Chapter 127: Fugaku: "Only Iizumi can win." The Rise of a New Uchiha Faction! (10,000-Word Masterpiece)

Uchiha Setsuna realized he could no longer wait.

After careful thought, regardless of whether Uchiha Iizumi had dragged the Uchiha clan into disaster—or whether the clan had already offended every powerful figure in the Land of Fire—he had to initiate this coup. He had to seize control. Only by sitting on the Hokage seat could he lead the Uchiha to glory.

Otherwise, the entire Uchiha clan would be destroyed under Fugaku’s weak leadership!

But before that, the Uchiha clan itself had to be in his hands—not in the hands of that spineless Fugaku.

"Come!" Uchiha Setsuna spoke coldly. "Summon every member of the Uchiha clan within Leaf Village. Tonight, we hold a clan meeting. The location is the main hall of the Nanaga Shrine!"

"Senior Elder Setsuna," a fiery Uchiha radical whispered nervously, "what about Fugaku Clan Head?"

Uchiha Setsuna snorted coldly, his face hard as stone. "If it's a gathering of all clan members, then naturally, they must be invited too. The purpose of this meeting is to inform the clan: Fugaku must step down!"

"Furthermore, we will reveal our plans to everyone. Make it clear to every single one of them—there is no neutrality. They are all now tied to the same rope. Either they stand with me and fight the Leaf Village leadership to the death, or they betray the Uchiha and face extermination. No one walks away clean."

He paused—then added, with venom in his voice: "Uchiha Itachi is excluded. In my eyes, he is no longer a member of the Uchiha clan. He is nothing but a traitorous wolf with white eyes."

The Uchiha radical’s eyes lit up. "Yes!"

…

The Uchiha clan’s sudden movement did not go unnoticed by Leaf Village’s leadership.

Tsunade Konoha furrowed her brow. "Could it be they’re finally losing patience? What’s Fugaku even doing? Why is the Uchiha clan so restless? Didn’t Hiruzen warn him to keep a tight grip on them before he left?"

Her expression darkened. "Uchiha Setsuna—what a relentless old bastard. I still don’t understand why Hiruzen ever released him."

Just as Hyūga Menji was about to speak, a voice cut through the silence.

It was young—but muffled by a mask, making it sound hollow and distant.

"Two advisors, may I be sent to investigate the Uchiha compound?"

Hyūga Menji and Tsunade Konoha both turned toward the small, hunched figure of an Anbu Ninja standing a few paces away.

Hyūga Menji remembered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s strict orders. He was about to shake his head—when Tsunade Konoha placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

He froze.

She stepped forward, past him, and locked eyes with the masked Anbu.

"Itachi," she said, voice low and sharp. "Go. Find out what’s happening. Report back immediately. And don’t let yourself be seen."

"Uchiha Iizumi’s prophecy has made you an outcast among the Uchiha. If your presence is discovered, you may not make it back."

Uchiha Itachi dipped his head slightly. "Yes."

As his form vanished in a blur, Hyūga Menji turned to Tsunade Konoha, baffled. "What are you thinking? Itachi is unstable himself!"

Tsunade Konoha’s eyes were distant, almost cold. "Let one unstable force counter another. Isn’t that exactly what we need? For Leaf Village, this is no disadvantage."

Hyūga Menji rubbed his temples. If Hiruzen were here, he’d have ended this idea with a single word.

But he couldn’t stop her. They stood on equal footing.

He sighed. "I just hope Itachi remains rational."

…

As night fell, every Uchiha clan member gathered in the main hall of the Nanaga Shrine.

Each face was solemn, tense, grim, or even excited—sitting rigidly on their mats.

At the front, two cushions stood side by side: Uchiha Fugaku sat on the left, Uchiha Setsuna on the right.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Why the sudden clan meeting? Is this about electing a new clan head? Or is it because of what Uchiha Iizumi did?"

"Who knows…"

"Why are Setsuna Elder and Fugaku Clan Head seated at the same level? Is this really about a leadership vote?"

"Hah! Fugaku refuses to hand over that monster son of his. Protecting a future destroyer of the clan? He doesn’t deserve to be our leader."

"Setsuna isn’t much better. Look at him—he’s practically dead already. Can an old man like him lead us? I’d make a better choice!"

"Hey, why hasn’t the meeting started? Everyone’s here. We’ve been waiting ten minutes!"

"Not yet. There’s still an empty cushion over there."

"..."

Uchiha Setsuna, seated beside Fugaku, glanced sideways and murmured, "Fugaku… aren’t you going to start?"

Fugaku turned his gaze to him, expressionless. "You summoned everyone, Setsuna Senior. If you have such influence and prestige, then you should speak."

Setsuna snorted.

No more pretense. They had already torn the mask off.

His eyes swept over the empty cushion.

"One latecomer still missing," he said, voice tight. "A little brat."

Fugaku replied coolly. "Iizumi is in the Capital City of the Land of Fire. He can’t return. Or are you really delaying the meeting just because a girl—his little follower—isn’t here?"

"Seems Iizumi’s influence is still strong. Even now, he’s not even in Leaf Village, yet just a single shadow of his is enough to paralyze you?"

The words stung.

Setsuna’s face darkened instantly.

A burning rage surged in his chest.

Just as he clenched his jaw to retort—

A clear, soft voice cut through the silence from outside the hall.

"Sorry… I’m late."

All eyes turned.

There she was—Uchiha Izumi, her small face pale, eyes weary, stepping into the hall.

Blood stained her clothes. Not her own.

The faint scent of iron filled the air. A cold hush fell over the hall.

To many, Uchiha Izumi was already a living echo of Uchiha Iizumi—the living embodiment of Absolute Justice.

Her presence stirred memories. Whispers died.

Fugaku’s eyes flickered with something unreadable.

This child has become nothing but a mirror of Iizumi.

It was his fault. If only he had stopped her from choosing Iizumi as the Investigation Corps’ exam proctor…

Her path would never have turned like this.

She wouldn’t have severed ties with Itachi.

"Ugh! Some young ones these days have no respect for Uchiha clan meetings. No sense of time at all!" Setsuna snapped, voice icy.

"Tonight’s clan meeting—officially begins!"

…

"Troublesome…"

Not far from the shrine, Kakashi and Maito Kai crouched on a thick tree branch, their eyes fixed on the Nanaga Shrine.

Kakashi’s deadpan gaze flickered. "They must’ve used some kind of Sound-Blocking Sealing Technique. We can’t hear a thing."

Maito Kai rubbed his chin. "What if we just walk in and listen? Plain and simple?"

Kakashi’s eye twitched. "You’ve got real genius-level thinking."

Walking into a Uchiha clan meeting? The man was a walking disaster.

These were extremists. Who knew what they’d do? One wrong step, and they’d be dead before they could blink.

"…Huh?"

Kakashi suddenly clamped a hand over Kai’s mouth.

His eyes narrowed.

There—on the edge of the shrine grounds—a small figure in Anbu gear.

Only two Anbu remained in Leaf Village.

One was Hatake Kakashi.

The other—Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi…?

Kakashi frowned.

The boy everyone labeled a traitor—still dared to enter the Uchiha Compound?

What was he doing?

"Kai," Kakashi murmured, voice low. "Watch him. Don’t let him do anything reckless."

He remembered the prophecy.

The clan will fall. The Uchiha will be erased.

Even if Iizumi was extreme, Kakashi understood his purpose—Justice. He killed only those who deserved it.

But Itachi?

Kakashi had heard the rumors.

Why would a boy destroy his own clan? Kill his father? His mother?

Even the innocent? The children?

He’d seen many horrors, but this… this was beyond comprehension.

"Correction," Kakashi added. "Itachi isn’t extreme. He’s mentally unstable."

…

Elsewhere, the three clan leaders—Pig, Deer, and Butterfly—watched from a distance.

The Uchiha radicals’ coup plans were no secret.

When the Uchiha stirred, the other clans noticed.

"Could they really be doing something while Iizumi, the Hokage, and the Anbu are gone?" Akimichi Teizou narrowed his eyes. "I don’t want to fight a bunch of Sharingan users."

Nara Shikaku, hands in his pockets, said, "Iizumi killing the Daimyō of Fire Country must have made the radicals realize they can’t wait anymore."

"Any successful coup needs support from the Daimyō and the nobles. Now that the Uchiha have alienated both, the radicals have no choice but to go all-in."

Yamana Haiichi spoke flatly. "If the Uchiha move, the Yamanaka Clan will stop them."

Shikaku turned to him, surprised.

Haiichi continued. "This is a stupid, self-destructive move. Innocents will die—villagers, Uchiha civilians. If Iizumi is involved, he’ll act too."

Shikaku nodded. "Right. Once you stand for Absolute Justice, you must enforce it."

He patted Haiichi’s shoulder. "Don’t worry. The Nara Clan will follow."

Teizou grinned. "So will we."

Then Shikaku added, voice low. "But the real danger isn’t the radicals."

"It’s Uchiha Itachi."

He looked toward the shrine. "He’s mentally unstable. With Iizumi gone, the Hokage gone, and Fugaku distracted—no one’s watching him."

…

Inside the Nanaga Shrine Main Hall.

"Friends," Setsuna began, voice gravelly and grave, "the entire Land of Fire is now in turmoil—because of one man’s actions. We must act swiftly. The Uchiha clan must choose a new leader—someone to lead us into a new era."

"Not clinging to outdated ideals. Not letting ourselves be pushed further into isolation. Not watching our future fade into darkness!"

Though he didn’t name names, everyone knew who he meant.

His words resonated. The Uchiha had been pushed to the edge. The clan had been forced from the heart of Leaf Village to the outskirts. From political power, to just one Investigation Corps.

Fugaku’s constant concessions had fueled resentment.

Setsuna merely gave voice to it.

"Tonight, we vote for a new clan head. And I, Uchiha Setsuna, ask for your support."

"I promise—once I’m in power, every clan in Leaf Village will bow to the Uchiha. The village leadership will stop discriminating against us. No—better."

"The leadership will be ours. The Hokage seat, the council, the entire system—our people will hold it."

"The Leaf Village will no longer belong to them. It will be ours."

"Of course," he sneered, "if you’d rather stay oppressed, if you want to be judged through colored lenses forever—then keep supporting Fugaku. Keep being loyal lapdogs."

At the back, Sasuke’s eyes widened.

He was about to stand—when Mikoto’s hand pressed down on his shoulder.

"Sasuke," she whispered, "this isn’t a child’s matter."

She looked at Fugaku—still expressionless, but she could feel the storm beneath.

And yet… she saw the many clan members nodding in agreement with Setsuna’s words.

Even the moderate Uchiha were silent.

Mikoto sighed.

Then—out of the stillness—a voice cut through.

"So… tonight’s choice is between the two of you?"

Mikoto turned.

Behind her, a Uchiha elite jonin stood, hands in his pockets, unimpressed.

His eyes locked onto Fugaku and Setsuna.

No respect. No fear.

"Yep," Setsuna said. "Fugaku is still clan head. I’m a senior elder with widespread support. Both of us have legitimacy."

The jonin laughed—a cold, sharp sound. "Then there’s no choice."

"I’d rather have a pig on the throne than a coward or a corpse."

He turned, walking out.

Two more Uchiha jonin stood.

One said flatly, "No point choosing between a weakling and an old fool."

The other grinned. "Fugaku keeps retreating. Setsuna is out of touch. We’re loyal to Absolute Justice. And Uchiha Iizumi’s capacity? We respect it."

He glanced at Izumi.

"You’re clearly tired of this farce. But I get it—you’re half-blood. Your mindset’s different. So let us three troublemakers set the tone."

They walked out.

Silence.

Then—another voice.

"Pointless election games."

Izumi rose slowly, weary but steady.

She walked toward the exit.

"Even if Iizumi were here, he wouldn’t attend. It’s meaningless. No matter who leads, the vision is too small—just power, just balance."

"If you’d once cared for the common Uchiha—those with no voice—if you’d once looked down from your high seats… perhaps the clan could still be saved."

Her silhouette vanished into the night.

The hall was suddenly empty of four cushions.

"Even Iizumi’s Justice… has changed minds," Mikoto murmured, stunned.

But then she sighed.

It made sense.

Izumi’s unwavering, unyielding justice—his capacity—was exactly what many young Uchiha believed in.

He never sought followers. But people followed anyway.

Even her.

If she hadn’t believed in his justice… would she have trusted him with Sasuke?

…

On stage, Fugaku’s face remained blank.

But Setsuna’s wrinkled face twisted in fury.

He knew those three.

They were core members of his radical faction.

And now? They’d chosen Iizumi.

Even without him here.

They were bowing to that kid.

Setsuna’s hands trembled. His walking stick cracked in his grip.

Wood splinters pierced his palm. Blood seeped.

"Sorry, Elder Setsuna," a young Uchiha Police Force ninja said, standing. "I agree with Iizumi more than either of you."

"He might not want to lead us to glory. But his capacity? I follow only those I respect."

He walked out.

Hazuki—mother of Izumi—rose silently.

Her daughter was gone. She had no reason to stay.

She bowed to the two elders… then left.

With a loud crack, one of Setsuna’s false teeth shattered from his clenched jaw.

No one expected it.

Especially not the radicals.

They looked at each other, stunned.

Logic said: stand up. Argue. Denounce them.

But… what if they were right?

Was Fugaku really the man for the job? A coward who let everyone down?

Was Setsuna? A man who’d been locked in prison for decades by the Second Hokage?

No one spoke.

The silence grew heavier.

A wrinkled elder stood.

"Forgive me," he said, voice strained. "My son left. I can’t stay."

Setsuna stared.

This man had been at his side during the coup attempt.

Now? He was gone.

The hall was nearly a quarter empty.

And the rest? Hesitant. Uncertain.

The silence screamed.

Then—Fugaku exhaled.

He stood.

"Setsuna Senior… you didn’t win. I didn’t win. We both lost."

"True victory… didn’t even need to step forward."

"Tonight… no one sees me as clan head anymore. The title is just a hollow name."

"Setsuna Senior… your goal was half-achieved. I couldn’t stop you. That much is true."

Setsuna remained silent.

Half?

Half?

I wanted to be clan head!

I wanted to be Hokage!

His mind raged.

…

Outside the shrine, Uchiha Itachi watched.

He saw elite Uchiha Jonin—members of the Investigation Corps—leaving first.

Then Izumi.

Then more clan members. Civilians.

It was not what he expected.

The bloodlust in his chest… paused.

His brows furrowed.

Then—his parents, followed by Sasuke, stepped out.

For a split second… did his father glance this way?

"Already over?" Itachi murmured.

He didn’t understand.

…

"Kakashi! Look!" Maito Kai suddenly poked Kakashi—nearly knocking him off the branch.

Kakashi barely caught himself.

"…I’m not blind," he muttered.

He studied Fugaku.

"Clan head’s mood… not good."

"Maybe the rumors are true. His position is in danger. And the challenger? A radical faction. Not exactly peaceful."

Then—more Uchiha radicals emerged.

Setsuna’s face… worse than Fugaku’s.

Like someone who’d stepped in dog feces, fallen face-first, and gotten it all over their face.

"He… didn’t become the new clan head?" Kakashi frowned.

Then—who did?

…

Ten minutes later.

Back at the Hokage Tower, Hyūga Menji immediately scanned Itachi’s shoes, sleeves—any sign of blood.

None.

"Unexpected developments," Itachi said, head down. "I followed a Uchiha civilian. Used Sharingan Genjutsu to extract information."

He reported everything.

Hyūga Menji exhaled.

Tsunade Konoha’s face darkened.

"Again? Him?"

She felt like Iizumi was everywhere—even when he wasn’t.

Every major event in the village revolved around that kid.

And now… the Daimyō of Fire Country was dead.

The heir had been named—by Iizumi.

And he’d threatened to kill him if he ever acted corrupt.

Hyūga Menji said, "This is actually good news. Now there are three factions within the Uchiha. More divisions mean less unity. Less risk."

"Fugaku’s faction and Iizumi’s faction… they balance each other. The radicals realize their coup isn’t universally supported."

He wasn’t sure if he was speaking to Tsunade… or to Itachi.

Tsunade Konoha frowned. "The problem is… those who follow Iizumi won’t side with Leaf Village. They don’t even recognize the village."

"Even worse," she said, voice low, "their danger level is higher than the radicals. The radicals believe in Leaf Village. They just want power."

"But Iizumi? He doesn’t care about the village. His followers? They’ll follow his example."

"Imagine dozens of Uchiha who don’t believe in Leaf Village… scattered across the village. That’s the biggest poison we could have."

"More dangerous than Orochimaru ever was."

Hyūga Menji fell silent.

Itachi, head down, his Sharingan flickered—just once.

…

The next day, Capital City of the Land of Fire.

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze.

"Iizumi… missing?"

An Anbu ninja reported. "No trace since last night. Not today either. Also gone: Mitarashi Anko. And the Ninja Cat."

"Likely, he killed everyone he deemed guilty… then left. Or he’s already halfway back to Leaf Village."

Hiruzen stared blankly.

Kill everyone…

The Capital City had been a bloodbath.

He’d tried to stop it.

But the heir of the Daimyō had begged him not to.

Hiruzen felt like he’d come all this way for nothing.

Just to attend a funeral.

Then—footsteps.

The heir approached, sweating, flanked by servants.

"Hokage-sama," he said, voice trembling. "Last night… Iizumi found me. He told me… to become the new Daimyō."

"He warned me—if I ever commit evil… or allow evil… he’ll kill me."

"He left after. So… does this mean he’s leaving the Capital?"

Hiruzen said nothing.

A single ninja. A few words. A nation’s future decided.

The heir looked terrified—like one wrong word could mean death.

Was this still a ninja?

This was insurrection.

Rebellion against heaven itself.

"…He’s gone," Hiruzen finally said.

"Then… am I… really the new Daimyō?" the heir asked.

Hiruzen nearly jumped.

"Your succession is decided by the Daimyō’s office. I’m the Hokage—but I don’t rule the Land of Fire."

He took a deep breath. "Don’t mistake his will for mine."

He didn’t want rumors to spread.

Too late.

…

"The Daimyō of Fire Country was murdered by the Hokage of Leaf Village! And the killer—Uchiha Iizumi, a Leaf ninja—did it in broad daylight?!"

In the capital of Earth Country, the Daimyō of Fire Country paled.

"Is this true? A Leaf ninja… betrayed his own nation?"

The servant nodded. "That’s the report."

The Daimyō exhaled.

They weren’t allies. But still… a Daimyō killed by a ninja?

A shiver ran down his spine.

Ōnoki…

Will he really be loyal?

The servant hesitated.

"Once, we believed in the Rock Village’s loyalty."

"Now… I don’t know."

…

In the Land of Stone.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi…" Ōnoki growled. "That monkey’s gone mad. He broke the unspoken rules."

"The entire Ninja World will be thrown into chaos."

Ōnoki knew—now, every Daimyō would fear their own hidden villages.

The precedent had been set.

"…Hiruzen opened Pandora’s Box," Ōnoki muttered. "I underestimated him."

…

In the Land of Lightning.

"Uchiha Iizumi…" A, now Fourth Hokage and Raikage, narrowed his eyes.

That name… again.

"Double Bloodline Limit. Molten Release—nearly unstoppable. I remember him."

He stared at the scroll.

"Hmph. I always knew he was strange. Now it’s confirmed. He killed the Daimyō."

He tossed the scroll to a Cloud ninja.

"Take this to B. That kid nearly melted his arm once. He’s back—and this time, he’s everyone’s enemy."

A paused.

"Let the world know… this boy will be hunted."

He knew it.

Iizumi would be universally condemned.

And the Daimyōs? They’d do anything to destroy him.

To preserve the order.

…

Dusk.

Leaf Village Gate.

Seven-year-old Nara Shikamaru, dead-eyed and exhausted, glared at Akimichi Teizou.

"Stop eating. Clean the gate. I can’t believe I got caught skipping class… and now I’m scrubbing the gate. What a disaster. My dad’s gonna laugh me to death."

Teizou chewed. "Relax. Time’s still early. Let me finish this chip—"

"Wait… Shikamaru… why are you staring like you saw a ghost?"

Shikamaru’s face went pale.

"…Behind you…"

A cold sweat broke across his skin.

"Uchiha Iizumi!"

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end