Amidst the turmoil within the Uchiha clan ignited by Shisui's audacious act of donation, Akihiko contemplated the far-reaching consequences. While not every clan member followed suit, Shisui's bold move exerted immense pressure on the clan's leadership. Should he, as the clan leader, also liquidate their assets and contribute to the village, mirroring Shisui's altruism? However, such a decision carried grave risks for the Uchiha Clan, particularly with whispers of rebellion fermenting within their ranks.
With a heavy heart, Akihiko sighed as he perused the intelligence report laid out before him. "Truly, a dutiful son," he murmured, mused by the Itachi's behavior.
Yet, beneath the surface of these tumultuous events, Akihiko harbored lingering doubts about Danzo's ulterior motives. Was his agenda solely driven by monetary gain, or did it conceal deeper, more sinister aspirations? Why was he acting like this?
…
However, at this moment, Danzo found himself in a state of perplexity. His intentions were simple this time: to amass wealth. With the village facing a dire shortage of funds and his own coffers drained after successive captures, he found himself in a precarious financial position. Attempts to secure additional funds from Konoha had proven futile, as the village's focus had shifted entirely towards recovery efforts, leaving no surplus for him.
Recalling the taunts hurled at him by a certain Uchiha while he was bound, Danzo's already low trust in the Uchiha clan plummeted further. It was clear to him that Uchiha sought to sow discord and disrupt the peace in Konoha, heightening his suspicion towards the clan.
Furthermore, the lack of funds posed significant obstacles to his ongoing experiments, including those related to the Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release. Additionally, the influx of Grass Village-manufactured products into Konoha presented yet another challenge that required financial resources to address. Without adequate funding, his ability to safeguard Konoha was severely compromised.
After careful consideration, Danzo devised a plan to target the Uchiha clan. Previously, he had envisioned a gradual approach, siphoning resources bit by bit. And given the current circumstances within the Uchiha clan, he believed they would be more amenable to his demands.
After all, Annihilating the Uchiha clan or persuading them to donate their assets entirely, as Shisui had done, would yield minimal gains for him personally, with the majority of resources likely ending up in the village's coffers or Hiruzen's pockets.
Given these considerations, Danzo's expression shifted with determination as he clenched his fists, muttering under his breath with hatred, "Uchiha Shisui..."
…
"You..." Uchiha Fugaku's arms crossed in front of him, his expression betraying no emotion as he fixed his gaze upon his son, Uchiha Itachi. "Why would you do this?"
In response to his father's query, Itachi's demeanor remained resolute as he replied, "For the sake of the Uchiha! For the sake of Konoha!"
However, a fleeting sense of disappointment shadowed Fugaku's eyes at his son's words. Nonetheless, he maintained his composure and spoke calmly, "Do you truly understand the current predicament of the Uchiha clan?"
With tensions already mounting within the clan and feelings of resentment bubbling beneath the surface, how could they endure such pressure? Were it not for Fugaku's position as clan head still holding some semblance of authority, discontent among clan members might have erupted into open rebellion long ago. Even Itachi, despite his status as the clan leader's son, might have faced retribution at the hands of the clan.
Fugaku's voice lowered, laden with disappointment as he remarked, "I am deeply disappointed in you, Itachi. I expected more from you."
"Father..." Itachi's eyes betrayed a hint of inner turmoil at his father's words, yet his countenance remained composed as he responded evenly, "You understand the situation as well as I do. We cannot maintain control indefinitely. By reallocating these resources and severing the funding for rebellion, we may quell their ambitions and facilitate the Uchiha's reintegration into Konoha."
"You're only fueling the discord within the village and the clan!" Fugaku's gaze turned icy as he leveled his gaze at his son. "Your actions were unwarranted. As the future leader of the Uchiha clan, this was a mistake. You lack the maturity to bear the responsibilities of the Uchiha."
At this moment, as a parent, hearing such sentiments from his own child, Fugaku couldn't help but feel a profound sense of disappointment. After all this time, his son still sought to abandon the clan? "You are not fit to inherit the mantle of Uchiha leadership!"
Fugaku's disappointment hung heavy in the air with those words, casting a pall over the exchange between father and son, their gazes locked in a cold standoff.
At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto, sensing a disturbance from the adjoining room, wore a pained expression as she tenderly comforted her frightened son, Sasuke. Eventually, she sighed, her gaze softening as she spoke reassuringly, "Just rest now. Everything will be better after a nap."
With those words, she watched as Sasuke drifted off to sleep, her heart heavy with concern. Casting a glance towards the turmoil unfolding in the main hall, she couldn't shake off a sense of disappointment. She understood the immense efforts Fugaku had invested in safeguarding the clan.
Yet, Itachi's unilateral decision had blindsided his father. The fury among the clan members had been palpable, demanding answers from their leader. Were it not for Fugaku's intervention, Itachi might have faced the clan's wrath and punishment by now.
Did Itachi fail to grasp the gravity of his actions? Was his aim to eradicate the clan entirely? As angry shouts erupted once more from the adjacent room, Mikoto couldn't help but feel a surge of apprehension.
"Do you truly believe you can challenge your father's authority?" Fugaku's voice boomed, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Itachi. "Do you comprehend the magnitude of the turmoil you've stirred within the village and the clan?"
Itachi met his father's stare with a stoic expression. "The one bringing turmoil to the village is you, Father."
Their confrontation intensified, each emanating a formidable aura. Fugaku, with his hidden Mangekyō Sharingan, couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride at Itachi's equally potent presence. The recognition of his son's power stirred a flicker of satisfaction within him.
Undoubtedly, Itachi was a prodigy of the Uchiha clan, hailed even by the Third Hokage for his exceptional abilities. Yet, Itachi's choice was ill-timed and ill-judged. The village's resentment towards the Uchiha clan had been simmering for some time.
In the end, a heavy sigh escaped Fugaku's lips, his eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "Remain within the clan and contemplate the consequences of your actions, Itachi. As of today, you are stripped of your title as the heir to the Uchiha clan and your Uchiha identity. You are no longer one of us. Take him away!"
"Fugaku-sama!" Three or four Uchiha clan members barged in, their expressions fraught with panic. Observing their distress, Fugaku felt a semblance of reassurance. It appeared that Itachi still retained the support of many within the clan. As their urgent voices filled the air, he sensed their apprehension regarding his recent decree.
Yet, as the leader of the clan, he knew this decision was imperative. Without it, he couldn't regain the trust of the more militant members.
Waving off their protests, he asserted, "There's no need for further discussion. Todo, Itachi must accept the consequences..." But before he could conclude his statement,
"No, Fugaku-sama. It's not what you think!" Todo, a brown-haired youth recognized as Uchiha Todo, thrust forth a newspaper. "Fugaku-sama, look at this... the headline."
Hearing Todo's urgent tone, Fugaku was taken aback, poised to inquire further. However, before Todo could elaborate, Fugaku seized the newspaper from his grasp. As his eyes scanned the headline, his expression morphed into one of disbelief and alarm.
'Shinobi Times'. The mere sight of those words sent a shiver down Fugaku's spine. Instinctively, he sensed trouble brewing. Hastily scanning the article beneath the damning headline, his worst fears were confirmed.
'Uchiha Clan Leader Secretly Bribed, Shows Disappointed Expression When Mentioning Konoha!'
Accompanying the damning words was a damning image—a snapshot capturing a scene of him accepting a flame dragon armor, his countenance etched with apparent disdain. This was an unforeseen blow, one that struck at the very core of his reputation.
Clutching the paper tightly, Fugaku's hands trembled with a mixture of rage and desperation. The surge of chakra within him mirrored his inner turmoil as he sought the perpetrator's whereabouts. That conniving scoundrel... Where was he lurking now?
The scene unfolding before the Uchiha clan members left them stunned and bewildered. They found themselves at a loss, caught in the urgency of the situation with no clear course of action in sight.
"Fugaku-sama, what should we do now?" they implored, their voices tinged with urgency. Fugaku himself felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down upon him. The realization dawned upon him that the Third Hokage had likely already laid eyes upon the damning newspaper article.
In the midst of this turmoil, Fugaku couldn't suppress a bitter smile as he surveyed the expectant gazes of his clan members. After a moment of contemplative silence, he spoke with the gravitas befitting his role as clan head, "Gather all members of the Uchiha clan..."
Before he could conclude his directive, another clan member burst onto the scene in a flurry of haste. "Fugaku-sama, Fugaku-sama, Lord Danzo has arrived for a visit!"
"Already here?" Fugaku's demeanor remained composed, though inwardly he couldn't help but feel a bitter amusement. His expression, however, betrayed none of this as he inquired, "How many ninjas did he bring?"
The clan member's response was perplexing. "Ninjas? No, Fugaku-sama, Lord Danzo arrived with only two companions and claimed it was a mere visit."
Surprised by this unexpected turn of events, Fugaku sought clarification, "A visit, you say?"
The clan member's expression turned odd as he recalled Danzo's peculiar gesture of presenting a gift. "Yes, and he even brought a visiting gift."
Examining the saké which was supposedly a 'gift' in silence, Fugaku's lips twitched imperceptibly. What game is Danzo playing now? After a moment's contemplation, he made a decisive gesture, addressing the clan members before him, "Tie him up!"
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