The Fugaku Family

"Th-this is... Orochimaru... Lord Orochimaru."

Orochimaru heard him and paused slightly, then his lips curled into a smile full of meaning.

Shinsuke Uchiha's reaction was a little strange.

With the Sharingan's keen observational abilities, how could he not have noticed the ninja standing beside the clan leader right away? Or had he failed to recognize the unmistakable Orochimaru?

Under normal circumstances, both possibilities could be ruled out.

Shinsuke had recognized Orochimaru. And, thinking of the troubles the clan had faced lately, he understood what it meant for Orochimaru to be standing beside the clan leader: the clan leader wanted to rely on Orochimaru's reputation and strength.

Shinsuke was quick-witted and could certainly be called clever. But what had he done?

He hadn't immediately bowed respectfully to the person his clan had turned to for help. And even after receiving help, he hadn't looked particularly grateful. Instead, he had turned his gaze toward the all-powerful clan leader.

Why?

It was obvious: he didn't think accepting Orochimaru's help was anything to be proud of.

Orochimaru licked his lips and thought, Interesting.

Clever, arrogant, stubborn... That was the first impression Shinsuke had made on him.

Perhaps birds of a feather really did flock together. Every member of the Konoha Military Police Force squad before him behaved and looked much like Shinsuke.

Such youthful attitudes!

Fugaku looked grim. As clan leader, he saw even more clearly than Orochimaru did. When Shinsuke still didn't move, he snapped, "As Lord Orochimaru said, hurry up and go."

"Yes, sir!"

Shinsuke took his leave and vanished with the Konoha Military Police Force.

"Clan Leader Fugaku, your clansmen have certainly opened my eyes."

Orochimaru smiled, making an effort to keep the mockery out of his voice. "With clansmen of this disposition, you don't have many options."

At those words, Fugaku's expression darkened further.

"They can let their feelings get the better of them. But you're the head of a clan. Are you going to wait until things are beyond saving before you regret it?"

Orochimaru abandoned his usual cold, sinister manner. His tone was almost gentle and persuasive. "The Uchiha have to go through this. You need to understand that the mastermind is still at large. Do you really want the Uchiha blamed every time the village is attacked from now on?"

"The village's patience has its limits. Once those limits are exceeded, it will erupt. You should understand what the consequences would be."

Fugaku kept his head lowered and said nothing. His expression shifted repeatedly.

"Or do you want to lead the Uchiha in rebellion and seize power for yourself?"

"Enough. You don't need to say another word. I... agree."

Fugaku raised his head, speaking through clenched teeth. Each word seemed to be forced out of his throat.

Fugaku hated this. He hated Madara for leading the Tailed Beasts in an attack on the village all those years ago, planting seeds of distrust between the Uchiha and the village. And he hated the mastermind behind this latest incident for acting without the slightest concealment and showing no regard for the clansmen in the village.

"Good. Let's continue discussing the details."

At the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Beneath the shade of a tree, Itachi had just finished lunch. He held his newborn little brother, Sasuke, and fed him from a bottle.

Watching little Sasuke suck away at the bottle, Itachi couldn't help smiling.

He loved how much his little brother depended on and adored him.

"Itachi..."

A girl with a ponytail came running from a distance, waving at him as she approached.

"Izumi."

Itachi nodded to the girl, then turned his attention back to his little brother as he drank.

Izumi Uchiha was a girl he'd met on the Night of the Nine-Tails. He'd happened to save her life, and ever since, Izumi had kept coming to talk to him.

"Ah, little Sasuke's drinking his milk. He's so cute."

Izumi leaned forward, bringing her face close. "Can I hold him?"

Itachi refused without hesitation. "No. You'll make him cry. You did last time."

Thinking of how he'd rejected her before, Izumi scrunched up her little face. "What? That was an accident. This time, I'll be really careful. Really careful. He's focused on drinking, anyway."

As she spoke, she held out her hands and slowly took Sasuke from Itachi.

Just as expected, little Sasuke sensed the girl's ulterior motive with ease, and began squirming and crying.

Itachi quickly took him back and soothed him with little effort.

Rejected twice now, Izumi fell into an existential crisis. Even her ponytail stopped swaying.

"..."

"That's Father."

A figure caught the corner of Itachi's eye. His heart stirred, and he ran straight toward it.

He soon reached Fugaku and saw the figure standing beside his father. Instinctively, he sensed that the man was dangerous, and stopped in his tracks.

But as if they'd noticed him, the two men walked in his direction.

The two children eased the tense atmosphere. Orochimaru looked Itachi up and down, then had a thought. "Is this your son? Won't you introduce us?"

At the mention of his son, Fugaku's tightly drawn expression relaxed a little. His voice carried a hint of pride. "This is my eldest son, Itachi. The younger one is Sasuke. Itachi, this is Lord Orochimaru."

"Yes, Father." Holding Sasuke, Itachi bowed slightly. "Lord Orochimaru."

"Itachi?"

Orochimaru murmured the name.

For some reason, he sensed a hint of malice in it.

Perhaps it was because, in nature, weasels were the natural enemy of snakes.

Natural enemy.

The words flashed through his mind, and Orochimaru couldn't help laughing.

"Lord Orochimaru?" Fugaku asked, puzzled. He didn't know what had made him laugh.

"No, it's nothing."

Orochimaru shook his head. His gaze was drawn to Itachi's composed demeanor, especially his tranquil eyes. The more he looked, the more he liked him.

Orochimaru turned and asked, "Itachi, you haven't started at the Ninja Academy yet?"

Fugaku nodded. Itachi was six this year and wouldn't start until the next school year.

"I can tell he's a genius."

Orochimaru spoke plainly. "I'd like to take him as my student. What do you think?"

"This..."

Fugaku's expression shifted. He didn't know how to respond.

To be fair, the Sannin were among the strongest shinobi in the Shinobi World. Having one of them as a teacher would mean receiving the very best education.

But Orochimaru's reputation was poor, after all.

"Clan Leader Fugaku, in Konoha, does the Uchiha really have the standing to look down on me?"

Orochimaru saw at once what Fugaku was thinking and gave a derisive snort, displeased.

But he couldn't reprimand Itachi's father in front of the children, so he said calmly, "I want Itachi as my student partly because I see his talent. And partly..."

Orochimaru paused. "Jiraiya's students can become Hokage. If I can't do the same, won't that make him one step ahead of me?"

"Hokage?!"

The word made Fugaku's heart pound, and his emotions stirred.

That was right. Orochimaru might have a bad reputation, but he was also the Third Hokage's student—one of the Hokage's own circle.

Suppressing his excitement, Fugaku smiled. "Lord Orochimaru, what are you saying? I was only wondering whether Itachi was worthy."

As he spoke, Fugaku gave Itachi a look.

Itachi had no choice but to bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Orochimaru-sensei."