Chapter:6

The tension between Uchiha Fugaku and Shimura Ryoma was unmistakable. As they crossed paths on the street, there was no question of a friendly exchange. Fugaku and his two companions continued toward the Konoha Police Force headquarters, while Ryoma and his group made their way back to the Shimura estate.

As Ryoma walked, he spoke quietly to himself. He had purposely arranged the encounter to see if Fugaku would react to the Uchiha clan's ongoing suppression. His plan was to test Fugaku's patience. Unfortunately for him, Fugaku showed no signs of anger and remained as composed as ever.

Ryoma smirked, thinking about his next move. He knew that as long as the Uchiha clan existed, Konoha's leadership would continue to oppress them. Under Danzo's guidance, the Shimura family had already begun secret talks with other clans to strip the Uchiha of their control over the village's entrances and exits. This control allowed the Uchiha clan to earn substantial profits from the caravans passing through Konoha.

Taking away this responsibility would effectively cut off the Uchiha's primary source of income. Ryoma doubted they would be able to endure this new blow without retaliating. The upcoming village council meeting would be crucial, as the Shimura family and their allies would officially propose to strip the Uchiha of their authority over the gates. Ryoma looked forward to seeing Fugaku's reaction when the proposal was passed.

In the past, Fugaku had endured similar situations without complaint, but Ryoma felt this attack on the Uchiha's core interests would push them to their breaking point. If they were provoked into open rebellion, Konoha's leadership would finally have a legitimate reason to eliminate the Uchiha clan. The village elders, already wary of the Uchiha due to their connection to the infamous Uchiha Madara, viewed the clan as a threat that needed to be dealt with.

The Nine-Tails incident had only reinforced this belief. However, attacking the Uchiha outright would arouse suspicion among other clans. No family would feel safe if Konoha could destroy another without just cause. The plan, therefore, was to suppress the Uchiha until they had no choice but to rebel, giving the village leadership a valid reason to act.

Despite the continued pressure, Fugaku had managed to keep his clan in check. Even with whispers of rebellion within the Uchiha, he had remained calm, suppressing any internal dissent. Yet Ryoma was certain that this time, Fugaku and the Uchiha clan would not be able to withstand the strain. Whether Fugaku personally cracked or his clan forced him into rebellion, Ryoma believed the Uchiha's fate was sealed from the moment the plan was put into motion.

Meanwhile, Fugaku, on his way to the Police Force headquarters, was deep in thought. He knew that to change the Uchiha clan's status in the village, he would have to eliminate key figures in Konoha's leadership who were hostile to his family. Shimura Ryoma was an obvious target. While Ryoma held a high rank within his family, he was not as heavily protected as someone like Danzo, making him a practical first target for assassination.

Fugaku considered his options. He could put a bounty on Ryoma in the underground black market and let rogue ninjas handle the assassination. This method would keep the Uchiha clan out of suspicion, but it would be expensive. As an elite jonin, Ryoma's bounty would likely be at least 20 million taels, similar to the high bounty placed on Sarutobi Asuma.

The alternative was to have Uchiha ninjas carry out the assassination themselves. While this would save money, it came with the risk of exposure. If the mission failed, or if evidence was found linking the Uchiha clan to the crime, it would give Konoha's leadership the justification they needed to take action against the Uchiha.

After considering both options, Fugaku decided to go with the second approach. He planned to mobilize the Uchiha's elite to carry out the assassination discreetly. Although this carried risks, he believed the operation could be executed quietly enough to avoid detection. Fugaku resolved to take part in the mission himself, knowing that his experience would minimize the chance of failure and exposure.

Ryoma was just the first of many opponents Fugaku would have to deal with. Konoha was full of people who harbored hostility toward the Uchiha, and Fugaku knew he would need to act against them one by one to protect his clan from destruction. Although assassination was dangerous, it was the only way to address the growing threat to the Uchiha's survival.

(End of the chapter)