When Ichiro suddenly brought people to his home, Uchiha Fugaku's brows furrowed tightly.
He wanted to question Ichiro about the promise he'd made earlier, but with so many people present, he couldn't bring himself to ask—after all, that kind of thing could only be discussed in private.
"Fugaku, do you know why I'm here?" Ichiro asked with a playful smile.
"You want to go back on what you promised me?" Fugaku stepped forward a few paces, lowering his voice to question him.
"What do you think?" Ichiro replied.
Though he hadn't outright denied it, Fugaku already knew—Ichiro was clearly going back on his word.
No, it wasn't just breaking a promise. He had never intended to give up the clan leader position in the first place. There was no way he would let Fugaku have it.
"Fugaku, I'm here to arrest you."
With a wave of his hand, Ichiro signaled, and Goro and Ken immediately stepped forward, their blades pressing against Fugaku's neck.
Still injured, Fugaku failed to react in time.
"What do you mean by this?! Ichiro, don't think I won't expose all the filthy things you've done!"
Fugaku roared in fury.
It was bad enough that Ichiro had gone back on his word, but now he wanted to take him down completely? Did he think Fugaku was some spineless puppet?
If he exposed the indecent relationship between Ichiro and Mikoto before her engagement had been dissolved, Ichiro's reputation would plummet. That sort of affair was completely immoral.
Of course, it wouldn't reflect well on Fugaku either—it would be an incredibly humiliating scandal.
That's why he had never dared let the truth slip out. But if Ichiro pushed him too far, Fugaku wouldn't hesitate to go down with him.
"I live openly and righteously. What kind of dirt could there be on me?" Ichiro said shamelessly, not blushing one bit.
"On the contrary, it's you, Fugaku. Mikoto came to report you. She said you forced her to seduce me in order to win my support for the clan leader position."
"Back then she was still your fiancée. No wonder you dissolved the engagement—you were treating her like a tool. How disgusting. If this spreads, what will the other clans in Konoha think of us?"
Ichiro scolded Fugaku, his tone filled with righteous indignation.
Those nearby were immediately in an uproar, most of them in full gossip mode.
When Ichiro had shown up at Fugaku's house with such an imposing group, the other Uchiha clan members had already been drawn over.
The neutral ones came to watch the drama, while Fugaku's supporters had come to back him up.
Now that they heard this explosive revelation, they stared at Fugaku in disbelief.
Some of them even looked at him with clear contempt. They never expected Fugaku to stoop so low.
When news of Fugaku dissolving his engagement to Mikoto had first come out, many had found it baffling—wondering if he had lost his mind. After all, doing so would mean losing the support of the Grand Elder. It was essentially cutting off one of his own arms.
But now, they realized his real plan—offering Mikoto as bait to win Ichiro's favor. He'd even gone as far as sacrificing his fiancée.
Sure, it proved Fugaku was ruthless, but that didn't stop anyone from looking down on him.
At that moment, Fugaku's face turned bright red.
Those watching assumed it was out of shame, further cementing the accusation in their minds.
But they didn't know—it wasn't guilt. It was rage.
Only now did Fugaku realize that Ichiro had set him up.
As he opened his mouth to speak, Ichiro activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and locked eyes with him.
The pressure from the Sharingan combined with Ichiro's presence made it impossible for Fugaku to move.
"How can this be? He's so powerful… Did he break through to Kage-level?" Fugaku screamed in his heart, feeling a primal fear welling up.
"Look! Mikoto is here!"
Someone shouted from the crowd. Many of Fugaku's supporters looked at her with hope, praying she would deny everything and expose Ichiro's lies.
"Mikoto, did Lord Fugaku force you to seduce Ichiro? Please answer truthfully," Uchiha Rin asked sternly.
The situation was dire for Fugaku. Everything now hinged on Mikoto's answer.
"You'd better think carefully before answering," Rin warned.
"Oh? Are you trying to threaten her?" Ichiro turned to look at Rin.
The oppressive pressure from Ichiro's gaze made Rin's breathing irregular, and he reflexively activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.
But even though they had the same form, Rin could instantly feel that Ichiro's ocular power was on a completely different level.
That was to be expected. Ichiro had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even when using just the three tomoe, his power had far surpassed the past.
"Fugaku threatened me with my grandfather's life, telling me to become Ichiro's woman and collect dirt on him to prevent him from becoming the clan leader," Mikoto said, repeating what Ichiro had instructed her to say.
Though it was her first time lying like this, so there were a few noticeable flaws.
"Mikoto, you—"
"Shut your mouth. You don't deserve to speak," Goro growled and kicked Fugaku, knocking him to the ground.
"Fugaku… I can't believe you'd stoop to this," said one of the Uchiha jōnin who had supported him, looking at him with deep disappointment. "If you could sacrifice your own fiancée, what else would you sacrifice?"
He no longer felt safe working under Fugaku.
One betrayal usually meant more.
In an instant, three-fourths of Fugaku's supporters withdrew. Only a few loyal cronies remained, looking conflicted but not backing away.
"Fugaku, you really are scum," Ichiro said, shaking his head as if even looking at him was a disgrace.
"While your actions don't warrant death, there's no place in our clan for someone like you. I propose we exile Uchiha Fugaku from the clan. What do you all think?"
Ichiro's true aim had finally been revealed.
Expelling Fugaku from the Uchiha clan—this was his endgame.