Heart-to-Heart with the Patriarch

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku mention the difficulties currently facing the clan, Yusuke nodded and said, "I know. I am well aware of all this."

"Danzo has always been at odds with our Uchiha Clan, and in past internal disputes, the elders have tended to side with him. The Third Hokage also seems to want to keep our Uchiha Clan and Danzo in a state of mutual check and balance," Uchiha Fugaku sighed.

"Ever since I became clan head, I have been walking on eggshells to maintain relationships with all sides. But my abilities are truly limited; despite exhausting all my efforts, I have still failed to secure the influence the clan deserves, and instead, the conflict between the clan and the village has only grown."

Itachi looked up at his father with a worried expression. His father had never spoken to him about these things before, and this was the first time he had heard such details regarding the state of their clan.

Although Itachi was only six years old, his mind was far more mature than other children his age. From Uchiha Fugaku's words, he could sense the crisis facing the clan and the heavy burden resting on his father's shoulders.

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku speak so openly about matters that could never be mentioned outside these walls, Yusuke knew that Uchiha Fugaku was truly being crushed by the weight of the clan's problems.

If things hadn't reached this point, a dignified clan head would never have revealed such inner thoughts to a junior like him.

Seemingly sensing his son's concern, Uchiha Fugaku smiled and patted Itachi on the head, signaling him not to worry. He then turned to Yusuke and said, "There are not many ninjas in the clan who can stand on their own, and among them, I have yet to see a talent who can become a true pillar for the clan. When I heard of your outstanding performance during the Third Shinobi World War, I was very happy, and I have been keeping an eye on you ever since."

At this point, Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned serious, his eyes locked onto Yusuke's: "But from your behavior, I have not seen the sense of clan honor that an Uchiha should possess! Can you tell me what the clan truly means to you, Uchiha Yusuke?"

Uchiha Fugaku's tone was extremely stern, especially when he emphasized Yusuke's name at the end.

Facing Uchiha Fugaku's rebuke, Yusuke felt a twinge of shame. He had been so focused on his training and the development of his ninjutsu that he had indeed made no special contributions to the clan.

However, Yusuke had no intention of abandoning the clan. Ever since he confirmed his identity as an Uchiha after transmigrating, he had already decided to save this clan from its tragic fate! It was just that the method he wanted to use was not political maneuvering.

"Clan Head, I am also a member of the Uchiha Clan, but looking at the current situation, do you see a path forward for us?" Yusuke asked calmly in return.

Hearing Yusuke's words, Uchiha Fugaku slowly closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He then opened them again, looking at Yusuke with a sharp gaze: "Even if we cannot see the path ahead, we, the Uchiha Clan, must persist to the end. The clan cannot be destroyed in our hands! And you, possessing such extraordinary talent, should take up this responsibility instead of giving up on the clan!"

"I haven't given up on the clan; I have only given up on trying to save it through political means." In this conversation with Uchiha Fugaku, Yusuke began to reveal his true thoughts for the first time.

Uchiha Fugaku frowned slightly and asked tentatively, "What do you mean?"

"Over the years, due to the deliberate exclusion by various factions, the space for our Uchiha Clan to survive in Konoha has become smaller and smaller. While it is not impossible to turn things around, I admit I lack the political cunning for it." Facing Uchiha Fugaku's piercing gaze, Yusuke met it without fear.

"That is why I have used all my strength to improve my own power. If the clan had a powerhouse with the strength of our ancestor Uchiha Madara, those so-called exclusions and conspiracies would be worth nothing, and all the problems plaguing the clan would be solved!" Yusuke no longer hid his pursuit of power, or rather, his ambition.

Uchiha Fugaku stared blankly at Yusuke, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had never imagined that Yusuke actually harbored the ambition to become a powerhouse on the level of Uchiha Madara.

One must know that since the Sage of Six Paths, there had only been two such powerhouses—the First Hokage Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.

"This is also why I rarely attend the clan's meetings. While you and the other high-ranking officials in the village are exhausting yourselves with political infighting, I have been training bitterly." Ignoring the slightly dazed Uchiha Fugaku, Yusuke stated his reasons for missing the clan meetings with conviction.

The reception room fell silent for a moment. No one spoke; Uchiha Fugaku was contemplating the feasibility of Yusuke's ideas, while Yusuke waited quietly.

For Yusuke, his goal would never change from beginning to end. He had skipped clan meetings in the past, and he would continue to do so in the future!

"Perhaps it takes your level of resolve and ambition to reach the heights of our ancestor Uchiha Madara!" After a long while, Uchiha Fugaku sighed and asked Yusuke, "Then, in your opinion, what should the clan do now?"

Yusuke thought for a moment and said, "If it were me, facing the relentless pressure from other factions, I might choose to retreat to advance. Of course, this 'retreat to advance' requires being prepared to retreat all the way. But I feel that if the clan were to set aside its power and go into seclusion to focus on improving the strength of our members, it might be a way to ensure our survival."

Uchiha Fugaku shook his head: "I have considered that as well, but unfortunately, most of the clansmen would not agree."

Yusuke nodded and said no more. In truth, he had kept one thought to himself: "If the clan head's authority were absolute, then he could decide it in a single word." However, there was no need to voice such an impossible hypothetical.

"For future clan meetings, I will give orders that you are exempt from attending. However, for certain important meetings, I will have someone notify you in advance, and you must be present for those!" Uchiha Fugaku looked at Yusuke, his gaze burning and leaving no room for refusal.

Yusuke nodded: "Understood. I thank you for your understanding, Clan Head." Things had reached this point; Uchiha Fugaku had already made a significant concession, and it would be ungrateful of him to push any further.

With the clan matters mostly discussed, Uchiha Fugaku's expression relaxed, and he brought up the other reason for inviting Yusuke: "Actually, there is one more thing I wanted to discuss with you today."

"Please, go ahead," Yusuke said.

"What do you think of this child, Itachi?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, gently patting Itachi on the shoulder.

Yusuke was slightly taken aback, and he roughly understood why Uchiha Fugaku had brought Itachi to this meeting. Uchiha Fugaku most likely wanted to arrange for Itachi to be his disciple.

Because aside from this reason, Yusuke couldn't think of any other possibility. It wasn't as if he wanted to arrange a marriage and ask if his own Izumi was a good match for Itachi, right?

"Itachi is six years old and will soon enter the Ninja Academy. I have only recently started teaching him ninjutsu. You might think I am exaggerating, but in my view, he has talent that does not lose to yours! I hope you can become his teacher and guide his future ninjutsu training," Uchiha Fugaku said earnestly.

In truth, he felt Itachi's talent surpassed Yusuke's, though he remained slightly humble when saying it.

Itachi was very clever and had guessed his father's intentions. He was also hoping for a suitable teacher to guide him, so he looked at Yusuke with an expectant expression.

Yusuke smiled and nodded: "I can also see that Itachi possesses extraordinary talent. I would be very happy to be his teacher. However, I didn't expect to take on two disciples in a single day; I'm not quite sure how to describe this feeling."

Yusuke had originally planned to make contact with Itachi sooner or later, as Itachi was the key figure affecting the fate of the Uchiha Clan. He hadn't expected Uchiha Fugaku to approach him directly to be Itachi's teacher, which was perfect.

Regarding the other disciple Yusuke mentioned, Uchiha Fugaku did not ask further, but instead instructed Itachi to perform the formal apprenticeship ceremony.

Itachi stood up from the cushion, knelt on the floor, and bowed respectfully to Yusuke: "Uchiha Itachi, please guide me from now on, Teacher."

Yusuke helped Itachi up, officially taking him as his second disciple. Looking at the young, cute Itachi, Yusuke couldn't help but think of his little sister, Izumi.

"Izumi is also going to the Ninja Academy soon. If I add Kabuto and Itachi, should I just apply to lead a genin team?" Yusuke thought to himself.

At this moment, Yusuke did not know that his sister was Itachi's love interest in the Itachi Shinden. If he had known, he certainly wouldn't have made such arrangements. In Yusuke's mind, someone as obsessed with his younger brother as Itachi was already beyond saving.

"Yusuke, has your Sharingan truly not awakened, or have you been hiding your strength all this time?" Uchiha Fugaku asked after the ceremony.

"It truly has not awakened. I have done a lot of research, and investigations suggest that it requires intense emotional stimulation to awaken the Sharingan, so I have given up on it for now," Yusuke said helplessly.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded: "Generally speaking, that is correct. But the Sharingan is activated by Yin Release, which is spiritual energy. Logically speaking, with your current level of spiritual energy, even without external stimulation, it should be enough to awaken the Sharingan."

Uchiha Fugaku thought for a moment, then looked at Yusuke with a strange expression: "Your father was not a member of the Uchiha Clan. Could it be that you did not inherit the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Yusuke did not seem surprised: "To be honest, I have been suspecting the same thing."

Although the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan was very powerful, even when members of the clan married outsiders, their offspring usually inherited the Uchiha Kekkei Genkai.

Unless the other party also possessed a powerful Kekkei Genkai, there was only a certain chance that the offspring would not inherit the Sharingan, but instead inherit the other Kekkei Genkai.

Of course, there was also a very small chance of inheriting both.

But Yusuke's father was just an ordinary person; there was no reason for his bloodline to suppress the Uchiha Clan's, preventing Yusuke from inheriting the Uchiha Kekkei Genkai.