"Who told you that?" Fugaku burst out in shock.
But the next second, he realized he had said something foolish.
Because... he had never told anyone that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Naraku shook his head and replied calmly, "No one told me. I can see it—your chakra is on the same level as Shisui's."
"Chakra?" Fugaku echoed, confused at first. But then his expression shifted in realization.
"The same level as Shisui? Has Shisui also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"Mr. Fugaku, you've awakened yours as well?" Shisui asked, equally surprised.
Their eyes locked.
Shisui, a high-ranking jōnin of the Uchiha clan, had awakened his Mangekyō without the knowledge of the clan head. Yet, somehow, this outsider knew.
Fugaku, the clan patriarch, had done the same—but Shisui hadn't known either. And again, Naraku knew.
The whole situation felt ridiculous.
Naraku didn't mention Shisui's ultimate technique, Kotoamatsukami. Although Itachi trusted Shisui implicitly, Fugaku would naturally be wary of such a jutsu—one capable of bending another's will completely.
But regarding the Mangekyō, there was no need to hide it. Both Shisui and Fugaku shared one common desire: to save the Uchiha clan.
"You've kept the Mangekyō a secret to avoid drawing the attention of the Third Hokage," Naraku said flatly. "You feared he'd see you as a threat and act to eliminate you."
"And the Third Hokage's surveillance of the Uchiha clan? It's not about discovering the truth."
"It's about suppression."
"Suppression?" Fugaku asked.
"Even if people remain silent, resentment grows," Itachi said suddenly. "Resentment with nowhere to go will eventually erupt."
Itachi looked toward Naraku as he spoke.
Naraku smiled approvingly. "Exactly. The growing urge for a coup is the manifestation of this pressure. But before the Uchiha can act on it... the village will eliminate them."
"This is a subtle trap. A slow kill. Likely orchestrated by the Third Hokage—and Danzo."
Fugaku looked at his son in disbelief.
Again, he was stunned by Itachi's insight and maturity.
"Could it really be that the Third Hokage is intentionally driving us to destruction?"
Shisui and Fugaku both struggled to fully accept this harsh possibility. The implications were staggering.
"Someone's coming," Naraku said suddenly, glancing toward the door.
Knock! Knock!
Two firm knocks.
"Naraku, the clan elders say they want an emergency meeting!" came a familiar voice—it was Hisashi.
"Seal off the area! Don't let Naraku escape!" shouted another voice from behind. It was arrogant, authoritative.
The voice belonged to Yemen, the son of a main clan elder.
With a kick, Yemen burst through the door.
Boom!
The hinges shattered under the force. The door crashed to the floor.
"Come here, Naraku!" Yemen barked at a branch family shinobi nearby.
Yemen's father had told him that starting today, he would become the next head of the Hyuga clan. The cursed seal on Naraku would be activated, and Naraku would be publicly executed.
As for Hisashi, whom he had once at least respected—now he treated him with outright contempt.
"Yemen-san…" the branch shinobi hesitated at the door, clearly frightened.
"What are you doing? Go grab him—eh?"
Yemen entered the room himself.
And froze.
Inside, three pairs of scarlet eyes glared at him coldly.
A shiver ran down his spine.
Only now did he understand the terror of being stared at by three awakened Sharingan.
His fear quickly turned to anger.
So what if it was Fugaku or Shisui? Even that child Itachi dared to look at him like this?
He was about to become the patriarch of the Hyuga clan!
"Patriarch Fugaku, what are you doing here?" Yemen forced the words out.
"I came to visit Naraku-san," Fugaku said flatly, frowning. "And you are?"
He genuinely didn't know who Yemen was.
To Fugaku, Naraku was now someone of importance—someone who might hold the key to saving the Uchiha clan.
The question wasn't meant to insult Yemen—but it stung deeply.
"You…" Yemen clenched his teeth in frustration.
He knew Fugaku, yet Fugaku didn't even recognize him.
But the power of the Sharingan kept him from retaliating.
Trying to keep his cool, Yemen turned to Naraku and sneered:
"Naraku, what gives you the confidence to think the Uchiha clan can protect you—let alone save you?"
The Hyuga elders believed they had the support of the Hokage. What could the Uchiha possibly do in comparison?
"You three shouldn't get involved with this kind of trash," Yemen mocked. "I guess the Sharingan isn't that good at judging people after all."
Naraku remained calm.
Yemen laughed mockingly. "Naraku, no one can save you t—"
WHAM!
Before he could finish, Naraku disappeared from his sight.
A powerful blow smashed into Yemen's stomach, sending him crashing to the floor.
"You…" he groaned, blood spilling from his mouth.