Tap, tap-tap-tap-tap...
Panicking, little Sasuke ran straight for Fugaku's room.
Following the course of the original plot, the scenes within the illusion unfolded before Fugaku's eyes, one after another, like an immersive 3D blockbuster.
Haruma was still a little curious. Having witnessed his own clan destroyed at the hands of the filial son he was proudest of...
How would Fugaku feel right now...?
Presumably, he would not be happy...
In the stillness of the night, the conversation and fighting between the two brothers in the room sounded so clear, so grating.
Affectionate brothers, a loving father and filial sons.
The loving, harmonious Uchiha Clan really was... hard to put into words~
Leaning against the doorframe, Haruma's lips curled slightly upward. He was also somewhat thankful that he had transmigrated early enough. There was still plenty of time to change everything.
Previously, he had been too young, and the village higher-ups had kept such strict surveillance on the Uchiha Clan that Haruma had no way to get his hands on that much cash in a short time.
But things were different now.
Once he had complete control over the Uchiha Clan...
Fuck! First, I'll top up a few hundred million ryo! Whale! Whale hard!!
He had worked himself to the bone for over a decade for this pair of Mangekyō.
He had run his legs off, worn through the crotch of his pants, and, especially, talked so much that the skin on his lips had peeled several times.
Fortunately, heaven rewards hard work. Once today is over, it'll be time for yours truly to spread his wings!
At the thought, the upward curve of his lips grew even more exaggerated.
"Release!"
The scene returned to reality. Fugaku hung his head and asked hoarsely, looking utterly dispirited, "Is all of this real?"
Fugaku's feelings were incredibly complicated. Although it had only been an illusion, when he considered the village higher-ups' increasingly guarded attitude toward the clan, along with how Itachi had become busier and more withdrawn after joining the Anbu...
The night of the massacre might truly happen in the real world.
After all, when one worked backward from the outcome, every clue became so conspicuous.
Haruma nodded and answered, "I have no reason to lie. My surname is Uchiha too, after all."
Hearing this, Fugaku lowered his head even further.
Indeed, if Haruma had not belonged to the Uchiha Clan, if he had not lived in the village and among the clan since birth, Fugaku would never have believed everything that had happened in the illusion.
Even though he had concealed his strength all these years, pretending to be sunny, cheerful, and harmless.
But... at the end of the day, he was an Uchiha too...
Looking at the dejected Fugaku, Haruma earnestly counseled him, "Don't overthink it, Clan Head. We still have a year. There's still a chance to change this ending."
That's right! Even if everything in the illusion is true, it's still a year away! There's still a chance to turn the ending around!
Regaining his confidence, Fugaku had just lifted his head and said, "That's right! There's still..."
Before he finished, he heard Haruma casually add from beside him, "Time is on my side! There's still a chance, as long as you step down now, Clan Head."
Words like knives, every cut painful.
The words he had yet to finish were like a fly stuck in his throat, impossible to swallow or spit out.
It was not that Fugaku could not bear to give up his position as clan head. In fact, he would have liked nothing better than for a suitable clan member to take over.
Ordinary people always imagined how glorious and imposing it must be to head a powerful clan.
But Fugaku understood that, for him, the position of clan head was instead a burden he could not put down, a chain he could not break free of.
Especially with the Uchiha Clan, a clan the village higher-ups guarded against and feared.
Externally, he had to yield and make concessions as much as possible when dealing with the village higher-ups. Internally, he had to mediate all sorts of conflicts between the clan's hawks, who favored rebellion, and its doves, who favored peace.
All of this had already left Fugaku thoroughly exhausted.
If possible, he too wanted to pass this burden on to his successor.
But the position also concerned the clan's future direction and its members' lives. Fugaku could not possibly hand it over lightly after a few words.
At the very least, he had to take a good look at the new clan head's strength and conduct.
"Since you saw the future long ago, I imagine you have a plan for what comes next?" Fugaku raised his head and looked at the boy before him. "I can hand over the position of clan head, provided you show me a qualified candidate."
"Of course."
Haruma pointed at his own head and declared confidently, "The plans for our next step are all safely stored in here."
"As for... the candidate for the new clan head, you're definitely very familiar with him, and you certainly won't refuse."
Fugaku frowned at this and sank into thought again. Very familiar?
Uchiha Shin from the hawks? Uchiha Naori from the doves? Or Uchiha Kun from the moderates?
There were not many young clan members who had left an impression on Fugaku. Surely he was not going to have those elders with one foot in the grave take over? They had better not be preparing a funeral feast three days after taking office.
After turning it over in his mind, Fugaku still could not think of a suitable candidate. Either their strength was insufficient, or their conduct was not mature enough.
Watching Fugaku continue to rack his brains, Haruma interrupted softly, "Stop thinking. The new clan head I'm talking about is you."
"Huh!?"
Three seconds of utter bewilderment, followed by a face that cycled through a rainbow of expressions.
"So you brat have just been messing with me!?"
Then Fugaku fixed Haruma with a furious stare. "First you tell me to step down, and now you want me to take over. What? Are you playing Uchiha nesting dolls here!?"
"Do you think the nurses in the medical department have too little to do, or that there aren't enough gravestones behind the clan compound?!"
Seeing that Fugaku was about to explode and attack at any second, Haruma hurriedly said, "Don't get worked up yet, Clan Head. Let me make excu... pfft, let me explain."
The hair beside his ears stirred, not from a breeze, but from the surging chakra.
Haruma spoke faster. "I'm still too young right now. It's not appropriate for me to step into the spotlight and attract too much attention. Especially from the village higher-ups! Besides, with my reputation and image in the clan, it wouldn't be easy to win everyone over."
"No! I actually think that if you openly ran for clan head, the uncles and aunties in the convalescent area might grace you with a vote."
Ignoring Fugaku's retaliatory jab, Haruma continued, "Right now, aside from me, you're the only person who knows I've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"I think our mighty, imposing Clan Head Fugaku should still hold the fort in public! After all, the village higher-ups already see you as the Uchiha Clan's spokesman, and the clan elders all defer to you too."
"But behind the scenes, with my incredible intelligence-gathering ability to see the future as our foundation, I'll advise you from the rear. Never mind avoiding this massacre crisis. Even returning the Uchiha Clan to the pinnacle of the Shinobi World would be a piece of cake!"
"We'd be a perfect match, complementing each other, our twin swords united, invincible under heaven!"
Wave after wave of enticing words poured into Fugaku's ears.
Watching Fugaku's expression gradually ease, Uchiha Haruma finally relaxed as well. Clearly, that heap of flattery had had some effect.
He had gotten a little too full of himself earlier, a little too smug.
Although his life would not be in danger, getting beaten up would still be unpleasant.
Right now, aside from these eyes, Haruma had little worth showing off. Against Fugaku, whose strength rivaled Kage Level, he still fell short.
But as long as the plan succeeds! As long as I whale hard!
A mere Fugaku. Laughable, laughable.
[PS: To make reading easier and improve immersion, all money and ryo in this book are automatically converted at a 1:1 ratio with Chinese yuan. Ninja bounties in later storylines will differ somewhat from the original.]