Chapter 10: Uchiha Fugaku

How strong is Orochimaru?

He fought through the entirety of two Ninja World Wars.

He commanded the Konoha Ninja Army in bitter battles against the four great ninja villages and fought against powerhouses like the Wind Shadow, Tsuchikage, Raikage, Mizukage, and Hanzo.

Eighty percent of Konoha Jonin were once Orochimaru's subordinates; they won wars under his command and earned the merit required to be promoted to Jonin.

His former subordinates are spread across every department of Konohagakure, effectively holding the real power in the village.

Yamanaka Chujiu laughed and said, "It's decided, I'm going to become a student of Orochimaru-sensei, and then persuade him to become the Fifth Hokage!"

"As long as I complete this step, I won't have to do anything else afterward."

"Haha, I'm so smart!"

……

Shisui Uchiha carried Itachi back to the clan grounds and informed Uchiha Mikoto of the news that Itachi was suffering from a mental illness.

Uchiha Mikoto was shocked upon hearing this and immediately thought of the time he went to the battlefield last year.

She suppressed her anger to settle her eldest son in, then marched off in a fury to settle the score with her husband.

"Fugaku, did you know that Itachi's mental state has gone wrong?"

Uchiha Fugaku's mind was full of the matter of being forced to move, but he was still shocked to hear his wife's words, and then he angrily demanded, "Who is cursing my son?"

Mikoto said, "It was Shisui who told me, and the one who made the diagnosis was a ninja from the Yamanaka Clan!"

"I said that Itachi was too young and not suited for the battlefield, but you just wouldn't listen!"

"Now look, our son's mental state is ruined, what is he supposed to do about his future?"

Hearing that it was a diagnosis from a Yamanaka Clan ninja, Uchiha Fugaku's anger was extinguished.

With a livid face, he asked Shisui who the ninja was that diagnosed Itachi and what the specific situation was.

Aside from Yamanaka Chujiu's name, Shisui Uchiha did not hide anything and poured out all the information about the Execution Line.

From the words relayed by Shisui, Uchiha Fugaku heard even more information.

For instance, upon hearing that "Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan are not the same thing," Fugaku suddenly felt enlightened; many seemingly unsolvable problems suddenly had new directions for resolution.

Hearing that "the Third Hokage is not Shimura Danzo" and "the Root never represents the Hokage," Fugaku was struck as if by a bolt of lightning.

From these two sentences, he understood the principle that "the Third Hokage cannot fully represent Konohagakure," and he was greatly shaken.

It was as shocking as a nearsighted person putting on glasses for the first time, with the entire world suddenly becoming clear.

It turned out that the wrong choices he had been forced to make in the past were not truly without alternatives, but rather that he hadn't found the correct way to solve them.

Fugaku vaguely felt that as long as he understood the principles behind these few sentences, the crisis of the Uchiha Clan would surely find a solution.

The more he thought about it, the more reliable it seemed, and the more excited he became; he completely forgot about his son's illness and stood up to pace around.

Suddenly, Uchiha Fugaku stopped and stared at Shisui, asking, "Who is the person who told you these things?"

"I want to visit him personally and ask him for advice on how to save the Uchiha..."

Seeing the clan head's urgent demeanor, Shisui Uchiha opened his mouth to say Yamanaka Chujiu's name, but he found he couldn't say it no matter what.

Yamanaka Chujiu was not a rigid guy.

He restricted himself from acting against kind people and refused to recklessly alter the perceptions of good people, but he also set exceptional conditions for himself.

That was, when his own safety was potentially threatened, all previous self-restrictions would be voided; after all, the original intention of all restrictions was to protect himself.

To disregard one's own life for the sake of so-called restrictions was putting the cart before the horse!

Therefore, Yamanaka Chujiu still acted against Shisui Uchiha, very restrainedly placing two locks on his desire to express himself.

Whenever the subject involved Yamanaka Chujiu, it would forcibly interrupt Shisui's train of thought, forcing him to rethink before speaking, rather than blurting everything out the moment he got excited.

Saving the Uchiha did not mean having to sacrifice himself!

Due to the restriction of the Mind Lock, Shisui Uchiha did not blurt out Yamanaka Chujiu's name, but instead proposed Chujiu's promise to Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Fugaku understood as soon as he heard it that the person indeed wanted to help the Uchiha, but did not want to take risks for it, which was why he was passing information to him indirectly through Shisui.

Uchiha Fugaku agreed without hesitation and promised that he would also accept indirect communication through Shisui and Itachi in the future.

Once the main business was clarified, Fugaku carefully asked about Itachi's condition and soon regretted it, saying, "I am truly an incompetent father."

Shisui comforted him, "Clan Head, do not worry; since Senior Yamanaka Chujiu was able to diagnose it, he must also be able to treat it."

Fugaku's eyes lit up: "Shisui, you're right, the Yamanaka Clan must be able to treat it!"

Uchiha Mikoto was overjoyed: "That's great, I will visit Yamanaka Inoichi tomorrow and beg Yamanaka Chujiu to treat Itachi."

Uchiha Fugaku, in his excitement, blurted out: "I will go with you; one must show sincerity when asking for help."

Uchiha Itachi was the eldest son in whom he placed high hopes, and his proudest son.

It was he himself who had lost his head and brought the child to the battlefield, leading to the child's serious illness; naturally, he had to do his utmost to make amends.

Shisui Uchiha advised against it: "Clan Head Fugaku, I think it would be better if you didn't go."

Fugaku understood Shisui's meaning in a second and realized he had been too excited.

Currently, the Uchiha Clan was bearing the blame, the suspicion of controlling the Nine-Tails was hard to clear, and they were being forced to move by Sarutobi Hiruzen; it was indeed inappropriate for him to visit the Yamanaka Clan personally.

Moreover, he had just promised to communicate indirectly with Yamanaka Chujiu; if he were to show up at his door, wouldn't that mean he was going back on his word?

Uchiha Mikoto taking Uchiha Itachi to seek medical treatment was the most appropriate choice.

Not only could it prove how much they, as parents, valued the child, but Yamanaka Inoichi and Yamanaka Chujiu would not refuse to meet because of this.

Uchiha Fugaku sighed deeply: "In that case, I will not go."

"Shisui, I entrust you to go with Mikoto and bring my gifts."

"Please rest assured, Clan Head Fugaku, I will protect Aunt Mikoto and little Itachi well!"

In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Fugaku became excited again and shouted at the door: "Someone come!"

Uchiha Tekka appeared in front of the door: "Clan Head!"

Fugaku took out his formal attire to put on and ordered: "Notify the four Elders to gather in the meeting room; I have matters to discuss with them."

"Yes, Clan Head."

After receiving the order, Tekka vanished in an instant.

Uchiha Mikoto frowned and said, "It is already dark, are you still going to a meeting?"

Fugaku replied excitedly, "The words Shisui relayed to me have given me a brand new perspective on the situation; there is hope for resolving the Uchiha's predicament."

"I must take advantage of this inspiration while it lasts and hurry to discuss a concrete plan with the several Elders; we must come up with a specific method tonight to thoroughly resolve our Uchiha's troubles."

After saying this, he hurried out of the house.