Chapter 113: Fugaku Has Four Failings, Shisui Has Five Advantages

After several months of observation and adjustment, Shisui summarized several reasons for Fugaku's failure.

First, Fugaku was jointly nominated by several elders—in other words, all of them could claim credit for supporting him—so he was deeply influenced by them, and was further weighed down for nearly a decade by the words, "How were we so blind back then to choose someone like you as clan head?"

Second, the branch family Fugaku belonged to was not strong and could not give him sufficient support, while his own Mangekyo ability could not silently eliminate these elders.

Furthermore, constrained by his personality, those people were all his seniors; he could not bring himself to turn against them outright.

Third, Fugaku lacked clear self-awareness, a complete plan, and an administrative philosophy sufficient to persuade the clan members.

Fourth, and the most crucial point, his prestige was never enough to support major changes within the clan. There had been an opportunity after the Fourth took office, but unfortunately, before the effects could materialize, the Nine-Tails Incident erupted.

The outbreak of the Nine-Tails Incident caused the prestige Fugaku had accumulated to vanish in an instant, and made it even more impossible for him to expose his Mangekyo.

Fugaku had four failings, while Shisui had five advantages.

First, he had actively sought the position of clan head; apart from the Grand Elder, no one else could claim credit for supporting him.

Second, having witnessed the annihilation of the clan, he had sufficient resolve to eliminate anyone who obstructed him from saving the clan, and he also had the ability to do so.

Third, he possessed the rich foundation Fugaku had left behind, greatly shortening his development time.

Fourth, he had learned from Sima Yi the methods for building up a clan, and had a clear plan and a definite goal.

Fifth, he became clan head with the identity of one who sought to save the Uchiha, rescue Konoha, and stop Fugaku's Coup, so his prestige within the clan was at its zenith.

With these five advantages, plus his constant poaching over the past several months, Shisui could already see the inner weakness beneath the outward strength of the clan elders, and at this moment he understood even more clearly why Sima Yi had been comfortable letting him decide for himself.

Because as long as he could safely absorb the forces Fugaku had left behind, he would already stand in an invincible position.

Moreover, the fruits of four days of hard work had been torn apart by them, and the resentment in his heart was hard to dispel, so when he spoke, he showed not the slightest regard for saving face.

"If you don't want to come, you can go back now. I can give the ANBU slots to someone else."

Hearing Shisui's reply, the group felt their breath catch. Fugaku had never treated them like this back then. The Third Elder, with his fiery temper, immediately opened his mouth to rebuke him.

Shisui's eyes shifted, and three tomoe appeared. The Third Elder instantly froze, rooted to the spot.

"If there are no other objections, then it shall be done this way."

Shisui turned and left. The ninja secretly assigned to protect him also departed one after another. The group looked at each other in dismay, and only after a moment did someone snap out of it and release the Third Elder from the genjutsu.

"This brat, this brat—utterly disrespectful to his elders, preposterous!"

The Third Elder panted heavily, his eyes bloodshot. If not for the fact that he couldn't beat the other party, he would have chased after him no matter what.

"Sigh, how were we so blind to choose a fellow like this as clan head. Who knows whether it's a blessing or a curse."

The other elders all sighed one after another. Only the Grand Elder frowned and said nothing. Though he also felt this selection process was somewhat strange, Shisui's gradually shifting attitude surprised him even more.

After another day passed, once everyone had familiarized themselves with their teams, Shisui announced the following notice.

First, the jounin squad leaders would have ten days to instruct their team members and help them improve their strength and coordination.

Second, the jounin squad leaders must have sufficient understanding of the clan, a clear plan for the clan's future, and must persuade their team members to accept their philosophy. After ten days, the team members would grade them; those who failed would be eliminated directly.

Third, the jounin squad leaders must love Konoha, be well versed in the Will of Fire, and teach it to their team members.

Bang—"Reckless, absolutely reckless!"

Hearing these notices, the Third Elder could endure it no longer. He slammed the table and rose, cursing angrily, "What kind of selection is this? It's sheer nonsense! The ANBU selection concerns the clan's future, yet you act so willfully!"

Shisui stared with his three tomoe and asked calmly, "What do you mean by willfully?"

The group's expressions changed, and the Third Elder subconsciously averted his gaze. "Giving them ten days to build team cohesion and improve their strength—is there a problem with that?"

"You know that's not what I'm talking about!"

"Even if they join ANBU, they are still Uchiha. Isn't giving them a deeper understanding of the clan and more hope for it a good thing that strengthens the clan's cohesion?"

"That—"

"As for the Will of Fire, they are ninja of Konoha. What's wrong with understanding the Will of Fire?"

The group looked at each other in dismay. They weren't fools. They had already held several meetings to denounce the things Shisui had done before—how could they not understand what Shisui was trying to do?

"I'll say it again: if the elders feel this is inappropriate, you can have your people withdraw."

Once an Uchiha Elite Forces jounin entered ANBU, whether it was a C-rank mission or an S-rank mission, apart from special assignments, they could easily snatch them from other ninja.

Mission quotas were an important resource, and the Uchiha's strength and reputation in the ninja world made employers more willing to trust them.

Therefore, a ninja like this could earn mission rewards ranging from a minimum of one million ryo to as much as ten million ryo per year, and if they were lucky enough to encounter wanted criminals and bandits, they could earn some extra money as well.

With such enormous benefits, who would be willing to withdraw?

The crowd fell silent, and the selection began as scheduled! "Anyway, that's how it is. As long as we all support the clan head, given the Third's trust in him, the Fifth Hokage will definitely belong to the Uchiha!"

In a courtyard within the clan compound, Jin Huo, a chuunin, listened to the jounin before him talking at length, feeling rather disdainful in his heart. He had stopped listening to this kind of talk before the new year.

Right then, under the surprised gazes of the other two genin, he retorted directly, "Why does the Third's trust in the clan head mean the clan head can become Hokage?"

The jounin was taken aback and instinctively explained, "Because the Third is the Hokage, and with the Hokage's trust, the clan head can..."

As he spoke, he gradually faltered, not knowing how to explain.

"You said to support the clan head, senior, but how are we supposed to support him?"

"Uh... whoever the clan head says to fight, we fight!"

Jin Huo was stunned. Now it was his turn to falter. He truly couldn't refute that, so he quickly switched to another question.

"The clan has so many elders with differing opinions. How are we supposed to persuade them to support the clan head? I've heard that the elders frequently oppose the clan head's policies. Even the elders who claim to support the clan head have been opposing him all along. They're just paying lip service."

"That's right, that's right, we've heard the same." The other two nodded in succession.

Shisui brought this up to everyone he met; few in the clan didn't know about it.

The jounin scratched his head in embarrassment. He had heard about this too, but as for how to persuade the elders, he had no idea. After struggling with it for a moment, he simply said, "Forget what I just said. I'll start over. What I actually believe in is another philosophy—the clan is one whole..."

Listening to him expound, Jin Huo's expression grew peculiar. Wasn't this exactly what Shisui promoted throughout the clan compound every day? Only without the part about the Will of Fire.

"How about it? This philosophy is pretty good, right? I've been pondering it at home for several months. If it's truly realized, the Uchiha will definitely regain their former glory."

"That's something the clan head said, isn't it? I've heard Lord Shisui explain it."

Just as the jounin was feeling pleased with himself, the two genin directly debunked him in low voices.

The clan head only demands sufficient insight; the fact that you, senior, can embrace the clan head's philosophy is enough to prove your excellence, making you a qualified ninja with the right mindset for the clan.

The Jonin slightly lifted his chest, nodded, and replied, "Of course. Then what's your rating?"

The three exchanged glances and said in unison, "Obviously a perfect score!"

(End of chapter)