“Aozora!” Suddenly someone called his name from behind, and Uchiha Aozora hurriedly turned his head.
He saw the two Uchiha clansmen he met yesterday walking over side by side.
Ever since Uchiha Yuichi found out he was Shisui’s younger brother, he had been ignoring him, and it was the same today; taking advantage of being taller than Aozora, he kept looking down his nose at him.
On the other hand, although Uchiha Sosuke had a poker face, he stepped forward and greeted Aozora.
“First time attending a gathering?” Aozora nodded and said: “Yeah, after all, I just graduated this year.” Uchiha Sosuke said: “Don’t worry, there aren’t too many rules at clan meetings.
If you’re nervous, you can sit next to me later.” “…” While the two were talking, suddenly the crowd buzzed, and then completely quieted down.
Aozora followed everyone’s gaze and saw a line of Uchiha clansmen wearing ninja flak jackets walking towards the assembly hall one after another.
The person leading them had short black hair, didn’t wear a forehead protector, and had obvious tear troughs at the corners of his eyes, looking very dignified.
Aozora bowed along with the other clansmen, saying: “Greetings, Clan Head!” Uchiha Fugaku crossed his arms and walked through the crowd, opening the main doors of the assembly hall.
“Come in!” Hearing the Clan Head’s instruction, Uchiha Aozora finally followed the clansmen into the assembly hall.
Entering the assembly hall, Uchiha Aozora was quite surprised.
The assembly hall of the noble Uchiha was actually exceptionally simple and plain; the spacious room didn’t have a single piece of furniture.
Uchiha Fugaku sat alone facing the crowd, while everyone else sat cross-legged facing him at will.
Generally following the strength of their abilities, Jonin sat in the front rows, while Genin sat in the back rows.
Under Sosuke’s beckoning, Uchiha Aozora sat next to him, right in the center of the crowd.
After everyone settled down, Uchiha Fugaku directly announced: “Everyone, it has been almost a year since the Nine-Tails Rebellion.
Konoha has passed its most difficult time and is on the verge of revitalization.
At such a critical moment, the village has decided to launch a revitalization plan.” Hearing this, many clansmen asked doubtfully: “A revitalization plan?” “Yes, a revitalization plan.
Taking advantage of the revitalization, the village has decided to carry out further planning for the Konoha areas.
The Police Force was attacked during the Nine-Tails Rebellion, and although it was repaired, it’s still somewhat dilapidated.
Therefore, the village has decided to help us rebuild.” At this point, Uchiha Fugaku paused.
Within the crowd, the sorrows and joys were not the same.
Some Uchihas were exceptionally delighted, thinking the village was finally going to reconcile with the Uchiha.
There were also Uchihas sneering repeatedly, believing this was just poison coated in honey.
However, everyone thought too much.
In the next moment, Uchiha Fugaku’s words made the entire hall of Uchihas erupt in anger: “The new Police Force will be built beside the Hokage Rock, along the banks of the Naka River.
After the Police Force relocates, we will also relocate to the vicinity to guard the Police Force.” “What?!” As soon as Uchiha Fugaku’s voice fell, a commotion broke out below.
“How can the village do this?” “Is that place even considered Konoha Village anymore?
Are they relocating us or exiling us?” “Clan Head, you didn’t agree, did you?” “Why?” “…” Uchiha Yuichi beside him was undoubtedly the most agitated.
Neither Aozora nor Sosuke could hold him back.
He stood up directly in anger and said: “This is a conspiracy by the higher-ups!
They want us to stay away from the center of Konoha!” “Quiet!” Uchiha Fugaku had held power for many days, and both his strength and prestige made him the undisputed candidate for the Uchiha.
Under his shout, Uchiha Yuichi sat back on the ground unwillingly, and the other clansmen couldn’t help but stop arguing.
But the fire in the clansmen’s hearts was not extinguished.
Many people had bloodshot eyes due to anger, and no one could imagine what would happen in the next instant.
Under the burning gazes of the clansmen, Uchiha Fugaku said expressionlessly: “This is a clan meeting, not a shrew’s quarrel causing trouble!
It’s not about whoever is the loudest being right!” “I am not a dictatorial person.
If you have any opinions, you can raise them.” Uchiha Fugaku pointed at Uchiha Yuichi and said: “Regarding the village’s instructions, do you have any opinions?” Uchiha Yuichi lowered his voice a bit at this moment and said: “Clan Head, this is a conspiracy by the higher-ups.
They want us to leave the center of Konoha and completely lose our control over Konoha.” Listening to Uchiha Yuichi’s words, Aozora complained internally: Control?
Do the Uchiha even have control over Konoha?
Other clansmen echoed their agreement upon hearing this.
“Exactly!” “Yuichi is right!” “Konoha is afraid of us seizing power!” “…” Following Uchiha Yuichi’s speech, many Uchiha clansmen echoed in agreement, and radical clansmen constantly stood up to call for refusing the relocation.
Listening to the clansmen’s speeches, Uchiha Aozora gained a deeper understanding of their baffling overconfidence.
At the same time, it was strange that there were no moderates, so he softly asked Sosuke: “Brother Sosuke, didn’t you say there are different factions in the clan?
Why is everyone so radical?” Hearing this, Uchiha Sosuke turned his head and said to him: “Most of the clansmen who favor the village went to support the Hidden Cloud border.
The remaining moderate clansmen are without a leader.” Aozora nodded in agreement.
Indeed, the border was in emergency now, and the Uchihas whose hearts leaned towards Konoha mostly went to support it.
While Aozora and Sosuke were exchanging opinions, the atmosphere in the assembly hall grew increasingly heated.
Two young Police Force captains sitting in the front row spoke successively.
Uchiha Yashiro said: “The reason they didn’t dispatch us Uchiha during the Nine-Tails incident was because they were afraid the Uchiha would use the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails, right!” Uchiha Inabi also voiced out: “It’s not just that.
There are even people in the village saying that the ones who triggered the Nine-Tails incident were people from our Uchiha.” “Driving us to the corner of the village is to restrict our movements.
In the end, since the era of the Second Hokage, we’ve already been gathered in the corner of the village, completely in a state of isolation.
This time we’re actually being driven even further away.
Clan Head, the village has always been suspecting us!” With the speeches of the two big shots, the radical clansmen gained even more momentum.
“Yeah, the village has never trusted us!” “Clan Head, we cannot agree to such a relocation!” “Exactly, we should firmly oppose it!” “…” Everyone talked at once, and for a time the assembly hall was once again like a pot of boiling water poured over.
Uchiha Aozora didn’t look at the clansmen’s performance, but instead shifted his gaze to Uchiha Fugaku.
While the clansmen below were engaged in a lively and intense discussion, Uchiha Fugaku actually closed his eyes.
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku as immovable as a mountain, Aozora knew the result of this meeting was already set.
A first beat of the drum rouses the spirit, a second beat sees the spirit wane, and with the third it is exhausted.
Although Uchiha Fugaku might not have heard this phrase, he definitely understood this principle.
The best opportunity for the radical faction was right after Uchiha Fugaku announced the “revitalization plan”.
Unfortunately, Uchiha Yuichi was too agitated and stood up to speak first.
With his relatively low prestige, he was stopped by Uchiha Fugaku with a single word.
Next, as long as Uchiha Fugaku defused the second “riot”, the clansmen’s spirit would disintegrate.
While Aozora was observing Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Fugaku was also observing everyone.
While observing the clansmen’s reactions, Uchiha Fugaku noticed the anomaly in the crowd—the exceptionally calm Uchiha Aozora.
Suddenly, an idea formed in his mind.