The Nine-Tails' rampage caused significant destruction in the village of Konoha, and it also placed the Uchiha clan in a very awkward position.
During the chaos, the various ninja clans in the village fought to the death and made great sacrifices to protect Konoha. But the Uchiha, due to distrust from leaders like Danzo, were given the order to "evacuate and protect civilians" rather than join the battle against the Nine-Tails.
This meant that while the rest of the village fought, the Uchiha did not engage, which left many Konoha villagers viewing the clan with suspicion.
The Uchiha, known for their pride, never felt the need to explain themselves, thinking they were superior and above such things. On top of that, Konoha's leadership began to suspect that the Uchiha might have been involved in the Nine-Tails incident and started putting various pressures on the clan.
These events deepened the Uchiha clan's dissatisfaction. From their perspective, they had made great sacrifices in battles against the Rock and Cloud villages, and they felt they had contributed significantly to Konoha.
After the Fourth Hokage's death, they believed the Fifth Hokage position should have gone to the Uchiha clan leader—or at least someone from their clan should have been brought into Konoha's leadership.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the retired Third Hokage, returned to the position. The Uchiha not only failed to gain any power, but in the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' attack, they were further ostracized from Konoha's power structure.
Their clan was moved to the edge of the village, and they were placed under constant 24-hour surveillance by the ANBU.
To put it bluntly, they were humiliated.
The high-level leaders' attitude trickled down to the rest of the village. Villagers began to shun the Uchiha, not with open hostility but with cold and subtle social rejection, which at times was even more painful.
Naturally, the Uchiha were not willing to simply endure this treatment. With authority given by the Second Hokage himself, the Konoha Police Force had always been under Uchiha control.
So when villagers showed them cold attitudes, the Uchiha responded with strict enforcement—punishing even minor offenses harshly.
This heavy-handed approach led the villagers to resent the Uchiha even more, and the tension between the two only deepened.
As the Uchiha clan leader, Fugaku Uchiha was aware of all of this, but his pride kept him from fully recognizing the seriousness of the situation.
In fact, he barely even acknowledged the opinions of ordinary villagers.
Rather than asking the clan to be more cautious, he allowed their behavior, intending to use it to put pressure on Konoha's leadership.
However, Fugaku overestimated the strength of the Uchiha and underestimated Konoha's wariness of them.
Fugaku's mistakes just kept compounding.
Take, for instance, when one of his subordinates reported to him about Hattori. Fugaku handled it carelessly.
Since Hattori was from another village that had been in conflict with Konoha, it was natural for Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Hokage to meet with him. But anyone else interacting with him would look suspicious.
However, Fugaku not only ignored these concerns but even issued an invitation. How would Konoha's leadership view that?
Did Fugaku intend to show off the Uchiha's status, or worse, to connect with foreign powers?
Apparently, Fugaku either didn't consider these issues—or he simply didn't care.
Perhaps he wanted to send a message to Konoha: "We, the great Uchiha, do what we want; we don't need anyone's approval."
And if Fugaku didn't care, Hattori certainly didn't either. Buying a few boxes of dango, he happily went over to Fugaku's home.
When Hattori entered, he found Fugaku standing in the courtyard, watching a young child practicing kunai throwing with pride in his eyes.
"That's it, Itachi, your kunai throwing is excellent. You truly are my son!"
"Yes, Father!"
Hearing the exchange, Hattori immediately realized that this five-year-old was none other than the famed "Itachi the Prodigy," the future hero known as "Itachi of the Uchiha."
"This kid's been impressive from a young age," Hattori thought, clapping his hands as he spoke up.
"Such skill at such a young age—truly the Uchiha produce only the best. Congratulations, Clan Leader Fugaku, you're raising a remarkable son!"
"Haha, Hattori, you flatter me!"
Fugaku laughed heartily and then gestured to his son.
"Itachi, this is Hattori of the Sand Village!"
"Hello, Lord Hattori!"
Hearing his father's words, young Itachi immediately stepped forward and bowed to Hattori.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My father has mentioned you before. He said the 'Flame Salamander of the Sand' is no less skilled than the legendary Sannin. Um... Lord Hattori, what are you—"
Before he could finish, Hattori lifted him by his arms, grinning mischievously.
"Up you go, Little Itachi!"
Itachi: "(╭(°A°`)╮)"
Fugaku: "…"
What was happening here?
Watching Hattori lift his son like that, Fugaku's mouth twitched, and he quickly intervened.
"Hattori, Itachi is not like most children. Although he's only five, he's about to start at the academy, and he doesn't enjoy being lifted like a child."
"Uh... really?"
Hearing Fugaku's words, Hattori looked at the embarrassed Itachi and quickly set him down. Then, he lightly tapped Itachi's forehead with two fingers.
"Forgive me.' This will be the last time."
Itachi: "╭(°A°`)╮"
What was going on here?
Seeing the bewildered young Itachi, Fugaku chuckled again.
"Haha… looks like you're quite fond of Itachi, Hattori."
"Indeed!"
Hattori nodded earnestly.
"I always hold prodigies in high regard, and Itachi is a genius among geniuses."
"Hahaha…"
Hearing Hattori's unabashed praise, Fugaku laughed even more heartily and waved his hand.
"No, no… next to you, all talents pale. If I'm not mistaken, Hattori, you're only nine years old, correct?"
"Clan Leader Fugaku, please don't judge by age!"
Hearing Fugaku's comment, Hattori straightened and spoke seriously.
"Despite my age, I can assure you that when I'm in the zone, even I'm intimidated by myself!"
Fugaku: "(Д*)"
What was he even saying?
After hearing this, and seeing the astonished young Itachi beside him, Fugaku's mouth twitched again.
"Itachi, go back to your practice."
"Yes, Father!"
At Fugaku's command, Itachi quickly nodded and returned to his training in the courtyard.
Once Itachi left, Fugaku turned to Hattori with a slight nod.
"Shall we go inside to talk? Please."
"Please."
After a few pleasantries, Hattori followed Fugaku into a nearby room.
However, just as he sat down, Fugaku came out with a surprising question.
"Hattori, if I'm not mistaken, you are actually a member of the Uchiha clan, aren't you? Am I wrong?"
Hattori: "(ω`)"
———[Bonus Scene]———
Hattori: "If you want me to admit I'm Uchiha, you need to do one thing."
Fugaku: "What's that?"
Hattori: "Join Patreon of *Hattori Puppet Master !*"
(ilham20)/3$ Fugaku: "╭(°A°`)╮"