"What did Clan Head Fugaku say?"
His mother, Nai, frowned at this too.
She wanted to know what Fugaku thought. His views would largely determine the Uchiha's attitude toward the village.
"Clan Head Fugaku was furious when he heard! The Third happened to summon him to the Hokage Building during the day, too. Clan Head Fugaku said he had to demand an explanation. By the time he came back that afternoon, he was practically beside himself!"
"Clan Head Fugaku is usually composed and rarely shows much emotion, but today, he clearly could barely contain his anger."
Dashan spoke with righteous indignation, then shook his head helplessly.
There really was nothing they could do.
The relationship between the Uchiha and the village was far too complicated.
If the two split, most of the Uchiha probably wouldn't want that.
Getting along peacefully with the village was hardly possible either. The village would only keep suppressing the Uchiha until they bound their own hands and feet and no longer had the strength to resist.
Every path led to a dead end.
And so,
A bold idea began brewing in Fugaku's mind!
"Rebellion!"
At the Uchiha Clan Head's home, Fugaku slammed the table, his fury boiling over!
Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Itachi, who had only recently returned, were both dumbstruck.
Was that something he could just say?
"What nonsense are you talking, Fugaku?"
Uchiha Mikoto tugged at Fugaku's arm.
Fugaku's expression remained grim.
In the bedroom next door, Sasuke crawled out with a pacifier in his mouth.
"Mommy~"
Uchiha Mikoto let go of Fugaku and hurried to pick Sasuke up, then headed toward the bedroom.
As she went, she remembered to look back and reassure Fugaku.
"You're being too impulsive today, Fugaku. Calm down and think about it tomorrow. There's always a way to resolve things."
Uchiha Mikoto carried Sasuke into the room.
Only Fugaku and Itachi remained in the living room.
Itachi felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, his heart fluttering with anxiety.
"Dad?"
Itachi called out tentatively.
Fugaku turned a stern gaze on Itachi. Startled by the look in his father's eyes, Itachi swallowed, but dared not look away and continued to meet his gaze.
"Itachi! If you became the Uchiha Clan Head one day and couldn't even protect your own clansmen, what would you do?"
Itachi hadn't expected this difficult question to fall on him.
He was still bewildered and had no idea why his father was so furious.
After thinking it over, Itachi answered honestly.
"Being clan head means protecting everyone. If I couldn't protect them, I would stop being clan head."
Fugaku gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, a chilling coldness in his eyes.
"Do you remember Orochimaru?"
"Yes."
It had only been a few days. How could he forget?
"Orochimaru has become some damned scientist! And the Third has openly become his protector!"
Fugaku slammed his fist hard into the table.
He was furious!
"Today in the Hokage Office, before I could even ask about Orochimaru, the Third asked whether we had concealed Gua's talent!"
"They think we Uchiha are deliberately hiding a genius!"
"He's warning us!"
"He thinks we Uchiha are building up our strength and preparing to rebel!"
Fugaku's expression was complicated. It was hard to tell whether it was anger, resentment, or helplessness at being misunderstood by the village.
"So, Father, you..."
The atmosphere was heavy, and Itachi cautiously began to ask.
Fugaku let out a long sigh. Having spoken, he had finally released some of the frustration bottled up in his chest.
"What will become of the Uchiha... heaven only knows..."
The clan head seemed to have aged several years overnight. He had already looked old, and now he looked even more weathered.
"Father, what if we Uchiha left Konoha?"
Itachi suddenly stood, looking earnestly at his father.
Fugaku froze for a moment.
He looked up at his eldest son, in whom he had placed such high hopes.
He had thought that, guided by the Will of Fire, his son would say something like, "We should obey the Hokage's will."
He even felt that would have been more like the son he knew than "We Uchiha should leave the village."
"Father?"
Seeing Fugaku lost in thought, Itachi cautiously spoke again.
He was afraid his father would consider him utterly disloyal. Rebellion was still an internal conflict, but leaving the village meant a split!
Yet once Fugaku came back to his senses, he did not rebuke Itachi.
Instead, he patted Itachi's shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"I'm glad my son thinks the way a clan head should. But Itachi, you don't understand the Uchiha's actual circumstances. Leaving the village isn't a viable path."
Right now, the Uchiha might appear united, all working for the glory of the clan!
But the moment anyone proposed leaving Konoha,
They would never agree!
Even their forebear, Madara Uchiha, had failed to accomplish that. Fugaku did not believe his authority surpassed Madara's.
Itachi said nothing more and silently kept Fugaku company.
"Go get some rest. It's already late."
Fugaku indicated that Itachi didn't need to stay there.
Itachi cautiously glanced at Fugaku. Fugaku nodded at him, and Itachi returned to his room.
He closed the door.
Standing by the door, Itachi raised his head and gazed through the open window at the moonlit night outside.
Was there really no place for the Uchiha in Konoha?
No one answered him.
Only the wind swept fallen leaves past the window.
A sweeping science campaign began!
The village started handing out some sort of science pamphlet. It consisted of just two small sheets of paper, but everything written on them was essential.
It began with science not being "the study of poisons," then moved on to why they needed to develop science, followed by its basic definition. Finally, it sought to change perceptions with a firm conclusion: science was good, and science alone would be the productive force of the future!
The villagers were left utterly confused.
The eggs, however, were real enough.
One day after school, Gua went to collect a bagful too.
He hadn't actually gone for the eggs. He just wanted to find out whether Orochimaru's science differed from science as he understood it.
He skimmed through the Red Booklet in his hands.
Gua understood.
Orochimaru still wanted to pursue ascension through the flesh.
He said science wasn't "the study of poisons," and his proof was that science could cure illness.
He said they needed to develop science, but by science, he meant research into living cells and tissue.
His basic definition of science was the positive modification of living organisms, including humans, through reasonable methods. Orochimaru called it-evolution!
He said science was the foremost productive force because people could gain power through "science," and power meant productivity! For example, transplanting Hashirama cells could dramatically increase physical stamina, though the survival rate was a little low.
Still, Orochimaru firmly believed that through his tireless efforts, he would surely overcome these difficulties!
After finishing it, Gua fell silent.
The good news was that Konoha had begun developing science.
The bad news was that the tech tree had taken a wrong turn.
Before you continue