158.Coup
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"After all, if you take too big a step, you risk pulling a muscle."
In truth, what the Uchiha clan wanted wasn't just a public announcement to clear up misunderstandings; they wanted the village to correct its attitude, lift the surveillance and targeting of the clan. That was the most important thing.
As for forgiveness from the villagers... who cares?
If you don't forgive me, will it affect my life?
As long as the Uchiha remain in the police force, their reputation will never improve. But as long as the village stops targeting and surveilling them, that's already enough.
For the rest, Kazuki doesn't care.
Neither do the Uchiha, of course—with the exception of oddballs like Shisui.
"Alright."
After some consideration, Tsunade nodded and agreed. Issuing a direct announcement might be premature, but withdrawing the surveillance was something that should be done.
As for targeting the Uchiha, with Tsunade in charge, as long as the Uchiha don't provoke trouble, the village won't continue singling them out.
The old ways of the Third Hokage and his advisors were now obsolete.
For now, their dignity was preserved.
The Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief, as did the two elder advisors.
"Go back and tell the clan head that the opportunity has arrived—it's now or never."
On his way back to prison, Kazuki encountered a Uchiha patrol squad and asked them to relay a message to Fugaku before leaving.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru was sent to the hospital for treatment, accompanied by Jiraiya to guard against any unexpected events.
"Has the opportunity truly come?"
Fugaku, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, withdrew his attention from Konoha and headed towards the clan's shrine with his men.
After Kazuki sent the notification, Fugaku had arranged for several people to gather at the family shrine and informed the hardliners' elders to come for an important discussion.
Everything was prepared; it was time to strike decisively.
The hardliner elders who received the summons didn't suspect much.
Though they had speculated that Fugaku might act ruthlessly, they didn't think it would happen now. After all, Tsunade had just taken over the village, and if the Uchiha caused trouble now, it would be hard to justify to her.
That was the reasoning of the hardliner elders.
Moreover, they didn't believe Fugaku would dare to act against so many of them. If all the elders died, it would spark significant upheaval.
"I wonder what the clan head wants to discuss with us."
"Who knows? Probably some ridiculous suggestion. It's fortunate that Kazuki is stuck monitoring Danzo in the Konoha prison."
After much back-and-forth, the hardliner elders now feared Kazuki more than Fugaku.
While Fugaku might act harshly, he wouldn't harm his clansmen for no reason.
Kazuki, on the other hand, would seize on their weaknesses and attack without mercy.
What's more, he would do it from a moral high ground, piercing their hearts and leaving them helpless. Resisting would mean opposing the entire clan.
Recalling their experiences of being "stabbed in the heart" by Kazuki, the elders felt as if they had swallowed a fly.
So when Fugaku summoned them, they felt something was amiss, though they consoled themselves with the thought that Kazuki wasn't in the clan.
As long as Kazuki wasn't present to stir up trouble, they believed they could at least contend with Fugaku as a group of elder statesmen.
When the elders arrived at the shrine, guards from the clan head's residence went to notify other representatives from the hardliners to join the discussion.
When informed, these representatives asked in confusion,
"Aren't the elders already there?"
The guard replied awkwardly,
"The clan head and the elders have a disagreement and haven't reached a conclusion. The clan head is considering asking Kazuki to return to the clan."
"...Fine."
They reluctantly agreed, assuming it was another endless argument.
However, as they walked, they noticed something unusual—the number of clansmen along the route was increasing.
"This is bad!"
When Uchiha Shimeki and Uchiha Endo arrived with their men, the hardliner representatives finally realized they were in trouble.
"Shimeki, what are you doing here with these men? Don't you have police duties?"
In response to the questioning, Endo smiled faintly.
"According to the intelligence gathered by the clan head, members of the elders' faction are plotting a coup to overthrow the clan head. Take them down!"
The operation was swift and ruthless, leaving no room for retaliation.
To prevent unforeseen complications, Fugaku had mobilized all available personnel from the police force. By eliminating these representatives and elders, the hardliner faction would crumble.
A faction without leadership would inevitably disintegrate, leaving its members to scatter.
The excuse for the purge was flimsy, but Fugaku didn't care. He was prepared to bear infamy, as long as the clan could develop stably. To him, it was worth it.
The battle lasted only a few minutes.
Inside the main hall of the family shrine, the elders sat idly in their places.
When they arrived, Fugaku was already waiting. However, after they sat down, Fugaku didn't speak, simply folding his arms and closing his eyes as if waiting for someone.
Seeing this, the elders could only endure and wait.
As time passed, the first elder grew impatient.
"Clan head, if you have something to say, just say it. How long do you intend to keep us waiting?"
Fugaku, who had been sitting silently with his eyes closed, slowly opened them and retorted sharply.
"First elder, what exactly is the hardliner faction planning? Why are you plotting a coup to overthrow me as clan head?"
Regardless of how flimsy the excuse, an accusation was necessary for action.
Thus, Fugaku accused the hardliners of plotting to remove him.
The first elder. "???"
The others were equally dumbfounded.
What was this?
They were summoned to discuss important matters, but the first thing they heard was an accusation of plotting a coup? Since when?
The others instinctively turned to the first elder.
They suspected he might have been planning something without informing them, and it had been discovered, leading to this confrontation.
Faced with the puzzled looks of his peers and Fugaku's accusatory gaze, the first elder nearly spat blood in anger. Pointing at Fugaku, he exclaimed,
"You're slandering me! When have I ever had such an absurd idea?"
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. Shimeki and Endo entered with their men, surrounding Fugaku protectively while glaring at the elders.
"Clan head, the hardliner faction's coup attempt has been completely suppressed!"
What?!
The elders were struck dumb. Who had orchestrated this? Why weren't they informed?
After a brief moment of shock, the first elder finally realized what was happening.