Chapter 53: The Weak and Powerless Fugaku, and the Headache-Stricken Hiruzen Sarutobi

Late at night.

After finishing official business with Nara Shikaku, Uchiha Fugaku returned to his room, his face full of exhaustion.

Inside the room, several Uchiha Jonin were already kneeling in seiza.

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku appear, everyone immediately bowed and spoke.

"Greetings, Clan Head!"

"Hmm, no small talk." Fugaku spoke with a grave tone: "Has Uchiha Jin awakened yet?"

Yes.

He was very anxious.

He was now waiting for Uchiha Jin to wake up, to finally confirm whether Uchiha Jin had awakened the Sharingan.

If it was truly awakened, he must be recruited.

Otherwise, if time dragged on too long and this person was recruited by the radical faction, the situation would become troublesome.

"Not yet."

"Additionally, Clan Head, Clan Head Setsuna sent a message, hoping to allow Uchiha Jin to return to the clan for recovery."

"Your subordinate also believes the Mangekyo Sharingan is of critical importance to our Uchiha clan. Especially since Uchiha Jin is still unconscious, staying at the front-line camp is indeed somewhat dangerous."

"It is best to send him back to the clan lands as soon as possible to ensure his safety."

The leader spoke first.

His name was Uchiha Tsuru, an elite Uchiha Jonin and a representative figure of the radical faction.

Since the clan had finally produced a Mangekyo user, he was naturally more anxious than anyone else.

After all.

Once Uchiha Jin recovered, he would become a top-tier combat power for the Uchiha.

This was far too important for the family!

The others also spoke up one by one.

Regardless of which faction they belonged to, deep down they still acted for the good of the Uchiha.

Uchiha Jin's Mangekyo was too important for their clan.

Before he regained his strength, he should not remain at the dangerous front-line camp!

Uchiha Fugaku fell silent!

He truly did not expect the clan elders to be so well-informed.

It had been no more than five hours since they learned of the matter, yet the clan elders already knew.

No need to guess.

He knew the front-line personnel must have used the Ninken clan to relay information to the clan.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke in a low voice.

"I understand your concerns."

"However, we are at war, and all clans in Konoha are under the command of the village leadership."

"Without the Hokage's approval, I cannot make such arrangements arbitrarily."

"But do not worry."

"I have already reported this matter to the village leadership through special channels."

"Regarding Jin Jun's arrangement, we should receive a definitive answer within two days at the latest."

"Until then, the safety of Jin Jun must be entrusted to all of Itachi!"

Indeed.

Even though Uchiha Jin had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan,

he still had no intention of directly confronting the village leadership.

He aimed to keep the clan stable, while pinning his hopes on the next Hokage to change the Uchiha's reputation in Konoha.

To put it plainly,

he was a man of limited capability, fundamentally unsuited to be clan head.

Only after Uchiha Madara left Konoha did the clan, seeking peaceful coexistence with the village, elevate his branch to the position of clan head.

What they valued was precisely the weakness of his branch!

Grand ambitions but small wisdom, fierce appearance but thin courage, jealous and lacking authority.

Numerous plans yet unclear divisions, arrogant generals and inconsistent orders.

These words were used to evaluate Yuan Shao, yet they fit Uchiha Fugaku remarkably well.

The truth was exactly so.

Hearing Fugaku's words, everyone felt deeply displeased.

This was the Mangekyo Sharingan!

Its importance to the entire Uchiha clan was beyond imagination.

How could Itachi simply hand over something of such strategic importance to the village for disposal?

The village leadership is an opposing faction!

Respecting the village leadership on minor matters is one thing, but something as strategically vital as a nuclear weapon...

Alas!

Everyone exchanged glances and let out a helpless sigh.

They had no choice!

If it were within the clan, the elders would have the right to speak.

But they could not!

They were merely Jonin; how could they disobey the clan head's decision?

"Very well!"

"We will protect Uchiha Jin!"

Several Jonin nodded and then withdrew.

Uchiha Fugaku: "..."

He could clearly see that these clan members held grievances against him.

Indeed, he himself knew that once the village learned of the Mangekyo Sharingan, they would surely make some moves.

But he was helpless.

The village was already targeting the Uchiha, and with war ongoing, if he led the clan in defying the village's decisions, the rift between the Uchiha and the village would deepen.

Therefore,

he chose to take a slight risk.

Undeniably, his reasoning held some merit.

But, unfortunately,

he could not see the broader situation clearly at all.

Even if he showed deference to the village leadership this time and acted as if obeying orders, Sarutobi Hiruzen would feel no gratitude whatsoever; instead, he would only become more aggressive.

Conversely, if he refused to comply,

given the special circumstances and the fact that Konoha had not yet fully prepared its scheme against the Uchiha,

then,

Konoha would say nothing, perhaps cursing him behind his back at most.

And then, nothing more!

In fact, this incident might make them more wary, yet even more afraid to act.

Instead, Fugaku's behavior would reveal his cowardice, causing Sarutobi Hiruzen to respect him even less.

They fear power but do not cherish virtue; nothing more!

This was precisely the fundamental reason why Uchiha Jin, after arriving from another world, chose to lie low and simply ignored Fugaku.

Getting close to this guy will sooner or later get Itachi screwed over by him.

And this time,

there was simply no other choice.

Konoha, the Hokage Tower.

In the Hokage's office at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the letter in his hand, his face clouded with an ominous expression.

Killing intent radiated from his eyes.

Because the thing he feared most had finally come to pass.

The Uchiha!

Ever since the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, why has the line of Hokages been so intolerant of the Uchiha?

This is the reason.

The Uchiha's Sharingan is simply too unreasonable.

No matter how weak they are before awakening their eyes, their power skyrockets the moment they do.

Secondly,

the Uchiha's minds are also flawed!

Arrogance and looking down on others are hardly an issue.

The real problem is that the Uchiha are emotionally unstable.

Do not be fooled by their current innocent and kind appearance; once provoked, their temperament changes drastically.

For other ninja clans, that would not matter.

Even if their temperament changed, it would not cause too much damage.

The Uchiha, however, are different.

After their temperament changes, their power surges by a massive margin.

Obito Uchiha is the prime example.

Before awakening, he was the dead last of his class, but upon witnessing the death of Rin Nohara, his entire personality shifted, and his power skyrocketed countless times over.

Relying on the godlike Kamui, even Minato Namikaze, who struck fear as the Yellow Flash, could not handle Obito.

Facing such an unstable clan, the Senju brothers did not care.

The two brothers,

were either strong enough or possessed sufficiently formidable means.

In short, they did not take the mere Uchiha seriously.