power of your Mangekyo!"
After hearing Fugaku out, Shisui nodded with a heavy heart.
"I understand, clan head."
"Good! The Uchiha Clan's future rests on you!" Uchiha Fugaku patted his shoulder firmly.
Shisui said his farewells and left.
Watching Shisui depart, Uchiha Fugaku sank into thought again.
Shisui's abilities were beyond question. He served the village diligently and felt a sense of belonging to the clan. Installing him as Hokage was the central plan behind this coup. As long as Shisui remained committed, nothing would go wrong with it.
After leaving, Shisui looked back at the figure inside the shrine and heaved a deep inward sigh.
You want me to become Hokage and change the Uchiha Clan's fate, but how could that ever be easy? Unless you've already resolved to launch a coup. But... I will never let you do that! Shisui thought.
In his current position, Shisui's perspective had long since expanded beyond a single clan to encompass the village and the country.
Shisui knew very well that Konoha now looked strong on the outside but was hollow within. It could no longer withstand upheaval!
As for the issue of Uchiha Sora, Shisui shook his head. Compared with the intentions of the clan head and Konoha's leadership, Uchiha Sora's thoughts were even harder for him to fathom.
It seems I should go talk to him. Shisui vanished from the spot in a flash.
At that moment, Uchiha Sora was standing in the Grove, waiting quietly.
Before long, Shisui appeared behind him.
"Captain Shisui, I knew you'd come looking for me," Uchiha Sora suddenly said, sensing his arrival.
"The clan head ordered me to monitor your actions," Shisui said bluntly. "If you harbor intentions harmful to the clan, I'll use Kotoamatsukami on you!"
Uchiha Sora nodded, then chuckled despite himself. "In that case, the clan head has shown me some mercy. I thought he'd send you to kill me."
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