Once, the Hidden Sand Village.
Inside Fugaku's temporary residence, candlelight flickered, illuminating the large Uchiha Fan Crest hanging on the wall.
Several people sat inside. All were Uchiha clansmen.
Fugaku had just finished his duties. He hadn't even had time to take off his sand-proof cloak before he was invited in.
Two elders from the clan had traveled thousands of miles from Konoha to arrive here.
"Clan Head," one elder said in a low voice, "you've been in the Land of Wind for two months now. What's the situation like? What did the Daimyo-sama say?"
Fugaku looked up and observed them, not rushing to answer.
The faces surrounding him were filled with desire. A hunger for power.
"It's alright," Fugaku began slowly. "The situation in the Land of Wind is basically stable."
"The remaining forces of Suna can't cause any real trouble. As for the civilians, as long as they're fed, they're more obedient than anyone."
"As for the Daimyo…" Fugaku paused for a moment, then continued, "he should be very satisfied with my work."
"What do you mean 'should be'?" the elder pressed, voice anxious. "You need to be sure, Fugaku."
"Alright. The Daimyo is very satisfied with my work." Fugaku sounded helpless. "He promised that as long as I stabilize the Land of Wind within a year, the branch here will be placed under my full responsibility."
He hadn't wanted to reveal this so early, but the clan was growing too impatient.
Full responsibility?
Everyone present began to breathe heavier.
This was the Land of Wind. Even though it was a desert, it was still an entire country's territory.
"Excellent." The other elder, who had remained silent until now, couldn't help but slap his thigh. His face was flushed with excitement.
"This is a huge opportunity. How many years have we, the Uchiha, been stuck in that broken place, Konoha, enduring injustice?"
"If we can relocate the clan to the Land of Wind, where the sky is vast and the Hokage is far away…"
His eyes narrowed. A ruthless gleam appeared. "We could take root here and establish an independent Uchiha force."
"With land and people under our control, would we still need to bow to Hiruzen and those old fools?"
"Exactly!" another person echoed, spittle flying. "We're one of Konoha's founding clans. Why are we rotting away in that thankless Police Force?"
"Once we're here, we may not be Hokage, but we'll be greater than the Hokage!"
"Watch your words." Fugaku frowned and let out a low growl, silencing the restless room.
"Keep thoughts like that buried deep." His gaze swept across the room. His tone grew cold. "Even if this is an Uchiha residence…"
"Don't forget, Orochimaru is still in charge here. His methods are far crueler than Hiruzen's."
The elder who had first spoken dismissed his concern. "What's there to fear? Lady Ragyō is already carrying the Daimyo-sama's child. With her, we…"
Before he could finish, Fugaku shot him a sharp glare.
The elder shrank his neck and awkwardly fell silent, but the excitement in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
Since the Second Hokage's era, the Uchiha had been suppressed, treated like criminals.
That resentment had been festering for decades.
Now, finally, they saw a chance. Who wouldn't be excited?
"Clan Head." A younger clansman, part of the clan's radical faction, stepped forward. "Since the Daimyo-sama values you so much, shouldn't we strike while the iron is hot?"
"We've rendered such great service helping him stabilize the Land of Wind. We should at least ask for something real."
"A promise of control isn't enough."
"We could ask him to assign our people into the Anbu, or even the Daimyo Manor's guard unit."
"With real power in our hands, the Uchiha can finally stand tall!"
Fugaku looked at the young clansman like he was a fool. "Naive."
The young man froze, his face flushing. "Clan Head, I'm doing this for the clan—"
"You're sending the clan to its death." Fugaku cut him off coldly. "Who do you think the Daimyo-sama is?"
"He's the Daimyo. A ruthless man who single-handedly planned the annexation of the Land of Wind and the dismantling of Kumo."
"Even Hiruzen has to bow to him. You think he wouldn't see through our pathetic ambitions?"
Fugaku slammed the table hard.
"If I dared to make demands, dared to ask for power right now…"
"That would be telling him the Uchiha are ambitious. That we're unwilling to be his dogs."
"And once that thought takes root…"
Fugaku suddenly raised his finger and pointed at the young man's forehead.
"By the next day, the Uchiha would become the second Hidden Sand Village."
"The Daimyo who swallowed the Land of Wind can devour the Uchiha whole."
"Even Ragyō's pleas wouldn't help."
The room fell silent.
Cold sweat dripped from the young clansman's forehead. He took a half-step back and didn't dare speak again.
The two elders exchanged glances. Their earlier arrogance faded.
"Then… what should we do?" the elder asked bitterly. "Are we just going to keep hiding like this? Even after doing so much, we can't speak up? We're still going to be suppressed by the Hokage?"
"We're not hiding," Fugaku said. "We're enduring."
"Enduring?"
"Yes. Enduring like taming a hawk."
Fugaku pointed outside.
"The Land of Fire is at its peak. The Daimyo-sama's authority is unmatched."
"In this situation, as long as we Uchiha do our jobs properly, the Daimyo-sama won't forget us."
"Besides…" Fugaku's tone turned serious. "The Daimyo-sama's policies are too extreme."
"The annexation of the Land of Wind has already made the other nations wary."
"It won't be long before the Land of Fire faces an even bigger crisis."
"And when that time comes…"
A ruthless glint flashed in Fugaku's eyes.
"When war reignites, both the Daimyo Manor and Konoha will be thrown into chaos."
"That will be our Uchiha's opportunity."
"The Clan Head means…" The elders' eyes lit up again.
"For now, we keep our heads down. We execute every task the Daimyo-sama assigns us perfectly."
Fugaku lowered his voice, enunciating clearly.
"We need to make the Daimyo-sama feel that the Uchiha are the most loyal and useful blade in his hand."
"We use this opportunity to quietly build our strength."
"When Konoha proves insufficient, the Daimyo-sama will naturally turn to us."
At this point, Fugaku gave a warning.
"All of you, endure."
"Wait until true chaos breaks out."
"Do you understand?"
Everyone responded in unison, "Understood."
Fugaku waved his hand, signaling the end of the meeting.
After most had left, he rubbed his temples, his brows furrowing.
Some of his clansmen's thoughts were giving him a headache.
They actually wanted to… As soon as that thought formed, Fugaku let out a deep sigh.
There was still a lot he hadn't told them outright.
But so be it.
Reality would teach them soon enough.
(To be continued.)