Chapter 17: Chapter 15: Father Son Time
In Tenjō's study, the air was thick with tension as father and son sat across from each other. The meeting with Konoha's high echelon had not gone as planned, and Fugaku was clearly troubled by the outcome.
"Fugaku," Tenjō began, breaking the heavy silence. "What are your thoughts on today's meeting? Do you have any differing opinion?"
"Father," Fugaku said, his voice heavy with bitterness. "The Nìdaime Hokage has been angered with the Uchiha ever since Madara Uchiha killed the first Hokage. And ever since, Konoha's High Echelon has been rejecting our clan because of that."
Fugaku paused, his eyes burning with anger. His father noticed and urged him to continue.
"Being in charge of the Police Force might seem glorious, but it's just a way for them to use us as scapegoats if anything goes wrong. They've made us the face of Konoha's security, but what they've done to us is nothing to be proud of. Our clansmen might take pride in their service, but it's all just a sham to maintain the facade of peace in our village."
Fugaku's voice grew darker as he continued, "By giving us this position, the High Echelon has managed to create a rift between us and the villagers. They want us to be seen as different, as outsiders, so that they can maintain their hold on power."
Tenjō listened in silence, his face grave. He knew his son was right, but the truth was even darker than what Fugaku said. The High Echelon's true intentions were much more sinister than anyone could imagine. And Fugaku feared what would happen when those intentions were finally revealed because he had seen the end of the clan.
Fugaku gazed intently at his father's face as he spoke, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. Uchiha Tenjō's expression remained stoic, but a hint of surprise and pride glinted in his eyes. It was unexpected for his young son, only thirteen years old, to have such insightful opinions.
Tenjō listened silently, his mind racing with thoughts and concerns. But at the same time, he was optimistic and happy, Tenjō's voice was proud as he addressed his son, Fugaku. "It's refreshing to see that you have your own opinion on the matter. As one of the founding fathers of Konoha, I'm disappointed to say that many of our clansmen in the Uchiha Clan lack the foresight to see the bigger picture. They're too caught up in their own lives to understand the true intentions of Konoha's higher echelon."
Fugaku nodded, impressed by his father's wisdom.
"But let me ask you this," Tenjō continued, "Have you ever tried to see what Konoha's high echelon's purposes are? The world has changed since the Sengoku Period, and our clansmen have grown too comfortable with their current way of life. None of them have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in a long time because they don't see the need for greater power. Even though Uchiha Madara was not well-liked by the clansmen at that time, he brought the Uchiha Clan to the peak of the ninja world. Now, many clansmen are pinning their hopes on you, the youngest and most talented of our Clan, to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and lead us back to the top. You can make the Uchiha Clan the most powerful force in the shinobi world once again."
As Tenjō's words sank in, Fugaku felt a sense of discomfort, frustration, and disbelief wash over him. He had always been a skilled and capable ninja, but he never imagined that he would become the beacon of hope for his entire clan.
He couldn't help but feel like his clan was putting too much pressure on him, expecting him to single-handedly lead them back to greatness. The weight of his responsibility hit him like a ton of bricks, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was truly happy to shoulder such a burden.
Despite his momentary shock, Fugaku quickly regained his composure. It seemed like they were willing to sit back and wait for him to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, rather than actively working towards a better future for the clan as a whole.
He knew that he had chosen to save this clan and he couldn't let them down. But it was annoying him to no end because Fugaku knew that it was a dangerous mindset to have.
Pinning all of their hopes on one person was a short-sighted and irresponsible attitude. The future of the Uchiha clan depended on the efforts of everyone, not just one individual. He wished that his fellow clansmen would see this and work towards creating a better future for the generations to come, rather than relying solely on his potential.
Despite his frustration, Fugaku was determined to do his best and live up to his clan's expectations. However, he couldn't shake off the feeling that the Uchiha clan needed to change their mindset if they wanted to truly thrive once again.
Fugaku was lost in his thoughts for a moment, pondering the implications of his clan's current situation, when suddenly his father's voice broke through his reverie.
"What are your thoughts on the Konoha elder assassination?" Tenjō asked, his tone serious. "Do you believe it was a senseless act of violence, or could it be possible that one of the Three Great Nations was behind it?" The gravity of the situation was not lost on Uchiha Tenjō, and his question hung heavily in the air between them.
Fugaku understood all too well why the Uchiha Clan had ultimately been destroyed. Many of his fellow clansmen in Konoha were too short-sighted to see the bigger picture.
"The wars in the ninja world are fought for personal gain," Uchiha Fugaku pondered. "Elder Yamada was just an old man on the verge of retirement. He held no real power outside of Konoha, and his influence was minimal. Killing him would not have had any significant impact, nor would it have served any useful purpose."
Tenjō nodded in agreement. According to Fugaku, the assassination of Elder Yamada would have had only one consequence: to anger Konoha and prompt them to send troops to the Land of Rain.
Although Tenjō was not part of Konoha's High Echelon, he had some understanding of their influence. Some aggressors, led by Danzō, had always advocated sending troops to the Land of Rain.
"So, you mean someone in power orchestrated the assassination," Tenjō said with a hint of suspicion. "To force the Elders to agree to send troops to the Land of Rain."
Fugaku nodded in agreement and added, "It's also an easy way to consolidate political power, and reduce constraints while deepening the conflict between the Uchiha and the villagers."
Tenjō was taken aback by Fugaku's perceptive insights, realizing that his own experiences had limited his understanding of the political game. Despite the Uchiha clan being a prominent force in the ninja world since the Sengoku Period, they had been denied access to the political arena. As a result, even the Uchiha Patriarch had little experience with the cunning and deviousness of political masterminds like Danzo.
Fugaku's insightful analysis continued, "Furthermore, the assassination of Elder Yamada could just be the beginning. It's possible that all the Elders will be targeted next. Each time an Elder falls, political power becomes more concentrated in the hands of the remaining few. The village's senior officials would then have greater control over public opinion and could shift the blame towards Wind and Earth countries, stoking the villagers' desire for retaliation and justifying the dispatch of troops. Meanwhile, the Police Force and the Uchiha clan would be seen as incompetent and become the scapegoats for the villagers' fears, as it is our duty to protect Konoha."
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