“Hikura, I have some things to ask him.” Facing his trusted aide of many years, Uchiha Setsuna patiently offered an explanation.
“Go outside and keep watch.” “Understood, Lord Setsuna.” Uchiha Hikura breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and vanished.
“Treat your injuries first.” Uchiha Setsuna raised his arm, pressing his palm down in a gesturing motion.
“Sit down and speak.” Senya pulled a roll of white medical bandages from his ninja pouch and simply bandaged himself.
He wasn’t worried about getting a tetanus infection.
The ninja pouch and the kunai inside had been soaked and sterilized in alcohol beforehand.
Why beforehand?
Because from the very minute he knocked on the door, he had been acting.
Being controlled by the Sharingan’s genjutsu was also an act.
If he hadn’t been repeatedly rehearsing at home all day, coupled with the solid support of his Level 2 Acting skill, he would have blown his cover just now!
Now, he had finally entered the final stage.
The closer he got to the crucial moment, the less Senya dared to relax.
Uchiha Setsuna asked directly, “Why did you say we cannot inform Fugaku?” Senya heard the testing tone in his voice and spoke bluntly, “Because it would be useless.” Using concise language, Senya analyzed Fugaku from his dual roles as a father and the clan head.
He pointed straight to the core of the issue.
“Uchiha Itachi is Clan Head Fugaku’s most beloved child.
As a father, he will protect his child.
As a clan head, he will never accept the fact that Uchiha Itachi has completely defected to Konoha.” Pausing for a few seconds, Senya continued.
“The Nine-Tails incident and the past few years have been enough time for us to see Clan Head Fugaku’s true nature.
In times of peace, he would absolutely be a highly qualified and excellent clan head.
But right now, the clan has been pushed to the brink of life and death.
His kindness will only plunge the clan into an abyss from which we will never return!” As a junior member of the clan, it was obviously inappropriate for Senya to harshly criticize the clan head in front of a clan elder.
Especially since this clan head was single-handedly appointed by the elder himself!
Attacking Fugaku was tantamount to attacking Uchiha Setsuna.
However, by using the word ‘kindness’ to express it, he wouldn’t make Uchiha Setsuna feel offended.
Because kindness was a very specific word.
In certain contexts, it was synonymous with weakness!
Uchiha Setsuna sighed, his expression complex.
“Fugaku…
he is a bit too kind.” Uchiha Setsuna didn’t realize that he had subconsciously ignored Senya’s age, treating him as an equal he could converse with.
Senya continued calmly.
“Clan Head Fugaku trusts the Konoha higher-ups, believing they will provide a fair answer.
But in reality, this is nothing more than a facade put up by the Konoha brass.
They used this disguise to deceive Clan Head Fugaku, to deceive the vast majority of our clansmen, and that included the past me.” Senya mocked himself with a laugh, making no effort to hide his past naivety.
Uchiha Setsuna nodded slightly, his interest piqued.
“Why do you say the Konoha higher-ups are putting up a facade?” Senya clenched his fists, a fire burning in his eyes, yet his voice remained as calm as ever.
He displayed the anger of a young man who had finally seen through reality, yet managed to restrain that burning emotion, preventing it from affecting his rationality.
Getting angry was an instinct; controlling that anger was a skill.
“After the Second Hokage took office, he handed the Police Force over to our clan.
It seemed generous, but in truth, he was using this method to push our clan away from the center of Konoha’s power.” Uchiha Setsuna’s cloudy eyes brightened slightly.
This was a point he had only figured out in his old age.
He hadn’t expected Uchiha Senya to see through this at such a young age.
‘No wonder Uchiha Shisui believed he had a way to resolve this crisis of annihilation.’ Uchiha Setsuna felt a growing sense of expectation and approval.
He stared at Senya, his sharp, eagle-like gaze easily exerting immense pressure on anyone.
Senya didn’t avoid his gaze, continuing with perfect composure.
“It is a thankless job that offends people.
The proud nature of our clansmen makes it easy for us to clash with the ordinary villagers of Konoha.
When these large and small conflicts accumulate to a certain point, ostracization naturally follows.” “After the Third Hokage took office, our clan’s living environment became extremely hostile.
He knows very well how to use the ‘Will of Fire’ as a tool to disguise himself.
During the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, we sacrificed a massive number of clansmen, only to be rewarded with the weakening of our clan and further suppression from Konoha.” *Tap, tap, tap.* Uchiha Setsuna’s withered fingers gently tapped the table.
He nodded.
“You are absolutely right.” The appreciation and agreement in his words were palpable.
He was a hardcore hawk, and he was no fool.
He saw the problems facing the clan very clearly, but he lacked the power to change anything.
He was simply too old.
Most people in the clan yearned for a stable life.
If the Konoha higher-ups hadn’t pushed them too far, they wouldn’t have reached this point today.
Yet, even now, the majority of the clansmen were still wavering!
‘If only he had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, or was ten years older,’ Uchiha Setsuna thought regretfully.
“Elder Setsuna, the clan has reached the brink of survival!” Senya emphasized his tone, his voice resolute and powerful, stressing once more, “Yes, the clan has reached the very brink of survival!!” “Uchiha Itachi has betrayed the clan and completely sided with Konoha.
Konoha is about to make their move, yet Clan Head Fugaku is still wavering at this moment, hoping to resolve the issue through negotiations.
The vast majority of the clan still harbors naive fantasies!” “This is incredibly dangerous!
We must take action immediately!” By the end of his speech, Senya leaned forward, his eyes no longer calm.
He was like a volcano on the verge of erupting, brimming with terrifying energy!
It actually made Uchiha Setsuna feel a long-lost sense of urgency.
“What do you think we should do?” “The conflict between our clan and Konoha has reached an irreconcilable point.
We must cast aside all illusions and prepare for battle!” Senya stood up.
His pitch-black pupils turned crimson, and three black tomoe slowly spun within them.
Uchiha Setsuna read absolute decisiveness and iron-blooded resolve in those eyes.
“A coup is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery.
It cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained, and magnanimous.
It is an act of violent bloodshed, leaving no room for compromise, a brutal campaign that will not end until one side is completely eradicated!” These words exploded in Uchiha Setsuna’s heart like a clap of thunder tearing through the darkness, leaving him numb and trembling.
He finally understood why he felt so disappointed in Uchiha Fugaku and the majority of the clan.
Because they had always been immersed in a fantasy— Weak, naive, and childish!
“When did your Sharingan evolve?” Uchiha Setsuna pondered for a moment before asking a seemingly unrelated question.
“After seeing this suicide note.” Uchiha Setsuna dispelled the doubts in his heart.
No wonder he had felt a bit of strain earlier.
The three tomoe in Senya’s eyes prompted him to make a decision.
“What do you think we should do?” This was a test, and he hoped the young man before him could provide a satisfactory…
no, a passing answer.
The same question, but the underlying meaning was entirely different.
Senya read the hidden meaning within.
He pursed his slightly dry lips and gave his answer.