The sun set.
Satoshi went to the store to buy some gifts and knocked on Fugaku's door.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opened, revealing Mikoto's gentle smile.
"Oh, it's Satoshi. You shouldn't have brought anything. You're too formal."
"Come in quickly."
Mikoto smiled as she accepted the gifts and led Satoshi to the dining table.
Food was already laid out on the table, with Fugaku seated at the head. Sasuke sat to the side, looking rather unhappy.
"Let's eat first."
The four sat around the table, eating and exchanging pleasantries from time to time.
They spoke a few polite words like, "How have you been lately?" "I'm alright, and you?" "I'm about the same."
The overall atmosphere was harmonious, except for Sasuke. From the moment Satoshi entered, he had been staring at him. It looked like he wanted to give him a good two punches to avenge his beloved nii-san.
Satoshi asked, "Sasuke, why are you staring at me?"
"Hmph!"
Sasuke abruptly put down his bowl and chopsticks, the chair scraping against the floor with a harsh sound.
"I'm full."
He quickly rushed back to his room, the door slamming shut with a bang.
Mikoto's smile stiffened for a moment, then turned into a helpless, bitter smile. "Sasuke hasn't been in a very good mood lately, I'm really sorry. I'll go check on him."
Only Fugaku and Satoshi remained at the dining table. The two naturally began to discuss more serious topics.
Fugaku put down his teacup and slowly began, "You defeated Kakuzu?"
"From the results, Kakuzu is indeed dead."
Fugaku looked at Satoshi in surprise.
"Of course, there's also the reason for Asuma and Kurenai-senpai."
Fugaku let out an "Oh."
"If it weren't for them, I would have killed him faster. I was mainly afraid of accidentally blowing them both up with him."
Fugaku almost popped his eyeballs out.
Satoshi scratched his head and said, "Uh, I just thought the atmosphere was too tense, so I was just joking."
"Incredible... Satoshi, among the young people I know, I would call you the strongest."
"Your strength, your potential, far exceed my imagination. The future of the Uchiha clan needs such powerful strength as yours."
Fugaku stood up, his expression becoming exceptionally solemn. "Satoshi, come with me."
The two walked towards the shrine where the Uchiha ancestors were enshrined.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, in the dim light, portraits of past Uchiha powerhouses on the walls were faintly visible.
Tajima, who founded the clan's legacy. Madara, who shook the Ninja World. Izuna, who was brilliant but died young. Kagami, who devoted himself to the village. Setsuna, who had radical ideas.
Satoshi looked at Izuna's portrait and suddenly felt his blood boil throughout his body, his heart pounding wildly.
Is this the bond between Tobirama and Izuna?
"Many years ago, the Ninja World was ravaged by war, with no peace. Comrades who fought side by side today might become cold corpses tomorrow. Such days continued for countless generations until Madara-sama led us to join forces with the Senju clan, ending the chaotic era and establishing Konoha."
Fugaku turned around and looked at Satoshi seriously. "I have experienced war and know its cruelty. As the clan head, my greatest wish is for every member of the Uchiha to live a peaceful and stable life, free from unnecessary sacrifices."
He took a step forward, his voice extremely low. "Satoshi, tell me, no matter what happens in the future, no matter what situation the Uchiha clan faces, will you always stand firmly on the side of the Uchiha?"
Satoshi blinked.
During the day, Hiruzen tried to win him over. In the evening, Fugaku asked him to pick a side. You two have quite a tacit understanding.
Satoshi firmly said, "Clan head Fugaku, no matter what happens, I will always be loyal to the Uchiha."
A smile finally appeared on Fugaku's tense face. He patted Satoshi heavily on the shoulder.
A long-dormant thought, like dry tinder catching a spark, suddenly ignited in his heart, unable to be extinguished.
If... if Satoshi could truly grow to that level.
If he could also awaken that legendary power.
Then the Uchiha clan might possess the means to contend with the village's higher-ups.
No, they would possess power sufficient to change the landscape of Konoha.
Once this thought took root, it grew like wildfire.
Fugaku's heart, which had originally been inclined towards compromise and calm under the heavy pressure of reality, became inexplicably excited.
"With your words, I am relieved."
Fugaku gently patted Satoshi's shoulder and said, "From now on, whatever you need, just tell me, and I will do my best to fulfill your requests."
"Thank you, clan head."
Satoshi scratched his head. "Actually, there is a small matter."
Fugaku smiled even more broadly. He wasn't afraid of Satoshi asking for help, he was afraid of Satoshi being too formal with him.
"Tell me."
"Tsunade-sama gave me a house before, but I've been too busy to clean it up. Could you send two senpais to help out tomorrow?"
Fugaku agreed without thinking, "It's just cleaning. Tsunade-sama is really generous... Who!"
He suddenly felt something was off.
"The Tsunade you're talking about... is it that Tsunade?"
Satoshi blinked. "Yes, First Hokage-sama's granddaughter, Third Hokage-sama's student, the Daimyo's relative..."
Fugaku felt his head buzzing. How good must their relationship be to just casually give away a house?
He couldn't help but wonder if this was Tsunade's intention, or the Hokage's intention.
"Clan head, are you listening?"
Fugaku snapped back to attention and said, "Alright, I'll give them a day off tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, clan head. I'll take my leave then."
After Satoshi left, Fugaku was still muttering.
When did Satoshi's relationship with the Hokage faction become so good?
The Hokage wouldn't really be training him to be like Kagami-senpai, would he?
That night, Satoshi meticulously wiped down his sword in his room.
He also checked his status panel.
[Name: Uchiha Satoshi]
[Template: Senju Tobirama]
[Passive: All abilities increase when fighting against Uchiha]
[Passive: Ninja World Scientist, you can easily master and create Ninjutsu that conforms to scientific theories]
[Support Ninjutsu: Chakra Sensing, no hand signs required, precise perception, range extends beyond five hundred kilometers (300 miles) to any target's life strength and Chakra strength]
[Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Space-Time Ninjutsu, and Forbidden Jutsu: Water Release Mastery, Flying Thunder God Technique, Summoning Technique, Four Red Yang Formation, Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, Edo Tensei, Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique, Soul Imprisonment Technique]
[Kekkei Genkai: Three-Tomoe Sharingan]
[Ninja Tools: Izuna Cutter, Six Hundred Million Explosive Tags]
There were also some tasks that were difficult to complete for now.
Orochimaru was not an easy opponent to kill. Every time you thought you had killed him, he would revive in some bizarre way after a while. He might even change genders for fun.
Never mind, I'll think about it later. There's still a lot to do tomorrow.
(End of Chapter)
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