Uchiha Mikoto's gaze was full of warmth.
After so many years of marriage, she knew her husband's nature better than anyone. Fugaku was a good man—no doubt about that. But as a leader? He fell short. Even as a father, he wasn't exactly exemplary.
Of course, as a wife, there were some truths she couldn't bluntly say.
Fortunately, the Uchiha had Kai. He could help Fugaku with clan affairs, even take care of their children in ways Fugaku never managed.
So she wanted to use this chance to persuade her husband: let go. Leave these burdens to Kai. He should spend more time with her and the children. After all, their household lacked nothing—they were the wealthiest of Konoha's noble clans. Even if Fugaku wasn't a clan head, their lives would still be far better than ordinary people's.
"…You're right," Fugaku nodded, his tone soft. "Since Kai has the ability, matters like this should be entrusted to him."
He hadn't caught the deeper meaning in Mikoto's words, but he still agreed.
As clan head, it was his duty to make the best use of talent.
Kai was capable, and by now, deeply tied to both the Uchiha clan and Fugaku's own family. There was no reason to fear betrayal. Kai had profit shares in the Uchiha caravan, and his own son was Kai's disciple.
With that thought, Fugaku's heart relaxed.
"All right, Mikoto. Leave such things to Kai. You need your rest—especially now that you're with child."
They laughed and talked a little more, then went to bed.
Meanwhile, in another room, young Itachi wasn't resting at all. He sat with a solemn face, carefully recording everything Kai had taught him that day.
Only after committing every word to memory with his Sharingan did he destroy the papers with a fire jutsu.
Kai hadn't taught him this precaution, but Itachi knew—these teachings were too dangerous. In the past, such methods would have been called the art of slaying kings and dragons. They must never spread.
Once everything was burned, Itachi lay back, sighing softly.
"I was too naïve. The more time I spend with sensei, the more I realize how small I am. But it doesn't matter. I'll study hard. Someday, I'll surpass him."
"Still… These two tasks are such a headache. Studying and dissecting the Will of Fire—that's manageable. But creating an ideology of my own? That feels impossible!"
"And finding a girlfriend? Even harder. Girls are just… too troublesome."
Involuntarily, as he muttered, one figure rose in his mind: Uchiha Izumi.
…
The next morning, despite what Fugaku had said the night before about leaving matters to Kai, he couldn't calm his excitement.
After all, this was the first allied clan the Uchiha had gained in generations.
Since the days of Madara's departure, the Uchiha had been isolated in Konoha. And now—a miracle. Their first ally. How could he not be moved?
So he hurried straight to Kai's house.
There, he found Kai already back, dressed casually, seated with Aburame Shibi at a tea table.
Kai, brewing tea, looked up with a grin.
"Ah, clan head. Just in time. Sit, I'll pour you a cup. This is the finest tea in the Land of Fire—reserved for the daimyo himself. I, ah… borrowed it from Hiruzen's house."
He said it with pride, as though theft were an accomplishment.
Fugaku and Shibi both froze, black lines forming across their foreheads. Their mouths twitched violently.
Only Kai would dare such a thing.
Still, though embarrassed, they raised their cups. The taste was exquisite, made only richer by the sheer audacity of how it had been obtained.
After some small talk, Kai's smile faded.
"Clan head Shibi, let's be frank. You've brought the Aburame under Uchiha's banner. What do you want in return? Just say it."
Shibi's face grew serious. No empty words, no polite circles. He simply repeated what he'd said the night before:
"The Aburame are not a great clan—merely middling. We have enough resources to sustain ourselves. What we cannot tolerate is Danzo, who with the Hokage's protection has repeatedly conscripted our people. That, we cannot endure.
If the Uchiha can give us security, if you can rescue Aburame Ryoma, our brightest talent, from Danzo's clutches, and if in future you don't cast us aside as cannon fodder… then that will be enough."
Fugaku remained silent, watching carefully. He had already heard this. Last night, he hesitated, unable to decide.
Now, he wanted to see how Kai would answer—to measure the gap between them.
In his gaze, Kai didn't waver. He didn't even pause to think. He simply nodded.
"Agreed. Fair terms."
"If the Aburame swear themselves to us, then their safety becomes our duty."
"Aburame Ryoma—we will bring him back. Not even the Sage of Six Paths could stop us."
"By tomorrow morning, you'll see him with your own eyes."
Kai's tone was calm, almost casual. To him, this was a trivial task—no burden at all.
And he was pleased. The Aburame knew their place.
Any other clan, being the first to join, would have demanded wealth or privilege. But not them. They asked only for their people's safety.
If the Uchiha couldn't deliver even that much, what right would they have to lead?
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