章節 178: **Chapter 178: The Debate Within the Uchiha**
Upon arriving at the Uchiha compound, Reiki could feel the tense, almost frozen atmosphere hanging over everyone. The Uchiha clan's recent battle with Kirigakure, compounded by the delayed rescue and the tragic loss of their leader, had cast a somber shadow over the entire clan.
In Uchiha Fugaku's courtyard, a quiet but heavy meeting was underway.
"Shisui, go in first," Uchiha Ze said upon seeing the two of them. "The patriarch is in a meeting. As for Dr. Reiki, if you're here to see Shisui, you may want to wait a bit." His tone was calm, but Reiki sensed the volatility simmering just beneath the surface.
"Alright," Reiki agreed, understanding that now was not the time to press forward. He could feel the suppressed resentment within the Uchiha building. The continuous oppression and the recent "failure to rescue" had pushed many Uchiha to their limits.
"There's a pavilion over here," Uchiha Ze said, gesturing to a nearby spot. "I'll bring you some refreshments while you wait."
Meanwhile, Shisui stepped into the main room, where Fugaku was addressing a room full of Uchiha clan members.
"This can't go on!" Uchiha Natsume's voice was filled with fury. "The higher-ups don't see us as part of Konoha. If we keep silent, our clan will fade away just like the Senju!"
Natsume had been among the elite jounin accompanying Uchiha Tani. He had witnessed Tani's desperate fight against waves of Kirigakure ninjas and saw the reinforcements arrive only after Tani had perished. As a veteran Uchiha, he knew all too well the disdain Konoha's leaders held for their clan.
"Captain Natsume is right," Uchiha Osamu chimed in, his frustration clear. "If we remain quiet, we'll keep seeing these 'mistakes'—delayed rescues, 'intelligence errors'—until we wither away! The Senju clan was once as strong as us, and now look! Only Tsunade and her nephew remain. Will we let ourselves become like that?"
Osamu, head of the Konoha Security Department's third team, had seen enough. Though they were meant to be Konoha's protectors, the Uchiha often found themselves unfairly blamed. His voice carried the weight of his frustrations.
"Patriarch, if we act rashly, Konoha's leaders will see it as rebellion," cautioned Uchiha Hongishi, an elder who had seen much of the clan's history. "Many families resent us, and we'll be facing a siege on all sides. Without the village's protection, our Sharingan would become targets, coveted by every ninja with an eye on our bloodline."
"Is the answer to just sit back and watch our clan slowly fade into obscurity?" Natsume shot back, his anger boiling over. "The higher-ups would be glad to see us vanish entirely!"
Just as tensions began to rise, Fugaku raised his hand, and the room quieted.
"Enough," Fugaku said, his voice steady. Though Natsume was brimming with resentment, he knew better than to challenge the patriarch directly. He sat down with a scowl.
Shisui, standing at the edge of the room, felt a wave of shock. He was young, only eight, yet he'd already become a genin. However, even he hadn't realized the extent of the friction between his family and the village.
"Patriarch, what are we to do now?" Uchiha Osamu asked, resigned yet hopeful. The room turned its gaze to Fugaku, awaiting his direction.
Fugaku took a moment to collect his thoughts. He was the clan leader, now bearing responsibilities that once fell to Uchiha Tani. The weight of leading the Uchiha in a village that seemed intent on undermining them rested heavily on his shoulders.
"Now is not the time to openly clash with the village," Fugaku stated finally, voicing his position.
Natsume and his allies looked visibly disappointed. They had once made similar appeals to Tani, hoping for a more assertive approach. They had thought Fugaku might take a stronger stand.
"So, that's it?" Uchiha Shuya asked, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Is there anything else you wish to tell us, clan leader?"
Fugaku met their gazes. "We'll continue with our current strategy. But if the village continues down this path, I promise I won't let us be sacrificed in vain."
The room fell silent, each member digesting his words. Shisui, however, felt a spark of inspiration. He saw Fugaku as a leader who could steer the Uchiha toward a better future—not someone blinded by anger or reckless enough to endanger their family.
As the meeting concluded and the room emptied, Shisui realized Reiki was still waiting for him.
"Clan leader, Dr. Reiki came today," Shisui said, turning to Fugaku. "He's here to treat our injured clan members."
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