"Wait a moment."
Hearing that Kisaragi was going to expel Uchiha Fugaku from the Uchiha family, those who were still supporting Uchiha Fugaku couldn't remain silent. The nameless now named, Uchiha Fu, the backbone of the group, stood up.
"Those are just the one-sided words of Uchiha Mikoto. Who can prove that what she said is true?" Uchiha Fu looked at Uchiha Mikoto suspiciously, especially noting how she avoided eye contact as she spoke. He had noticed this long ago.
"Oh, do you think Uchiha Mikoto would frame Uchiha Fugaku?" Kisaragi asked Uchiha Fu with a sneer.
"Impossible. Uchiha Mikoto would never frame anyone."
"Yes, her character would never allow her to lie," many people chimed in to support her.
Uchiha Mikoto's reputation within the clan was truly impeccable. Everyone knew her to be kind-hearted and gentle, making it hard to believe she would ever lie. Kisaragi had anticipated this and designed his plan accordingly.
Hearing that so many people trusted her unconditionally, Uchiha Mikoto lowered her head slightly, feeling a pang of guilt. She was no longer the gentle and kind Uchiha Mikoto of the past.
"Kisaragi, Uchiha Mikoto—you despicable, shameless bastards!" Uchiha Fugaku roared, nearly driven mad. Then he coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed, falling unconscious.
(T/N: The puking of blood scene🤩)
"His mind is weak," Kisaragi said sarcastically, glancing down at the unconscious Fugaku.
His mind is weak? Anyone in his situation would be furious and overwhelmed. It was a wonder Fugaku hadn't lost control sooner.
"I'll say it again; I propose that we expel Uchiha Fugaku from the Uchiha clan. If anyone disagrees, they can stand up now."
"Our Uchiha clan does not tolerate such filth. If anyone objects, they can leave with Uchiha Fugaku."
After Kisaragi finished speaking, those who still supported Uchiha Fugaku looked to Uchiha Fu. With Fugaku unconscious, Fu was now their leader.
Although Uchiha Fu wanted to impulsively stand up and resist, he was calm enough to realize it would be futile. Fugaku's reputation had been shattered, and the opposition and support were nowhere near evenly matched.
"If I, too, am expelled from the Uchiha family, it will be even harder for Fugaku to return."
Uchiha Fu held back. When some of the others behind him wanted to oppose the decision, he discreetly stopped them. Though they didn't fully understand his reasons, they chose to trust him and remained silent.
"Throw Uchiha Fugaku out. Keeping someone like him in the Uchiha family only tarnishes our name," Kisaragi ordered, and immediately, some men dragged the unconscious Fugaku away.
Uchiha Fu and the others watched the scene, clenching their fists tightly in frustration.
Kisaragi noticed their expressions, a smirk forming on his face. He could tell that these were Fugaku's most loyal supporters, and he had no intention of letting them go unchecked.
'It seems these people are loyal to Uchiha Fugaku. I'll have to find a way to deal with them one by one,' Kisaragi thought.
"The former patriarch has been gone for some time now, and the clan cannot remain leaderless. I propose that Kisaragi be made the new patriarch. At this moment, only he is fit to lead the Uchiha family," the elder suddenly declared.
Kisaragi glanced at the elder in surprise, then smiled. It was a smart move. The elder was indeed a wise man; otherwise, he wouldn't have become the clan's Great Elder.
"I support this. Who else is fit to be patriarch besides Kisaragi-san?" Uchiha Shin chimed in.
"I, Uchiha Jin, urge Kisaragi-san to be our patriarch as well."
One after another, more and more members of the Uchiha clan voiced their support for Kisaragi. Before long, the majority had backed him as the new patriarch.
Uchiha Fu's face darkened. Today's events had clearly been orchestrated by Kisaragi. He hadn't expected the elder to switch sides so easily.
With his Three Tomoe Sharingan glowing coldly, Fu glanced at the elder, feeling an intense hatred. This old man had betrayed Fugaku, and his granddaughter, Uchiha Mikoto, had betrayed him too. They were both despicable.
"Since you all trust me and want me as patriarch, I'll accept the role without hesitation. I'll be the new patriach of the Uchiha clan."
There was no longer any need to pretend. Kisaragi had always desired this position. Now, it was his.
"I promise that under my leadership, I will restore the Uchiha clan to its former glory."
Though his words were filled with grandeur, they weren't mere empty promises. Kisaragi truly had the strength to lead the Uchiha family back to greatness.
News of Kisaragi becoming the Uchiha clan's patriarch spread quickly, and those who heard the news could barely contain their shock.
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat smoking his pipe, a troubled look on his face.
Kisaragi becoming patriarch was far more dangerous than Fugaku ever could have been. The Uchiha were already a volatile group, but now, with an unpredictable and dangerous leader like Kisaragi, the threat they posed had increased dramatically.
"Fugaku was weaker than I expected," Sarutobi Hiruzen mused.
He had anticipated that Fugaku would struggle against Kisaragi and had even planned to assist Fugaku. But before he could act, Fugaku had already been expelled from the Uchiha clan.
Even Hiruzen believed that if Kisaragi had a reason to kill Fugaku, Fugaku wouldn't have made it out alive.
"Anbu, go personally and take Uchiha Fugaku away. Arrange for him to stay at my house for now."
Though Fugaku had been expelled from the Uchiha clan, he was still useful. Hiruzen wanted to ensure that Kisaragi didn't assassinate him.
Fugaku had to be protected. Hiruzen didn't doubt for a second that Kisaragi might try something, even within the confines of Konoha. From what Kisaragi had done before, it was clear that he was bold enough to defy expectations.
The more enemies Kisaragi made, the better it was for Konoha.