"Clan Head, are we still going to bring up the matter of reinforcing the front lines?"
Uchiha Tetsuka couldn't hold back his question.
"Bring it up my ass!"
Fugaku spat, furious.
Given the current atmosphere, if he dared reveal that the village had demanded reinforcements after such a tragedy, the grief-stricken clan would tear him apart.
He knew his clan better than anyone.
On the surface, they all claimed to value their fellow clansmen above all.
But when their own interests were at stake?
They'd vanish like mist.
They'd thought going to the front meant pay and bonus missions.
No one expected the frontlines to be a slaughterhouse.
Now with news of the massacre spreading—and the village offering no condolences, but instead issuing a second draft—it would only fuel resentment and fear.
No one would volunteer.
And he, as clan head, would have nothing to bring back to the Hokage.
"The assembly continues as planned," Fugaku ordered.
"Tell them to gather in the shrine's main hall."
Since Plan A was dead, he'd move to Plan B.
Sacrifice Rin and Shisui.
Let the village have them.
Shift the blame.
Redirect the clan's rage.
Lord Kagami… I'm sorry.
I can't protect your descendant any longer.
He knew who Shisui was—Kagami's heir, under the Third Hokage's watchful eye.
But now, they were pawns.
Scapegoats to preserve the clan.
The assembly began.
Fugaku sat cross-legged at the center of the hall, fingers tracing the clan's emblem carved into the table—the fan symbol of the Uchiha.
His Sharingan flickered crimson in the candlelight.
"Brothers and sisters of the clan.
Beneath our feet, every stone of this shrine bears the weight of our ancestors' glory—and their shame.
Today, more of our own have fallen.
Their blood cries out.
The name Uchiha has been engraved in the eyes of Iwa-nin, with sacrifice and flame."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"But after investigation… we have found the root cause.
Traitors… from within."
He reached into his scroll pouch, pulling out two sealed missives.
Before all, he unfurled them—two names clearly written:
Uchiha Rin. Uchiha Shisui.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"This is impossible!"
From the front row, the Fifth Elder stood abruptly. His face pale. His voice sharp.
"An Uchiha would never betray the clan!"
Setsuna rose beside him, his voice cold but resolute.
"I agree. This is a lie."
The murmurs spread, building into a chorus of denial.
Fugaku responded grimly.
"It's the truth. The Hokage has confirmed it.
Just as Madara once turned his back on us…
So have these two."
He invoked the ghost of a legend to strengthen his case.
To him, if condemning Shisui protected the rest—
It was worth it.
As for Rin?
He was nobody.
"Abandoning Madara allowed our clan to survive," Fugaku declared.
"We cannot let two outliers endanger us again."
"I refuse."
Setsuna looked at him, eyes full of disgust, then stood and walked out.
Fugaku didn't stop him.
Instead, he swept his gaze across the crowd.
"Anyone else?"
None answered.
Not openly.
But the Fifth Elder followed after Setsuna.
Then five more hawk-aligned clansmen rose, spat at Fugaku's feet, and left without a word.
With the dissenters gone, the rest of the meeting flowed smoothly.
Without opposition, Fugaku secured the volunteers he needed.
One hundred Uchiha—bound for the battlefield.
After the assembly, Fugaku went straight to the Hokage's office.
"You did well, Fugaku," the Third said. "The village won't forget your service."
He handed Fugaku a scroll from his desk.
"The compensation for the forty-eight dead clansmen.
Pick it up at the Finance Bureau on your way back."
Fugaku unrolled the scroll, eyes narrowing.
"Only a hundred thousand ryō?"
That was for all of them—meaning barely two thousand per person.
Elder Mei had been a council member. How could he explain this to the family?
"The village's budget is strained," Hiruzen said heavily. "The daimyō's office only granted ten thousand per person.
We're already giving Uchiha the full amount, while most families get far less.
Remember—your clan wasn't the only one to suffer this month."
In truth, the daimyō had granted five hundred thousand.
But giving it all to the Uchiha?
That would spark fury from other clans.
"Lord Hokage… this won't do," Fugaku protested. "Especially for someone like Elder Mei. He volunteered."
Back then, ten thousand ryō still meant something.
Even so, it was hardly enough to honor a fallen elder.
"I'll personally add another hundred and fifty thousand," the Third said.
He walked to a locked cabinet, retrieved a small chest, and tossed it to Fugaku.
"A personal gesture—for Mei's family."
Fugaku bowed deeply, eyes gleaming.
Clearly, the Hokage still valued the Uchiha.
This, at least, was something.
"Please don't spread word of this," Hiruzen warned, waving him off.
Once the office emptied, a hidden door creaked open.
Shimura Danzō stepped into the candlelight.
"So. The Uchiha are stable for now."
"You're sure nothing was leaked?" Hiruzen asked, voice cold.
He had started doubting Danzō's competence.
The plan had nearly collapsed.
Only the village's own bounty on Shisui and Rin kept the Uchiha quiet.
"I used a spy among Iwa's agents," Danzō answered.
"They'll never suspect us. And they have no proof."
Internally, he sneered at Hiruzen's hypocrisy—hoarding compensation money and pretending to be righteous.
But he said nothing.
This slip-up was on him.
He had underestimated the clan's resolve.
Now, only one real solution remained.
Those two survivors—Rin and Shisui—had to be silenced.