Some truths are harder to say than any secret technique.
With Mikoto's help, Fugaku applied the medicated ointment and rested for quite a while before finally calling Kaito into the study.
Fathe and son sat facing each otherrrrrr across the low tea table, staring in silence for so long that neithe of them spoke first.
"Fathe… aren't you going to the Police Force tomorrow?"
Kaito glanced up at the clock.
Without realizing it, it was already close to ten at night.
Fugaku paused, then gave a gentle smile and spoke, carefully choosing his words.
"Kaito…"
"That technique you used today…"
"What exactly was it?"
To cover up what Kaito had done, Fugaku had even gone out of his way to "invite" the brown ninja dog that had been wandering outside back into the compound.
He had observed the dog closely. It didn't have the distinctive markings of the Inuzuka clan. Most likely, it was a failed breeding stock.
Tomorrow, he would send someone to the Inuzuka clan to discuss purchasing this kind of ninja dog.
Kaito knowing a space–time technique could never become public knowledge.
Not in the village.
Not even within the Uchiha clan.
This wasn't just protection for Kaito.
It was protection for the entire Uchiha.
"Oh. It's just swapping positions with a ninja dog."
Kaito yawned.
The casual tone nearly made Fugaku's fingers curl into a fist.
Just swapping positions?
This brat really knew how to make everything sound trivial.
If Kaito knew what his father was thinking, he'd call it injustice.
Compared to real cultivation manuals and immortal techniques, this bizarre achievement-based ability honestly didn't feel like much.
If the system would just give him a single proper cultivation method…
Kaito would happily trade this "swap with a dog" nonsense in exchange.
Still, he understood how the system worked now.
As long as he could trigger quests — no matter how ridiculous they were — he would receive rewards.
Cultivation methods, treasures, miraculous resources…
Sooner or later, they would all come.
As for whethe he should hide the ability from Fugaku…
Kaito chose honesty.
No matter what, it was safer than using it in front of outsiders.
And besides…
Even if the Uchiha's influence in Konoha was weakening, they still had some standing.
Shisui was still alive. The clan massacre was still some distance away.
For now, his father could protect him.
Seeing Fugaku remain silent, Kaito added:
"It should count as… a space–time ninjutsu?"
Fugaku went quiet for a long time.
He held his teacup, thinking for a full ten minutes before finally speaking.
"This is a dog clone."
"It's the same type of technique as Itachi's Crow Clone."
Fugaku corrected him with absolute certainty.
The moment Kaito heard those three words again, he nearly flipped the tea table.
But after half a second of thought, he realized his father was trying to protect him.
Still…
Could you at least pick a better name?!
Kaito nodded solemnly, took several deep breaths, and forced himself to agree.
"Right. It's a dog clone."
Fugaku looked extremely satisfied with that answer.
He lifted the teapot and personally poured Kaito a cup of tea.
"Remember. Don't mention this technique to anyone else."
"Not even Itachi or Sasuke."
Kaito accepted the tea and studied Fugaku with a meaningful look. A trace of worry surfaced in his eyes.
"The clan… and the village…"
"Has it really gotten that bad?"
Fugaku sighed.
That was his answer.
Then he looked at his son, opened his mouth a few times — only to stop himself each time.
He didn't know how to explain these matters to a six-year-old.
"Go rest."
"This isn't something you need to worry about… I'll handle it."
Kaito pressed his lips togethe.
He wanted to say something. He was genuinely afraid his father would repeat the same disastrous choices from the original story.
In that moment, more than anything, Kaito wanted Fugaku to just say—
Turn on your mic and talk!
But when he lifted his head, he suddenly noticed the white creeping into Fugaku's temples.
The deeper lines carved into his face.
"…Alright. You should rest early too."
In the end, Kaito swallowed his words.
He was still weak. He still needed Fugaku to shield him.
Whethe his warnings would even carry weight aside, Fugaku would never allow him to meddle in clan affairs — supposedly for Kaito's own safety.
Kaito rose, bracing a hand against his knee, and turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, Fugaku called out to him.
Kaito paused.
"I'll protect you."
Fugaku held his teacup, as if he had sensed Kaito's earlier hesitation. His tone was light — almost casual.
Kaito stood in the doorway for a long moment.
When he finally slid the door shut, he replied quietly:
"I know."
"I'll protect you too."
Kaito still believed his father — the man who always wore a stern face, cared far too much about appearances, and loved hiding pocket money — would protect them when it truly mattered.
As for what the fools in the clan might do…
He wasn't so sure.
As much as he hated to admit it, the Uchiha clan really did have something wrong with its mindset.
For the sake of awakening the Sharingan in the next generation, they used every method imaginable — no line they wouldn't cross.
Was it "wrong"?
Strictly speaking, pursuing power through the Sharingan wasn't the core problem.
The real issue was that it carved wounds into children's fragile hearts, pushing already unstable personalities even furthe into dangerous extremes under the influence of the eyes.
And toward the rest of the village, many Uchiha walked around with arrogance embedded in their bones — looking down on otherrrrrr major clans as if they were dirt.
It was practically one step away from shouting: The Hokage seat should belong to us.
Thee were normal people too, of course.
But among the older generation, most carried that same mindset — and they raised their children accordingly.
If nothing ever went wrong…
That would be the real miracle.
Just thinking about it made Kaito's head ache.
A brotherrrrrr who might one day slaughter the clan with his own hands…
And a one-eyed Uchiha traitor lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike from behind…
It was enough to make his skull throb.
Shisui…
He had to find a way to save him.
With that thought lingering in his mind, Kaito returned to his room and fell asleep.
The next morning.
Kaito was jolted awake by Sasuke's shouting outside.
He and Sasuke normally slept in the same room, but last night Sasuke had been sulking and had dragged his blanket into Itachi's room instead.
"Big brotherrrrrr!"
"Teach me the Crow Clone Technique! You taught Kaito, didn't you?!"
In the living room, Sasuke clung to Itachi, pleading nonstop. Itachi was already sweating bullets.
It wasn't that he didn't want to teach him…
Sasuke simply didn't have the talent for it.
"Sasuke," Itachi said carefully, "how about I teach you a powerful Fire Release technique? It's something I use often."
Sasuke puffed out his cheeks. His stubborn streak ignited instantly. He turned his head away, rejected it outright, and continued shouting.
"No! I want Crow Clone!"
Itachi hesitated for a few seconds, then tried again.
"Then I'll teach you a genjutsu. This one is—"
Sasuke cut him off before he could even finish.
"No! I want Crow Clone!"
"Kaito learned dog clone from you, didn't he?!"
Itachi: ?
Kaito rubbed his eyes and wandered into the living room, still half-asleep, just in time to catch Sasuke's tantrum.
Itachi stared at Kaito in disbelief.
His expression clearly said—
What in the world is a dog clone?!
The only dog-related techniques Itachi knew belonged to the Inuzuka clan, and even then, he had never heard of anything called a "dog clone."
"Morning, Sasuke. Itachi."
Kaito lifted a hand in greeting, then shot Sasuke an irritated glance.
"And seriously… this early in the morning…"
"Can you keep the noise down?"
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly. He turned his face away and refused to look at Kaito.
He still wasn't ready to deal with him.
Itachi awkwardly rubbed Sasuke's head and gave Kaito an apologetic smile.
"Sorry. We woke you."
Kaito was just about to leave—
Then suddenly, he backpedaled into the living room, took a few quick steps toward Itachi, and asked his familiar soul-question once again.
"Itachi."
"If one day Sasuke and I both have to die — and only one of us can live…"
"Who would you choose?"
...
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