The Grand Elder's face was terrifying as he activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan, seething with fury—he almost wanted to fight Uchiha Ichiro to the death.
Even if Ichiro had assassinated him, the Grand Elder wouldn't be this enraged. But now—Ichiro had laid his hands on Mikoto. That bastard!
"Mikoto, how did Uchiro Ichiro force you?"
The Grand Elder turned to her, his tone low and heavy.
Mikoto remained silent.
"You don't have to say it. I can guess. He threatened you using me, didn't he?"
Still silent, but her silence was confirmation enough. The Grand Elder clenched his fists—Ichiro had used him to threaten his own granddaughter.
"No wonder Uchiha Fugaku's been so cold to me lately. Looks like he found out."
And now it made sense—Fugaku's sudden distant behavior. The truth had likely reached him.
"Fugaku knows?"
Finally, Mikoto spoke.
The Grand Elder sighed heavily.
"What are you thinking now?" he asked.
"I don't know," Mikoto replied, her voice dazed. Her life had taken such a bizarre turn she could barely keep up.
"This is my fault. Your grandfather is too weak—I couldn't protect you."
He had no way of blaming Mikoto. Not when she had been coerced like this. Who could have expected Uchiha Ichiro to be so ruthless? He should have never let him leave earlier. But even if he had stopped him, what could he have done? As an aging shinobi whose strength only barely rivaled a jōnin, he had no way to take on Ichiro.
The era now belonged to the young.
"Grandfather… I want to break off my engagement with Uchiha Fugaku."
That persistent weight in her chest, the guilt—it was crushing her. If she ended her engagement with Fugaku, maybe that guilt would go away. Her words came out with rare conviction.
"…Very well. If Ichiro is willing to marry you, that might not be a bad outcome."
The Grand Elder inhaled deeply.
Even though he resented Ichiro to the core, what choice did he have? Fugaku couldn't defeat Ichiro. Letting Mikoto escape that mess might be for the best.
The battle for clan leadership hadn't ended, but the Grand Elder no longer had faith in Fugaku's chances. Ichiro was too strong, too cunning—Fugaku didn't stand a chance.
"Marry Uchiha Ichiro?"
Mikoto's expression turned complicated, but she didn't object.
After what had happened, and knowing her own character, she saw only two options: live alone forever—or give in and marry him. Since her fate had already been sealed, she might as well choose the latter.
"I'll go speak to him."
The Grand Elder made up his mind.
But it seemed Ichiro wasn't going to be found—because at that very moment, he was already paying Uchiha Fugaku a visit.
"Breaking things again? Such a temper! That's no way for an injured man to behave."
From outside, Ichiro could already hear crashing and smashing sounds.
"What are you doing in my house?! Get out!"
Fugaku roared.
And why was he so furious? Because one of his trusted subordinates who had been monitoring Ichiro returned with a report: Ichiro had gone to the Grand Elder's home.
Why would he go there when the Grand Elder wasn't home?
Fugaku didn't need to think twice—Ichiro must have gone to see Mikoto. Just imagining it made his already healing wounds tear open again.
"No need to be so hostile—I'm here to talk. I think this might actually be a good thing for you."
Ichiro casually walked in, poured himself a cup of tea, and sat down like it was his own house.
"Sit down. No need to be polite—make yourself at home."
Every word from Ichiro grated on Fugaku's nerves.
"What do you want?" Fugaku asked coldly.
Cold didn't even begin to describe it. If looks could kill, Ichiro would have been carved into pieces.
A stolen love, a stolen future—the hatred ran deep.
"Fugaku, you want to become clan leader, right? I'm willing to support that. I won't compete with you for it."
"…What are you up to?"
Not a single word Ichiro said sounded trustworthy.
"I'm serious. I'll give up my claim—but in return, you need to give me something."
Fugaku narrowed his eyes. Ichiro didn't seem like he was joking.
"What do you want?"
To Fugaku, becoming clan leader was practically an obsession. If Ichiro really gave up, that was more than tempting.
Truthfully, he wasn't confident he could beat Ichiro. If Ichiro stepped aside voluntarily, it would be perfect.
"Some people want power. Others, money. Me? I'm just a man of simple tastes—I like women."
Only Ichiro could say something like that with such shameless confidence.
"Your fiancée, Mikoto… I like her. If you give her to me, I'll support your leadership. No strings attached."
That sentence almost sent Fugaku into a full breakdown.
But… after a moment of burning rage, Fugaku calmed.
He already knew Mikoto and Ichiro had been together. The truth was undeniable. So… maybe it wasn't such a crazy idea. After all, how could he marry a woman who'd already been with someone else?
He thought of Mikoto's perfect personality, her graceful beauty. He'd never even touched her—only for Ichiro to take her away.
That bastard deserved a hundred deaths.
If he had the strength, he'd kill him right now. But he didn't. Ichiro's power was overwhelming.
Should he agree? Fugaku didn't want to. If word got out, it'd be humiliating.
Give away the woman he loved to another man? What was this, some tragic romance?
Could he trust a word from Ichiro? He doubted it. Maybe this was just a cruel taunt, a humiliation.
His face contorted in rage.
Uchiha Fugaku glared at Ichiro like he wanted to tear him limb from limb.