Chapter 77: Ten Days!

A crisp yet immature voice seemed out of place in this courtyard that swelled with bloodlust and passion.

But the familiar voice made everyone instinctively fall silent.

Fugaku's eyes flickered, and the senior elder looked up, only to see Shisui Uchiha already standing, though he hadn't noticed when.

He wore a solemn expression, and after everyone fell silent, he slowly moved down and half‑knelt before Fugaku.

"Impossible? Shisui, you know what you're saying, right?"

The whole hall was silent; only Fugaku's face remained stern, the three‑tomoe eyes coldly fixed on Shisui below, and a low questioning voice echoed through the courtyard.

Shisui didn't understand why Fugaku was suddenly so decisive; according to Sima Yi's description, this situation shouldn't have occurred until at least three days later.

But he didn't panic at the unexpected turn; while several elders remained silent, he chose decisively to stand opposite the clan members.

"Yes, Lord Clan Head, I know exactly what I'm doing, but we absolutely cannot launch a Coup now; it would betray Konoha and betray our own clan."

Shisui's voice rang strong and resonant; the crowd, still unsettled, paid it no mind, even feeling puzzled—why would Shisui, who devoted himself to the clan, suddenly oppose the Coup?

This is a momentous task of reforging the Uchiha's glory! "I've heard about what you've been doing lately; I know you're doing it for the Uchiha, but can we simply ignore the suffering our clan endures?"

"No, I am fully aware of the clan's suffering, which is why I did those things, but I also know that a Coup now would only push the Uchiha into the abyss.

If it truly came to that, I would rather sacrifice my own life to bear the clan's pain, to awaken you, rather than let you march toward ruin."

Shisui looked up, staring directly into Fugaku's eyes; his expression was impassioned, the fate of annihilation still vivid in his mind.

"With your life?"

Fugaku's eyes flickered, but he didn't change his tone, saying, "To speak such words, I acknowledge your resolve. However, saying this now is already too late."

He swept his gaze over all the clan members in the courtyard; this was everyone's decision.

Facing Shisui's steadfast stance, the crowd exchanged glances, and some furrowed their brows, asking, "Lord Shisui, why go this far for those people of Konoha?"

"No, I am doing this for the Uchiha!"

Shisui didn't look back; he stared at Fugaku and replied firmly, "For the Uchiha, I can endure this pain; for the Uchiha, I can stand here and speak out against tolerating doubt.

For the Uchiha, I hope to make the clan head halt all of this."

"Lord Shisui."

For the Uchiha! Every "For the Uchiha" from Shisui stirred both excitement and guilt among the crowd.

They had watched Shisui's actions throughout this period.

If only one person here truly fights for the Uchiha, they believe that person must be Uchiha Shisui! "What do you intend to do?"

Fugaku noticed the crowd's expressions and continued to ask.

"Give me a chance, and I will explain this to the Third Generation; I will give all clan members an answer!"

Shisui lowered his head, pleading earnestly.

"You know that even the clan head cannot oppose the outcome of the clan council's vote," Fugaku said, not refusing outright, but turning to the crowd.

Shisui's eyes flickered; he looked up, understanding Fugaku.

He slowly rose, then faced the crowd, bowing and pleading, "Everyone, please trust me just once!"

There were no extra words, just a single request.

"This"

The crowd was shocked; seeing Shisui bow, they couldn't imagine he would go this far.

"If it's Lord Shisui,"

"Yes, if it's Shisui," the crowd fell silent for a moment, then a few murmurs began to rise.

"After all, it's Lord Shisui; if it's him, we can believe just once, right?"

"That's true; Lord Shisui has been busy for everyone lately, and I trust he won't disappoint us."

At that moment, Hui in the crowd finally reacted, raising his hand and shouting, "Give Lord Shisui a chance!"

"Give Lord Shisui a chance!"

With him leading, the chant grew louder, soon drowning out other discussions and becoming unified.

Seeing this, the second elder finally sighed in relief, thinking, "Indeed, he is the grandson of the Mirror!"

"The outcome is set, but since everyone is willing to give you a chance, I can trust you once, however..."

Fugaku said, his voice suddenly rising, "The Uchiha will not continue to endure this forever!"

"Ten days!"

Shisui turned, his gaze firm, replying, "Within ten days I will give the clan an answer."

"Then ten days. If after ten days the situation still cannot change, the Uchiha will seize everything by force!"

Whether Shisui or Fugaku, both gazes were unusually resolute.

The senior elder looked at the two, feeling both relieved and puzzled, though relief predominated; he still didn't want to launch a Coup at this moment—it was too dangerous.

The Third Generation, three assistants, Orochimaru, the various ninja clans, and the ninjas who had just returned from battlefields, the Village may not be as it once was, but its strength remained great; acting rashly would only lead to death and clan extinction.

At this point, the clan council finally concluded, and Fugaku brushed past the two elders and left alone.

The second elder wore a gloomy expression, exchanged a few words with Shisui, then led his people away.

Meanwhile, everyone in the courtyard felt a sense of bewilderment and unreality; it seemed a momentous event had occurred today? Yet for some reason, as they left Nanhe Shenshe, they all collectively sighed in relief.

Fortunately, everything had passed.

That night, Shisui and Hui hurried home and told Sima Yi about the clan council matters.

"I didn't expect Uncle Yi to miscalculate; today really scared me to death," Hui patted his chest, his face exaggeratedly shaken.

"Man's plans can't match Heaven's,"

Sima Yi wasn't overly surprised, merely sighing lightly.

"Grandfather, about today's matter, might I have been too impulsive?"

Shisui, however, felt uneasy, fearing that his actions might turn their recent efforts into nothing.

"No, you did well; it's truly heartening that you can make such a decision."

Sima Yi did not exaggerate; he knows well that the most dreadful thing for a lord is indecisiveness at critical moments, making decisions difficult.

Shisui seized the opportunity and acted decisively, and even succeeded in persuading the clan members, achieving a result far better than expected.

"Really?"

Shisui's eyes brightened, and he instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

Sima Yi nodded in agreement, then, sounding puzzled, said, "But why has Fugaku undergone such a huge change?"

Although Sima Yi dared not claim to fully understand Fugaku's temperament, it shouldn't differ so drastically.

"How about calling Itachi over to ask?"

Hui offered the suggestion, but Shisui rejected it, "Regardless of what the Fugaku clan chief thinks, we must succeed!"

(End of chapter)