His First Meeting with Itachi

Fugaku Uchiha was a Seven-Star Kage-Level powerhouse. Zhang Miao was not surprised by this at all, because he knew very well that Fugaku Uchiha possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan!

Unlike those who relied on hard work to improve their strength, much of the Uchiha Clan's power was built upon the Sharingan. Even those who normally did not train much would experience an explosive increase in strength once they awakened the Sharingan!

The Sharingan could see through and copy taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu, excluding bloodline limits and forbidden techniques. It was an exceptionally powerful ocular technique.

Once someone awakened the One Tomoe Sharingan, their strength was equivalent to that of a Genin. With the Two Tomoe Sharingan, they were equivalent to a Chunin, and with the Three Tomoe Sharingan, they were equivalent to a Jonin!

The reason Kakashi was called the "Copy Ninja" and the "Leaf Technician" was largely thanks to the Sharingan!

Even the Three Tomoe Sharingan was this powerful, while Fugaku Uchiha possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, which surpassed the ordinary Three Tomoe Sharingan. From that alone, one could infer just how formidable he was.

Although, in the original story, Fugaku Uchiha had bowed his neck to be slaughtered on the grounds that he did not wish to kill his own son, that did not mean he was weaker than Itachi Uchiha.

Because even when Itachi Uchiha began acting against the Uchiha Clan, he had personally said that his father was the strongest opponent this time. Even he could not be certain of victory.

Itachi Uchiha's strength went without saying—he was unquestionably Kage-Level. Since even he did not dare underestimate Fugaku Uchiha, Fugaku's strength was naturally on the same level as his.

Moreover, even without considering the special abilities inherent to the Sharingan, there was one ability shared by every Mangekyō Sharingan.

That was the Susanoo!

As long as one possessed a complete pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, one could use the Susanoo. This technique combined offense and defense, and during the later Fourth Great Ninja War, Madara Uchiha used this move alone to suppress the Five Kage and the Shinobi Allied Forces. That showed just how powerful it was.

Fugaku Uchiha possessed a complete pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, so he naturally had the ability to use the Susanoo as well. If he had used it to confront Itachi Uchiha head-on back then, it would have been hard to say who would have won.

It could be said that Fugaku Uchiha was a powerhouse overlooked by many.

Zhang Miao naturally knew Fugaku Uchiha's strength, so from the very beginning, he had planned to collect Fugaku Uchiha's Ninja Fragments. Unfortunately, he had not gotten his wish.

Back at the Leaf Village Police Department, Zhang Miao had revealed that information to Fugaku Uchiha not only to save Might Guy. He had also wanted to use that method to gain Fugaku Uchiha's approval and thus collect his Ninja Fragments.

Unfortunately, that plan had ultimately failed. Fugaku Uchiha was far more difficult to deal with than he had imagined, which was why Zhang Miao had stopped halfway through what he was saying.

"Don't you refuse to acknowledge me? Then why should I tell you so much? I'll just leave you hanging!"

That was Zhang Miao's attitude toward Fugaku Uchiha.

But what Zhang Miao had not expected was that, after being left hanging twice in a row, Fugaku Uchiha had obediently handed over Ninja Fragments. Although there were not the full ten, it was better than nothing.

This also prompted Zhang Miao to swiftly devise a future plan for collecting Fugaku Uchiha's Ninja Fragments—

Leave him hanging! Leave him hanging hard! Leave him hanging with everything I've got!

At that thought, Zhang Miao immediately leaned toward Fugaku Uchiha, then grinned at him with a cheeky smile.

"Hehe, Uncle Fugaku, don't be angry. How about this? As long as you bleat once, I'll tell you this secret. What do you say?"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

Baa my ass!

At that moment, Fugaku Uchiha dearly wanted to give Zhang Miao a severe scolding and then throw the brat out. But he was also desperate to know why Madara Uchiha wanted Hashirama Senju's flesh and blood.

Fugaku Uchiha had a feeling that the secret Zhang Miao spoke of might be closely connected to the stone tablet passed down within the Uchiha Clan!

Which was more important—his own pride, or the future of the Uchiha Clan?

After weighing the pros and cons, Fugaku Uchiha immediately looked around. Only after confirming there was no one else nearby did he take a deep breath and open his mouth wide.

"Baa—"

But before Fugaku Uchiha's voice had even faded, the door ahead swung open with a swish, revealing a small face filled with utter shock.

"F-Father?"

Seeing the person standing in the doorway, Fugaku Uchiha's eyes widened as well.

"Itachi?"

The person at the door was none other than Itachi Uchiha, who had just returned from school!

For Itachi Uchiha at that moment, the scene before him was simply horrifying. His father, who had always been dignified and never smiled, had actually bleated just now?

If this had not been his own home, Itachi Uchiha might have thought he had fallen under someone else's genjutsu!

At that moment, Itachi Uchiha's face was completely filled with astonishment.

"Father, that baa just now..."

Seeing Itachi Uchiha's shocked expression, Fugaku Uchiha's old face immediately reddened. Before Itachi could finish, he hurriedly cut him off.

"Itachi, come in quickly. I'll introduce you to an honored guest!"

"An honored guest?"

Hearing Fugaku Uchiha's words, Itachi Uchiha finally noticed that, besides his father, there was another person in the room.

His excellent upbringing allowed Itachi Uchiha to immediately compose himself. He quickly entered the room and knelt down beside Fugaku Uchiha.

"I'm sorry, Father. I was discourteous!"

Seeing that Itachi Uchiha's attention had been successfully diverted, Fugaku Uchiha felt that he had finally preserved his paternal dignity. After secretly sighing in relief, he introduced Zhang Miao beside him to Itachi Uchiha.

"Itachi, this is Uzumaki Ryunosuke of the Uzumaki Clan. The Uzumaki Clan is the Uchiha Clan's most important friend. From now on, you must get along well with Ryunosuke!"

"Yes, Father!"

After hearing Fugaku Uchiha's solemn words, Itachi Uchiha hurriedly nodded, then gave Zhang Miao a slight bow.

"Ryunosuke-kun, I'm Itachi Uchiha. I look forward to getting along with you!"

Whether it was Fugaku Uchiha or Itachi Uchiha, their conduct lived up to the reputation of a great clan. If it had been someone from another family, they might have been flattered by such courtesy from the Uchiha, but Zhang Miao frowned.

There's no way I can approach Itachi Uchiha like this!

Zhang Miao knew that Itachi Uchiha had experienced war and death from a young age, which had greatly changed his way of thinking.

Especially after he later spent time with Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha developed a broad perspective that ordinary people lacked. His vision had already transcended narrow clan-based notions and reached a higher level.

Therefore, if Zhang Miao wanted to gain Itachi Uchiha's favor and recognition, he absolutely could not let himself be labeled as someone from "such-and-such clan."

Looks like I need a different kind of introduction!

With that thought, Zhang Miao glanced at Fugaku Uchiha beside him, and an idea immediately came to mind.

Under Itachi Uchiha's somewhat puzzled gaze, Zhang Miao suddenly stood up and flashed him a brilliant smile.

"Itachi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Ryunosuke, the guy who can make Fugaku the 'Fierce Eye' go 'baa—'!"

Itachi Uchiha: "..."

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

As Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha were once again left dumbfounded, Zhang Miao finally heard the system prompt he had been hoping for.

"Ding—Obtained Seven-Star Kage-Level Fugaku Uchiha Ninja Fragments ×5!"

"Ding—Obtained Seven-Star Kage-Level Itachi Uchiha Ninja Fragments ×5!"