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"Uchiha Fugaku, don't you dare slander me! You want to eliminate the hardliners, yet you use such a flimsy excuse. Are you trying to become a traitor to the clan?" 

Taking action against one's own kin, even as the clan head, tarnishes one's reputation. 

When Fugaku first became clan leader, he frequently suppressed his opposition. Over time, however, these incidents were largely forgotten. 

But while others may have forgotten, the hardline elders certainly hadn't. 

'If I keep you around, "I" will become the clan's traitor.'

"Do it." 

By now, Fugaku had already decided to draw his blade and no longer felt the need to waste words on these old men. 

What had to be done would be done. Those who needed to be killed would be killed. Afterward, he'd clean up the aftermath and take full responsibility. 

Right or wrong, as clan leader, taking action against the elders was indisputably his fault. 

Moreover, he had acted without prior consultation. 

At Fugaku's command, his men sprang into action. 

The elders, aged and significantly weakened in their abilities, were no match for the assault. 

Within moments, they lay in pools of blood, staring at Fugaku with eyes filled with deep hatred and unwillingness. 

"Dispose of the bodies properly and spread the news. Inform all clan members to remain in their homes. Anyone caught wandering will be punished for participating in a coup attempt." 

With so many dead, there was no avoiding a visit to the Hokage's office, even if it was an internal clan matter. 

If the Third Hokage were still in office, Fugaku might have been nervous. 

But things were different now—the person sitting in that office was Tsunade. 

When news spread that the hardliners had staged a coup and tried to assassinate the clan head, only to be wiped out in retaliation, the entire Uchiha clan erupted. 

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage and his advisors hadn't yet left. 

After knocking, Fugaku entered, bowed, and reported. 

"Lady Hokage, just moments ago, the hardliners within my clan attempted a coup to seize the position of clan head. They have all been dealt with. I ask the Hokage for judgment." 

"What?" 

The Third Hokage leapt from his chair. 

Koharu and Homura were equally stunned. 

We 'just' agreed to lift surveillance and special measures against the Uchiha, and now there's a coup? 

What are you people even doing? 

And the most terrifying part. the coup plotters had already been subdued by Fugaku. 

"I see," Tsunade responded with remarkable calm. Predictable events were hardly worth alarm. 

On the contrary, this was a cause for celebration. 

Removing these restless individuals meant the Uchiha's ticking time bomb had been defused. 

"Uchiha Fugaku! What exactly is your clan trying to pull?!" 

Faced with the Third Hokage's questioning, Fugaku said nothing, looking instead at Tsunade. 

Something's not right, the Third Hokage thought. 

Even with his slower reaction, he realized Tsunade had prior knowledge of this. 

And this incident was clearly targeted at the hardliners—the Uchiha wanted to remove their disruptive elements. 

"Enough, old man," Tsunade said. "I was aware of this beforehand. The Uchiha are part of the village, but their internal instability has always posed a significant threat." 

The Third Hokage glared at Fugaku for a moment before biting out. 

"Clan Leader Fugaku, such decisiveness!" 

Such ruthless action required a strong will. 

Not only had he diminished the clan's strength by purging a faction, but he also shouldered the stigma of being ruthless—even earning the title of a sinner. 

And yet, Fugaku did it anyway. 

Names and titles, whether insult or accusation, meant little to him. 

Without a word, Fugaku listened as Tsunade said. 

"Clan Leader Fugaku, with such unrest within your clan, I suggest you return to stabilize the situation. As of today, the village will no longer monitor or target the Uchiha." 

A brighter future awaited the Uchiha. 

Overcome with emotion, Fugaku disregarded his pride and bowed deeply to Tsunade. 

"Thank you, Lady Hokage, for your trust." 

"Very well," Tsunade said, satisfied with Fugaku's demeanor. "By the way, once the clan stabilizes, I'd like you to choose a suitable squad captain to replace Kazuki. I have another position in mind for him." 

"Kazuki?" Fugaku was momentarily confused. 

"Yes." 

With lingering doubts, Fugaku left the Hokage's office. 

Now, he could confidently disregard those who had once shown him hostility—such as the Third Hokage and his advisors. 

The brighter they once shone, the more pitiful they now seemed. 

After Fugaku departed, Tsunade admitted candidly. 

"I know you have many questions, but some matters are difficult to explain. Still, the Uchiha's decisive action to eliminate their troublemakers is a good thing for the village." 

What could they say? 

The Uchiha's purge of their hardliners signified their intent to fully integrate into the village. Coupled with Tsunade's removal of surveillance and targeting, the Uchiha's hardships seemed to be over. 

For the village, this was a blessing. But for the Third Hokage and the advisors, it was another slap in the face. 

Once, twice—it stung every time. 

Their resentment festered, but circumstances left them with no choice but to let Tsunade take the reins. 

With Tsunade's support, Fugaku had dared to take the knife to his own kin. 

Fine. Let it be. 

In the Uchiha compound, tension ran high, but Fugaku's presence as clan head prevented chaos. 

In Konoha's prison, Kazuki sat idly on a reclining chair, distracted. 

The surrounding clansmen couldn't help but be curious—what happened to their captain? Normally, he'd waste no time taunting Danzo, yet now he seemed uninterested. 

If nothing unexpected occurred, Fugaku had already begun his work. 

To what extent Fugaku would go, even Kazuki wasn't certain. This seemingly meek clan head had a history of ruthless action. 

"Why overthink it?" 

After a while, Kazuki laughed at himself, feeling his worries were excessive. 

The blade hanging over the Uchiha was gone, and his greatest fear since crossing over had been alleviated. So why dwell on it? 

As for how far Fugaku would go—that was his own matter. 

Shaking his head, Kazuki dismissed the thoughts and turned his gaze back to Danzo. 

Under his orders, Danzo was deprived of food and water, subsisting only on ration pills. Over time, his condition deteriorated—he'd lost significant weight, and his demeanor was no longer as sharp as before. 

At least he no longer fixed Kazuki with his cold, piercing glare. 

Though Danzo's current state appeared miserable, Kazuki felt no sympathy. 

With people like Danzo, any sign of pity would only invite manipulation. 

A snake in the shadows, no matter how weak, remained a lethal threat.