"Only by demonstrating one's own exceptional worth is one qualified to enter the so-called Hokage lineage, and thus have the standing to become Hokage in the future."
"Are you implying that among my proud Uchiha clan, there isn't a single person worthy of the Hokage's regard?!"
To Uchiha Fugaku, Kakashi's words were simply too insulting, compelling him to retort in a raised voice.
"In Lord Third's generation, who among the Uchiha could compare to him?"
"In Teacher's generation, who among you could compare to him?"
"As for my generation..."
Kakashi smiled, looking at Uchiha Fugaku before him, a trace of pity flashing through his eyes.
"And who among the Uchiha can compare to me?"
Listening to Kakashi's words, Uchiha Fugaku gripped his blade until his knuckles turned white.
Humiliation!
He was insulting the Uchiha just like that!
But, he could not refute it.
Of the three generations the other party mentioned, only Uchiha Kagami from back then could even wrestle for control with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
But overall, even Uchiha Kagami was firmly suppressed by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As for Minato Namikaze and Kakashi's generations...
Uchiha Fugaku himself belonged to Minato Namikaze's generation.
He knew clearly just how powerful and invincible the Yellow Flash, who shook the ninja world, truly was.
As for the Kakashi before him, he had shattered the record for Jōnin promotion.
The battlefields of Iwa, Kiri, and Kumo had made him the youngest Hokage in history.
But...
Uchiha Fugaku could never admit that his Uchiha clan was inferior to others!
They were the Uchiha clan, glorious for a thousand years!
"It seems you still don't understand."
"In that case, I won't waste any more breath."
"If you are willing to commit suicide to atone for your crimes, I can promise you that the innocent within the Uchiha clan will be allowed to live."
Seeing the uncertain expression on Uchiha Fugaku's face, Kakashi was unwilling to drag this out any longer.
This was a lie; when he decided to slaughter the Uchiha Hawks, Kakashi never intended to touch the innocent.
If he could use a few words to make this Uchiha Clan Head, who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, take his own life, it would save Kakashi a fair bit of effort.
Moreover, the Anbu should have already made their move by now.
Aside from the Uchiha Police Force currently struggling against Uchiha Obito, there were many ordinary people within the Uchiha clan who were also members of the Hawk faction.
These people were not influenced by the Sharingan or Yin Release; they were simply immersed in past glories and the clan's narrow-mindedness, failing to recognize the Uchiha's arrogance and ignorance.
These people were also on Kakashi's kill list.
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Kakashi in disbelief.
What did he mean by that...?
Innocent people?
How would he distinguish the innocent?
What kind of person counted as innocent?
Unless...
"I see. Is Itachi your man...?"
A gentle yet miserable voice came from behind Uchiha Fugaku; Uchiha Mikoto had already grasped the deep meaning behind Kakashi's words.
To know clearly who in the Uchiha was a Hawk and who was a Dove, only someone from within the Uchiha clan could distinguish them.
And this person must have a transcendent status. If it were just an ordinary Uchiha or someone of low status, they would never be able to identify how many of the Uchiha higher-ups were Doves or Hawks.
And the candidate who fit this condition, as well as the Uchiha clansman Kakashi was closest to in daily life, was only one person.
Uchiha Itachi.
"Madam is indeed exceptionally intelligent; it is a pity for you to be a housewife."
Kakashi nodded slightly at this.
"So it was... Itachi?"
Uchiha Fugaku gave a miserable laugh.
If it was Itachi, then everything made sense.
He had asked him to lurk beside Kakashi to gather intelligence, while Kakashi used Itachi to pass false intelligence back to him.
And Itachi had informed Kakashi of all the movements within the Uchiha.
In this way, he, Uchiha Fugaku, had not lost unjustly.
After all, no matter what, how could he possibly suspect his own son?
"Then Itachi... what will happen to him in the future?"
Uchiha Mikoto's brow was filled with worry. At this moment, she was not a so-called Uchiha clansman, nor was she a member of the Hawks following in her husband's footsteps.
She was simply a mother worried about her son.
"He will become my assistant, a strength of the Hidden Leaf."
"On that point, Madam Mikoto need not worry."
Kakashi spoke calmly, then, as if recalling something, continued:
"I also promised Itachi that when the dust settles on all this, Sasuke will become my disciple."
The Hokage's personal disciple, possessing the right to be elected Hokage.
"I do not care about such things; I only want Itachi and Sasuke to be safe and sound."
Uchiha Mikoto shook her head. Knowing clearly the future of her two sons, she had no further regrets.
She looked gently at Uchiha Fugaku and spoke softly:
"Fugaku, the defeat is set. For Itachi, for Sasuke."
"I will go on ahead."
As her words fell, under Uchiha Fugaku's disbelief-filled gaze, she drew the ninja blade from her waist and slit her own throat without hesitation!
"Mikoto!"
Seeing this scene, Uchiha Fugaku held his wife tightly in his arms, his heart filled with grief. He wanted to roar in anger, but no sound would come out no matter what; he wanted to weep bitterly, yet not a single tear would fall.
"Fugaku, what is your choice?"
Kakashi looked calmly at the scene before him, his tone as still as an ancient well.
"...After I die, leave my eyes to Itachi."
Uchiha Fugaku cradled his wife, his words full of pain. His wife had cut her throat in front of him for the children, and all of this was because of him.
If he could have changed things back then, the scene before him would not have happened.
Having said this, the will to die rose in Uchiha Fugaku's heart. He picked up the ninja blade stained with his wife's blood and, without hesitation, chose to follow in his wife's footsteps.
Looking at Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto, who remained dependent on each other even in death, even Kakashi could not help but sigh slightly.
Kakashi stepped forward, removed Uchiha Fugaku's eyes without hesitation, and placed them into a storage scroll.
With the dust settled on all this, Kakashi looked toward the distant night.
There, the Anbu were executing members of the Hawk faction one by one according to the list.
And in another location, Uchiha Obito's slaughter was likely nearing its end as well.
Kakashi had to reach the scene as soon as possible to prevent Uchiha Obito from collecting the Sharingan.
Izanagi was already disgusting enough. If that guy collected enough Sharingan, then in the future, if Kakashi were to fight Uchiha Obito, anything he did would be futile.
Unless an Uchiha clansman used Izanami.
But at that time, the only Uchiha capable of using Izanami would be Uchiha Itachi. To have him use Izanami just to target Uchiha Obito seemed like a complete waste to Kakashi.
With this in mind, Kakashi headed toward the direction of the Uchiha Police Force without hesitation.
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