However, it was really frustrating. In her heart, she couldn't help but feel a bit thankful for Brother Ryosuke's actions.
With such disgusting behavior from the Cloud Village, there was no need to indulge them.
However, she didn't express her thoughts, because she knew Itachi disliked such ideas.
Itachi's way of thinking was too lofty, and she couldn't keep up.
After another hour, Ryosuke finally arrived at the shrine.
He looked as though he had just woken up. This was because he had accidentally overtrained with the Eight Gates. Recklessly pushing himself to open the Fifth Gate.
Once it was opened, the Uchiha clan could be preserved. And his eyes wouldn't be taken by others.
So, he had unintentionally overtrained.
However, the result was promising. He remembered that just before fainting, he was very close to opening the Fifth Gate.
The early stages of invincibility weren't far away.
After waking up, he even made sure to bathe before coming over. His hair was still damp.
As he entered the gathering area, aside from a few individuals, most people looked at him with clear disapproval.
The only ones without any objection were Uchiha Izumi and his grandfather.
Of course, there was also Uchiha Fugaku.
Because Fugaku knew Ryosuke's strength was formidable, perhaps even equal to his own.
Faced with these disapproving gazes, Ryosuke was indifferent. Instead, he began scanning the crowd for a certain Uchiha he cared about.
That person was Uchiha Shisui.
At this moment, he didn't know whether Shisui had already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
The invincible dojutsu Kotoamatsukami could alter someone's will without them even realizing it.
It was truly terrifying.
If Shisui altered his will, it would be no different from killing him.
Yet, as he scanned the crowd, Shisui was nowhere to be found.
It seemed he hadn't come to the clan meeting. Recently, Ryosuke hadn't seen him in the village either. Perhaps he was outside the village and hadn't returned.
As the clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku spoke as soon as he saw Ryosuke arrive.
"Uchiha Ryosuke, you should already know about the rumors spreading through the village today, right?"
"Of course, I know."
His grandfather had already told him about it.
"Then do you have anything to explain?" Uchiha Fugaku asked.
Ryosuke assumed they were unaware of the full story, so he explained the entire situation in detail to the Uchiha clan members present.
Of course, they already knew, as they had been informed before the clan meeting began.
Uchiha Itachi was the first to stand, speaking sternly.
"Uchiha Ryosuke, are you aware of your crime? You disrupted the Third Hokage's plan, recklessly disturbed the village's peace, and dragged the Uchiha clan into the vortex of war. Do you realize your guilt?"
Ryosuke didn't expect Itachi to be the first to confront him, clearly loyal to the village.
With a cold expression, he retorted, "Haven't I already explained?"
"It was the Cloud Village that kidnapped the Hyuga clan's young lady first, yet the Hyuga clan is supposed to hand over one of their own to quell their anger? Do you think that makes any sense?"
Hearing Ryosuke's words, the dissatisfaction in the hearts of the Uchiha clan members began to fade.
The actions of the Cloud Village were indeed repulsive.
However, Uchiha Itachi was not convinced and continued, "The Third Hokage's proposal was correct; it was your actions that were wrong. You shouldn't have incited the Hyuga clan to confront the Cloud Village envoys."
"Sacrificing one person to secure peace and end the war is the most reasonable course of action."
"Moreover, as ninjas, we must have the will to sacrifice ourselves for Konoha. This is the resolve we, as ninjas, should have."
Hearing Itachi's words, especially among the radical faction of the Uchiha, many of their expressions soured.
To them, such statements were deeply upsetting.
Sacrifice for the village? How exactly had the village treated them?
They were even forced to relocate their clan grounds. Which other major power in the village had been treated this way?
Even the moderates felt uncomfortable.
They didn't support opposing the higher-ups, but that didn't mean they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the village.
Hearing Itachi's words, his father couldn't help but feel a pang of worry.
He had sent Itachi to serve as a spy near the Hokage, but now it seemed his son had fully bought into their ideology.
Would he still provide useful information in the future? Or worse, would he end up standing against the Uchiha clan?
This made him deeply anxious.
Hearing Itachi's words, Ryosuke narrowed his eyes. Sacrificing one person for peace? Then, thinking further, wouldn't that lead to sacrificing an entire clan for peace?
He couldn't help but speak up. "Uchiha Itachi, since you're so resolute, I have a question for you."
"Regarding the current relationship between the village and the Uchiha clan, every Uchiha present should be aware of it."
"According to your philosophy, should the Uchiha clan be exterminated to maintain the village's stability?"
Upon hearing this, all the Uchiha clan members were stunned.
What an audacious statement—to suggest the Uchiha clan could be exterminated?
In the era of the Senju clan's decline, the Uchiha clan was Konoha's largest and even the ninja world's foremost clan.
Immediately, a clan member spoke up.
"Uchiha Ryosuke, you're too presumptuous. How dare you utter such treasonous words?"
"Clan leader, punish this arrogant fool at once."
Unexpectedly, Ryosuke shot back at them immediately.
"I wasn't asking you. Shut your mouths. Otherwise, I'll see you out."
As he spoke, a powerful aura emanated from him. It seemed as though he would take them down if they disagreed.
The clan members were momentarily too frightened to speak. Even the clan leader's eyes narrowed.
Fugaku didn't think Ryosuke was overly arrogant.
As the clan leader, he knew the Uchiha were amidst a storm, and if their coup failed, extermination wasn't impossible.
Did Ryosuke know something? Otherwise, why would he say something so shocking?
Perhaps he would have to use his own eyes to glimpse the future, even at the risk of blindness.
Itachi, meanwhile, felt his scalp tingle from Ryosuke's question.
He never expected to be asked such a question within the clan.
It shook him to the core.
"I don't need to answer such a question. That scenario will never happen."
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