Taking Uchiha Itachi as a Disciple

"Namizake Mirai had taken Naruto to live with the Uchiha!?"

Hokage Office.

Listening to Kakashi's report, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened instantly. Almost unconsciously, he shot up from his chair and pressed his palm against the Hokage's desk.

"Yes."

Behind his cat-faced mask, Kakashi's gaze was exceedingly complicated.

As Minato's disciple, on one side were his teacher's son and younger brother; on the other was the Third Hokage, his direct superior.

Caught in the middle, he was under tremendous pressure.

Yet as Sarutobi Hiruzen's direct Anbu subordinate,

he had no choice but to carry out his orders.

"At first, we thought he was merely paying them a visit. But as time passed, they stayed longer and longer in the Uchiha Clan Compound. That was when we realized they weren't visiting—they had moved in."

Kakashi gave his report with mixed feelings.

It was as if all the strength had been drained from Sarutobi Hiruzen at once. He slumped blankly back into his chair.

If Namikaze Mirai alone had moved in with the Uchiha Clan, he would not have reacted so strongly.

The key was that Naruto had been brought there too!!! Several crimson veins burst in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.

Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

The Nine-Tails!!! When Naruto had been in Namikaze Mirai's hands, he had been dissatisfied, but he could barely accept it.

After all, Namikaze Mirai was Naruto's uncle.

But now that Naruto was living in the Uchiha Clan Compound, the implications were entirely different! The Nine-Tails—the most terrifying weapon of war in Konoha!

Had fallen into the Uchiha Clan's hands! Before this, whenever Uchiha Clan Members wanted to approach Naruto, they would be closely monitored by the Anbu—or even driven away! Now, they had practically soared straight to the heavens! And judging by the intelligence Kakashi had brought back, Naruto was staying in Fugaku's home, the Clan Leader's Residence—the most heavily guarded place among the Uchiha!

"Namikaze Mirai! Have you gone insane!!!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were bloodshot!

What Namikaze Mirai had done was no different from taking scissors to his lifeline!

And rubbing salt into the wound while he was at it!!!

"Guards! Bring Danzo here—no, summon Utatane Koharu and Elder Mitokado as well!"

While Sarutobi Hiruzen was flying into a rage in the Hokage Office,

at the Uchiha Clan Compound, inside the Clan Leader's Residence,

Namikaze Mirai and Uchiha Fugaku were leisurely taking a walk around the grounds.

"Mirai, have you been comfortable staying here these past few days?"

Fugaku asked, looking toward the blond young man walking beside him.

Though his words sounded concerned, there was little actual warmth in his tone. Instead, it carried a trace of dryness and helplessness.

Namikaze Mirai had brought Naruto to live in the Uchiha Clan Compound so openly.

The Hokage's side was probably already exploding with fury!

Fugaku could imagine what chaos the Hokage Office was in right now! The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the village's ultimate weapon, had so simply fallen into the Uchiha Clan's hands.

Now, even if they wanted to distance themselves and desperately prove that the Uchiha had no ill intentions toward the village,

Sarutobi Hiruzen probably would not believe them even if he were beaten to death.

Looking at the blond profile beside him, Fugaku felt deeply conflicted.

Namikaze Mirai was too domineering.

He had directly cut off every path of retreat for the Uchiha! Yet if Fugaku had refused,

with this man's temperament, he would probably have punched a hole through the Clan Leader's Residence and brought Naruto in to live there anyway.

Facing Fugaku's insincere greeting, Namikaze Mirai seemed not to hear the resentment behind it. After thinking for a moment, he said,

"More or less. The bed's just too big, so Naruto hasn't been sleeping very comfortably."

He still wasn't sleeping comfortably???

The resentment in Fugaku's eyes deepened.

To properly accommodate this lord, he had even given up the bedroom he shared with Mikoto! How could that bed not be big?

That was the bed Mikoto and he slept in!

"Oh, right, Fugaku. How is the matter I told you about coming along?"

As if remembering something, Namikaze Mirai turned and stared directly at him.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression stiffened. Then he composed himself and returned to his usual calm, steady demeanor before saying in a low voice,

"Preparations have already begun, but..."

A trace of heaviness appeared in his eyes.

"Mirai, do we really have to do this? One misstep, and the consequences will be beyond prediction."

"Fugaku, I don't think you understand the current situation yet..."

Namikaze Mirai glanced at him.

"Do you think blindly showing weakness and yielding will improve the Uchiha's position?"

"Peace sought through compromise means peace perishes; peace sought through struggle means peace survives! Only by throwing one punch can we prevent ten thousand punches from coming our way!"

Uchiha Fugaku's gaze grew heavy.

Namikaze Mirai's words were like a dagger, driving viciously into his heart.

Did he not understand that? It was simply that struggle required bloodshed.

As long as there was still hope, even the faintest sliver of hope, he did not want to see the Uchiha become enemies with the village.

But now, even that final trace of hope had been erased by Namikaze Mirai!

He took a deep breath and sighed with incomparable complexity.

"Setsuna has already gone to handle that matter. With him and the Military Police Force, there shouldn't be any major accidents."

Unlike him, when Uchiha Setsuna learned that Namikaze Mirai intended to live with the Uchiha Clan, he had been so excited that he did not sleep all night! He had practically wanted to clear out his own house and let Namikaze Mirai move in!

As for the matter Namikaze Mirai had proposed, he was so full of drive that he hardly seemed like a man his age.

With his secret guidance, the public opinion within the village would likely undergo some unexpected changes before long.

Namikaze Mirai suddenly stopped. His azure eyes watched Naruto and the others playing in the courtyard.

Naruto and Sasuke were having a great time together.

Though he was a guest, Naruto showed no restraint at all. Like the king of the children, he led Sasuke in playing doctor.

Fugaku, who stood beside him, saw the scene too, and his expression stiffened.

He always felt that the Fourth Hokage's orphan had been led astray by Namikaze Mirai! Under Naruto's urging, Sasuke would always secretly change into girls' clothes.

Already quite cute and easily mistaken for a girl, he became even more feminine.

And Naruto seemed thoroughly addicted to the whole process.

Every time, he would personally help Sasuke dress up and do his hair.

But Namikaze Mirai was not looking at Naruto. His gaze settled farther away, on Uchiha Itachi, who stood in a corner beyond the two children's notice, smiling softly as he watched them play.

Nine-year-old Itachi possessed melancholy eyes that did not match his age.

The tear troughs at the sides of his nose deepened that troubled, sorrowful look even further.

Yet he hid it well.

From the outside, he simply looked like a sensible, mature boy.

This world had never lacked geniuses. At a young age, they achieved things ordinary people could never accomplish in a lifetime.

Itachi was one such genius.

But geniuses were often extreme.

Within Itachi's melancholy, profound eyes, Namikaze Mirai saw a trace of confusion.

Without proper guidance, he might very well lose his way...

A smile appeared in those azure eyes.

"Fugaku, let Itachi become my disciple!"

Fugaku turned his head and stared at him in astonishment.

"Huh?"