After the New Year.
Uchiha Sora clearly felt that the Uchiha Clan's external vigilance had become stricter.
Once, Yūgao came to find Uchiha Sora to practice swordsmanship, but she was driven away before she even entered the Uchiha Clan's territory.
This made Uchiha Sora realize that Fugaku probably couldn't wait to start the Coup.
If things followed the original plot, Shisui's death was probably not far off.
Regarding this matter, Uchiha Sora had been silently calculating the time. The actual clan massacre should happen in two years, led by a grown-up Uchiha Itachi. Currently, Itachi had just been recommended by Fugaku to enter Root, acting as a spy planted by the clan within the Konoha high-level to operate in the shadows.
However, the current Uchiha Shisui's prestige had reached its peak. His position was already the General Captain of the Konoha Anbu, and he was deeply trusted by the Third Hokage.
Under these circumstances, it was actually reasonable for Uchiha Fugaku to want to launch a Coup.
Once the Coup succeeded, nominating Shisui to become the Hokage would definitely be a logical next step.
As for himself, he had no intention of becoming the Hokage, because whether in terms of strength or prestige, he, as the Clan Head, was inferior to Uchiha Shisui.
Therefore, Fugaku had been cultivating Itachi, hoping that Itachi could take over Shisui's position and become the next Hokage.
Of course, there was another person he couldn't ignore, and that was Uchiha Sora!
As for Uchiha Sora, ever since being rejected in that genjutsu, Uchiha Fugaku's favorability toward him had plummeted.
Especially after Uchiha Sora joined the Anbu, he became even more of a maverick, prioritizing Anbu missions in everything and completely disregarding the Clan Head's words.
Uchiha Sora had even missed several previous Clan Meetings because of missions.
This made Fugaku increasingly disappointed in Uchiha Sora, and he had even internally labeled him a clan traitor.
Today, Fugaku called for another Clan Meeting and notified all clan members to attend.
Of course, those who could attend the meeting had to be at least at the Chunin level of strength.
Upon hearing the news of the Clan Meeting, Uchiha Sora frowned slightly. He hadn't attended the last few times, truly because he was too lazy to go due to missions. He knew the content of the meetings was nothing more than inciting the clansmen's emotions, deepening the bonds between them, and making them increasingly dissatisfied with the Konoha higher-ups—essentially brainwashing speeches similar to a pyramid scheme.
Since he happened to be free this time, he planned to go and take a look.
Putting on his usual white clothes and strapping his weapon—now replaced by a long sword—to his waist, Uchiha Sora, who was now nearly 1.7 meters tall, walked through the clan streets and arrived at the clan shrine where the meeting was held.
Quite a few people had already arrived.
Seeing Uchiha Sora's arrival, everyone cast curious glances at him.
Ever since the Chunin Exams, Uchiha Sora's reputation as a genius had been spreading among the people.
However, because Uchiha Sora had almost never attended a Clan Meeting before, many people were unfamiliar with him.
"Sora, you're here too?" As Sora walked into the shrine, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, who were already there, greeted him together.
Within the Uchiha Clan, probably only Shisui and Itachi were relatively familiar with Uchiha Sora.
Shisui was technically Sora's direct superior in the Anbu, and they met frequently.
Since Itachi entered Root, they rarely met, but the relationship between Itachi and Shisui remained very good, and the two often trained together.
After greeting them, Sora looked at the Clan Head, Uchiha Fugaku, who was sitting in the center of the shrine with his eyes closed, resting.
As if sensing Sora's arrival, Uchiha Fugaku slowly opened his eyes, and a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan gradually emerged.
He said coldly, "Uchiha Sora, your name is not on the list for this Clan Meeting. What are you doing here?"
Uchiha Sora couldn't help but be taken aback upon hearing this.
Because Uchiha Fugaku had notified him the previous few times, he had naturally come after hearing the news of this meeting, even though he hadn't received a formal notice. He didn't expect Fugaku to show such great hostility toward him.
After a moment's thought, Uchiha Sora understood the problem and gave a faint smile. "Clan Head, it seems you're dissatisfied with my absence from the previous meetings?"
"Hmph! I wouldn't dare! Uchiha Sora, you'll probably become an Anbu Squad Leader soon. How could my little Uchiha Clan possibly be worthy of your attention?" Fugaku sneered.
"Heh, how ridiculous!" Uchiha Sora's expression turned cold.
Upon hearing this, the clan members suddenly perked up. There was going to be a good show!
It seemed the Clan Head harbored great hostility toward this genius, Uchiha Sora!
Sensing the tension between the two, Uchiha Shisui and Itachi exchanged a glance. Itachi spoke up, "Father, Sora didn't attend the meetings before because he had missions..."
However, before Itachi could finish, Uchiha Fugaku waved his hand to interrupt. "Itachi, you don't need to make excuses for him. How important is a Clan Meeting! Missions are indeed vital, but failing to participate in multiple Clan Meetings is a violation of the clan's ancestral precepts. I'm afraid his heart is no longer with the clan!"
Itachi had no choice but to remain silent.
Uchiha Shisui frowned slightly.
Although Fugaku's words were harsh, Uchiha Sora's repeated absences from the meetings did indeed raise suspicions of not caring about the clan.
However, such a thing wasn't really a big deal as long as one didn't intentionally pursue it.
But clearly, Uchiha Fugaku seemed to want to make an example out of Uchiha Sora today.
He likely wanted to use this opportunity to warn those in the clan whose positions were not firm enough.
"It seems the Clan Head wants to express to me the idea that the clan takes precedence over everything," Uchiha Shisui thought helplessly.
By then, Uchiha Sora had also understood Fugaku's intention and couldn't help but ask, "Clan Head, what do you want me to do?"
Fugaku said indifferently, "If you still wish to be recognized by the clan, then resign from your position in the Hokage's Anbu and take up a post in the Konoha Military Police Force!"
The Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force was none other than himself.
For someone like Uchiha Sora, who clearly didn't follow his orders, putting him in a department he managed and keeping him under his watch was the only way to feel at ease.
"And what if I refuse?" Uchiha Sora asked plainly.
"Then leave. You're not welcome at this meeting either!" Uchiha Fugaku said coldly.
"Fine, in that case, I might as well not attend this meeting." Uchiha Sora shook his head and turned to leave.
Everyone watched Uchiha Sora leave, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Alright, is everyone here? Let the meeting begin!" Fugaku stood up and announced to the crowd.
In the dead of night.
The meeting finally ended.
The clansmen dispersed one by one, leaving only Uchiha Fugaku and Shisui in the shrine.
Fugaku looked at Shisui and said earnestly, "Shisui, your prestige has reached its peak. If you want to go further, you must become the Hokage. Do you want to become the Hokage?"
Hearing this, Shisui gave a bitter smile. "Clan Head, becoming the Hokage isn't that simple. Besides strength and prestige, one also needs the recognition of the Konoha higher-ups."
Becoming the Hokage could be said to be the dream of almost every Konoha Ninja.
"You already have the trust of the Third Hokage. I believe your chances of becoming the next Hokage are very high! Moreover, as long as you always stand by the clan, the clan will definitely support you with all its might!" Fugaku said.
"If you become the Hokage, the clan's situation in the Village will immediately change, which would be very beneficial for the clan!" Uchiha Fugaku continued, "But there are several problems before us. One is that the Konoha higher-ups don't trust our Uchiha Clan. There are many historical reasons for this that we cannot change; only through your efforts can their views be altered."
"Another problem is the internal cohesion of the clan!"
"Uchiha Sora is arrogant because of his talent and disregards the clan. If someone like him isn't properly disciplined, he will surely become a black sheep!"
"Shisui, I hope you can keep a close eye on him. If he has any thoughts detrimental to the clan, I hope you will use the power of those Mangekyo of yours!"
After hearing Fugaku's words, Shisui nodded with a heavy heart.
"I understand, Clan Head."
"Good! The future of the Uchiha Clan depends on you!" Uchiha Fugaku patted his shoulder heavily.
Shisui took his leave.
Watching Shisui's departing figure, Uchiha Fugaku fell into deep thought again.
Shisui's abilities were beyond doubt; he was dedicated to the Village and had a sense of belonging to the clan. Nominating him as Hokage was the core strategy of this Coup. As long as Shisui's mind remained steady, the Coup would go without a hitch.
After leaving, Shisui looked back at the figure in the shrine and couldn't help but sigh heavily.
"You want me to become the Hokage and change the fate of the Uchiha Clan, but how easy is that? Unless you have already resolved to launch a Coup, but... I will absolutely not let you do that!" Shisui thought to himself.
From his current position, Shisui's vision was no longer limited to just a clan, but to the entire Village and nation.
Shisui knew very well that the current Konoha Village was already strong on the outside but weak on the inside, and couldn't withstand any more turmoil!
As for the matter of Uchiha Sora, Shisui couldn't help but shake his head. Compared to the Clan Head's thoughts and the higher-ups' thoughts, he was even less able to see through Uchiha Sora's mind.
"It seems I should go and talk to him." Shisui's figure flickered and disappeared from the spot.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Sora was standing in a small grove, waiting quietly.
After a short while, Shisui's figure appeared behind him.
"Captain Shisui, I knew you would come looking for me." Uchiha Sora suddenly spoke as he sensed the newcomer.
"The Clan Head asked me to monitor your actions," Shisui said bluntly. "If you have any thoughts detrimental to the clan, I will use Kotoamatsukami on you!"
Uchiha Sora nodded and couldn't help but laugh. "In that case, the Clan Head was actually lenient with me. I thought he would send you to kill me."