In the small courtyard, Kaito lay on a chair contemplating the future. Sometimes he even envied his carefree younger brother.
His greatest worry was merely Itachi not spending time with him.
Unlike himself...
Who had to start thinking now about how to ensure the survival of the Uchiha clan.
His father leading the clan to take action...
If it truly came to that, Shisui and Itachi would undoubtedly side with the village and turn their blades against their own kin.
Those two would be immediately removed from their side.
Add to that the lurking presence of Obito Uchiha in the shadows.
Currently, the Uchiha clan had one suspected Mangekyō-wielding Kage-level fighter (Fugaku).
Konoha's side...
Damn!
This was a completely unwinnable fight!
Escape might offer a slim chance of survival, but he knew Fugaku, as clan head, would never flee.
Nor would others allow the Uchiha to break away from Konoha.
Unless they immediately killed Danzo or stood their ground against Obito and Itachi during the massacre night.
Otherwise, the entire Uchiha clan would eventually be sacrificed just to awaken his foolish brother's single tomoe.
Fine!
He'd have to rely on himself!
Perhaps wandering around outside might trigger some quest or opportunity.
Right now, aside from strengthening his own power, anything else was just empty talk.
"You and Itachi..."
"Finished talking?"
Fugaku had somehow appeared behind Kaito, gazing in the direction his eldest son had left with emotions at their peak.
He probably knew where Itachi had gone.
"Don't overthink it."
"Everything will work out."
Kaito rolled his eyes and sighed deeply from his recliner.
"Father, don't be naive."
"You should be saying that to Sasuke, not coming here to tell me."
"And... are you putting on this melancholy act expecting me to comfort you?"
Kaito pulled a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket and offered them to his troubled father—his version of comfort.
"Ha ha ha ha ha..."
Fugaku suddenly burst into laughter as if hearing something hilarious, the abrupt sound startling Kaito into jerking upright.
He looked up bewildered at his suddenly laughing father.
"Fugaku, why the laughter?"
Thud—
Fugaku promptly smacked his son on the forehead before sitting down beside him. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"The village... appears peaceful on the surface, but undercurrents have long been stirring..."
"Our Uchiha clan..."
Fugaku went on at length, mostly rehashing the same points about village and clan relations until Kaito grew irritated. Just as he was about to interrupt his father's lament, the tone suddenly shifted.
"Kaito, if one day your mother and I are gone."
"I hope you'll take care of your brother."
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Kaito. He turned urgently to Fugaku.
"Wait!"
"What did you just say?!"
Seeing his son's reaction, Fugaku's expression turned solemn as he repeated his words.
"No!"
"Did you just say... peace!?"Fugaku nodded in confusion, but his expression became extremely peculiar.
After all I've said to you...
You brat didn't listen to a single important point!
The more Fugaku thought about it, the angrier he became, even feeling the urge to discipline his child.
"And then?"
Kaito suddenly jumped up from the recliner, turned to stand before Fugaku, took several deep breaths as if steeling himself for something.
"I want to..."
"Destroy the Shinobi World!"
Fugaku: ????
Hearing this, Fugaku began questioning his entire existence. He even rubbed his ears, wondering if his advanced age had caused auditory hallucinations.
"W-what did you just say?"
Kaito seemed to think his declaration wasn't loud or firm enough, raising his voice several decibels when he spoke again.
"I said!"
"I! Kaito Uchiha! Will destroy the Shinobi World!"
Boom—
At this moment, Kaito's words struck like thunder, leaving Fugaku's mind blank and buzzing.
With stiff movements, Fugaku turned his neck to look at Sasuke practicing small fireballs in the yard, then toward the direction Itachi had departed.
Finally.
His gaze returned to Kaito.
Fugaku's expression cycled through multiple emotions in seconds—from shock and confusion to utter bewilderment.
His mental journey was extraordinarily rich.
His eldest son Itachi Uchiha constantly opposed him and sided with outsiders; his youngest Sasuke was not only naively un-Uchiha-like but also possessed inexplicably poor talent.
He'd thought Kaito would be the easy one...
But then!!
The kid straight up declares he'll destroy the world?!
Fugaku truly couldn't take it anymore, immediately roaring toward Mikoto inside the house.
"Wife!!"
"Fetch my rod from the living room!!"
"The iron one!!"
"Kaito Uchiha! Clearly I've been too lax in disciplining you!"
Cursing nonstop, Fugaku aimed a kick at Kaito's backside.
However, Kaito easily sidestepped it and began explaining himself.
"Fu... Father, I know you're upset, but hear me out first."
"Destroying the Shinobi World isn't necessarily a bad thing."
All Uchiha had some degree of mental instability—others might not know this, but as clan head, Fugaku was well aware.
His three sons had relatively stable personalities, making him believe they were normal.
Even at their worst, Fugaku thought they'd be better than other clan members.
But...
He never imagined harboring a madman like Kaito Uchiha in his household.
The craziest clansmen might aspire to replace the Hokage, but his son had skipped several stages...
And went straight to destroying the world???
Already furious, Fugaku felt blood rush to his head upon hearing Kaito's justification, veins bulging as he spat in rage.
"You insolent brat!"
"You think destroying the world is justified!?"
His temper truly flared now. Seeing Kaito dodge his kick, Fugaku immediately began forming hand signs.
Sensing his father's killing intent, Kaito's hair stood on end. Between life and death, he followed instinct.
"What the hell are you barking about!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Both shouts came simultaneously, but as Fugaku released his flames, Kaito vanished from the yard.
As for Fugaku...
After unleashing the fireball, overwhelming rage sent blood pounding to his head. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious."Kaito Uchiha!!"
"What Ninjutsu have you secretly learned this time!?"
Earlier, Sasuke had noticed the commotion between Kaito and their father, assuming it was just another training evaluation.
This immediately ignited his competitive spirit, driving him to focus completely on his own training.
But when he turned his head again...
He found his father collapsed on the ground, while Kaito had used that Dog Clone technique again.
So strong!
This Ninjutsu! I must learn it!
Sasuke's desire for the Dog Clone technique reached its peak in his heart.
Kaito, who had returned to the courtyard, heard Sasuke's words and immediately gave him a smack on the head.
"Idiot! Hurry up and help carry Father inside!"
"What!? You defeated Father!?"
Sasuke's thought process was rather peculiar—instead of worrying about his unconscious father first, he became even more convinced of his earlier idea.
This Ninjutsu...
So strong! I want it!