The atmosphere in the room began to turn eerie. The young elite clan members looked at Uchiha Sasaki with worship in their eyes - revering the strong was the Uchiha clan's essence. Of course, they wouldn't worship traitors, no matter how strong they were.
Unlike the others' worshipful gazes, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Sasaki with a complex expression. Ever since Sasaki had instantly killed the elite ninja loyal to him, Fugaku's expression had become somewhat unpredictable, because he thought of a possibility. Itachi might really be the one who betrayed the family. Although Uchiha Itachi was Fugaku's son, this father had never truly understood his eldest son.
Combined with some of Uchiha Itachi's recent unusual actions and his wavering between village and family, he might very well be the one who reported the Uchiha rebellion to Konoha.
Simply considering his position as clan leader, he might have discovered it long ago, but Uchiha Itachi had another identity - he was Fugaku's own son.
Although Fugaku usually maintained a stern father's expression in front of Sasuke and Itachi - cold and serious - this didn't mean he didn't care about his children.
"Cough cough... Uchiha Kai brought this upon himself. Actually attacking on his own initiative can be considered clan betrayal." The Great Elder's light words glossed over the elite clan member's death.
But he was also very surprised by the Mangekyou's abilities. Moreover, if what Sasaki said was true, then this rebellion would probably be ill-fated for the Uchiha clan.
Now was not the time for internal strife.
"Clan Leader, although I know your current feelings, please prioritize the family's interests. One of Uchiha Shisui's eyes was taken by Konoha's Root leader Danzo, while the other eye was taken by Uchiha Itachi. And Danzo, who is preparing to move against our Uchiha clan, is also among them. Their purpose is our Uchiha clan's eyes - the Sharingan."
"Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan ability is the most terrifying existence I know of so far. Its name is - Kotoamatsukami. It's one of the ultimate genjutsu that can completely influence a person's thinking."
Hiss - everyone present sucked in a cold breath. Being able to completely influence a person's thinking - what a terrifying ability. And what kind of person was Danzo? Konoha ANBU's Root, possessing a vast number of elite ninjas. Originally, the Uchiha clan calculated that he wouldn't act, which was why they dared to move. But if he also participated, then the Uchiha clan would truly be in grave danger.
"Is the Mangekyou Sharingan really so powerful?" One of the Uchiha elders asked tremblingly, but he already had the answer in his heart. What Sasaki had just done explained everything very well.
They never expected that among fellow Uchiha clan members, Uchiha Itachi would actually be the clan traitor. Moreover, he possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan. Most importantly, Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan was actually in the hands of Danzo and Itachi.
The Uchiha clan's Mangekyou was about to swing its blade against their own clan members.
"Yes, and Itachi's Mangekyou abilities are more powerful than mine. After all, one of my abilities is only seeing the past. Moreover, besides these people on the surface, there's another person who covets our Uchiha clan."
"Who?"
"I don't know... but in the past images I saw, he also possesses Sharingan - Mangekyou Sharingan." Sasaki concealed the fact that Uchiha Obito claimed to be Uchiha Madara.
After all, if he said it, probably almost no one would believe that their Uchiha clan's former strongest, Uchiha Madara, actually planned to destroy the Uchiha clan.
"Also... Mangekyou... Could it be that heaven truly wants to destroy our Uchiha clan?" At this point, although Sasaki had no evidence, most of the elites present already believed the facts Sasaki had stated.
It had to be said that it was an ironic fact that except for Sasaki, all those considered the ultimate evolution of the family's kekkei genkai wanted to annihilate the Uchiha clan. And the only one standing on the family's side, Sasaki, was just a puppet.
Uchiha - a proud yet pitiful clan.
The rest only needed time and their secret investigations to confirm.
"What was discussed in tonight's gathering, everyone present absolutely cannot reveal to anyone, including other clan members! This concerns our clan's survival! Absolutely do not let it leak!" Finally, the Great Elder emphasized repeatedly when the gathering ended. Once they confirmed that the information Sasaki spoke was true, everything Sasaki did tonight would make him a hero who saved the Uchiha clan. It had to be taken seriously - this truly concerned the Uchiha clan's survival.
At the same time, in a valley not far from Konoha, a man who looked like a pitcher plant was reporting to a masked man.
Although the Uchiha clan had set up barriers, this couldn't possibly block Zetsu, who had become one with the earth, from eavesdropping. As long as Zetsu was willing, there was nothing on this earth that he didn't know about. Of course, this referred to Black Zetsu as the earth's incarnation, but White Zetsu's reconnaissance abilities also couldn't be ignored.
"This is the content of the Uchiha clan's gathering. I didn't expect that in just these few years, the Uchiha clan would have people awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan one after another. What will you do, Obito?" Zetsu said with a mocking expression.
"I told you to call me Uchiha Madara. It's just a little insect that just awakened the Mangekyou. No need to pay attention. Besides, one of his Mangekyou abilities is just seeing past events. The plan remains unchanged - I'll personally eliminate him when the time comes."
"Uchiha... I will definitely make you disappear from this world with my own hands. Such a clan filled with hatred shouldn't exist in this world."
In the following days, the entire Uchiha clan and even all of Konoha Village were unusually quiet - so quiet it was frightening. Like the calm before a storm.
The Uchiha clan also held two brief meetings afterward. The content was simple - they had confirmed from various aspects that Konoha would move against the Uchiha clan before the Uchiha could overturn the situation.
Moreover, Uchiha Itachi's various behaviors almost certainly confirmed that the traitor was him. It was just that because Fugaku was the clan leader, everyone tacitly understood without saying it.
But when it really came to the critical moment concerning the Uchiha clan's survival, if Fugaku as clan leader wanted to stop them, he would be the first to be eliminated.
"Clan Leader, please consider carefully. This concerns the Uchiha clan's survival. Please cast aside your personal feelings." More than one clan member present that day had advised Fugaku this way.
"I understand. You may go." And every time, Fugaku answered this way. That son who once made him proud had now become the family's traitor.
No one knew how conflicted Fugaku's heart was - on one side his child, on the other his family. Although Fugaku was usually a stern father, who knew how much he actually cared about his children?
Not to mention Uchiha Clan Leader Fugaku - even other high-ranking members of the Uchiha clan now had disagreements. They were now split into two groups: one led by the Uchiha elders, wanting to defend the Uchiha clan's dignity and fight Konoha to the death.
The other group was led by the Uchiha clan's rising star, Uchiha Sasaki, consisting of the Uchiha's young elites. This group advocated strategic retreat to preserve family strength for a future comeback.
It was hard to imagine that the elderly faction, usually characterized by seeking stability, would be so radical, while the hot-blooded prime-of-life faction would be so prudent.
It had to be said that Uchiha Sasaki, who had displayed his strength that day, had now become the leader of the Uchiha's young faction. He very easily gathered the Uchiha clan's young elites, because he was strong enough, and the Uchiha revered the strong. Moreover, he single-handedly discovered Konoha's plan to move against the Uchiha and the family traitor's conspiracy.
But this was also part of Meruem's plan. If he wanted to split off part of the Uchiha clan, displaying strength was inevitable.
Otherwise, just being an elder's son and the third-ranked among Uchiha young elites wouldn't be enough to get many people to follow him. Now it was different - Uchiha Shisui was dead, Uchiha Itachi was a clan traitor, and Uchiha Sasaki had awakened the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan. With such achievements, gaining prestige and gathering elites became a simple matter.
Of course, some people wanted to strike first and eliminate Itachi, but after witnessing Sasaki's Sharingan, they dismissed this idea.
Even Sasaki himself said his Mangekyou was slightly inferior to Itachi's - would others just be throwing away their lives?
Not to mention anything else, five Uchiha elites who had awakened three-tomoe had now formally pledged loyalty to Sasaki. Don't underestimate these five people - the entire Uchiha clan didn't have many who had awakened three-tomoe. And these were just those who had pledged loyalty, not including Uchiha Sasaki's followers.
Ironically, with great enemies at the gate, the entire Uchiha clan was now split into almost four factions: First, the elder faction - most numerous and strongest, but with almost no young people; Second, the young elite faction led by Sasaki - second in numbers and strength; Third, the neutral faction - mostly ordinary awakened clan members or uninformed common Uchiha, largest in raw numbers but few who could fight; Finally, the clan leader faction - though he was the clan head, ultimately just one branch of the leadership, being ranked fourth was already quite good, and this was with Fugaku's skillful leadership.
With things having reached such a tense situation, Itachi had long since noticed something wrong with the family. He wasn't stupid - quite the opposite, he was a super genius. But what could he do even knowing? Fight? He feared nothing - without awakening the Mangekyou, others didn't even qualify to battle him.
Not only had Itachi noticed, but Danzo - or rather, the Third Hokage - had also sensed something.
But at this point, knowing or not knowing didn't matter anymore. The only regrettable thing was that they couldn't catch the Uchiha off guard - they'd just have to shed more blood and pay a higher price.
Now everyone was waiting - waiting for an opportunity to act.
(End of Chapter)
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