Chapter 21: Verbal Battle with the Clan

Fugaku Uchiha had closed his eyes but continued to sense the reactions of the surrounding clan members with his spiritual energy.

During the high-level meeting, he already knew this order was irreversible.

The Third, Danzo, and other senior leaders were completely united. Other Ninja Clans had accepted the command. At this point, the Uchiha Clan had no choice but to comply.

He was searching for the right timing—planning to speak after the more radical clan members had vented their emotions, so he could carry out the village's order smoothly.

While observing everyone's reaction, Fugaku Uchiha suddenly noticed an unusually calm Aozora Uchiha among them.

Amidst a crowd of angry clan members, Aozora Uchiha sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes deep and composed—a stark contrast among them.

As the head of the Uchiha Clan, Fugaku Uchiha was well aware of every powerful member's details—and naturally recognized the only younger brother of Shisui.

Thinking about Shisui's views, Fugaku Uchiha had an idea.

"Silence!"

Upon hearing this, the clan members instinctively shut up.

"It's not about who shouts louder that makes someone right."

"The relocation concerns every single one of us. Everyone should speak their mind."

"Aozora Uchiha! Why don't you speak first?"

Suddenly called upon by name, Aozora Uchiha was briefly caught off guard and stood up immediately.

At the moment he rose, he figured out what Fugaku Uchiha was thinking.

"You thought I'm just like my brother—a conservative? Wanting me to lead things off?"

Looking at the unfamiliar teenage boy standing up, many quickly whispered to their neighbors to ask about his identity.

Thankfully, although Aozora Uchiha wasn't often seen around the Uchiha Compound (the main residential area of the Uchiha Clan), his older brother Shisui had shined too brightly. As his only sibling, Aozora Uchiha's identity was soon revealed.

With Aozora Uchiha's identity discovered, quite a few people began to sense Fugaku Uchiha's hidden intention.

"What could he possibly say? Just some twelve-year-old brat who can't even drink alcohol!"

"He'll probably just repeat what his brother Shisui always says."

"What does the clan leader mean now? Still wanting to compromise? Haven't we compromised enough?"

"Compromised when it came to Obito's Sharingan. Compromised during the [Nine-Tails' Invasion]. And now again?"

"At least there won't be war... At least..."

"..."

Murmurs buzzed around the room, but Aozora Uchiha hadn't spoken yet.

He hadn't prepared anything to say. In fact, as a Genin-level outsider in the family, he had never had the right to speak during clan meetings. Therefore, today, he'd come ready to listen only.

Never did he expect to somehow receive this rare speaking opportunity.

He wanted to change the fate of the Uchiha Clan using nothing but words.

The thought sent his heart pounding with excitement, making him tremble slightly with anticipation.

"Come on, kid, speak up!"

"Scared stiff, aren't you?"

"..."

Several clan members who opposed Shisui's beliefs openly mocked him. Hearing those remarks, Aozora Uchiha suddenly laughed aloud.

"Heh... Hahaha!"

While laughing, he looked down at everyone with obvious contempt—including Fugaku Uchiha sitting at the front.

"Aozora Uchiha, what are you doing?"

"What are you laughing at? Why such disrespect?"

"..."

Uchiha Aozora's contempt was so blatant that many clan members voiced their anger. Even the conservatives and Fugaku Uchiha himself couldn't help but frown.

"What am I laughing at?"

First, Uchiha Aozora let out a soft chuckle before roaring, "I'm laughing at all of you for lacking strategy. I'm laughing at the clan head for being an idiot. I'm laughing because this clan will be destroyed by your hands."

"Hua!"

As soon as Aozora finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in shock—everyone stunned by this young man's audacity.

Uchiha Yuichi's eyes nearly popped out as he whispered in disbelief, "What is he doing? How can he say something like this?"

At this moment, Uchiha Sozu's usual poker face vanished, replaced by surprise—and then a flicker of something called hope.

The jounins, captains, and elders seated in the front row also turned to stare at Uchiha Aozora.

The surrounding Uchiha clansmen no longer looked down on him—with fury now burning in their eyes instead.

After a brief pause, one after another began rolling up their sleeves and standing up. Many already had bloodshot eyes, revealing crimson tomoe.

If not for the fact they were still in the family meeting hall, the place would've turned into a bloodbath by now.

Faced with the uproar, Uchiha Aozora stood unfazed and smirked, "Is this really all the Uchiha can take?"

This only added fuel to the fire, stoking the clan members' rage until it felt like the whole hall might explode.

Fugaku Uchiha now deeply regretted lighting an Explosive Tag without fully understanding the situation.

To prevent infighting in the meeting hall, he barked, "Everyone else sit down!"

Then, locking his gaze on Aozora's eyes, he said, "Now explain clearly to me—how am I an idiot?"

Under Fugaku's stare, Uchiha Aozora felt an indescribable pressure—

This was the aura of a peak expert. The aura of a clan leader.

Surrounded by this pressure, Uchiha Aozora actually felt slightly relieved.

Because he knew—he now had time to play his part.

With every clan member staring at him, Uchiha Aozora said, "Let me tell you about an experiment I ran."

"Skip the intro," Inabi Uchiha interrupted, leaning forward. "I want to know how I supposedly lacked strategy."

He was currently the clan's most gifted member, second only to Shisui. After joining the Police Force, he had achieved great success and was now a jounin—one of the six captains of the Police Department.

"I'll explain that later. What this shows right now is your impulsive nature."

"Hmph," Inabi Uchiha sneered, crossing his arms. "I'd love to hear how a brat like you plans to justify himself."

After speaking, he leaned forward with folded arms to listen.

Aozora stared deeply at Inabi Uchiha for a moment before beginning.

"I ran an experiment: I threw a frog straight into boiling water—and guess what? It jumped right back out."

Upon hearing this, the other Uchiha present regarded Aozora as nothing more than an attention-seeking punk.

"Then, I put another frog into a large iron pot filled with cold water. The frog swam around casually. Then I slowly heated the pot—but the frog just kept swimming carelessly."

Hearing this, both Fugaku Uchiha and many other clan members began to realize what he was implying.

"But when the frog finally realized the danger and tried to jump out... it was too late. It had no strength left."

"Just like the frog in the proverb — slowly boiled without realizing it."

At this moment, the expressions of the Uchiha clan members present turned grim.

An elderly man whose face was lined with wrinkles stood up and angrily rebuked, "Nonsense! Moving the Police Force is just one piece of the Reconstruction and Revitalization Plan! The village has already promised us additional compensation."

"Compensation?" Uchiha Aozora sneered twice, then mocked, "Do you know what the greatest tragedy in life is?"

"What do you mean?" The elder was thrown off by his words.

Aozora replied, "When a person dies but their money remains!"

Before others could react, Aozora continued, "The relocation destination lies behind the Nanaha River, with Mount Yougan to the left and directly facing the Barrier Unit's base ahead."

"What an incredible spot indeed — beautiful scenery, mountains and rivers included!"

"But once those barriers go up, where can our entire Uchiha clan possibly escape to?"

"You might run, but what about your wife, your kids, your parents? Can they get away too?"

"It's not just about being far from the village center — it's clearly a graveyard handpicked for the Uchiha clan."

Just imagining the layout of the new location sent chills down their spines.

Right at this moment, Fugaku Uchiha, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke out, "This is complete nonsense!"

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