The clan meeting began amid a silent standoff.
Uchiha Yao stepped forward.
"Everyone."
Without any preamble.
Uchiha Yao went straight to the point.
"The Uchiha have already reached the edge of a cliff."
"Under Konoha's surveillance and suppression, we have been excluded and isolated. The compromise and concessions Clan Head Fugaku insisted on have not earned the village's understanding, but ever-escalating oppression."
"What honor can a clan speak of when even its members are monitored while walking through the village streets?"
Kenji and Shunichi stepped forward from behind Uchiha Yao, unrolling heavy scrolls across the long table one after another.
"During the time I have been involved in handling clan affairs, the village's crime rate has fallen by twenty percent, while the Police Force's patrol efficiency has increased by forty percent."
"The total assets of the clan's industries have grown by over twenty-five percent."
"Most importantly."
Uchiha Yao's voice abruptly rose.
"Over the past year, thirty-eight young clan members have awakened the Sharingan. That is the total of the previous three years combined!"
"Of them, seven have already awakened the Two-Tomoe."
"The facts have proven that yielding will not bring about the clan's awakening. Yielding will only cause the Uchiha to sink ever deeper!"
"Only by continually reclaiming the honor that belongs to the Uchiha can we make the Uchiha stronger!"
Uchiha Yao's gaze finally fell upon Uchiha Fugaku, seated at the head of the table.
"Therefore, I propose replacing the clan head."
"The Uchiha need a leader capable of leading us to reclaim everything."
Every clan member's gaze focused on Uchiha Yao and Uchiha Fugaku.
The next second.
"I agree!"
Uchiha Yashiro, the Hawkish Elder, was the first to step forward in support of Yao.
As a Hawkish Elder, Uchiha Yashiro had now become one of Uchiha Yao's staunchest