Naruto's Strongest Force

"Essentially."

Natsu patted Itachi on the shoulder and clenched his fist.

"That's the essence of it."

"Are you talking about strength, senior?" Itachi asked.

Natsu shook his head: "Yes and no."

"Yes, because in the world of shinobi, power is everything. When our Uchiha's strength can completely surpass Konoha, then we can choose who becomes the Hokage."

"No, because even if we overpower Konoha, there are still the Hidden Cloud, Hidden Stone, Hidden Mist, and Hidden Sand villages."

"Back in the days of Madara and Hashirama, Hashirama's strength could completely dominate all ninja villages, which is why he was the Hokage."

"But the current Hokage is merely a product of compromise between different clans."

"Without strengthening ourselves, the title of Hokage is nothing but a farce."

"In my Mangekyo Sharingan, you've seen so many disasters, yet you don't look beyond the immediate."

"I suspended the Uchiha from duty just to make them see some things clearly, to prevent them from being blinded by the immediate injustice."

"What we need is to strengthen ourselves. When every Uchiha can stand on their own, Konoha will beg us to take the role of Hokage."

Fugaku was mesmerised by these words and placed his hand on Natsu's shoulder: "Natsu, you should be our clan leader."

Natsu laughed and brushed Fugaku's hand away: "You jest, clan leader. As long as the Uchiha are prosperous, it doesn't matter who is the leader. If the Uchiha are destroyed, then what difference does it make who the leader is?"

Everyone fell silent.

"Ding..."

"Shisui!"

"Yes!" Uchiha Shisui nodded firmly.

"It's about time. The psychological issues of many Uchihas have now been addressed."

"It's time for us to break out of this loop."

"It's time to prepare for a 'rebellion.'"

Fugaku fell silent momentarily: "Notify those we planned earlier."

Natsu pulled out a scroll and handed it to Itachi: "Itachi, this scroll contains some of the clan's accumulations and some business plans I've written."

"It's going to be tough when you're out there. Everything will depend on you."

They had already decided earlier. Uchiha Itachi and Shisui would lead a group of clan members to leave the Uchiha.

Natsu and Fugaku would stay in Konoha. Although Fugaku wanted Natsu to lead the team, he still needed to extract many talents from Konoha.

Only then could he truly control his destiny.

Itachi took the scroll, feeling its heavy weight.

His mindset had drastically changed recently as a new world had opened.

Previously, his vision was too narrow, confined only to Konoha.

He didn't want to leave Sasuke behind, but Shisui was too gentle and unsuitable for leadership; he could only serve as a warrior. Thus, only Itachi, with the support of the Third Elder, could undertake this task.

Fortunately, Natsu was there, giving him peace of mind.

"Don't worry, father, senior, I will do my best. Senior, please take care of Sasuke."

Natsu waved his hand: "Don't make it sound like a final farewell. Your father is still in the clan, and I will take good care of Sasuke."

"Clan Leader Fugaku, it's your turn to gather them."

...

In the clan's shrine.

"I know that everyone here hopes for the prosperity of the Uchiha clan," Natsu began, sitting at the head of the gathering with others around him.

The Uchiha below, mostly hawkish and radical members, many of whom had been part of the security team, listened intently.

"But the long-standing oppression by Konoha has denied us the treatment we deserve."

"For so long, not a single Uchiha has become Hokage."

"Not even a seat among the advisors has been granted to the Uchiha."

Hearing Natsu's words, the Uchiha in the audience began to breathe heavily.

Uchiha are emotionally driven people who are easily stirred.

"Just a few days ago, I suspended the duties of the Fourth Elder to let you all see something."

"Konoha, in reality, cannot do without us, the Uchiha!"

"We Uchiha should claim the rights we deserve!"

Uchiha Yaoyo from below asked, "But, deputy clan leader, how can we obtain these rights?"

Natsu covertly signalled to Shisui, who then bactivatedhis Sharingan rapidly.

Natsu secretly used an ocular power amplifier to increase the range of Kotoamatsukami.

"The necessary process to gain rights is for us to be powerful enough. What our Uchiha clan lacks is autonomy."

"Always guarding the security team, we will never be able to transition to Hokage from a position that easily offends others!"

"We Uchiha cannot always be mercenaries; we need our own enterprises!"

"We need to be powerful! Powerful enough that Konoha cannot ignore us!"

"Why is our Land of Fire always attacked by other countries yet remains the strongest?"

"Because our Land of Fire is the richest and wealthiest!"

"Our Land of Fire can afford countless lives!"

"Other countries weaken after a few losses!"

"We need to develop economically! Grow our population! Make Konoha beg us to become Hokage!"

Natsu's voice resonated, and as he spoke, Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan spilt power like mercury, pouring down.

The effort to sway these people was immense. Tears of blood streaming from Shisui's eyes were thankfully mitigated by the ocular power amplifier.

The Third Elder, Taizo, seeing Shisui nearly at his limit, immediately raised his arm and shouted!

"Develop the economy! Revitalize the Uchiha!"

Seeing the enthusiastic crowd below, Shisui issued orders loyal to Uchiha Itachi within Kotoamatsukami, then collapsed.

...

In the Hokage's office.

A member of the Anbu was reporting.

"Report to the Third Hokage, the Uchiha had an unexplained gathering today."

"The attendees were mainly radical Uchiha members; the purpose of the gathering is unclear."

"But shortly after the gathering began, chants of 'Revitalize the Uchiha' erupted, and the atmosphere was extremely fervent."

The Third Hokage rubbed his forehead wearily. Hadn't the Uchiha shown good faith? So many had withdrawn from the security team.

What exactly was Fugaku up to?

"Boom!" A loud explosion sounded in the distance, a vast chakra pressure spreading.

The Third Hokage's expression tightened. That was from the Uchiha's land.

The cloud of dust rising from the Uchiha's land was soon followed by a message from a summoning creature.

"Lord Third Hokage! There has been a battle within the Uchiha clan, affecting a wide area. The combatants are Uchiha Itachi and Fugaku."

"The chakra pressure from the jutsu used by Uchiha Itachi and Fugaku is too great; our scouts cannot get close."

"It seems to be the legendary Susanoo."

"Susanoo!?" The Third Hokage clenched his fists.

"Gather the Anbu immediately. Head to the Uchiha clan land."

With a body flicker technique, the Third Hokage leapt out of the window.