The meeting in the Hokage's office lasted for over two hours before finally concluding.
Konoha had officially confirmed its wartime alert policy, and a letter requesting war funds from the Daimyō of the Land of Fire had already been dispatched at once.
Although there was a heavy atmosphere surrounding the impending Third Great Ninja War, Konoha did not feel fear. The reason was simple—Konoha was far too strong right now.
Hoshiyomi, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Sakumo, Hiruzen, Minato… just listing these names said it all.
In the original timeline, even when Sakumo had committed suicide, Tsunade had fallen into despair, and Jiraiya was away from the village, Konoha had still managed to hold its ground and fight three villages at once. Now, with a stronger roster and more top-tier fighters, there was no reason for Konoha to feel afraid.
There was another important factor too: just like in the Second Great Ninja War, the four other villages were not truly united this time either.
As long as those frictions remained, Konoha never had to fear total collapse.
As for Black Zetsu and Madara scheming in the shadows, Hoshiyomi was genuinely curious: if he managed to save Obito, how would their plans proceed?
Obito was the linchpin in their grand design—the executor of Madara's will after his death. If that piece was removed, would the entire plan collapse on its own?
Hoshiyomi was eager to see how things would unfold in such a scenario.
And speaking of which, education had to start from childhood. If he wanted to prevent Obito from being brainwashed, wasn't now the perfect time to check in on him?
Hoshiyomi was the type to act as soon as he had an idea. The moment he decided, he was already heading toward the Uchiha compound.
Upon arrival, he didn't bother climbing walls or sneaking in—he simply walked straight in. After all, with his current strength, no one dared to stop him.
Not long after he entered the compound, a young man hurried over. Seeing that Hoshiyomi was only strolling idly, the man let out a small breath of relief, bowed, and greeted him respectfully:
"Hoshiyomi-sama, welcome to the Uchiha compound. Forgive us for not receiving you properly."
The man's manners were flawless. And since Hoshiyomi wasn't here to cause trouble today, he responded in kind, keeping his tone easygoing:
"No need for that. May I ask your name?"
The young man bowed again before replying:
"My name is Uchiha Fugaku. My father is the current clan head of the Uchiha. When he heard that you had arrived, he sent me to invite you over. He wishes to have a proper talk with you."
Hearing the name Fugaku, Hoshiyomi paused. He gave him a once-over. Unlike in the original story, this Fugaku didn't have that perpetually drooping, gloomy face. No wonder Hoshiyomi hadn't recognized him at first glance.
So it seemed Fugaku only grew that perpetually long, drooping face after becoming clan head. That made sense—if he had looked like that since youth, Mikoto surely would have recommended he visit an ophthalmologist.
Thinking of Mikoto made Hoshiyomi's expression turn strange. Mikoto was the same age as Kushina—about eighteen this year. Yet Fugaku clearly looked twenty-five or twenty-six.
A difference of seven or eight years—and yet the two were supposed to be childhood sweethearts? Tsk, tsk. Hoshiyomi felt like he'd just uncovered a little-known side of the man who would one day father both Itachi and Sasuke.
With such thoughts running through his head, Hoshiyomi's words turned somewhat teasing. He made a casual gesture and said:
"No need for such formalities. I didn't come today for anything important. It's just been a while since I've seen my disciple Kuugetsu and her father Hokushin, so I thought I'd drop by to reconnect a little.
Oh, that reminds me—Kushina mentioned you to me before. Something about Mikoto getting married soon, and her fiancé being you, right?"
The way Hoshiyomi looked at him carried the clear expression of "so you're into young girls, huh?", which made Fugaku visibly uncomfortable.
But then again, Fugaku was no fool—not like some of the other brain-dead Uchihas…
Although he carried the pride of the Uchiha, overall Fugaku was fairly level-headed.
Hearing Hoshiyomi's words, he forced a somewhat awkward smile and replied:
"Ah… Hoshiyomi-sama, you're not wrong. Mikoto is indeed my fiancée. We'll be getting married in about two months."
Perhaps reassured that Hoshiyomi harbored no hidden agenda—or maybe simply because Hoshiyomi's meaningful gaze was too much to bear—Fugaku exchanged a few more pleasantries before quickly taking his leave.
It wasn't until he had jogged several streets away that he finally stopped in front of the clan head's residence, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
Gekko Hoshiyomi truly lives up to his reputation.
Though Hoshiyomi hadn't raised his voice or shown the slightest anger, the pressure he gave off during their conversation had been unmistakable—especially the way he had looked at him just now. If not for the years of discipline and composure he had cultivated while by his father's side, Fugaku feared he might have lost face on the spot.
Still wiping the sweat from his brow, Fugaku stepped into his father's room. Inside, the elder was slowly sipping hot tea. When he saw Fugaku enter alone, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"That Gekko Hoshiyomi wasn't willing to show his face?"
Having long practiced the art of reading his father's moods, Fugaku instantly picked up on the undertone of displeasure in his words. He hastily explained:
"It wasn't as Father imagines. Hoshiyom-samai showed no slight toward me. He only came today for a simple reason—to visit his disciple Uchiha Kuugetsu and her father, Hokushin. That's why he didn't come here."
At that, his father's frown eased, though he still gave a cold snort.
"Hmph. In the end, he still doesn't see our Uchiha as worth his time. If our clan were as strong as in the days right after the village was founded, then no matter what excuses he made, he would have had no choice but to come here."
Unlike Fugaku, his father was clearly more of the old guard—his thinking stuck in the glory days of the Uchiha, harboring deep resentment toward Tobirama's policies.
Fugaku rubbed his temples with a hint of frustration and said:
"Father, I don't think Hoshiyomi-sama meant it that way. I just spoke with him, and he struck me as someone who doesn't stand on ceremony. He even mentioned Mikoto, saying that after the wedding, I must treat her well.
I believe Gekko Hoshiyomi is someone we can reach out to. If we lower our posture a little, and use Mikoto as a bridge to invite him for talks, perhaps we could change the Uchiha's current position."
"Hmph!"
With that, his father slammed the teacup down, making the hot liquid splash out.
"You're about to become clan head, yet you still cling to such naïve hopes? Look at how thoroughly we've been isolated. Do you truly believe that with a few words, they would return the interests they've already taken from us?"
Fugaku was harshly rebuked and had no choice but to endure it silently, though in his heart he still remained unconvinced.
It's worth a try, isn't it…?