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Uchiha Setsuna swung a hand straight toward Akira's head.
"Brat, get on your knees and apologize properly!"
Smack!
Akira calmly raised a hand and casually blocked the blow.
Then he flipped his wrist, seized the other man's arm, and bent it back in one smooth motion.
Crack!
Uchiha Setsuna's entire hand folded backward at an unnatural angle.
"Ahhh! You bastard! I'll kill you!"
The searing pain drove Uchiha Setsuna completely berserk. In an instant, he activated his two-tomoe Sharingan.
Seeing this, Akira let out a short, mocking laugh.
"Tch. Just a trash-tier two-tomoe. I thought you were something special."
Crack!
Crack!
Akira lashed out with two lightning-fast kicks, shattering both of Setsuna's knees on the spot.
"Make me kneel? You think you're worthy?"
Akira's eyes were icy cold, like a monarch looking down on an ant. An overwhelming, domineering aura radiated from him.
"Aaaaargh!"
All Setsuna could do now was scream in agony.
"You're too loud."
Akira frowned slightly, then reached out and grabbed Setsuna by the jaw.
With a sharp crack, his jaw was crushed.
This time, no screams came out. Only muffled, painful whimpers leaked from his throat.
"That's much quieter."
Akira nodded in satisfaction and casually tossed him aside like a piece of trash.
Thud.
Uchiha Baru collapsed onto the ground in fright.
"Y-you killed someone! You actually killed an Uchiha in the Uchiha compound!"
He was terrified beyond words, his finger trembling as he pointed at Akira.
This was horrifying.
Setsuna, who had the strength of a special jonin, had been treated like a helpless chick. He had not been able to resist at all.
No matter how he imagined it before, Baru could never have predicted such an outcome.
"Killed him?"
Akira frowned, clearly displeased.
"Watch what you say. I didn't kill him. I just gave him a little lesson."
Baru glanced at Setsuna, who was barely clinging to life. In this state, it was worse than death.
Then he looked at Akira's indifferent expression and immediately nodded hard.
"Y-yes! You're right. Absolutely right!"
"Good. Then I can go in now, yeah?"
Akira asked with a smile.
"Please! Go right ahead!"
Baru hurriedly stepped aside. He had no desire to end up like Setsuna.
The people inside were all elite members of the clan. Surely someone there could deal with this ruthless monster.
As for him, he was just a gate guard. Staying alive mattered more than anything else.
Inside the Uchiha clan meeting hall, a group of Uchihas sat kneeling in a circle.
To someone who did not know better, it might have looked like they were playing a children's game.
The way the Uchiha held meetings was strange and even a bit comical, but everyone present was a major figure within the clan.
They were either influential elders or elite jonin with formidable strength.
Regular jonin were technically qualified to attend, but most of them sat on the outer ring.
They could listen, but they had no right to speak.
Today's clan meeting was far too important. It concerned the very interests of the clan, and no mistakes could be allowed.
Bang!
Uchiha Tajima, representative of the radical faction, slammed his hand onto the floor.
Staring straight at Fugaku across from him, he shouted without any restraint.
"Fugaku, you're far too weak!
The Third Hokage has already climbed onto our heads and taken a dump, and you're still talking about compromise."
"I supported you becoming clan head back then. That was the biggest mistake of my life. I must have been blind."
"I thought you'd lead the Uchiha to greatness. Instead, you've dragged us deeper into decline."
"At this rate, the Uchiha will be destroyed in your hands. You're simply not fit to be clan head!"
At this point, Tajima deliberately paused.
Once he saw everyone's attention focused on him, he finally revealed his true intent. His voice suddenly rose, loud and sharp.
"That's why I propose replacing the clan head with someone more capable.
Only then can the Uchiha rise again, become the number one clan in the ninja world, and finally…"
"Enough! Shut your mouth!"
Before he could finish, a furious shout cut him off.
Even a clay figure has three parts anger, let alone Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha clan.
He immediately shot back.
"What do you know? All you ever do is shout nonsense. Do you have any idea how much effort I've poured into this clan's future?"
"During the Third Great Ninja War, if I hadn't fought through blood and fire, would the Uchiha have the standing we have today?"
"And if not for my steady policies, would the Uchiha have the stable environment we enjoy now?"
"Haha! You're killing me!"
Tajima burst out laughing.
"You call your weakness 'steady'? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard."
"The Leaf's higher-ups suppress us step by step. Our clan's contributions in the war were swallowed up. We were forced to relocate our compound."
"After the Nine-Tails incident, we were treated with suspicion."
"This is your so-called steady policy?"
Snap!
Tajima suddenly activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.
His crimson eyes locked onto Fugaku, a fierce, oppressive aura surging straight toward him.
"Tell me, Fugaku. What exactly have we gained from your policies?"
"Other than having our interests devoured piece by piece, what else have we gained?"
"Answer me!"
Snap!
Fugaku activated his own three-tomoe Sharingan without hesitation.
An even stronger presence rose from his body.
"Watch your attitude, Tajima. I am the clan head. You have no right to question my decisions."
"Heh."
Tajima sneered, his face full of mockery.
"Is that all you have, Fugaku? Such a weak and empty rebuttal."
"It really does seem like you're no longer fit to stay in the position of clan head."
"I propose that I, Uchiha Tajima, replace Fugaku as the new head of the Uchiha clan."
"Here, I swear that I will never compromise even a single step with the Leaf's higher-ups."
"And I will reclaim everything the Uchiha have lost."
"At the very least, I'll force that old dog of a Third Hokage to give us a seat among the Leaf's elders."
"Now then. Who agrees, and who opposes?"
As his words fell, more than half of the Uchiha present raised their hands, voices ringing out one after another.
"I second this!"
"I agree!"
"I support it!"
"I also think Tajima is more suitable to be clan head!"
"..."
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