Inside the Uchiha Clan's compound.
Having just returned from the Hokage Tower after a frustrating meeting, the Uchiha Clan immediately convened an emergency clan meeting.
"Clan head, we've searched everywhere in the village, but there's no sign of Shisui!"
"Shisui might already be in trouble."
"This definitely has something to do with Danzo."
"It's not just Danzo. The higher-ups in Konoha must be involved too. Otherwise, they wouldn't let Danzo shift the blame onto our Uchiha Clan."
"Clan head, we can't wait any longer. First, it was Shisui. Next, it will be all of us Uchiha."
Those who could speak at the clan meeting were no ordinary clan members. Most were elite Uchiha who had unlocked the three-tomoe Sharingan. Their unified stance was something even Fugaku, the clan head, had to take seriously.
Moreover, today's events had truly touched a nerve for the Uchiha. Shisui's disappearance, Danzo being attacked, and Danzo's accusations that an external enemy had infiltrated Konoha, while pointing the finger at the Uchiha, claiming that someone in the clan had colluded with the enemy, betrayed the village, and plotted a rebellion, so he demanded a thorough investigation of the Uchiha Clan's compound.
If it were just Danzo making baseless accusations, that would be one thing. But the fact that Hiruzen and the other Konoha's higher-ups had tacitly endorsed Danzo's claims, with plans to send Anbu into the Uchiha Clan's compound for an investigation tomorrow, was no longer mere exclusion. It was a direct slap in the face to the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan's primary role in the village was maintaining internal security and stability through the Military Police Force. They were responsible for enforcing village laws and maintaining order. Now, they were being accused of colluding with the enemy and betraying the village. It was absurd.
This time, it wasn't just the radicals. Even many of the moderates couldn't tolerate it.
"Clan head, are we really going to let those people into our compound?"
"They are humiliating the Uchiha Clan!"
Overwhelmed by emotion, one by one clan members activated their Sharingan, their eyes glowing with cold killing intent.
Under the gaze of so many red eyes, Fugaku's mood grew heavy. His usually stern face now carried a shadow of gloom and frustration.
He was actually furious about today's events too. After all, the Konoha's higher-ups had completely treated the Uchiha Clan as outsiders. But at the same time, he felt a chilling coldness, as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.
'When Danzo accused the Uchiha Clan of rebellion, his tone was firm, as if he already knew it to be true. And Sandaime's expression showed no surprise.'
Thinking back to the clan meeting over a month ago, Fugaku realized something.
'Someone had leaked the clan's secrets!'
'Someone had secretly informed the Konoha's higher-ups about the radicals' plans for a coup. That was why Sandaime wanted to use this opportunity to suppress the Uchiha Clan further.'
Fugaku's thoughts immediately turned to Shisui.
Shisui had always been a representative of the moderates, the backbone of the faction. He was close to Sandaime and had been firmly opposed to the coup during the clan meeting. It was largely because of Shisui that the moderates believed there was still a chance for reconciliation between the clan and the village.
Once, Fugaku had thought the same.
But now...
Fugaku looked at the clan members who had always sided with the moderates and opposed the coup. Now, they were all filled with rage and killing intent.
Shisui's disappearance at this critical moment had a massive impact on the Uchiha Clan.
At the same time, Fugaku glanced at his eldest son, Itachi, the only Uchiha currently serving in the Anbu.
He is also one of the suspects in betraying the clan!
Although the other party also had a gloomy face, Fugaku didn't see any anger in his son's expression.
'Itachi, what are you thinking about?'
'Even as the clan suffers such humiliation, you feel no anger?'
Fugaku suddenly felt exhausted. Whether as a clan head or a father, he had failed.
"Silence!"
Fugaku's voice cut through the noise. If this continued, they wouldn't get anywhere.
"We don't know what happened to Shisui yet. Until we investigate and uncover the truth, we cannot act recklessly!"
As soon as Fugaku spoke, all eyes in the room turned to him, each face showing a different emotion: disappointment, frustration, anger…
Fugaku naturally saw it all, but what could he do? As an Uchiha, he was furious about the treatment his clan was receiving. But as the clan head, he had to remain calm.
With the Uchiha Clan already under suspicion by the Konoha's higher-ups, any rash actions would only give them an excuse to move against the clan.
If they want a coup, they also need to have enough strength. Without Shisui, the chances of success were slim.
Fugaku turned to Itachi and asked, "Itachi, since you are now in the Anbu, have you heard anything about Shisui?"
Itachi, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze, shook his head.
"Then have you heard anything about the higher-ups targeting the Uchiha Clan?"
This time, Itachi hesitated for a moment. He thought about the recent tasks assigned by the Third Hokage, which is to closely monitor the Uchiha Clan's movements and report the contents of every clan meeting to the higher-ups.
Although he was also worried about Shisui and suspected that Danzo might have targeted Shisui's eyes, he knew that Shisui possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, and so did the Konoha's higher-ups.
But then he remembered Shisui's warnings to him and the Will of Fire that Konoha stood for, 'I couldn't let the clan's actions harm the village.'
"No."
"..."
Fugaku fell silent, looking at his son who had high hopes for him with complicated gaze.
He had initially allowed Itachi to join the Anbu in the hopes that Itachi could provide the clan with intelligence on the Konoha's higher-ups. But now, it seemed the opposite had happened.
"Itachi! Do you even care about the clan anymore?"
The Uchiha elites present had all noticed Itachi's momentary hesitation. Several clan members glared at him with anger.
Itachi remained silent, 'Since even Shisui couldn't make these arrogant individuals change their minds, how could I?'
'Conflict wouldn't solve anything. A coup by the Uchiha Clan would only weaken Konoha further and breed more hatred.'
"Uchiha Itachi, what on earth are you..."
"Enough!"
Before the clan members could continue, Fugaku roared, his three-tomoe Sharingan spinning. A powerful aura erupted from him, the pressure from his Sharingan instantly suppressing the other clan members. His Sharingan seemed to be far stronger than the ordinary three-tomoe.
This was the presence of 'Wicked Eye Fugaku'.
Unlike the Hyuga Clan, the Uchiha Clan revered strength and sought power. Bloodline alone wasn't enough to become clan head. Every Uchiha Clan's leader had to possess overwhelming strength and a fearsome reputation.
Fugaku was no exception.
No one spoke further, but their eyes continued to burn with anger toward Itachi.
Itachi's brow furrowed as well. He wasn't concerned about the clan's opinion of him. Instead, he was thinking about something else.
'The pressure from Father just now... it was similar to Shisui's.'