Chapter 124: The Uchiha Clan's Greatest Scandal
Uchiha Clan Compound~
Setsuna beamed at Fuma, his voice brimming with excitement as he exclaimed:
"That's the spirit! Our Police Force's prestige has long needed this kind of bold display! That old bastard Danzo has been an eyesore for ages!"
Having heard of Fuma's bold raid on the Root Division, Setsuna had rushed over, eager to be the first to savor the juicy details of this dramatic turn of events.
Standing to the side, Fugaku quietly pursed his lips, grumbling internally:
"Back when you were the clan leader, I don't remember any of this satisfaction. The Uchiha Clan was always getting pushed around by the higher-ups in the village."
"This old... geezer..."
As though sensing Fugaku's silent complaints, Setsuna's eyes, adorned with the intricate patterns of his Mangekyō Sharingan, shot him a sharp sidelong glance.
"Whoa, whoa, don't give me that look! And don't glare at me with those dangerous eyes!"
Fugaku held the gaze for a single second before furrowing his brows and retreating behind Fuma.
"I'm still just a pitiful little Three Tomoe Sharingan user. No need to make an enemy of this elderly Mangekyō powerhouse."
Setsuna gave a satisfied huff, silently commending himself, "I might not be able to handle Fuma, but this kid? A piece of cake."
But in the next moment, Fugaku said something that left Setsuna both thrilled and alarmed.
"Fuma-nii, why do I feel like Setsuna-sama's Mangekyō Sharingan doesn't seem all that different from your Three Tomoe Sharingan?"
Fugaku scrutinized Setsuna's earlier display of ocular power, his expression full of doubt as he turned to Fuma.
"Could it be that Fuma-nii, apart from his unmatched taijutsu, is also a genius when it comes to the Sharingan? Life is just too unfair!"
Since Fuma awakened his Sharingan, Fugaku had been the first to feel its power. Comparing it now to Setsuna's Mangekyō, Fugaku's impression was stark.
And his description of "not that different" was actually a diplomatic understatement, sparing Setsuna's pride.
Setsuna, caught between elation and embarrassment, rushed over to Fuma's table and leaned in eagerly.
"Fuma-kun, you've finally awakened the Sharingan! I've been waiting for this day for so long!"
He paused, frowning as if weighing his words, before cautiously adding:
"But if you find it doesn't suit your needs, you could always continue down the path of taijutsu. There's no need to get too fixated on the Sharingan."
Standing to the side, Fugaku struggled to suppress a laugh. The drastic shift in Setsuna's demeanor was beyond entertaining, a comedic transformation worthy of the stage.
Setsuna had been pestering Fuma about awakening the Sharingan for over fifteen years, starting when Fuma first showed promise.
Three years ago, during Fuma's promotion to jonin, Setsuna even brought up the matter at the clan meeting, showing just how much it had weighed on his mind.
Yet now, here he was, suggesting that Fuma could take it or leave it!
Setsuna's own awkwardness was palpable, and to deflect, he turned to scold Fugaku instead. With a stern glare, he growled:
"Still only a Three Tomoe at over twenty years old? I don't see you reaching the Mangekyō in this lifetime. And you're laughing?!"
"If you could train your body like Fuma-kun, mastering taijutsu to such heights, you wouldn't even need the Sharingan! I'd hand over these Mangekyō eyes to you myself if you could!"
Fugaku's face flushed with embarrassment. He laughed sheepishly but cursed internally:
"Open the Mangekyō at twenty? Do you think I'm Uchiha Madara? What kind of unreasonable logic is this, old man?"
Fuma watched the bickering pair with an amused expression, though a faint unease lingered in his heart—an issue he had yet to resolve.
"Indra's chakra... Its essence surpasses even the bijū. While I can forcibly absorb and slowly digest it, my Sharingan can't avoid being tainted by its influence."
"Fortunately, the portion I seized wasn't overwhelming. It's enough to awaken my bloodline's power, but any more, and the mental strain would have been unbearable."
Setsuna, catching his breath, suddenly straightened up and addressed Fuma with a smug air. Slowly, he declared:
"Though Fuma-kun's combat power has far surpassed mine, in terms of Sharingan mastery, I remain the foremost authority in the Uchiha Clan!"
"Let me see your Sharingan, Fuma-kun. Let's compare our ocular prowess!"
In that moment, Setsuna radiated confidence. After being overshadowed twice—during the jonin selection and the clan leader succession—he saw this as his chance to reclaim some dignity!
Fuma sighed, clearly reluctant, his voice tinged with resignation.
"If it weren't necessary, I wouldn't reveal this ominous power… But I suppose it's inevitable. It will come in handy one day, after all."
"Just don't be too shocked, Elder Setsuna."
With that, Fuma's eyes revealed three pitch-black tomoe, radiating a surge of immense ocular power that clashed with Setsuna's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Unlike the typical crimson glow of a Sharingan, Fuma's eyes were veiled in an ominous black aura. The energy wasn't the usual cold sharpness of the Uchiha, but rather a greedy, savage force.
A silent clash of ocular might ensued, filling the spacious room with an oppressive tension that made it hard to breathe. Even Fugaku was forced to activate his own Sharingan just to resist the residual pressure.
After a few breaths, Setsuna withdrew his power, his face pale and stricken. He stared at Fuma, dumbfounded, unable to speak.
"This power… This aura… This unsettling and familiar presence… It's too similar!"
"Clan Leader Madara, is it truly you?"
Fugaku, oblivious to the deeper implications, clapped a hand on Setsuna's shoulder and said casually:
"Don't worry, Setsuna-sama. Fuma-nii's talent is unmatched—it's only natural for him to surpass you."
"And really, the Sharingan is a biological bloodline limit. For someone like Fuma-nii, whose taijutsu prowess is unrivaled, it's only logical that he'd grow faster in this area too, right?"
Setsuna shook his head, a complicated look on his face. A child like Fugaku couldn't possibly grasp the meaning behind Fuma's power.
After a moment, Setsuna fixed Fuma with an intense gaze and said slowly:
"Fuma-kun, your ocular power reminds me of someone I once knew…"
The name "Madara" held an almost sacred significance within the Uchiha Clan, a name steeped in legend and awe.
For Setsuna, it was more than that—it was the embodiment of his lifelong idol and the figure he had modeled himself after, much like Danzo to Tobirama.
Fuma remained silent, contemplating how best to respond.
"The mere mention of Uchiha Madara stirs something deep within the old guard of the clan. Perhaps it's time to lay everything out in the open to prevent future betrayals."
"During my mission to the Hidden Grass, I encountered a peculiar individual. We clashed over the Box of Ultimate Bliss, and I succeeded in taking part of his chakra. This led to my Sharingan awakening."
"I killed him in the end, but as I approached his body, he self-destructed, turning to ashes."
Setsuna listened intently, his brows furrowing deeper with every word. The story grew more convoluted, igniting a whirlwind of speculation in his mind.
"It's impossible for Clan Leader Madara to still be alive—I saw him buried with my own eyes. Could this mysterious individual have been an illegitimate son of Madara's, carrying his unmistakable power?"
"No… More likely, Fuma-kun misunderstands. He believes the stolen chakra triggered his awakening, but the truth is that his power inherently resembles that of Madara-sama."
"But… Fuma is from Uchiha Kagami's bloodline, not Madara's direct lineage…"
Setsuna's frown deepened as he combed through the clan's genealogical records in his mind.
"Kagami's father was Uchiha En, and his mother… Uchiha Nami."
At the thought of Nami, a memory surfaced—of a beautiful woman who often gazed at Madara with unrestrained admiration.
Could it be…?!
Setsuna's face twisted with shock and suspicion. His logical mind sifted through the details, and yet, in his haste, he dismissed the most plausible explanation and arrived at a startlingly absurd conclusion.
"Clan Leader Madara, how could you betray the trust of your clansmen like this? How could you do this to Uchiha En?" Setsuna's voice quivered, though he spoke to no one in particular.
Fuma, observing Setsuna's rapidly changing expressions, let out a soft cough to interrupt his spiraling thoughts.
"Elder Setsuna," Fuma began, his tone steady but firm, "I know you might have thought of someone, but let me make one thing clear: the Uchiha Clan has only one leader—me. That was true yesterday, it is true today, and it will remain true tomorrow."
"If anyone buried in the dust of history dares to rise again and oppose my vision, I will not hesitate to obliterate them and reduce their ambitions to ashes."
"And if anyone clings to the past and refuses to embrace the new era, I will treat them as a traitor to the clan."
Fuma's words carried the weight of finality, and his cold gaze briefly flickered with a flash of killing intent.
Setsuna was taken aback, and even Fugaku, standing silently nearby, felt the oppressive atmosphere but couldn't comprehend its origin.
Fugaku, scratching his head in confusion, thought to himself, "Why is everyone so tense? Fuma-nii awakening the Sharingan should be a moment worth celebrating, shouldn't it?"
Summoning his courage, Fugaku stood tall and looked directly at Setsuna's eyes, unflinching despite the elder's formidable presence.
"I don't understand what Elder Setsuna and Fuma-bro are talking about," he began, his voice resolute, "but I know one thing—Fuma-nii is the greatest clan leader the Uchiha have ever had."
Fugaku continued, his words spilling forth with unrestrained sincerity.
"He's incredibly powerful, always improving without ever seeming to reach a limit. He cares for the clan, even using his own money to aid widows and orphans."
"He's opened up the clan's academy, giving opportunities to those who had none. He's led us in battles and negotiations, strengthening both the Police Force and the Uchiha's position in Konoha…"
As Fugaku listed Fuma's contributions, his voice grew increasingly impassioned, and Setsuna, listening in silence, felt a wave of complex emotions.
"In just three years, Fuma-kun has done so much for the Uchiha… Fugaku is right. Back when Madara was the leader, the clan was powerful, but there was no hope, no unity like this."
"Even in terms of strength, at the rate Fuma-kun is growing, he might one day rival Madara himself…"
Setsuna slowly stood, his expression solemn. Then, to the astonishment of everyone present, he bowed deeply toward Fuma.
"Fuma-kun," he said gravely, "you've worked tirelessly as clan leader these past two years. Please know that I, in my remaining years, will stand by your side. I will serve the Uchiha to my last breath and will never go against your will."
His voice carried an unshakable resolve. Fugaku's heartfelt words had stirred something deep within him, dispelling long-held illusions about Madara and awakening a new understanding of the clan's future.
Fuma, sensing the shift in Setsuna's demeanor, stood as well. He met Setsuna's gaze with unwavering sincerity and said:
"As long as you follow my lead, I will take the Uchiha to heights never before imagined. Together, we will see a world beyond anything we've known."
Setsuna nodded firmly but then, as if compelled by an old memory, added something cryptic.
"I must apologize for something that happened during the Warring States period. Back then, I was too insignificant to notice anything…" He hesitated, his voice tinged with regret.
"If one day you uncover the truth, Fuma-kun, I only ask that you do not let it break your heart."
Fuma blinked, clearly perplexed.
"The Warring States period?" he muttered to himself. "My father—whom I barely even remember—was born after Konoha was founded…"
"Never mind," he thought, shaking his head. "With the Uchiha clan's wild imaginations, they've probably jumped to some ridiculous conclusion again. I don't have the energy to deal with it."
Fuma waved dismissively, poured himself a fresh cup of tea, and sipped it with satisfaction.
For him, the greatest victory of the day was not solving some ancient mystery but successfully convincing Setsuna—the former die-hard loyalist to Madara—to fully support his leadership.
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