Chapter Eight: Clear as Day

"That's right, Li is correct. If we're to move, the compensation must increase!"

"Exactly, this is a reasonable demand, the village can't refuse it!"

"The Uchiha are willing to consider the bigger picture and relocate, but the village can't keep making demands of us..."

The moment the word "compensation" was uttered, the focus of the clan meeting shifted entirely to that issue.

Even the radicals understood well that the village's decisions were never open to debate.

What truly angered them was always the village's cold indifference and discriminatory treatment.

If they had a choice, who would willingly rebel when life was peaceful?

Now that the relocation was an undeniable reality, sulking would solve nothing; it was better to fight for greater benefit.

Time slipped by, and the meeting lasted nearly the whole day. Only as dusk fell and the sun sank did it finally end.

Fugaku rose, gazing at the rare unity among the clan members, and spoke, "That concludes today's meeting. I will send someone to inform the village of our decision and negotiate for the greatest possible benefit."

After he finished, Fugaku's eyes lingered on Li, and he said, "Meeting adjourned. The rest of you may go. Li, you stay behind."

At the patriarch's words, Uchiha Li nodded and remained quietly seated.

He knew well that after his bold actions the previous night, the two of them needed to have an open and honest conversation.

Soon, the council hall was empty, leaving only Fugaku and Li, staring at each other.

Fugaku studied Li up and down, his expression calm. "Li, I have some questions for you."

Seeing the patriarch's tone left no room for refusal, Li straightened his posture and replied, "What does the patriarch wish to know?"

"Everything, of course," Fugaku replied bluntly, and then asked his first question: "How did you know I awakened the Mangekyō?"

Fugaku had told no one about awakening the Mangekyō, not even those closest to him.

Because the Mangekyō was of immense significance to the Uchiha, and a source of deep unease for the village.

He feared that revealing its existence would worsen the rift between clan and village, especially since some in the clan might become even more radical.

His original plan was that unless the clan faced absolute life-and-death crisis, he would never use it.

But last night, having fully sided with the Fourth, he had no choice but to harness the Mangekyō’s power.

As expected, more radical views surfaced in the clan today, finding support among many.

If not for his increased authority, and Li’s quick words to redirect the clan’s attention, the meeting would not have ended so smoothly.

Most crucial now was how the village would respond in the aftermath...

On Li's side, seeing the look on the patriarch's face, he made a decision.

It was time to give his patriarch some confidence.

He knew well that Fugaku’s indecision stemmed not only from his own personality, but from the lack of anyone in the clan with whom he could discuss solutions.

Every council meeting, the clan was divided: some clamoring for rebellion, some for peace, others just currying favor.

The three groups argued endlessly, but none addressed the actual problems or had the strength to do so—all empty talk.

But now, Li no longer wished for things to continue this way. He wanted to handle it his own way.

He stood and walked to the patriarch, meeting Fugaku’s gaze. "Because I saw it clearly with my own eyes."

As he spoke, Li activated his own Sharingan—the three tomoe spinning rapidly and connecting.

Fugaku’s eyes narrowed, and he instinctively activated his Mangekyō to face Li.

For a moment, silence reigned.

Fugaku stared into the Mangekyō in the youth’s eyes, a storm of emotion surging in his heart.

Li was only thirteen. Thirteen, and he’d awakened the Mangekyō—what did that mean?

No wonder his behavior had changed so much last night, daring even to confront the village’s guards and to contradict the patriarch himself.

Li calmly deactivated his Mangekyō and spoke evenly, "Patriarch, is there anything else you wish to ask?"

From the succession of expressions on Fugaku’s face, Li knew well his patriarch was in shock.

But Li felt no pride at awakening the Mangekyō at thirteen.

After all, the Uchiha never lacked for prodigies—Shisui, Itachi, even Obito were all proof of that.

What the Uchiha lacked was a true leader, and that was the fatal flaw of the clan.

Fugaku took a deep breath, closing his Mangekyō, his expression complicated. "No, there's no need to ask further."

"Then allow me to speak," Li said. "I wish to ask about your views on the clan. There are things I hope to have your support for."

Fugaku had no reason to refuse. From last night to now, Li had shown both the strength and ability to stand as his equal.

The two sat across from each other and began a detailed discussion.

...

The Hokage Tower was ablaze with light.

With the Fourth temporarily recovering, the Third had resumed the duties of Hokage, sitting in his office with a report in hand.

It was fresh intelligence, detailing everything that had transpired at today’s Uchiha clan meeting.

Every conversation, every expression, every stance—nothing had been omitted.

"Uchiha Li..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured the name, his eyes narrowing.

This Uchiha prodigy was already under special surveillance, but always for his three-tomoe Sharingan.

However, judging from last night’s report, he’d been looking in the wrong place—wildly so.

To so skillfully use the village’s principles and laws to countermand his order, and then, with a few words at the clan meeting, unite the Uchiha—such a youth was far from ordinary. One might even call him monstrous.

At that moment, the office door swung open and Danzo entered, half his face swathed in bandages, leaning on a cane.

Danzo struck the floor with his cane and, in a tone of accusation, demanded, "Hiruzen, last night the Uchiha openly defied orders and even detained my men. You’re just going to let them go unpunished?"

At this point, Danzo was still unaware his Root operatives were dead; otherwise, his fury would have been greater still.

Faced with his old friend’s interrogation, Hiruzen remained unruffled. He drew deeply from his pipe, exhaled a cloud of white smoke, and replied slowly,

"Danzo, you know perfectly well the Uchiha were not at fault last night—in fact, they rendered a service..."

"Moreover, we must adjust our policy toward the Uchiha. Are you ignorant of the power of the Mangekyō?"

"You know the village’s current state. We cannot afford internal strife at a time like this!"

Danzo was unmoved, his eyes boring into Hiruzen, his voice cold. "Then at least hand that Uchiha Li over to me. Such an unstable element should be under Root’s control."

"That’s impossible," Hiruzen refused flatly, with a warning: "Go to the Police Force and retrieve your men, but you are not to meddle further in Uchiha affairs. I have my own arrangements."

Unable to get what he wanted, and having been warned, Danzo’s face darkened with anger. "You’ll regret this, Hiruzen!"

Seeing his old friend’s attitude, Hiruzen’s brows knitted as he replied, "Danzo, I am the Hokage."