41-45

Chapter 41: Give the Child a Chance!

"Swish!"

Almost at the moment Setsuna reminded him, Fugaku instinctively jumped up, avoiding Itsuki's hand.

"Water..."

Fugaku frowned at Itsuki, in mid-air, his hands quickly forming seals, and a stream of flames shot downwards.

Below, a water column automatically rose to block the attack.

Amidst the billowing white smoke,

A figure slowly emerged from the water, looking at Fugaku with a smile.

He didn't mind Setsuna's reminder.

In fact, even without Setsuna's reminder, he couldn't have defeated Fugaku so easily.

After all, he was the Uchiha clan leader, his strength was undeniable. Even without revealing his Mangekyo Sharingan, his power had reached the Kage level.

However!

The real fun was about to begin.

Fugaku and Itsuki formed hand seals again simultaneously.

This time, their seals were completely different.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

Facing the incoming flames, Itsuki used Water Style to block the attack.

In return, he used another Water Style technique.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A ferocious water dragon appeared, roaring as it charged towards Fugaku.

The massive water dragon, over a hundred meters long, displayed its might as it roared.

"Water Style again!"

Fugaku used the Body Flicker Technique to evade the attacks consecutively.

Although Itsuki's attacks were dense, they couldn't escape Fugaku's Sharingan.

He 'saw' them all.

"Truly amazing!"

Setsuna exclaimed, watching the two in battle.

Both of their strengths were exceptional.

Stronger than Setsuna at his peak, they were definitely among the top-tier ninjas.

Especially Itsuki.

He was continuously using Water Style!

As an Uchiha, if his Water Style was this strong, what about his Fire Style?

It's a pity the Uchiha clan wasn't united. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any room for the Third Hokage and the others to interfere.

If the Third Hokage heard this, he would probably also say: That's what I think too.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

Just as Fugaku used a high-level Fire Style ninjutsu, Itsuki countered with a finishing move.

A massive amount of chakra surged.

One jutsu nearly drained the entire Uchiha inner lake.

Water, like a reversed waterfall, raged like a tsunami!

The Great Waterfall Technique!

Pouring down with the force of a waterfall.

It not only extinguished the Great Fire Annihilation in one fell swoop but also buried Fugaku entirely.

The range was too wide!

As long as he was on the inner lake, there was no escape.

Setsuna stared blankly, murmuring, "Such terrifying chakra reserves. Does this kid have Uzumaki bloodline? No!"

He shook his head, talking to himself.

Itsuki was Kagami's grandson.

Kagami was a pure-blooded Uchiha.

Itsuki's father was also pure-blooded.

His maternal lineage was also traceable.

There was absolutely no mixing with other clans, let alone the sensitive Uzumaki clan!

In all of Konoha, only Naruto Uzumaki possessed half Uzumaki blood.

But this amount of chakra, wasn't it too astonishing?

With a muffled sound, the Great Waterfall Technique crashed down, causing the ground to tremble.

Immediately after!

嘩啦啦!

Because of the Great Waterfall Technique, it started to rain in the surrounding area.

Itsuki floated calmly on the water's surface.

Even though the water was turbulent, he remained steady, his expression calm.

"Clan leader Fugaku, do you want to continue?"

He asked softly.

A figure slowly emerged from behind Itsuki, holding a kunai, gently sliding it across Itsuki's back.

"No need to fight anymore! Itsuki, you're truly strong!"

Fugaku sighed.

Itsuki smiled slightly and formed hand seals: "Release!"

"Bang!"

Itsuki disappeared.

Then...

嘩啦啦!

Countless lightning bolts, like electric snakes.

Fugaku's hair stood on end in an instant.

His eyes widened, and he stammered, "Lightning, Lightning Clone... and, Itsuki!!!"

Fugaku's teeth nearly shattered from clenching them.

You sly dog!

The battle is over, and you still have to shock me with a Lightning Clone.

Can't you act like a decent person?

Setsuna almost couldn't help but laugh.

Itsuki, sometimes you're quite adorable.

Of course, this was when he was dealing with others. If it were directed at himself, it would be too infuriating.

In any case, Setsuna couldn't accept it.

...

At the Fugaku household.

Uchiha Fugaku sat down with a gloomy expression, his eyes fixed on the young man drinking tea in front of him.

"This..." Itsuki hesitated, "My hobbies include beautiful women, and Clan Leader, your gaze always makes people feel uncomfortable, as if you want to strip them naked. It's too indecent. Why don't you find someone else, like Mikoto-nee..."

"Uchiha Itsuki, believe it or not, I'll kill you!"

Fugaku gritted his teeth.

This kind of thing was absolutely intolerable.

Itsuki shrugged and fell silent.

However!

Fugaku's attitude changed noticeably again.

Was this the benefit of strength?

Ninjas relied on strength, and the Uchiha valued it even more.

They often said: Speak with your eyes.

"Alright!" Setsuna sighed and said, "Tell us, Itsuki, what exactly brings you here?"

"Just consider me the winner from earlier!"

Itsuki asked curiously, "Did I just beat up Clan Leader Fugaku? Tsk tsk, I have another bragging right for the next time we drink and chat."

Setsuna chuckled, "You can only say you had the upper hand..."

He glanced at Fugaku.

He hadn't seen clearly how Fugaku had blocked the final Great Waterfall Technique.

It had clearly hit him...

There was a fleeting sense of danger within the water mist.

Fugaku was also hiding his true strength!

However, this was normal.

One was the Uchiha clan leader, the other a rising genius of the Uchiha. They were just sparring; they couldn't truly fight to the death.

"Also, Itsuki, you're not an adult yet, you can't drink, understand?"

"Sigh!"

Itsuki sighed and said with a hint of sorrow, "Life is but a fleeting few decades..."

"Get to the point!" Fugaku interrupted coldly, "Besides, others may only have a few decades, but you, I estimate at least a thousand years."

"A thousand years later, maybe people will still remember you, Uchiha Itsuki!"

The trouble you've caused, at least I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

Itsuki turned serious, "Clan Leader Fugaku, as the clan leader, please don't speak with such sarcasm. The title of clan leader is bestowed upon you by everyone, not for you to..."

"Ahem!"

Seeing the three tomoe in Fugaku's eyes, Itsuki coughed dryly.

He said honestly, "It's just a small matter."

"Speak!"

"I'm here to request a position."

"Oh!"

Fugaku subconsciously exchanged a glance with Setsuna.

Itsuki wanted to get involved in Uchiha's internal affairs?

During this sensitive period, did Itsuki also want to do something?

Fugaku maintained a calm expression, "That's rare, Itsuki. I remember inviting you to join the Konoha Military Police Force before, but you refused. Hehe, what position are you seeking? Squad captain?"

"Not for me!" Itsuki sighed, "It's for Itachi, that child... Sigh!"

Fugaku's eyebrows twitched.

His fists hardened once again!

Itachi?

Also, Itsuki, what's with that expression?

Setsuna also had a strange look on his face.

Seeing Itsuki's expression, it was as if he was Itachi's real father!

How could Fugaku bear this?

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 42: Seriously Telling You All!*

Fugaku's face was expressionless as he said, "What's wrong with Itachi?"

Itsuki's expression was complicated as he sighed, "That Itachi... sigh!" He sighed again, "That Itachi... sigh!"

Fugaku silently activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.

"If I don't kill you, I'm not Fugaku—just call me Fuko!"

Itsuki finally spoke bluntly, "I'm here to ask for a position, for the sake of Itachi."

"He wants to become Uchiha's..."

"Vice Clan Leader!"

As soon as the words fell!

The veins on Fugaku's forehead bulged.

Setsuna seemed to smirk.

Fugaku almost growled, "Uchiha Itsuki, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"What do you mean, nonsense?" Itsuki was not having it. He slammed the table and shouted, "The kid wants to do something, so why wouldn't his parents support him?"

"You, you..."

Fugaku was so angry that his whole body trembled.

Setsuna slowly asked, "Itsuki, how could Itachi have such an idea? Did you say something to him again?"

Though it was a question, the tone was exceptionally certain.

No doubt.

No hesitation.

It was him!

It was him!

It was definitely Itsuki!

There's no need to look for anyone else.

Itsuki said with a grievance, "You're being unreasonable. Whenever something bad happens, you throw it on me. Am I Uchiha's shadowy figure? Uchiha Itsuki the Danzo?"

The two of them said nothing, just stared straight at him.

Itsuki sighed helplessly, "Alright, maybe... I had a little bit to do with it."

The two still remained expressionless.

A little bit?

Be more confident!

It's 100% you, from start to finish!

If it weren't for you, I'd cut my head off and use it as a football.

At this moment, Setsuna and Fugaku's thoughts were surprisingly aligned!

"Sigh, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha, I think you both know it well!"

Hearing this topic, Fugaku's expression turned serious, while Setsuna sneered.

Fugaku was solemn!

Setsuna was sarcastic!

Itsuki looked at the two of them, slammed the table again, and shouted, "If you don't know, let me explain it to you. But, it has to start from a long, long time ago..."

"Alright, stop the nonsense. We already know it very well, so say something else!"

Fugaku sighed.

Itsuki was surprised, "Oh! You already know? You're really knowledgeable!"

"..."

"Then I'll continue!" Itsuki thought for a moment and said, "Itachi is very troubled. He desperately wants to change the relationship between the Uchiha and the village, really, really badly."

"So, you encouraged him to become the so-called Uchiha Vice Clan Leader?"

Setsuna laughed.

Uchiha Vice Clan Leader?

That’s bold!

Even if the position existed, it would never be given to Itachi.

A thirteen-year-old child!

And still Fugaku's child!

What?

Is your family planning to turn the Uchiha into your private domain?

If Fugaku dared to do this, who knows how many people would think the same.

Even the Third Hokage might openly oppose it.

"No!" Itsuki said with a completely serious expression, "What I first advised him to do was to kill Uchiha Fugaku."

Fugaku's face twitched.

Alright!

Really!

Itsuki, I still underestimated you.

Setsuna forced a smile, "Go on."

Itsuki shouted, "What’s so special about Itachi? Just because he’s called a genius, what does that even mean? Look at me—I was openly assassinated even with that title. I advised him: if he wants to change the village and the Uchiha clan, he needs to have some status. Being a mere genius means nothing. Don’t you agree with me?"

Fugaku and Satsuna remained silent.

"Say something!" Itsuki urged, "We have to be honest in what we do and how we treat people. So tell me, don’t I make sense?"

"Yes!" Satsuna replied calmly, "To change the current situation, status is indeed necessary. But why didn’t you suggest he run for Hokage?"

Fugaku glared coldly.

You old ghost, are you trying to get my son killed?

Itsuki responded helplessly, "I did suggest that. My first thought was Hokage. After all, the Third Hokage himself said that Itachi was capable of thinking like a Hokage at seven years old. So wouldn’t it be normal for him to take over as Hokage at seventeen?"

Normal, my foot!

Probably only you think that's normal.

At that moment, Sharingan nearly turned into Byakugan.

"Itachi, however, felt that directly becoming Hokage would be too difficult, so he chose to become the Uchiha clan leader first."

Itsuki looked regretful, "It's a good idea, but the problem is that his father only recently became the clan leader, and he’s only forty this year—he’s going to live a long time. How long would Itachi have to wait to take over?"

Fugaku coldly sneered, "I’ll live a long time? Sorry about that."

"It’s fine!" Itsuki waved it off generously, "So, I suggested that he should just get rid of his father…"

He made a chopping motion with his hand, as if he’d already decapitated Fugaku.

Satsuna couldn’t help but glance at Fugaku.

Stay calm.

At least let Itsuki finish before you make a move.

Don’t worry, I won’t stop you.

"If his father dies, there’d be a lot more room to maneuver. But the kid wasn’t willing."

"So I thought, let’s just make him a manager in the Uchiha clan first, let him get involved in clan affairs. As for getting rid of his dad, we can talk about that later—there will be plenty of opportunities."

"That’s how it is."

Itsuki smiled, "Shisui also supports this. The kid approached me, so I, representing a few of my subordinates, agreed. I’m curious to see how much ability someone the Third Hokage believes thinks like a Hokage at seven really has."

Despite Itsuki’s repeated mentions of killing him, Fugaku’s face remained unchanged.

He’s used to it!

He noticed something else instead.

"A few subordinates?"

"Yes, Mokujin, Nanto, Tetsuka, Inoka, Yatsushiro, and the lovely Lady Chiba—they all think I’m great. They see a bright future following me."

Itsuki openly revealed all his subordinates to Fugaku and Satsuna.

After all, if they wanted to investigate, they’d find out sooner or later. Better to lay it all out now and maximize his leverage.

This time, Satsuna’s expression also changed.

"Yatsushiro?"

"Uchiha Yatsushiro?"

"Yes!" Itsuki nodded, surprised, "Does Uchiha have another person named Yatsushiro?"

Fugaku’s face turned grim.

Uchiha Yatsushiro is no ordinary Uchiha.

He is one of the four squad captains of the Konoha Military Police Force.

He holds a senior position in the police force, second only to Fugaku.

Even within the Uchiha clan, he’s considered upper echelon.

Moreover, he has an extremely precise analytical and commanding ability, earning Fugaku’s respect and regard.

And he chose to follow Itsuki!

Why?

What makes this troublemaker Uchiha so appealing?

Fugaku and Satsuna stared intently at Itsuki.

They understood.

Itsuki came today to convey two things.

One: Itachi’s intentions, which he supports.

Two: Itsuki wanted to make it clear that he is not isolated within the Uchiha clan.

He has six Jonin-level subordinates, including those with real power.

So, how many ordinary Uchiha members do you think support him?

Fugaku and Satsuna exchanged glances and slowly said, "Itsuki, we understand your point. We will consider letting Itachi..."

"No, not consider—make it certain!" Itsuki looked at Fugaku in confusion, "Are you really Itachi’s father? Don’t you support your own child, or..."

Fugaku’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Or did you switch babies at the hospital?"

"Hmph!" Fugaku snorted coldly, refusing to say another word.

"Alright, listen up!" Itsuki suddenly said, "I have something very serious to tell you!"

Oh, dear!

Satsuna and Fugaku’s breathing quickened.

Seeing Itsuki’s expression, they couldn’t help but feel a tightening in their guts.

Whenever Itsuki had this look, it meant something terrifying was about to happen.

(End of Chapter)

### Chapter 43: Dominance

"What's with those expressions?"

Itsuki sighed and said, "That makes me lose the desire to continue talking."

"Then don't say it."

Fugaku immediately responded, "Elder Satsuna and I will seriously consider Itachi's matter."

"And what about my opinion?"

Itsuki pointed at his own nose and said, "Clan Leader Fugaku, did I not hit you hard enough earlier? How dare you ignore me?"

Fugaku sneered, "We just fought to a draw, so you can't prove you're stronger than me."

Itsuki, giving him no face, replied bluntly, "A draw? You fought against one of my clones for so long—are you proud of that? Believe it or not, I can beat you up three times a day and still give you one more for a midnight snack."

"You..."

Fugaku was so furious he nearly lost it.

The way Itsuki spoke made it sound like he had Fugaku in the palm of his hand.

But Fugaku still had his trump card!

"Enough! Stop arguing!" Satsuna hurriedly interrupted their quarrel and shot Fugaku a glare.

What's the point of being stubborn?

In the earlier fight, he was clearly being dominated.

Moreover, Itsuki only used Water Release. What if he had used Fire Release?

As a Uchiha, no matter how unserious he seems, Fire Release is undoubtedly his specialty.

During the battle, he left you with some dignity—do you really think he was being considerate?

When did you, Uchiha Fugaku, become so naive?

Even though you hid your true strength, Itsuki still has bandages on his face from the fight.

"Itsuki, tell us your reasoning. Why do you insist on making Itachi the clan leader?" Satsuna asked seriously, "Be serious. Even though you usually seem to be joking around, in reality..."

He didn't finish the sentence.

Actually, he's just as much of a troublemaker as he seems.

I've never seen anyone cause so much trouble!

If Itsuki wasn't so powerful, he'd have been turned into ashes by now, and those ashes would have been scattered again.

Itsuki thought for a moment, then opened a scroll, took out two pieces of paper, and handed them to Satsuna and Fugaku.

"What's this?"

"Ten years!"

"I've compiled all of Uchiha's developments over the past ten years into data."

Itsuki shrugged and said, "From this data, you can see that over ten years, Uchiha's power and economy have been steadily declining."

Fugaku refuted, "That's because of the Shinobi World War. Which ninja clan hasn't seen a decline in strength because of it?"

Itsuki sneered, "Do you need me to summarize the data of the other ninja clans for you?"

Satsuna stopped Fugaku from speaking and looked at Itsuki, saying seriously, "The losses of other ninja clans are certainly smaller than Uchiha's, and there's no way around that. Itsuki, you also know that Uchiha has been targeted."

"Look, look!"

Itsuki spread his hands helplessly, "You guys are making excuses again."

"Is that really a reason?"

"If that's the reason, and we keep getting targeted for a few more decades, will Uchiha be exterminated?"

"As men, we can't make excuses for our incompetence."

"We must be great..."

Fugaku and Satsuna ignored Itsuki and didn't want to dwell on the content of his words. They just silently stared at the papers in front of them.

The constantly declining graph deeply stung them.

Just like Itsuki said, someone in the village has always been targeting Uchiha and has never stopped. Is Uchiha really going to be exterminated like this?

Especially Fugaku, whose face turned dark.

This data was like a slap in the face.

He is the clan leader!

Everyone else can shirk responsibility, but he cannot.

"Don't rely on an armed coup. Even if you were given ten more years, you still wouldn't succeed."

Itsuki tapped on the table and said, "Uh, what's with those expressions? Are you surprised that I know?"

Fugaku coldly replied, "Shouldn't we be surprised?"

It's one thing for you to know about it, but how do you even know the timeline?

Itsuki was even more puzzled and said, "Weren't you all just broadcasting it with loudspeakers? How could I not know?"

"Who broadcasted it with loudspeakers!"

Satsuna laughed angrily.

Do you think we're idiots?

When planning a rebellion, who would shout it out with a loudspeaker?

Itsuki was stunned, "A lot of people know about it, including the Third Hokage. By the time I found out, the news had already passed through several people. You guys..."

His gaze carried a hint of pity.

How foolish!

"Huff!"

The two took a deep breath.

Satsuna coldly said, "For now, we won't consider the armed coup, partly thanks to you, Itsuki."

His words were full of sarcasm.

Because of the recent commotion caused by Itsuki, many people's attention has focused on Uchiha.

Who would dare to make a move at this time?

"Heh, I did it on purpose."

"You... why?" Satsuna looked at Itsuki coldly, "Are you against it?"

"At least, for now, I am."

---

A man named Itsuki said with a smile, "I have my own plan. If you start causing trouble now, I'll be put in a passive position, so I can only delay your plan."

"You have a plan too?" Fugaku asked calmly, "Can you tell me about it?"

Itsuki had strong personal strength and so many subordinates. His power now was something no one could ignore.

"Of course... I can't tell you!" Itsuki looked at Fugaku with an expression as if he were looking at an idiot, "Do I look stupid to you?"

"What does this have to do with Itachi?" Fugaku gritted his teeth and asked coldly, "Do you think everything will change once Itachi takes power?"

"Consider it an experiment!" Itsuki said casually, "Itachi and Shisui both have considerable strength, and they still have room to grow. I don't want them to end up on the opposite side."

"Besides!"

"The Third Hokage is always talking nonsense. I'm sick of listening to him, so let's just support Itachi. I'm curious to see if, by going along with their wishes, the village will still target the Uchiha."

"Sōgi once thought the same way," Setsuna said coldly, "but in the end, he fell into disgrace."

"Don't be so rigid and dogmatic!" Itsuki said helplessly, "Why not cover both bases? On the one hand, go along with the other side and put the Uchiha in a position of righteousness, while quietly preparing for an armed coup."

At this, both of them fell silent.

They were considering the feasibility of this idea.

Moreover, they were worried there might be a trap.

They didn't fully trust Itsuki.

Fugaku hesitated and said, "Itsuki, there are many things you don't understand. Itachi is my son, so as the clan leader, I need to consider the other Jonin..."

"Call a meeting of the Uchiha Jonin!" Itsuki interrupted, "There are only about thirty Jonin in the entire clan. With the Jonin you two control and the seven I have on my side, I want to see who dares to oppose us?"

The two were speechless.

Before they knew it, they had begun playing a more domineering game!

"Still hesitating?"

Itsuki waved his hand and said, "Alright then, let's put it another way. What price would you ask for a vice-clan leader position?"

"What are you talking about?"

The two were momentarily stunned.

"Name a price? What do you think this is? If there really were a vice-clan leader position, it would mean the second-in-command of the Uchiha. You're using money to measure it. Is this a transaction? This is an insult!"

The two were about to explode in anger, but Itsuki quickly spoke again.

"A million explosive tags, is that enough?"

The two who were about to explode suddenly fell silent.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 44: Unwrapping the Bandages

"You said, how much?"

Both of them turned their gaze towards him simultaneously.

As the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach."

A coup d'état also requires a large sum of money to support it.

The Uchiha clan's current trend is towards an armed uprising. Unless the Uchiha are given the Hokage position now, this will be unstoppable.

Given this, money and supplies have become crucial.

However, the Third Great Ninja War didn't end long ago, and with some instigators causing trouble, the Uchiha clan has just barely recovered.

Their strength is far weaker than before the war.

So when they heard about a million explosive tags, they both shuddered.

Fugaku was even more straightforward and said, "Can the position of Uchiha's Vice Chief be measured by money? Itsuki, you're underestimating us. The Uchiha are a thousand-year-old ninja clan."

Itsuki squinted at him and said, "So, you want more money, right?"

"…Yes!" Fugaku responded decisively, "Two million explosive tags, and I'll push through all opposition and agree to Itachi becoming the Vice Chief."

"Deal!"

Itsuki was even more straightforward.

At that moment, Fugaku and Setsuna's minds went blank, with only one thought remaining.

Damn, we asked for too little!

Two million explosive tags!

That's two million!

This is no small amount.

The price of explosive tags varies at different times.

When cheap, you can buy one for two hundred ryo; when expensive, it can go for over a thousand, making many Chunin green with envy.

At the current price in Konoha, one tag costs around three hundred ryo.

Moreover, explosive tags are strategic resources, and while you might buy a few at a weapon shop, once you start buying in large quantities, you won't be able to find any.

They are strictly controlled.

If Fugaku could buy two million explosive tags for ten billion ryo, he would be ecstatic.

In reality, no weapon shop in Konoha would sell so many to the Uchiha.

Who doesn't know you're planning something?

So where did Itsuki get so many?

This would be a huge help to the Uchiha's plans.

"Itsuki, you..."

"Don't tell me you're planning to raise the price at the last minute," Itsuki said with a half-smile. "I really will beat someone up. I'll do it right in front of the Jonin, and as long as I don't kill them, I'll beat them within an inch of their life."

Fugaku fell silent.

After their brief exchange, he had little confidence in facing Itsuki.

At their level, even a short confrontation reveals a lot.

Moreover, winning against Itsuki wouldn’t bring him any benefit, but losing would embarrass him in front of the entire clan.

"Ahem!"

Setsuna cleared his throat and said, "Itachi is just a child. What business does he have being the Vice Chief? As a clan elder, I oppose this."

"Heh!"

Itsuki smiled faintly and said, "What’s this? You two are teaming up now? Planning to pull a fast one on me?"

Setsuna then said something that almost made Itsuki's jaw drop.

"Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha!"

Fugaku: "..."

Elder Setsuna! Did you take the wrong medicine?

Itsuki was stunned, staring blankly at Setsuna for a long moment before saying, "Elder Setsuna, have you been possessed by Danzo?!"

"I hope I misunderstood what you just said."

Setsuna rubbed his temples in frustration and said, "I just got a bit anxious and suddenly thought of Danzo."

Itsuki burst out laughing and said, "Elder Setsuna, when you get anxious, the first person you think of is Danzo? Wow, he must be really important to you."

"Yes, that's exactly how important he is!" Setsuna said with a cold sneer. "I dream of killing him—damn Danzo!"

"Sigh, for that damn Danzo, I’ll add another 500,000 explosive tags. Consider it a tribute to his future grave."

Itsuki looked at the two of them and said, "I'm giving you a 250—aren’t you satisfied?"

"Satisfied, satisfied!"

Setsuna's face bloomed into a wide smile.

Fugaku also nodded repeatedly, though his gaze grew even fiercer.

As for "250"... what does that mean?

The ninja world’s shinobi have no idea about these things.

"Then it’s settled. I’ll deliver them to you in batches," Itsuki said as he stood up. "Let Itachi take the position, support him, and let’s see if injecting some fresh blood into the clan’s leadership brings any change."

"Let’s give it a try!"

The two, clearly bought off with explosive tags, didn’t seem too hopeful about the outcome.

Itsuki frowned and said, "Chief Fugaku, Itachi is your son, not mine. Of course..."

He cast a sly glance at Mikoto, who was tidying up nearby, and chuckled.

That smile immediately made Fugaku's Sharingan activate, his eyes spinning into the three-tomoe form.

In an unprecedentedly furious voice, he roared, "Fire Style..."

"Bang!"

Before Fugaku could finish, Itsuki vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

"Hmph!"

Fugaku let out a heavy snort of anger.

Setsuna looked at Fugaku and said slowly, "Are you afraid of him?"

"Uchiha Itsuki is unfathomable!"

Fugaku’s expression turned serious. "During our brief fight, I had the feeling that I was completely in his grasp. If he just closed his hand slightly, I would be crushed."

At that moment, Fugaku showed a hint of fear.

For a ninja of his level to constantly feel a sense of intense danger during battle was almost unimaginable.

Setsuna fell silent, finally speaking after a long pause, "This is... astonishing."

He didn’t know what else to say.

This was the highest praise he had ever heard from Fugaku.

Yet Itsuki is someone difficult to predict. You never know what he’s thinking.

Even Itsuki admitted it—he has a plan.

What is his plan?

Fugaku, however, smiled casually and said, "At least he bears the Uchiha name. Even if we all fail, as long as Itsuki is alive, the Uchiha will not perish."

"Besides..."

Fugaku hesitated and said, "What do you think about making Itsuki the Uchiha clan chief?"

"You..."

Setsuna was so shocked he almost stood up.

"How could you even think that?"

"Never mind!"

Fugaku shook his head with a smile and said, "Forget I said anything."

Setsuna looked at Fugaku with suspicion.

How could he entertain such an idea?

Itsuki? Clan Chief?

Setsuna's face twitched slightly.

It’s hard to imagine that scenario!

If this guy became the clan chief, he would drive everyone mad. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura might cry!

Publicly, openly cry!

Wait? When you think about it, maybe it’s not such a bad idea after all!

...

Itsuki didn’t return to the crematorium, nor did he go to Kurenai’s house.

Instead, he went to a remote corner of the Uchiha clan’s territory, a place rarely visited.

There stood a solitary stone house.

Itsuki opened the door and leisurely walked inside. He then pressed a switch on the wall, causing the floor to slowly rise and reveal a large hole.

Itsuki jumped straight in.

It looked like an underground cell, yet it wasn’t locked—in fact, the door wasn’t even closed.

At the deepest part of the cell, a candle flickered.

In the uncertain light, a graceful figure sat quietly, holding a book in her hand. A small table beside her held a cup of tea.

One person, one table, one tea.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, now this is a vibe!"

Itsuki smiled as he looked at the person and said, "Long time no see. The smell of corpses is strong here. Looks like you've had a lot of visitors lately."

"Sigh!"

The woman sighed helplessly and said, "You’re here. You finally came."

"Yes, I’m here!"

Itsuki adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Today, I will fulfill my wish. The most beautiful back in the ninja world is now mine."

"From today onwards, your body and soul will belong to me!"

With that, he began unwrapping the bandages on his face.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 45: Kotoamatsukami*

After leaving the crematorium, the Third Hokage's face was heavy with concern.

He walked straight to the detention room.

In the corner sat Danzō, who opened his eyes and met the Hokage’s gaze with a cold stare.

Though Danzō had only one eye, his aura was no less intimidating.

His unspoken message was clear: I refuse to bow down to you!

The Third Hokage spoke slowly, "I just came back from seeing Uchiha Itsuki."

Danzō remained silent.

Undeterred, the Hokage continued, "During our conversation, he hinted that it was time for me to hand over Kagami's eyes to him. I promised him this, Danzō. So I ask you again, where are Kagami's eyes?"

Finally, Danzō broke his silence, "You plan to give Kagami's eyes to Uchiha Itsuki? You should know just how powerful those eyes are."

Kagami’s eyes were only at the level of the three-tomoe Sharingan.

But still!

There are differences even among three-tomoe Sharingan.

Kagami Uchiha's three-tomoe Sharingan was extremely close to evolving into the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Back then, Senju Tobirama chose Kagami Uchiha not only for his character but also because of his exceptional talent.

“It’s not Uchiha Itsuki, but Uchiha Shisui!” The Third Hokage corrected. "Itsuki already has a pair of Sharingan."

Danzō's expression shifted slightly as he asked in a deep voice, "His own eyes?"

"No!" The Third Hokage shook his head. "Most likely, they aren’t his own. I had a sensory ninja check on Itsuki; his body is showing slight signs of rejection with the transplanted eyes. If they were his own, this wouldn’t happen."

"Really, they’re not his?" Danzō was somewhat surprised.

He had always believed that the loss of the Mangekyō Sharingan was a scheme orchestrated by Uchiha Itsuki himself.

He had suffered too much at their hands.

The so-called loss of the Mangekyō seemed like a trap set specifically for him.

Yet Itsuki had transplanted a pair of eyes that didn’t belong to him…

Then what happened to Itsuki’s original eyes?

"They likely aren’t his!" The Third Hokage stated calmly, "The sensory ninja I assigned was Yamanaka Inoichi."

Danzō fell silent.

Yamanaka Inoichi’s sensory ninjutsu ranked among the best in all of Konoha.

To put it bluntly, he was Konoha’s top sensory ninja.

"Danzō!" The Third Hokage's tone grew heavier. "Konoha needs peace right now. I don’t want any more trouble because of a pair of Sharingan."

"Do you know how powerful Kagami’s Sharingan is?" Danzō responded coldly. "If these eyes fall into Uchiha hands..."

"It’s just a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan, not a Mangekyō!" The Third Hokage interrupted impatiently. "Moreover, these eyes will go to Shisui. I trust that child."

Danzō fell into silence.

Under the increasingly sharp gaze of the Third Hokage, he finally nodded.

"Tomorrow, I will hand over Kagami’s eyes to you."

"You’d better not be lying to me!" The Third Hokage replied coolly. "The Uchiha likely have a way to verify if they are real. If they discover a fake, you know the consequences."

"Heh!" Danzō sneered. "Hiruzen, are you afraid of the Uchiha?"

The Third Hokage turned to leave, his departing words echoing in the room:

"Danzō, how many people do you have left in the Root?"

Danzō’s face instantly darkened.

…

As Itsuki continued his actions, the bandages unraveled, layer by layer.

Shisui’s power had now fully merged with him, and all his stats had stabilized.

Now, it was time to lift the seal!

Creak! Creak! Creak!

Itsuki couldn’t help but feel excited. After all, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was simply too amazing.

With these eyes, many of Itsuki’s plans could finally be set in motion.

And!

With these eyes, Itsuki finally had the courage to face Uchiha Madara.

Nagato?

Heh, so what if he has the Rinnegan?

Those eyes aren’t his, after all. When he faces Itsuki, Itsuki is confident of victory.

*[Uchiha Itsuki]*

*[Age: 15]*

*[Ninjutsu: Level 6 (88%)]*

*[Taijutsu: Level 6 (3%)]*

*[Genjutsu: Level 7 (5%)]*

*[Kekkei Genkai: Mangekyō Sharingan {Pupil Power: Level 7 (14%)}]*

*[Chakra: 21 units (90%)]*

…

*[Ninjutsu]*

*[Fire Release]*

*[Great Fireball Technique: Level 6 (69%)]*

*[Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: Level 6 (54%)]*

*[Dragon Fire Technique: Level 6 (66%)]*

…

*[Water Release]*

*[Water Ball Technique: Level 6 (84%)]*

*[Water Dragon Bullet Technique: Level 6 (89%)]*

…

*[Lightning Release]*

…

*[Earth Release]*

…

*[Chakra: 219,031 points!]*

This was Itsuki's updated status panel.

All of his stats had increased.

Genjutsu improved the most, surpassing level 6 and reaching level 7.

His Taijutsu also advanced from level 5 to level 6.

Even his Ninjutsu had reached the threshold for leveling up.

Moreover, his chakra amount doubled to 21 units, and he was not far from reaching 22 units.

His pupil power also upgraded to level 7.

As time goes on, all these stats are expected to improve further.

Right now, Itsuki had only just fused with Shisui’s eyes and had yet to fully adapt to this new power.

Once he completely masters the use of these eyes, his power surge will only then begin to stabilize.

By that time, Sarutobi Hiruzen, this once-great shinobi, would be nothing more than a child before him!

No, a little monkey!

What thrilled Itsuki the most was... Kotoamatsukami!

He had inherited it!

Kotoamatsukami is an incredibly extreme ability.

This ultimate genjutsu, mastered solely by Uchiha Shisui, is hailed as the "most powerful genjutsu."

Its effect allows one to control others unknowingly, permanently and completely altering their thoughts and will.

Its power is so overwhelming that it instills fear in countless people.

The only downside is that after each use, it requires a cooldown period of over a decade, unless Senju Hashirama’s chakra is available to reduce this time.

Itsuki had fully inherited and even enhanced this ability.

With two eyes, he could use it twice.

Moreover, after each use, the cooldown time ranged from five to six years.

This was just one of the abilities granted by Shisui’s Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Itsuki, having his own Mangekyō, also possessed unique powers.

These, too, were enhanced.

"Come on!"

Itsuki covered his eyes with his hand, revealing a pair of scarlet Sharingan through the gaps between his fingers.

He fixed his gaze on the woman, laughing wildly, "The most beautiful back in the ninja world, don’t think I won’t give you a chance. If you can defeat me, I’ll set you free."

"But on the other hand!"

"If you lose, everything you have will belong to me!"

"Of course, the chances of me losing are slim."

"Your body and soul..."

Itsuki extended his hand and clenched it tightly, saying, "They are mine."

The woman sighed softly and slowly stood up, "Does it really have to be this way? I was truly grateful to you."

"What do you think?"

Itsuki cackled, "Did you think I saved your life out of the goodness of my heart? Wrong. I’m an evil Uchiha."

"The only reason I saved you is because of your great figure."

"And because you’re beautiful!"

"And because you’re strong!"

The woman’s eye twitched.

Good grief!

In this man's eyes, strength was the last thing that mattered.

Are you really a ninja?

You seem more like an ordinary thug.

(End of Chapter)