I would agree with you if everybody in the uchiha clan was a ninja but not everyone was. They made Itachi kill every one that was born an uchiha, ninja or not aren't they villagers too? Shouldn't they have been protected?
Ur basically right but most of the uchiha were either shinobi or in the Uchiha police force. They had a complete warrior focus: they didnt consider a member an adult untill he cld do a Katon great fireball jutsu.
But i think most people dont know what the effects of the uchiha coup wld have been:
1. Uchiha were a lot in number,(they had a whole district to themselves) and their fighting talents were unparalleled.
2. Uchiha wld need to kill many of the shinobi forces of konoha to make the coup a sucess. And itachi alone can take on opponents equaling his total clan members. So imagine the body count .....
3. Many innocent civilian might have died due to cross fire or their livelihood destroyed.
4. To stop other clans from rising against them, uchiha wld have to take the clan leaders or their children hostage or kill them.
5. After the coup there wld be ppl who disagrees, who wld be need to be killed or imprisoned.
6. Hizune wld have to be killed.
7. THIS IS MOST DEADLY: Due to civil unrest and the weakened millitary forces, konoha wld be open for attack by other countries, who are always just waiting for a chance for a attack. This would mean destruction of konoha and annexation of land of fire. Imagine how many people wld be killed.
U r not thinking properly:
1. One sasuke can do this, imagine what other 45 sasukes wld do for revenge.
2. How is one going to tell apart who is guilty and who is not? Each uchiha has to be captured b4 they can be made to talk and all of them knows great genjutsu, so mind reading wld be not that effective.
3. Itachi at least knew who all were responsible and he specifically stated 'this clan has no future'; u know why? Cos i think the entire clan was into the plan.
4. Wont the remaining members plot revenge? or even run away to other countries and sell them the konoha secrets?
5. Also they hizune tried to take a bloodless path but it didnt work. (See:
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read background)
6. Only the council (elders and danzo) suspected the Uchiha as Madara Uchiha the LEADER of the Uchiha clan attacked Hashirama, the first Hokage and its not a very light crime that can be easily forgotten. So the uchiha wre merginalised and secretly monitored (Its not spyng if everyone knows it). But good hearted Hizune made up for that by forming the Uchiha Police Force (No other clan had such power) and giving them full control over konoha law and order and still offered more (See:
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and read background). But they refused the peace offers as they were after power and wld not stop before thay controlled the whole village.
The council made a inhuman choice but Itachi freely chose to take the path that wld save more lives and willingly made the sacrefice as no one forced him to; and wants Sasuke leave the path of vengence. Dont u think if sasuke really loved his brother he wld listen to and respect his bothers wishes? but no he is more in love with vengence itself. His goals may be understandable but not at all valid beyond the killing of elders and the ROOT.
