Chapter 83: The Fire Country Daimyō's Envoy

Tsunade Konoha narrowed her eyes. “I heard Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan last night. For so long, he kept it hidden—does that mean he has some ulterior motive?”

Hyūga Menji shook his head. “One Uchiha Iizumi already uncontrollable is enough to keep us on edge. Since Fugaku stands openly with us, we shouldn’t question him.”

“Right…” Hyūga Menji rose, turning toward the window to gaze at the distant, ravaged landscape. “The envoy sent by the Fire Country Daimyō should arrive at Leaf Village imminently. We must ensure he doesn’t meet Uchiha Iizumi. After all, those who sit high above us often harbor unspeakable, shameful secrets in private.”

“Uchiha Iizumi’s eyes can see both Past Evil and Future Evil. If he were to come face to face with the Daimyō’s envoy… trouble could easily erupt.”

Tsunade Konoha’s heart skipped a beat.

“You’re right. We must be careful.”

…

“The Mangekyō Sharingan… it was my trump card—the balance-keeper between the Uchiha and the village. I only revealed it when I saw Iizumi awaken his own Mangekyō. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have shown it.”

Fugaku stared at the Anbu-masked figure before him—Uchiha Itachi—his voice low. “Itachi… do you really think I’d use these eyes against the village you love?”

He had expected this moment the instant he unveiled the Mangekyō. After all…

Itachi was precisely the kind of power Zetsu could never tolerate—too strong, too unpredictable, a threat to the stability of the Leaf.

Perhaps that was also why he’d been granted such immense Capacity.

“If you don’t trust me,” Fugaku asked, his tone calm, “would you turn your blade on your own father?”

The words were chilling. Yet the atmosphere remained as casual as any father-son conversation.

“Yes,” Uchiha Itachi answered without hesitation.

Fugaku nodded. “Yet you haven’t struck. That means, at least now, you believe I won’t betray the Leaf. Perhaps you should also believe I can finally end the conflict between the Uchiha and the village. Then… we wouldn’t have to face the tragedy Iizumi speaks of.”

A flicker of complexity passed across Fugaku’s impassive face.

Itachi paused for half a second. “Father… you may understand your own position. But you don’t understand the hearts of the other Uchiha.”

“They’re already beyond saving. Their sickness is deep. How many will truly awaken in time?”

Suddenly, Itachi changed the subject, forcing a thin smile. “Has Sasuke woken up yet?”

Fugaku nodded. “Yes. He’s awake. He awakened the Sharingan. What you said to him… it hit hard.”

“It was for his own good,” Itachi said softly.

Father and son fell silent once more.

In the blind spot at the corridor’s corner, Uchiha Mikoto stood pressed against the wall, tears slowly slipping down her cheeks. Her eldest son… was now a stranger to her.

…

“Fugaku, as Head of the Uchiha Clan and the family’s patriarch—how dare he conceal the power of the Sharingan from his own people? Instead of guiding them, he seeks to dominate them with such strength? What right does he have to lead the Uchiha?”

Uchiha Setsuna raged, teeth clenched. “He’s shamed our entire clan!”

Other clans might have a few wayward youths, but nothing like this. In their case—two openly disloyal figures stood before them.

One was the Clan Head himself.

The other, his eldest son.

To Setsuna, a hardline elder, both were vermin eating away at the heart of the Uchiha.

The very idea was a joke.

“And then there’s Uchiha Iizumi…”

If Fugaku and Itachi were merely despised by Setsuna, to be replaced with ruthless ambition—then Iizumi was someone he wanted dead.

He felt it. That boy wanted to kill him.

The murderous intent in Iizumi’s eyes that day… Zetsu hadn’t been mistaken.

Yet—

“Setsuna Elder,” a young Uchiha extremist spoke up, “Iizumi has awakened the legendary Sharingan. He’s a dual Bloodline Succession prodigy. We could elevate him as the new leader of the Uchiha!”

Setsuna’s face darkened instantly.

Before he could retort, another voice joined in. “Last night, Iizumi even used Sharingan techniques in front of the Third Hokage! With dozens of Anbu Ninjas surrounding him, he still stood firm. That kind of Capacity proves his leadership potential.”

Setsuna’s eyelid twitched violently.

Another Uchiha radical mused, “Yes, his stance may differ from ours—but compared to the traitors Fugaku and Itachi, isn’t he the only one truly aligned with the clan’s future?”

A third growled, “Damn it, where’s that bastard Itachi lately? Can’t find him anywhere.”

“Hmph. He’s probably hiding, afraid we’ll kill him before he gets a chance to betray us.”

Seated at the head of the council, Setsuna gripped the armrests of his chair so hard that the wooden frame cracked under his fingers.

These fools… didn’t they consider him?

He had spent years in the dark, suffering in prison for the clan!

If Fugaku must be removed… if a new clan head must be chosen… shouldn’t it be him, Uchiha Setsuna?

…

On the other side of the village.

“Mrow, newbie, why are you dragging your feet?”

Tachibana Jiro had made Iizumi’s shoulder his second home these past few days. As soon as he saw her, he leapt onto her left shoulder, making it visibly sag.

Tachibana Jiro said, “If you’re late, Iizumi-sama will dock your points.”

Izumi clutched a kunai in one hand and a sandwich in the other, shoving the food into her mouth as she hurried forward.

Her cheeks bulged as she mumbled, “I just got back last night—so many clan members surrounded me. They wanted every detail about Iizumi-sama… I had to keep explaining until deep into the night. I barely slept two hours.”

“Of course!” she added quickly. “I didn’t tell them any secrets. I noticed… they all seem to worship Iizumi-sama. I’m thinking of selecting a few with potential. After all, Iizumi-sama said he wants to expand the Absolute Justice movement.”

As she ran, Izumi suddenly noticed that people—ninja and civilians alike—were whispering about last night’s events.

Every conversation, every glance… centered on Iizumi-sama.

The name was on everyone’s lips again.

Another surge of fame.

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end