Once the Frustration of Defeat Sets In, It Will Likely Repeat in a Cycle

Take back the power that belongs to the Uchiha Clan!

This was what Fugaku had thought about even in his dreams for the past half month.

But how could it be that simple?

It was like a normal person trying to prove they were not insane.

Ever since the Nine-Tails had nearly torn apart the village while bearing a pair of enormous Three-Tomoe Sharingan, any statement from the Uchiha Clan would only invite more abuse.

Fugaku also hoped that after the Third Hokage finished his investigation, he would return the Police Force's authority and clear the Uchiha Clan's name.

But ANBU had already investigated them three times over.

During this sensitive period before the selection of the Fifth Hokage, Fugaku felt that the old Third Hokage had other plans.

Since its founding, Konoha Hidden Village had practiced a democratic system, with jonin holding voting rights in the Hokage election.

The number of jonin commanded by the heads of ninja clans could not be underestimated.

Originally, Fugaku had believed that the Third Hokage was paving the way for Orochimaru to become the Fifth Hokage.

After all, if Orochimaru became Hokage and returned the Police Force's authority, he could also win over the Uchiha Clan.

As clan head, Fugaku was willing to accept that.

But now, it seemed the old Third Hokage might be considering returning to power himself.

Would he trade the Police Force's authority for the support of the clan's jonin in reclaiming the Hokage position?

Fugaku closed his eyes, pressed his lips together, and sighed as he tilted back his head.

"Yuan, you certainly learned quite a lot under Orochimaru, but I must remind you that a ninja should focus on training their ninjutsu..."

Uchiha Yuan looked bewildered. Had his uncle misunderstood something?

He was talking about actively taking back the power that belonged to the Uchiha Clan. Actively!

"You're still young. It is enough for you to broaden your horizons. Don't become overly engrossed in such matters. Hmm?"

Fugaku's words abruptly cut off.

Uchiha Yuan took out a scroll and unsealed the corpse of a tall man.

"Clan Head, this was the other ninja who ambushed Shisui and me. Including that corpse, as well as the several who were sealed away, there were two squads in total—eight people."

Without another word, Fugaku immediately began examining it.

"Hah, there is likewise no information related to his identity. All right, Yuan. Leave the bodies to me. As for the rest... Hmm?"

Having been interrupted twice when he was about to speak, Fugaku did not blame Uchiha Yuan in the slightest.

He watched as his nephew skillfully opened the corpse's skull, removed its brain, and sealed it into a scroll.

"Yuan, did he learn about your ninjutsu? There is nothing wrong with doing this, but..."

"Clan Head, you still don't understand what I mean."

"I mean that we should actively take back the power that belongs to the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Yuan raised his chin slightly. His expression was solemn, and his eyes brimmed with confidence.

After being interrupted for the third time, Fugaku did not know what to say for a moment.

The Uchiha Clan merely had poor relations with those four. If they made any improper move, it could easily provoke the other ninja clans to target them.

Having been framed as the instigators of the Nine-Tails Attack was the truest reflection of the Uchiha Clan's current circumstances.

Reclaiming the Police Force's authority would still require time and maneuvering. Actively taking it back was simply a fantasy.

If those words had come from a subordinate, Fugaku would have rebuked them for being arrogant.

But Yuan was different.

Once, Uchiha Yuan had proposed forming new families from the clan's war orphans and elderly people without family.

Fugaku had implemented it within the clan with a try-it-and-see attitude. In only a few months, his reputation had reached its peak since he inherited the position of clan head.

From then on, Fugaku had regarded his nephew more highly.

"Tell me your ideas, as well as your plan of action. As clan head, I will judge whether it can be carried out."

Fugaku folded his arms, quite curious what sort of idea his nephew had come up with this time.

"As the Clan Head said, I did indeed learn many things from Teacher Orochimaru. I also know that Teacher Orochimaru has mastered the Impure World Reincarnation technique."

"I imagine the Clan Head knows something about this technique as well."

Uchiha Yuan was looking forward to it. Fugaku's spirit was not lacking; it was merely that the affairs of recent years had worn down his edges, causing the name Fierce Eye, which he had earned during the Third Shinobi World War, to gradually be forgotten.

"Summoning souls from the Pure Land..."

Fugaku sighed again.

"Yuan, you are still too young. Even if you know..."

"Clan Head, what if this was not an ambush? What if Shisui and I merely resolved a dispute that endangered the village while practicing shuriken at the training grounds?"

Fugaku narrowed his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within them. After a long while—

"It is worth trying. Yuan, you are right. What belongs to the Uchiha Clan should be taken back by our own hands."

Hokage Building, Four-Person Council Chamber.

Danzo had always felt that the sofa here was more comfortable than the one at home.

But the most comfortable seat should be the Hokage's chair.

Danzo believed that only by sitting in that chair himself could the village become more prosperous and powerful.

According to intelligence from the Land of Fire's capital, the daimyo was very pleased with the internal conflict in the Hidden Mist Village. While drunk, he had even written a letter to the Land of Water's daimyo, asking whether Konoha's ninja were needed to help settle the disputes in the ninja village.

Though once he sobered up, the Land of Fire's daimyo regretted it.

But Danzo knew that he had taken another step closer to that chair.

"The daimyo has sent a letter urging us to select the Fifth Hokage as soon as possible. Do you have any suitable candidates?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out his pipe, then awkwardly put it back.

At this hour in the past, he would be reading documents, and the pipe helped keep him alert.

"Jiraiya."

Mitokado Homura said flatly.

"Not suitable. He has a terrible reputation among female ninja and even has the habit of peeping on open-air hot springs."

As a woman, Utatane Koharu had no favorable impression of Jiraiya whatsoever.

"Then Orochimaru or Tsunade?"

"One is insidious and cunning, while the other cannot even be called back."

"I do not trust either of them to be Hokage."

"Hiruzen, look at the fine disciples you trained. Who would have thought that selecting a Hokage after the Fourth would be so difficult?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi paid no attention to his old partner's mockery.

"If not for the Nine-Tails Attack, Uchiha Fugaku might have been a good choice."

"Hiruzen, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Have you gone mad?"

"Hiruzen, is that the awareness someone who has served as Hokage should possess?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently lit his pipe.

"Then let us wait until tomorrow's jonin assembly to discuss it further."

"Third Hokage-sama!" An ANBU outside the door had an urgent report to deliver.

"Speak!"

"The Uchiha Clan has sent word that two hours ago, unknown ninja attacked at the training grounds."

The Four-Person Council Chamber fell silent.

"What are the details?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. The Uchiha Clan obtained two intact corpses of unknown ninja. We are currently investigating the damage at the training grounds."

Danzo, who had been sitting quietly with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, suddenly began breathing heavily.

"Unknown ninja? ANBU has been severely understaffed recently. And after repeated investigations, no problems have been found with the Uchiha Clan either."

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"I think it is time to return their authority to maintain public order."

The two advisers sighed silently. Danzo, the Hokage's assistant, had just been about to say something when he met Hiruzen Sarutobi's half-smiling gaze.

"Danzo, do you have something to say?"

"Hmph. Are you letting a tiger return to the mountain? Since it is your decision, Hiruzen, this old man has nothing to say."

At that moment, Danzo's feelings were complicated.

Two corpses. Apart from me, even those men had failed?

Uchiha!