This clan meeting ended just as fruitlessly as the last.
Jin Uchiha's radical faction didn't leave early. Instead, they patiently watched Fugaku, Shisui, and the others go through their performance, leaving Naka Shrine only once they seemed satisfied.
"Clan Leader…"
Shisui's voice was hoarse. Once everyone else had left, he finally spoke. "We must find a way. We cannot let Jin Uchiha run rampant any longer."
A hint of fear lingered in his words.
Knowing the radical's plan and yet being powerless to stop it was maddening. This open strategy weighed heavily on him, gnawing at his mind.
Fugaku sat quietly, his gaze deep, staring at the empty Naka Shrine.
He seemed to see the consequences of his appeasement: Konoha's leaders slowly allowing Danzo's actions, more and more Uchiha being captured…
Before, they had no choice. Now, with Jin Uchiha in the picture, many clan members were rushing to join the radicals.
"Shisui, you…"
"Go discuss this with the Hokage. Ask him to rein in Danzo. I'll try to stabilize the clan's emotions."
"If this continues, the radicals will control the entire Uchiha clan!"
Fugaku spoke, helplessness etched across his face.
He was truly backed into a corner, forced to hope Hiruzen Sarutobi would intervene.
Shisui's expression darkened with anger. "Clan Leader, you cannot be misled by Jin. Danzo is part of Konoha's leadership. How could he act like this?
"Even though he possesses my grandfather's Sharingan, it was a gift my grandfather left him before dying."
Fugaku sighed deeply.
Foolish boy!
Didn't he know what kind of man Danzo was?
But he also knew that Shisui had already been influenced by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and arguing further was pointless. He waved his hand dismissively. "Just tell the Hokage exactly what I said. The rest, you need not concern yourself with."
With that, he paid no further attention to Shisui and left, his steps heavy with the weight of responsibility.
Shisui opened his mouth to protest, to plead with Fugaku.
But watching him leave, he could only sigh helplessly after a long pause. "The clan's misunderstanding of Konoha's leadership runs too deep. The moderates and centrists still have serious distrust.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi is such a good man. Why can't they respect him?
"I suppose I must continue to work even harder."
His gaze hardened, as if a decision had been made. He walked to the Hokage's office and recounted the events of the clan meeting.
Hiruzen, puffing on his pipe, looked weary and exhaled. "The world is never easy.
"I understand the situation. Tell Clan Leader Fugaku that I will try to restrain Danzo.
"Shisui, do not blame Fugaku. The Uchiha's misunderstanding of Konoha runs too deep. It will take time to resolve."
Hiruzen's voice carried care and sincerity.
His aged face was lined with fatigue, his eyes shadowed by the burden of being misunderstood. Yet he still exerted himself to counsel Shisui.
Shisui was deeply moved. "Hokage-sama, thank you for your effort."
"You should be," Hiruzen smiled gently. "You are a good child. Let us work together."
He continued to speak passionately about the Will of Fire. Once Shisui departed, Hiruzen summoned Root.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Order Danzo to closely monitor the Uchiha territory. Send the Third Division to assist. All operations will follow Danzo's command."
Hiruzen issued his orders decisively.
His face hardened as Root left. He let out a low hum.
Restraining Danzo?
Ridiculous.
Danzo could no longer suppress the cells of the First Hokage within him. He needed three-tomoe Sharingan to balance the cells. No matter what Hiruzen ordered, it would not have much effect.
He couldn't simply let Danzo die.
For the Uchiha? Absurd!
As for Jin Uchiha's open strategy, it was indeed hard to counter. But Hiruzen did not need to intervene. This was purely internal Uchiha factional conflict. The more Uchiha died, the better, in Danzo's eyes.
Even if Jin rose to power, it didn't matter.
A weakened Uchiha clan, no matter how strong Jin became, could not create a storm that would threaten the village.
All Hiruzen needed was for the Uchiha to fight among themselves. He would let it play out.
Time passed, and ten days flew by.
Fugaku grew increasingly anxious but could do nothing. Hiruzen let events unfold, the radical faction kept to their stronghold, and Danzo hunted the three-tomoe Uchiha relentlessly to suppress the volatile First Hokage cells within him.
The Uchiha clan became restless.
Some who saw the reality joined the radicals. But most remained loyal to their factions, unwilling to defect.
These factions attempted to organize collective defenses like the radicals.
But their efforts were quickly stopped by Shisui.
"Everyone must trust the Hokage. He will resolve this problem!
"This is not Danzo acting. These accusations from Jin Uchiha are lies. It must be spies from other villages. The Hokage is already working on it."
"Clan members, wait!
"Trust the village. Trust the Hokage!"
Naive Shisui truly believed in Hiruzen Sarutobi. This belief was his guiding principle.
The Uchiha were an extreme clan.
Shisui, also an Uchiha, inherited that stubbornness. His Mangekyo Sharingan only reinforced it more obstinate, more single-minded than ordinary clan members.
Yet, unfortunately, even he could not change the harsh reality. The clan continued to be slaughtered day by day.
Even sleepless nights patrolling could not protect the Uchiha territory alone.
As a result, more clan members joined Jin's radicals. The remaining moderates and centrists left Fugaku to organize defenses.
But Fugaku was indecisive. He was cautious, soft-hearted, and hesitant. Though aware of the clan's problems, he could not bring himself to confront the village or take proactive action.
He feared the situation worsening.
Just as in history, faced with Itachi's massacre, he did not openly resist, even if internally opposed.
Now, it was the same.
Even as clan members fell one by one, even with moderates and centrists pressuring him, Fugaku continued to hesitate, hoping for some new opportunity.
Eventually, with Fugaku's delays and indecision, more and more Uchiha joined the radicals.
Fugaku became completely isolated.
By now, he commanded only the moderate and centrist leaders, along with some core elites from both factions.
In total, fewer than fifteen people remained under his authority.