Chapter 62 » Fugaku's Unprecedented Desire for Power! Mikoto's Decision!

After hearing Mei's perplexing words, Yusuke's eyebrows twitched violently. He responded with a pained expression.

"Ah... My sweet Mei, how could you think that? Your Hubby's heart truly aches!"

Mei gently bit her lower lip, observing his somewhat clumsy acting. She pouted slightly.

"Alright, alright! I believe you, Hubby~ My dear Hubby surely has his own intricate plans."

Seeing this, Yusuke's lips curled into a slight smile. He raised his hand, pinched her soft cheeks, and after planting a kiss on her lips, began to explain.

"Indeed, I do have my own strategy. Consider this: I previously proposed marriage to Kushina Uzumaki. What ensued? Konoha was thrown into chaos, and we subsequently won several major battles against them. The root of all this was my initial marriage proposal, which drove a wedge between Konoha and Minato Namikaze. Not to mention, I even managed to capture him."

After listening, Mei nodded. "That's certainly true."

"And now." Yusuke continued, standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Leaf Village, "Earlier on the battlefield, although I'm unsure why the Uchiha clan members were fighting so desperately to kill enemies, their actions caused our Kiri to lose quite a few comrades. Do you think I can let the Uchiha clan off the hook?"

Hearing this, Mei responded with anger, "Of course not! We've lost so many comrades in battle."

"Exactly." Yusuke nodded, "My request isn't too harsh for them. They can easily accomplish it. The difficulty lies with the Uchiha clan leader. What do you think — will he hand her over or not? He's the one who will suffer. Regardless of their decision, the Uchiha clan will undoubtedly be dissatisfied with Konoha's higher-ups. This will create a rift and suspicion between them. Sometimes, defeating the enemy doesn't require a single soldier."

After he finished speaking, Mei nodded, seeming to partially understand.

Whether due to his actions or not, she had begun to rely on him more. She had even become too complacent to think deeply about certain matters. Whatever her Hubby told her to do, she would simply obey.

Yusuke looked at her, now thoroughly convinced by him, and smiled gently.

Was he truly interested in Mikoto's beauty and figure?

Not at all! She was merely the perfect choice to manipulate Fugaku's mind. Incidentally, he could gain some Villain Points from the "couple."

Isn't that clever?

After all, although Kiri had achieved a great victory in this war, it had also depleted most of the Villain Points he had previously accumulated.

Yet it was precisely because of this that Kirigakure, with a force of just three to four thousand people, could contend with Konoha's force of over eight thousand!

"Hmm... Hubby~. It's not noon yet…" Mei purred as she gently approached Yusuke.

The other ninjas had all gone to arrange guard duties. Only the two of them remained.

"I want to explore more about what you mentioned in the cavern~" Her eyes were like silk threads, her breath fragrant.

"Mm!" Yusuke glanced at her, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Then let's continue to delve into the intricacies of our bodies. Ever since that day, I've been eager to discover if everything fits perfectly."

Mei, her cheeks flushed, nodded in agreement.

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At noon, deep within the Uchiha clan's residence in Konohagakure.

Inside the clan leader's mansion, dozens of core members and elders of the Uchiha clan gathered. The atmosphere was tense, and no one had much appetite.

After Fugaku explained Yusuke's conditions, a heavy silence fell over the room.

"Yusuke Kamizuki demands that we hand over Mikoto Uchiha by dawn tomorrow. Otherwise, he'll wage war against Konoha. What should we do?" Fugaku asked, his expression dark.

The elders remained silent, grappling with the difficult decision.

On one hand, there was Yusuke Kamizuki's threat looming over the village and clan. On the other, Mikoto was the clan leader's lover — a fact known to most clan members.

How could they make such a choice? Handing over the future clan matriarch might be seen as having ulterior motives. No one dared to step forward and be that fool.

Minutes passed, the tension palpable.

In the adjacent room, Mikoto gritted her teeth, her heart torn. She understood the stakes clearly. If she didn't go, Yusuke Kamizuki — known as the Demon Butcher — would surely turn his blade against the Uchiha clan.

The thought of the clan facing utter devastation drained the color from her face.

If it were up to her, she certainly wouldn't agree to these terms. However, the future of the entire clan rested on her shoulders.

Mikoto's fists clenched tightly. Not only had Yusuke captured her good friend Kushina, but now he had set his sights on her as well.

In the meeting hall, after a long silence, Fugaku was the first to break the heavy atmosphere.

"I know everyone has already made up their minds, but some things are difficult to say aloud. There are paper and pens in front of each of you. Write down your thoughts — agree or disagree. Then put them in the box before me, and I'll tally the results."

He knew that if they continued to stare at each other, none of the clan members would step forward to express their opinions. So, he had prepared for this in advance.

The Uchiha elders began to pick up their pens and paper.

About ten minutes later, Shisui collected all the papers in the box. After shaking it a few times, he began to count.

"Disagree." He read aloud from the first paper.

Then came the second one.

"Disagree."

Fugaku's expression gradually softened.

"Agree."

"Agree.."

"Agree..."

"...."

Over fifty core clan members had come to discuss this matter. The final tally made Fugaku's face, as he sat in the chief's seat, darken to the point it could drip water.

Out of over fifty votes, a full forty-plus had chosen to agree.

This was a harsh slap to his face!

However, Fugaku could only forcefully suppress his anger!

Putting himself in their shoes, if he were in their position, if he were to consider the clan's interests, he would probably make the same choice...

That damned Yusuke Kamizuki!!

His teeth were clenched so hard they could break, but he had to swallow his rage.

"This discussion is over! Everyone, go back!" Fugaku abruptly stood up from his seat.

Then with a heavy snort, he stormed out in anger. He feared that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to hold back his temper.

At this moment, the eldest elder of the clan finally spoke up.

"Please, clan leader... consider the clan's interests..."

Fugaku's figure paused slightly, then he swept his sleeve.

He left the place.

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[ Ding! Fugaku Uchiha's anger has reached its peak! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 20,000 Villain Points ]

At the border, in the jungle.

Yusuke was slowly caressing Mei's hair while she worked diligently below, simultaneously receiving an increase in Villain Points.

Throughout the entire afternoon, System messages kept coming one after another. In total, he had gained several tens of thousands of points.

Indeed! This was the fastest way to gain Villain Points!

[ Ding! Mei Terumi struggles with your most challenging version! She endures the discomfort to assist you. Congratulations to the host for obtaining 2,000 Villain Points ]

Yusuke was slightly startled. Looking at her, whose eyes were starting to glisten with tears, he gently pushed her head back, causing a strand of saliva to form between her mouth and that place.

"Mei, let's take a break."

"Mm..." She finally got a chance to catch her breath. At the same time, the love in her eyes grew even more intense.

She truly loved her Hubby to death!

As evening approached, all of Kirigakure's frontline combat ninjas became increasingly vigilant.

If the other three major ninja villages wanted to make a move, this would be the perfect time for a surprise attack — after Kiri defeated Konoha, when they let their guard down.

However, everything remained normal. Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure were merely continuing their routine ninja deployments. They showed no intention of making a move.

Clearly, they wanted to watch from the sidelines, all hoping to be the fisherman who benefits from others' quarrel! They wanted to see Konohagakure and Kirigakure fight each other to the death, preferably with both sides battling to mutual destruction.

"Be extra vigilant tonight." Yusuke ordered.

"Yes!" Mangetsu and the others promptly accepted the command.

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Inside Konoha, at the Uchiha clan's residence.

"Fugaku, hand me over."

In the clan leader's mansion, Mikoto's voice broke the silence.

"Whether it's for the clan or for the village. Even if not for the village's sake, it should be for the clan's..."

After learning the results of the clan's internal vote that afternoon, Mikoto had made a difficult decision.

For the clan, she was willing to sacrifice her life at any moment. This burden couldn't rest solely on Fugaku's shoulders.

"But... but..." Fugaku's heart ached.

His fists clenched tightly. A pair of Mangekyō Sharingan burst forth, no longer hidden. His scarlet, eerie eyes brimmed with endless, surging anger.

Before her, he no longer cared about exposing his secret.

"The Third Hokage said earlier that after I go, there won't be any immediate danger to my life." Tears welled in Mikoto's eyes, "Yusuke Kamizuki... he wants to use me to disrupt our clan's unity and our relationship with Konoha. We... absolutely cannot let that demon's plan succeed."

Her heart filled with helplessness. The only way to thwart this plan was to agree to that demon's demands... to sacrifice the individual for the greater good.

This was their sole option now.

"That damned Yusuke Kamizuki! He's inhuman!" Fugaku gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear the man apart with his bare hands.

Anger and resentment consumed him, yet he saw no way out. A sense of powerlessness washed over him. If only he were stronger! Just a bit stronger! Perhaps then he could turn the situation around.

But now... he had no options.

Shisui's strength matched his own, yet even he could only flee before the Ice God.

That man was too strong. Absurdly strong!

Fugaku had never craved power as desperately as he did now.

"Besides, after I go, I might find a way to contact Kushina... Moreover, I'm not entirely defenseless." In Mikoto's pitch-black eyes, a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan slowly emerged.

Under such prolonged pressure, she had long since awakened the full Sharingan. She had just never used it before.

"If... I'm saying if..." A glint of extreme anger and ruthlessness flashed in Fugaku's eyes, "If... you find Kushina Uzumaki... If you truly sense danger approaching, you can use the Sharingan to draw out the Nine-Tails' power from within her."

Mikoto's body trembled slightly. This method indeed had some merit.

However, it would mean Kushina would have to endure the painful torment of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

"Promise me!" Fugaku clenched his fist.

"...Mm! I promise you!" Mikoto pondered for a long while, then nodded firmly.

Knock! Knock!

A sudden rapping at the door interrupted them.

Shisui's voice rang out, "Clan Leader Fugaku, the Third Hokage is here."

"Sigh…Come in." Fugaku furrowed his brows, the Mangekyō in his eyes instantly vanishing. He was reluctant to reveal his true trump card in front of the Third Hokage.

Hiruzen entered the mansion, his gaze falling first on the Uchiha clan leader before shifting to Mikoto, whose eyes were rimmed with red. He immediately understood the situation.

"Clan Leader Fugaku, this action... it's truly the only way to resolve our current crisis. Don't worry! Once we get through these next few days, our counterattack plan will be set in motion immediately!" Hiruzen attempted to console them.

Fugaku's face remained gloomy, his silence speaking volumes.

Mikoto stepped forward, her voice low, "I've agreed to the final request."

Hearing her answer, Fugaku didn't try to stop her as he had earlier that day. It seemed they had reached their decision.

"The entire village of Konoha, both ninjas and civilians, will be forever grateful to you." Hiruzen said emphatically.

"Third Hokage! I have only one request!" Fugaku suddenly interjected.

"Please, speak." Hiruzen's expression turned serious.

"From now on, I want to participate in all of Konoha's high-level strategic decision-making meetings." Fugaku's voice carried an indisputable tone.

"...Alright!" After a moment's consideration, Hiruzen agreed, "We should set out now. Konoha is quite far from the border, and we need to reach the front lines before dawn."

Mikoto nodded slightly. As Fugaku was about to rise painfully, she said softly, "Fugaku, this time, you don't need to go."

She couldn't bear to have him watch her being sent to the enemy with his own eyes.

The atmosphere once again fell into an eerie silence.

Finally, Fugaku's sigh, suppressed to the extreme, broke the quiet.

"Alright..."

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[ Ding! Fugaku Uchiha's anger has been suppressed to the extreme! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 150,000 Villain Points ]

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