Chapter 65: Fugaku: "Renji, you will regret this"; Renji: "Fugaku, I am the clan head!"
"So, former Clan Head Fugaku, you want Sasuke to become my disciple?"
The next day, Fugaku sought out Renji and told him about Sasuke's intention to apprentice under him.
Fugaku had already discussed it with Sasuke the day before.
"That's right. But could you please just call me by my name? Stop adding 'former clan head' after it."
Fugaku felt numb inside. Was this guy reminding him that he had already been dethroned?
"Okay, former clan head!"
"...."
He really wanted to kill this guy.
Although Uchiha Fugaku had met people more shameless than Renji before, it was the first time he'd encountered one within the Uchiha clan.
It made Fugaku feel a faint sadness. Was letting Sasuke follow him really the right choice?
But...
Having already brought this matter up to Renji, it seemed there was no turning back.
"If Sasuke wants to become my disciple, then I'll accept him. Consider it my way of compensating you. Driving you off the clan head's seat wasn't something I initially wanted... but your policies made it unbearable."
Renji didn't hold much personal grudge against Uchiha Fugaku, but he couldn't tolerate his indecisiveness.
Originally, before his chat group system had been activated, Renji had thought about fleeing the Uchiha Massacre if he didn't have a golden finger.
But now that he had one, he wanted to change his fate.
After all, he had lived off the Uchiha clan for years; if he had the power to change their future, naturally he wanted to.
However, Fugaku's methods had disappointed him greatly, so Renji had no choice but to make him step down.
Otherwise, with Fugaku's indecisiveness, Itachi's internal threat, and Shisui's misguided loyalty, combined with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha's cunning F4 elders outside...
How could they possibly survive such a high-level chess game?
"Was my path really wrong? At least I thought I could prevent things from becoming so tense. Although I'm no longer the clan head, and I probably shouldn't meddle anymore, I still want to ask—Renji, have you really thought this through? Continuing on this path will only worsen the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha. It'll lead to war!"
Uchiha Fugaku, although prone to compromise, understood the situation very clearly: if they clashed with Konoha, they would have no chance of winning.
That's why he had compromised again and again.
If there had been another way, he would not have been so weak both within and outside the clan.
Once the number one clan, the Uchiha were now surviving on scraps, not even daring to speak loudly.
This was also why the number of radicals within the clan had steadily grown.
The best Fugaku could do was try to maintain balance.
Renji's actions had, indeed, given many in the clan—and even Fugaku himself—a sense of pride for once.
But once the moment passed, Fugaku began to ponder: was it truly worth risking the entire clan just for a fleeting moment of pride?
"Have you ever thought about why the other side keeps pressing us, why they keep forcing the Uchiha to compromise?"
"Why?"
Actually, Fugaku already had his own answers deep down.
But he didn't rush to say it—he wanted to hear how Renji would explain it.
"Human nature has its darker sides. If you show nothing but strength, it forces others to hesitate. But if you compromise once, even if they view you favorably at first, they'll expect you to compromise again.
From the beginning, the Uchiha gave up business interests, then sent many elite ninja to fight and curry favor during the ninja wars, and later even surrendered parts of our ancestral lands.
Today they take five cities, tomorrow they'll demand ten, just for one night of false peace.
And once we have nothing left to give, what then?
Are we supposed to offer up our Sharingan too?
Think about it, Fugaku. Under your leadership, the Uchiha have already given away everything. The only thing left is the Sharingan.
And unlike other bloodline limits, the Sharingan can be plucked out and used by outsiders."
In Renji's view, the Uchiha had nothing left to compromise with.
Each of Fugaku's concessions had stripped away another piece of the clan's interests.
It had bought them a bit of temporary peace, but left the clan hollow and weakened.
In peaceful times, a lack of respect might have been tolerable. But with no money, a police force to maintain, and the lower-ranked Uchiha struggling to survive—
And Fugaku still wanted to compromise?
Wasn't he dragging the entire Uchiha clan down into the gutter?
"Surely it's not that bad... we're all part of the same village. They wouldn't go that far..."
Uchiha Fugaku's heart trembled.
He had only wanted to compromise for the sake of peace. He didn't want a war between the Uchiha and Konoha.
But according to Renji's words, his approach had been completely wrong!
Yet he still found it hard to believe that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others would be so ruthless.
After all, if the Uchiha were wiped out, what would the other clans think?
Who would still dare to stay in Konoha?
"Stop being so naïve, Fugaku! Even after you gave up everything, the village still kept tightening the noose. Can't you see the reality we face?!"
Fugaku's stubbornness made Renji feel a bit of ironic sadness.
How could he still cling to such illusions at a time like this?
Among the three strongest Uchiha warriors,
Each one was more obstinate than the last.
Even setting aside the three pairs of Mangekyō in the original story, they could at least have led a portion of the Uchiha to retreat from Konoha, right? Yet all three Mangekyō users were surrender advocates!
Hearing Renji's words, a trace of confusion flashed through Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, and deep down, he actually felt a faint sense of agreement.
Yes.
It seemed that everything that could be surrendered had already been given up, yet it still hadn't helped.
"But Renji, you have to understand, what you're doing now will still drag the Uchiha into the abyss—only faster!!"
Uchiha Fugaku knew very well that even if Renji's words ultimately proved true,
Renji's methods would push the Uchiha into the abyss far faster than his own compromises would have.
He simply didn't realize how strong Konoha truly was!!
"Fugaku, I am the clan head!!!"
Renji said calmly. No matter what Fugaku thought, he was now the Uchiha clan head—Fugaku was not.
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku opened his mouth but couldn't even find a way to argue back.
It was true. No matter what Renji did, it was the decision of the clan head. Fugaku no longer had the authority to intervene.
"Renji, the Uchiha clan thrives on strength, not words!!"
Fugaku still tried to resist. He had once become clan head not by sweet talking like Renji, but through strength.
If, during the clan meeting, he had revealed his Mangekyō, Renji would never have become the clan head!
As he spoke, the three tomoe in Fugaku's eyes rotated rapidly, transforming into the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had to stop Renji from dragging the Uchiha further into ruin.
But in the next instant, Fugaku froze.
Renji's pupils also changed—the pattern of a Mangekyō!
He had it too?
"Fugaku, you're right. The Uchiha relies on strength, not words. If you want a fight, I'll gladly accompany you!"
Renji's tone remained calm, yet Fugaku could feel a chilling aura radiating from him.
He couldn't defeat Renji!!!
Renji was stronger than him!? How could that be!!!
Fugaku couldn't even imagine it. Renji not only had Mangekyō, but his strength was superior too.
"You have Mangekyō too?"
A bitter smile crossed Fugaku's lips. He had awakened his Mangekyō after witnessing his closest friend and comrade die before his eyes. No one else even knew about it.
He had intended to use his Mangekyō today to intimidate Renji—to stop him from leading the Uchiha down a dangerous path.
But he hadn't expected that what he had, Renji also had—and perhaps even more.
"Fugaku, now is not the time for internal conflict among the Uchiha. We are not facing all of Konoha, but only a certain faction targeting us. And actually, it's not just the Uchiha who are dissatisfied with them. Why do you assume we have no allies in Konoha?"
Many people in Konoha had long been dissatisfied with Hiruzen Sarutobi—they just hadn't spoken up.
Otherwise, during the Konoha Crush Plan, they wouldn't have stood by and watched Hiruzen die.
Without the Four Hokages' great sealing array later, Konoha's defenses wouldn't have lasted at all.
"Because of the Police Force and various incidents, our Uchiha name has already been ruined in Konoha."
A bitter smile crossed Fugaku's face. Due to their personalities, the Uchiha weren't easy to get along with. Their duties had offended many, and interest conflicts had made enemies of many clans.
How could anyone support them?
"Fugaku, you're wrong. Interests aren't just about competing—they can be created. And many already resent those old geezers. Our real enemies are those four and their henchmen. Fugaku, if you want to change the future, then join me. Even Shisui has chosen to believe in me. I need your strength too, Fugaku!"
As he spoke, Renji extended his left hand in front of Uchiha Fugaku, awaiting his response.
If he could gain another Mangekyō Sharingan user, Renji's chances of success would rise even higher—and Itachi's eventual betrayal would only make things easier.
"Even Shisui too?!"
A flash of shock appeared in Fugaku's eyes. He lowered his head in deep thought, struggling internally for a long time, before finally raising his head, gritting his teeth, and asking:
"Can you truly guarantee the survival of the Uchiha, without going to war against all of Konoha?"
What he feared most wasn't just the clan being wiped out.
It was also Konoha's collapse, which would invite attacks from the other villages—and the Uchiha had made many enemies in past wars. They would be first to suffer.
"Of course!"
"Then I agree!"
Fugaku raised his hand and shook Renji's, expressing his willingness to trust him.
Yet Renji didn't receive a system notification that the fate had changed. Apparently, Fugaku hadn't fully believed him yet—he wanted to see real results first.
As expected, Fugaku was even harder to convince than Shisui.
But it didn't matter.
Shisui had been like this the first time too. It would be easier the second time around. Renji wasn't in a hurry.
"Fugaku, in that case, I have a task for you. Here, take a look at these."
"What is this?!"
"I'm planning to set up some side businesses to generate income for the Uchiha. You know our clan's finances aren't in good shape. This is cola, milk tea, chocolate... Later there'll be other snacks and foods too. Also, perfume and lipstick—those are aimed at women. And this is a diamond—also for women."
The first three products, Fugaku could understand.
But the last three...
He picked them up and studied them for a long time, feeling a bit at a loss.
"Renji, perfumes and lipsticks are already sold everywhere. If we sell them too, won't it be hard? And what exactly is this diamond thing?"
"Are you stupid? Of course I know that. We're not selling products—we're selling concepts and stories! We'll make these products seem luxurious and romantic, linking them to love. Like, 'If he doesn't buy you lipstick, he doesn't love you.' 'Perfume is for a man to smell.' 'If he doesn't buy it, he doesn't care about you.'"
"As for diamonds, we'll fabricate a few tragic love stories and bind the concept of diamonds to eternal love."
"Plus, don't we have connections with the Fire Nation nobility? We'll gift them a few first, let them flaunt it, and then advertise: 'even nobles use our products!' It's all about selling a dream, understand?"
Renji rubbed his forehead, feeling that giving this job to Fugaku might've been a huge mistake.
"Right... your wife should be free, right? Let's have Mikoto do it!"
Renji suddenly felt it would be better to let Uchiha Mikoto handle it.
Giving it to this rough man Fugaku would just ruin everything.
"Uh... alright, I'll ask her. But you have to explain clearly how it works first."
Fugaku had no objections; he knew he wasn't good at this stuff.
The two of them spent the next two hours discussing it in detail.
In the end, they agreed: Renji would take a 50% cut of the profits. Half of the rest would be used to pay the Police Force, and the other half would go toward improving the clan's finances and restoring projects that had previously been cut due to lack of funds.
In Renji's opinion, these products were cheap to make, and he would still make a massive profit.
And spending a portion to win over people's hearts?
That was a steal.
He was going to build his own... well, his own version of Ta Zhai Village—no, his own Uchiha clan!
(End of Chapter)
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