Itachi and Sasuke Understood Everything

As the father of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke, and also the clan head of the Uchiha Clan, Fugaku Uchiha naturally wasn't some clueless novice.

He understood many things perfectly well, but he couldn't voice them.

Outside, he was the clan head of the Uchiha Clan. Everything he did concerned the Uchiha Clan's honor, so he couldn't speak freely.

Even within the Uchiha Clan, there were two factions.

One was the Radical Faction. They had long endured the oppression of Konoha's upper ranks, led by the Third Hokage, and wanted to rise up and rebel against Konoha. Even if they could not replace Konoha's leadership, they at least wanted to defect from the village and earn the respect they deserved.

As a clan with formidable combat strength, the rulers of other ninja villages would naturally be willing to take in the Uchiha Clan's ninjas.

If there was no place for them here, there would be somewhere else!

The other side was the Conservative Faction. Although they also had grievances about what Konoha's upper ranks had done, they had lived in Konoha for so long that they had developed feelings for the village. Even though they suffered all kinds of unfair treatment,

they had no intention of leaving and only wanted to endure it in silence.

The open and covert struggle between the two factions had also grown increasingly intense.

As clan head, Fugaku Uchiha was one of the few moderates in the clan.

He did not believe that either the Radical Faction or the Conservative Faction was absolutely right.

As the head of the Uchiha Clan, he naturally had to be responsible for all his clansmen and fight for their best interests.

From the current situation, the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha was not beyond reconciliation.

At the very least, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's high opinion of Uzumaki Naruto showed this.

Uzumaki Naruto truly had a chance to become Hokage, yet the Third Hokage had never come to speak with him about keeping Sasuke away from Naruto.

Given Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's suspicious nature, the fact that he had neither come to see him nor dropped any hints

meant he had tacitly allowed his son, Uchiha Sasuke, to associate with Naruto.

By the time Uzumaki Naruto truly grew up, the Third Hokage would basically be of retirement age, while Konoha's advisers, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, might also be nearing retirement.

Even Shimura Danzō, the leader of Root who was particularly hostile toward the Uchiha Clan, might retreat into the shadows.

By then, Konoha's upper ranks would undergo a major reshuffle.

He had learned from Sasuke that Naruto was mature and steady, and knew how to deal with people.

He would not neglect one friend for another. Therefore, if Naruto really became Hokage and Sasuke was his close friend, the Uchiha Clan might truly have a chance to return to the center of Konoha's power.

They did not need to gain any great authority. As long as they could receive the respect they deserved in the village, that would be enough. That was why Fugaku Uchiha now wanted to place his bet on Uzumaki Naruto and gamble on that possible future.

Today also happened to be a family dinner. There were no outsiders, and both Sasuke and Itachi were children he dearly loved, so Fugaku spoke so many heartfelt words to them.

"Father, has the conflict between our Uchiha Clan and the village truly reached the point where it can no longer be reconciled?" Itachi asked anxiously.

At this point, Itachi cared deeply about the Uchiha Clan and was also concerned about Konoha's safety.

Although Sasuke was still young and did not understand so much, hearing that the Uchiha Clan had not been treated well in Konoha inevitably made him frown.

He too looked at Fugaku Uchiha with curious eyes, hoping to hear that there was still hope for the Uchiha Clan.

Under the expectant gazes of the two boys, Fugaku Uchiha shook his head and said, "No, Itachi, and Sasuke. Our Uchiha Clan can still be saved!"

When Fugaku Uchiha said this, his tone carried some uncertainty. He was not sure whether relying on a child like Naruto could still bring hope, or whether it was truly feasible.

But this was already the best possible outcome Fugaku Uchiha could think of.

The Radical Faction's ending would undoubtedly be Hiruzen Sarutobi ordering the Uchiha Clan to be declared defectors from Konoha. Before they could even leave Konoha, they would likely be hunted down by Konoha's ninjas and end in the tragedy of total extermination.

As for the Conservative Faction, the result would undoubtedly be the Uchiha Clan gradually weakening under Sarutobi's long-term suppression until they finally vanished from Konoha's history.

"Father, please tell us this path forward!" At this moment, Itachi desperately wanted to save both the village and the Uchiha Clan.

"All of this may depend on you two brothers!" Fugaku Uchiha looked at them sternly and seriously.

"Us? Father, please explain more clearly!" Itachi was stunned for a moment before asking in confusion.

"Especially you, Sasuke. I believe you both know what happened at the previous school entrance ceremony." Fugaku brought the topic back to the entrance ceremony.

Both Itachi and Sasuke nodded, but neither understood why he had brought up the entrance ceremony.

"After the entrance ceremony, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi personally acknowledged that Uzumaki Naruto had the potential to become Hokage. The heads of Konoha's great clans also recognized Naruto's performance and had their children become close with him!"

"This was also something the Third Hokage secretly permitted. Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hinata Hyuga—every one of them is a child from a major clan."

Only now did Sasuke understand that his class was filled with outstanding talents, all with significant backgrounds in Konoha.

"But Father, what does this have to do with Naruto? If Naruto becomes Hokage, will our Uchiha Clan be saved?" Sasuke asked in confusion.

"Yes, Sasuke. The reason lies with you. If you become good friends with Naruto, even brothers who would risk their lives for each other, then with Naruto's personality, he certainly will not treat you poorly. Once he becomes Hokage, you may very well become one of the village's high-ranking leaders. Then our Uchiha Clan can regain its respect!"

Itachi instantly understood what Fugaku Uchiha meant. If the Third Hokage suppressed the Uchiha Clan, then they only needed to put a Hokage in power who would not suppress them. Once Konoha's upper ranks underwent a major reshuffle, the Uchiha Clan's status would also be reshuffled. It truly was the safest method.

"But Father, how can we be sure Naruto will definitely become Hokage?" Uchiha Itachi still asked in confusion.

Fugaku Uchiha looked at Mikoto Uchiha, who had remained silent the entire time. Her expression had been unpleasant all along, as though she had recalled certain old friends and past events.

Using the gentlest tone possible, Fugaku said, "Mikoto, you should understand this very well. Tell the children. This is an open secret known only among Konoha's upper ranks and some high-ranking jonin with status."

Mikoto, who had still been lost in sorrow, heard Fugaku call her name and decided not to keep it from the children any longer.

She said, "That is because Naruto's identity is far more special than you imagine."

"Naruto's identity is special? Isn't Naruto an orphan? Could it be because the children in the village often call him the Demon Fox? Naruto can't really be a Demon Fox, can he? Or could he be some illegitimate child of Konoha's upper ranks? Or perhaps he's the Hokage's son?" Sasuke blurted out a whole string of guesses, then dismissed them one by one, feeling that none of them could be possible.

But Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha stared straight at Sasuke.

Seeing this, Uchiha Itachi seemed to have guessed something. Even his voice trembled, because the truth he had inferred had already surpassed the limits of his understanding.

In a trembling voice, he said, "Could it be that Sasuke really guessed right? Naruto... is the Fourth Hokage's son?"

"How could that be, Brother? Naruto is an orphan. How could he be the Fourth Hokage's son? Right, Father, Mother?" Sasuke did not take Itachi's deduction seriously at all, but Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha silently nodded.

"No way... Naruto really is the Fourth Hokage's son? Brother, how did you figure that out?" Sasuke's worldview was shattered before he turned to ask Itachi.

"Sasuke, Father and Mother's words already told us that Naruto's identity is special and that he has a chance to become Hokage. Normally, that means he has an extremely close relationship with the Hokage. So he is most likely a relative of the Hokage."

"Also, Naruto has blond hair and the Uzumaki surname. I remember that the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze also had blond hair, and his wife was named Uzumaki Kushina. She was an Uzumaki too. That's why I guessed Naruto should be their child!" Itachi explained how he had reached that conclusion.

Mikoto nodded as well and finished the explanation for Itachi. "Minato, Kushina, and I were ninja classmates, so I naturally knew about the two of them. Naruto is indeed their child."

Fugaku added from the side, "Several years ago, on what should have been a peaceful night, Uzumaki Kushina went into labor. Uzumaki Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Someone who appeared from nowhere, possessing the Uchiha Clan's unique Sharingan, broke into Uzumaki Kushina's delivery room."

"They released the Nine-Tails, which destroyed Konoha's buildings. Because of that suspicion, the Uchiha Clan was ordered not to deploy and could only protect the villagers. Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze used his life to seal half of the Nine-Tails into himself. Before Uzumaki Kushina died, she sealed the remaining half of the Nine-Tails into Uzumaki Naruto. From then on, Naruto officially became the new Jinchuriki."

"But what no one expected was that Uzumaki Naruto, who should have been the orphaned child of heroes, had his identity concealed by order of Hiruzen Sarutobi. No one was allowed to reveal it, so Naruto became an orphan in name. After that, the Uchiha Clan suffered constant criticism from the village. Naruto too slowly grew up amid the villagers' unceasing hatred."

At last, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke understood everything.

So there had been so many things in Konoha that they had never known.

"I understand, Father. For the sake of peaceful coexistence between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, when the opportunity arises, I will protect Uzumaki Naruto!" Uchiha Itachi spoke first. He had already entered the Anbu, and after staying there for some time, Hiruzen Sarutobi might very well assign him to protect Naruto.

When that time came, he would definitely protect Naruto well. Naruto was the future hope of their Uchiha Clan.

"Me too, Father. From now on, I'll get along with Naruto properly. Naruto will be my best friend from now on!" Sasuke also understood Naruto's importance to the Uchiha Clan.

He had never disliked Naruto in the first place. On the contrary, he had vaguely wanted to get closer to him.

Now that he understood these things, he decided to put aside his somewhat tsundere personality and take the initiative to become Naruto's friend.

Seeing how sensible Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke were, and how much they cared about the Uchiha Clan's future,

Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha felt greatly comforted.

"Our Uchiha Clan will definitely get better!"

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