A Wavering Heart (Please Keep Reading)

"Danzo."

Fugaku Uchiha was in an especially terrible mood right now, because he had heard some extremely bad news.

His son's crushing defeat had already left him somewhat dissatisfied.

It was not that he believed his precious son could stand against the Flying Thunder God Technique.

As clan head, he naturally knew that in history, Madara Uchiha's younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, had been killed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, using the Flying Thunder God!

And Izuna Uchiha had possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan at the time.

Itachi was only ten, nearly eleven. It was perfectly normal for him to be unable to resist the Flying Thunder God at his age.

He believed that his son would absolutely not repeat the same mistake in the future.

Because in his view, Izuna Uchiha had lost not because the Mangekyō was inadequate, but because he had been careless!

The Mangekyō was one of the Uchiha's most powerful forces.

But now, Itachi Uchiha had to face the Flying Thunder God and be taken down by it directly in front of everyone.

How could Fugaku Uchiha possibly feel good about that?

"Even for a normal assessment, there was no need to make things so difficult for Itachi, was there?"

Fugaku Uchiha was in a foul mood, and after they returned home, Itachi Uchiha delivered news that left him utterly dumbfounded!

That boy who served as the examiner and had mastered the Flying Thunder God had actually asked Itachi a fatal question.

And that question instantly gave Fugaku Uchiha an answer.

That boy had done it deliberately. Konohagakure had done it deliberately. This was retaliation!

"Itachi, let me ask you one more time. Are you sure that is what he said?"

Taking a deep breath, Fugaku Uchiha asked with grave seriousness.

"Yes, Father."

Itachi Uchiha sat obediently across from Fugaku Uchiha. Lowering his head slightly, he repeated it.

"He asked me whether I still remembered the Root ninja I defeated before."

But he soon raised his head again, hesitating for a moment before asking.

"Father, what kind of organization is Root?"

"Root."

Fugaku Uchiha was conflicted. He did not know whether he should tell Itachi about these matters now.

After all, there was far too much involved!

But one thing was clear: Danzo had been hostile toward the Uchiha from beginning to end!

Even now, Fugaku Uchiha could not forget how, during Nine Tails Night, Danzo had personally intervened and stopped them from going to provide support.

Then, when Danzo presided over the subsequent arrangements for the ninja clans after Nine Tails Night, he had driven the Uchiha into this remote corner where they now lived!

All of this had brought about countless further problems.

For instance, who knew how many people were saying that Nine Tails Night had been connected to the Uchiha? Otherwise, why had they not gone to provide support?

For instance, being forced to relocate here had already caused immense dissatisfaction within the clan, allowing the radicals to begin gaining a voice.

Everything, everything was Danzo's fault!

At that thought, Fury surged within Fugaku Uchiha's heart.

Yet unfortunately, from beginning to end, he had never considered whether he himself bore any responsibility in all this.

"I cannot answer that question for you yet, because there is simply too much involved."

Fugaku Uchiha forced himself to calm down and spoke seriously to his precious son.

"Perhaps you will learn someday, but for you right now, all of this is still too early."

"I see. I understand, Father."

Itachi Uchiha nodded and asked no more. He had long grown accustomed to such situations.

Ever since he was young, his father had emphasized that as a qualified ninja, the only person one could ultimately rely on was oneself.

Thus, he had grown used to thinking through everything himself, considering things himself, and making his own judgments.

His father's refusal to tell him was not a big deal to him.

Still, after thinking it over, he asked one more question.

"Then, Father, should we warn Brother Shisui about this?"

"Shisui is in the Anbu and is his teammate. I believe he can handle it."

After pondering for a moment, Fugaku Uchiha still shook his head.

Shisui was a bridge within the Anbu, through whom they could pass certain information to the Third Hokage.

For now, it was better not to change anything.

"I understand, Father."

Seeing this, Itachi Uchiha did not dare say anything else. He nodded, then rose to his feet.

"Then I will take my leave."

"Mm. Go get some rest."

Fugaku Uchiha nodded lightly. As he watched his precious son's retreating back, his fist slowly clenched.

"Third Hokage, what exactly are you thinking?"

There were some things he did not wish to mention in front of his precious son, but he could not stop himself from thinking about them.

That Shihara Hidezawa was Danzo's man. Could the Third Hokage truly not know that?

If so, why let Danzo's man assess his precious son?

Why have Danzo's man team up with Shisui?

Unless...

"Do you still not trust us?"

Fugaku Uchiha closed his eyes. He had always been committed to easing their conflicts through peaceful means.

But this was the result he had received, and it caused Fugaku Uchiha's heart to begin wavering—

The moonlight was hazy. Within Konohagakure's cemetery, Obito Uchiha stood silently before a gravestone.

This was Rin Nohara's grave. The resilient, smiling girl in Obito's memories rested here.

After witnessing Rin's death back then, he had been utterly devastated, but he had not forgotten Rin's deepest wish.

So he had not taken Rin's body away. Instead, he had allowed Konohagakure to bring her back, where she became a hero of Konohagakure and was laid to rest here.

"Soon. It will not be long before we meet again, Rin."

Obito Uchiha spoke softly, but soon frowned slightly.

Beside him, a Pitcher Plant monster suddenly emerged from the ground. Its white half-face smiled as it spoke to him.

"Obito, we have already investigated. That brat Itachi Uchiha has a mission in a few days. I think this will be your opportunity."

"Oh? He is leaving the village?"

Though Obito had been interrupted while having a "soul-to-soul conversation" with his beloved and was deeply displeased, he still restrained his emotions and asked.

"What about that brat Shihara Hidezawa? If he has a mission, things will be troublesome."

"He does not seem to have any missions recently."

Black Zetsu spoke at that moment, letting out a sinister laugh.

"Even if he does, it will be inside the village. When the time comes, we can deliberately draw his attention. Wouldn't that do the trick?"

"Mm."

Obito Uchiha nodded. Deliberately drawing his attention and bringing him to the scene would not be a bad thing at all.

If they were discovered, then everything would be even better. Even if he left, it would not matter much. He still had further arrangements.

Thinking of that, Obito Uchiha's mood improved considerably.

After all, whether he acquired Shisui—or his eye—or made the seed he had so carefully cultivated sprout, each would be a good thing for him.

This newbie humbly begs you to keep reading. Current reads determine everything for a book, and leaving it to sit can easily kill it.

Thank you, bosses. Onz

PS: How far have you all gotten in Black Myth?