"What else?"
Uchiha Fugaku stared at Sougen. "You mentioned multiple decision-making mistakes. Besides the Nine-Tails incident, what else?"
He didn't respond to whether the decisions made during the Nine-Tails attack were right or wrong, cleverly avoiding the question with a counter-question.
"Changing the subject, huh? Well, whatever..." Sougen shook his head slightly and continued, "The second mistake was during the relocation of the clan. Despite opposition from the clan members, you agreed to the village's relocation plan, effectively exiling us to the outskirts, physically isolating us from the village's social circle."
Hearing this, Fugaku shook his head.
"Sougen, regarding the clan's relocation, we had no choice. The village used the excuse of rebuilding the area destroyed by the Nine-Tails to replan the territories of all the major clans. I understand it was a way for the village to suppress us, but we had no choice. We either resisted and went to war with the village, or we complied and relocated. But given our clan's strength at the time... we had no chance of winning a fight against the village."
"So you chose to endure humiliation for the sake of a future comeback?" Sougen pressed on.
"That's right. The conflict between the village and our clan has deep roots, and we need a long-term strategy..."
"So, have you come up with any strategy?"
"Well..." Fugaku's face stiffened.
That was a stupid question. If they had come up with something, how could the Uchiha have ended up in this situation?
"It seems you haven't figured anything out after all this time... Fine, let's change the subject. Clan leader, you must be aware that many in the clan are planning a coup to overthrow the Third Hokage and seize power for the Uchiha... What's your stance on this?"
Sougen didn't dwell on the relocation issue.
After all, the relocation was just a consequence of the Nine-Tails attack. He brought it up simply to remind the clan members of how the clan leader had forced them to accept this unpleasant decision for the sake of the village's greater good.
"Let's be blunt, Clan Leader. Do you support the coup or oppose it?"
The question was as direct as it could get.
All eyes turned to Uchiha Fugaku.
Even if not all the jonin were involved in the coup, most of them had at least heard about it. Some supported it, others opposed it, and many were undecided. But now, everyone focused on the clan leader.
A matter as serious as a coup would ultimately require the clan leader to take a stance.
"Sougen, are those the only mistakes in decision-making? Just those two?" Fugaku tried once again to dodge the dangerous topic by shifting the conversation back to Sougen.
"The question I just asked is the third mistake," Sougen replied.
Fugaku's face twitched, almost letting out a laugh from anger. Was this kid so sure that he'd make the wrong choice?
"Clan leader, please answer! Do you support the coup or oppose it?" Sougen pressed on, giving Fugaku no room to escape.
Fugaku stared at Sougen for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze to the clan members in the secret chamber. He noticed the hopeful gleam in many of their eyes. His mind raced, recalling the intelligence his secret team had gathered. Two-thirds of the clan favored a coup...
"I support it, of course!"
After a moment of silence, Fugaku made his decision and declared firmly.
The next second, Shisui, standing behind the elders, couldn't hide his disappointment.
However—
"Heh! That's bold of you this time," Elder Homaru praised.
Most of the jonin in the room also smiled in approval.
The clan's inclination toward a coup was evident.
But—
"If I were the clan leader, I would firmly oppose the coup," Sougen said loudly enough for everyone to hear. He turned to face the crowd, completely ignoring their shocked expressions. "Alright, everyone, it's time to pick sides! Those who support removing Fugaku as clan leader and backing me to take over, come to my right. Those who oppose his removal, go to my left."
The clan members were still a bit stunned.
To be honest, most had assumed Sougen would support the coup. After all, he was young and had a fierce nickname, "The Flame Demon." They thought he'd be one of the most radical among them!
No one expected him to oppose the coup. Was this a joke?
As the clan was still processing, Shisui was the first to step out. He crossed over from the left to the right, publicly showing his support for Sougen. He loved the clan, but he also loved the village. For Shisui, a coup was unacceptable.
Fugaku's decision had extinguished the last bit of hope in his heart.
"Grandpa, let's go!"
Uchiha Chisao, unhappy about Shisui beating her to the punch, frowned and pulled Elder Ryuji towards Sougen's side, standing next to Shisui.
Uchiha Genshi, Sougen's grandfather, wasn't in a hurry. With his hands behind his back, he slowly strolled over to Elder Ryuji's side, standing next to his old friend.
Then—
Uchiha Ranzan, Uchiha Akitaro, Uchiha Futaba, Uchiha Jun, Uchiha Hokuto... Sougen's friends also stepped out from the crowd, increasing the number on Genshi and Ryuji's side to nine.
Elder Jun remained calm as he moved to stand beside Shisui, unlike the impulsive attitude he'd shown earlier under the torii gate.
As Uchiha Kagami's cousin and Shisui's mentor, his views were expected. He cared deeply about the clan, but a coup was something he couldn't support.
Still, despite those who stepped forward, the number of people supporting Sougen only reached ten—about a quarter of the forty jonin present.
"Sougen, what are you up to?" Elder Homaru asked, confused by Sougen's opposition to the coup.
"Homaru, a coup should be the last resort, a forbidden tactic for when we have no other options. Unless we are truly out of choices, I won't resort to a move that would harm both the enemy and ourselves. Do you really think that just taking down the Third Hokage and Danzo will mean victory?"
Sougen looked around at the crowd. "Why do you think the Hyuga, Aburame, and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans would submit to Uchiha rule? If we start a coup, our enemies won't just be the Third Hokage and Danzo. Every clan in the village, and even the common ninja, will become our enemies. Why? Because by initiating a coup, we become the disruptors of the existing order. These clans and ninja benefit from the current system. Do you think they'd want us to succeed?"
"Don't rush into a coup just because you're angry! A coup is nonsense! We're divided, we're not strong enough—what are we going to use to fight back? Walk right into their swords? Are you that eager to give the Third and Danzo a reason to wipe us out?"
The more Sougen spoke, the louder he became, until he finally exploded in anger.
His outburst left not only the clan members but also the elders speechless.
"Madara is dead. Without him, do you still think we're the same Uchiha clan that once dominated the ninja world and only Senju could rival? Stop deluding yourselves! Even if we somehow defeat the Hyuga, Aburame, and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, what will we have left to deal with the Mist, Stone, Cloud, and Sand villages?"
"Enough talking. Make your choice. Oh, one more thing: anyone who doesn't support me will have their arms and legs broken by me personally and be thrown to the right side. So... think carefully before you decide."
With that, Sougen calmed down and added one final, peaceful remark.
(End of Chapter)