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The Third Hokage's face twitched slightly at Uchiha Fugaku's suggestion.
He did not like this idea at all.
The Uchiha clan's Sharingan was infamous for its dangerous capabilities. Allowing a member of the Uchiha to perform any techniques on him—even for something as seemingly harmless as sharing a recorded image—was out of the question.
Moreover, given his strained relationship with the Uchiha clan, the Third Hokage couldn't risk Fugaku using the opportunity to harm him.
"Someone come in," the Hokage said, directing his voice to the door.
Moments later, a masked ANBU operative entered.
"Show him the image, and he will report to me," the Hokage ordered.
"As you wish," Fugaku replied with a faint chuckle, the mockery in his tone unmistakable.
His calm demeanor suggested he was thoroughly enjoying the Hokage's unease.
Turning to the ANBU, Fugaku activated his Sharingan and performed the eye technique, displaying a sequence of events directly to the operative.
The shared footage showed the encounter with the two Akatsuki members. Fugaku was careful to exclude any scenes of his battle, particularly those revealing his use of Ice Release.
The ANBU operative spoke up after viewing the sequence.
"Hokage-sama, in the recording, there were two individuals dressed in black cloaks with red clouds. They ambushed Patriarch Fugaku and his team."
The Hokage's expression darkened further.
If this was true, it hinted at a deeper connection between Orochimaru and the Akatsuki organization—perhaps even with the Wood Release ninja. The potential threat posed by such a coalition sent a chill down his spine.
"Hokage-sama," Fugaku said, his tone steady but with a hint of finality, "I've been away for several days on this mission. I'm tired and would like to return home now."
The Hokage barely acknowledged him, lost in his own swirling thoughts.
With a polite bow, Fugaku turned and left the office.
As he watched Fugaku's retreating figure, the Hokage hesitated.
For a moment, he considered pressing the issue further, but after the recent debacle and Fugaku's apparent readiness to counter his every move, the Hokage decided against it.
For now, the implications of Orochimaru's potential connection with the Akatsuki demanded his immediate attention.
Back at the Uchiha compound, Fugaku greeted Mikoto briefly before heading to the basement of his study.
With a puff of smoke, the body of the scarred man—the Akatsuki member he had killed—appeared before him.
Fugaku had refrained from revealing the body earlier. He knew that if he handed it over to the analysis department, it would never be returned.
"Corpse Melting Technique," he muttered.
The man's body dissolved into the smelting chamber, producing biological tissue that flowed into Fugaku's body.
A chilling sensation coursed through him, as if he were submerged in icy water. Frost spread outward, freezing the air and forming a thin layer of ice across the basement floor.
When the process concluded, Fugaku flexed his fingers, conjuring a fist-sized crystal of ice in the air. The diamond-shaped shard floated above his palm, translucent and razor-sharp.
"This ice is as hard as steel," Fugaku mused, testing its durability. "A minor enhancement, but better than nothing."
While his Ice Release abilities had reached Kage-level strength, this elite jonin's body offered only incremental improvement. Still, Fugaku found it useful for maintaining his secondary Bloodline Limit as a backup for situations where using the Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't ideal.
Satisfied, he dismissed the ice crystal, erased all traces of the Ice Release in the basement, and ascended the stairs.
In the backyard, Fugaku heard the clashing of weapons.
When he arrived, he saw his two sons training.
Sasuke, clad in black tights, was furiously attacking with a kunai. The boy's young face was intense with concentration, sweat glistening on his brow.
His older brother, Itachi, stood opposite him, calm and composed. Wearing a black ninja uniform with his hair tied back, Itachi effortlessly blocked Sasuke's strikes with a single kunai, one hand behind his back.
Fugaku observed quietly.
"In terms of talent, Itachi surpasses Kakashi at the same age and is on par with Shisui," Fugaku thought, a faint sense of pride mixed with bitterness.
Itachi's innate brilliance was undeniable, but Fugaku couldn't ignore the strained relationship between them.
When the training ended, Sasuke rushed toward Fugaku, his face lighting up.
"Father!" he called happily.
Itachi followed more hesitantly, bowing slightly. "Father," he said, his voice subdued.
Fugaku nodded in acknowledgment.
The atmosphere grew heavy. While Sasuke chatted animatedly about his training, Itachi remained silent, his gaze occasionally flickering toward his father.
Finally, after some hesitation, Itachi spoke.
"Father, I heard that you openly defied the Third Hokage recently," he said cautiously.
Fugaku turned to him, his expression unreadable.
"That is true," Fugaku replied calmly.
The tension between the Uchiha clan and the Hokage had already reached a breaking point. Confrontations like the one he'd had with Sarutobi were becoming inevitable.
"Can't there be peace between the clan and the Hokage?" Itachi asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.
Fugaku's expression hardened.
"If you wish for peace, ask the Hokage," he said coldly. "The Uchiha have been pushed into this position by his actions and those of his predecessors."
Itachi frowned. "You misunderstand the Hokage, Father. He cares deeply for Konoha. He wouldn't deliberately harm the clan—"
"Enough," Fugaku interrupted, his voice sharp.
He stared at Itachi with a cold intensity that silenced him.
Without another word, Fugaku turned and walked away.
"Itachi has been so thoroughly brainwashed by the Hokage's ideals that there's no saving him," Fugaku thought bitterly.
(End of Chapter)
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