Quote Originally Posted by Buffalobiian View Post
First of all, I think we need to establish and agree on the assumption that the Uchihas were staging a coup.
I'd say that's a perfectly fair assumption. Itachi was their man on the inside after all, I doubt he would have had them pull the trigger on the Uchiha if a coup wasn't imminent.

But of course, that's only an assumption we can make barring crazy ninja deception like someone intentionally framing the Uchiha somehow in order to get them wiped out etc, but it's pretty pointless to try and take those things into account.

Quote Originally Posted by Kraco View Post
And what on Earth dictates that? This is exactly why I called it a coward's easy way out: Kill 'em all and you will never need to worry about anything again, in good and in bad - except that history books may call you a bloodthirsty monster and tyrant if you don't succeed perfectly with your scapegoat.
Well, again, it being the ninja world basically removes other options.

It's not like you can just banish the clan, because then they'll go join another village, which will give that village an advantage over you.

Quote Originally Posted by DB_Hunter View Post
It would seem then in order to solve the Itachi/Sasuke question, the surviving elders of the Konoha leadership should be put in trial for suspected mass murder and then tried in court to establish the truth.
You're assuming that "Mass murder for suspected treason" is even a crime to these people. It probably isn't.

Or that Naruto even HAS a court system. I've never seen one.