How strong was Orochimaru?
He had fought in both Shinobi World Wars.
He had led Konoha's shinobi forces in fierce battles against the Four Great Ninja Villages, and fought powerful opponents such as the Kazekage, Tsuchikage, Raikage, Mizukage, and Hanzo.
Eighty percent of Konoha's jonin had once served under Orochimaru. Under his command, they had won wars and earned the merits needed to be promoted to jonin.
His former subordinates were spread across every department in Konoha, and he effectively held the real power in the village.
Yamanaka Chujiu smiled. "I've decided. I'm going to become Lord Orochimaru's student, then persuade him to become the Fifth Hokage!"
"Once I've done that, I won't have to do anything else."
"Haha, I'm so clever!"
Uchiha Shisui returned to the clan compound with Itachi in his arms and told Uchiha Mikoto that Itachi was suffering from a mental illness.
Mikoto was shocked. She immediately thought of what had happened on the battlefield last year.
Suppressing her anger, she settled her eldest son in, then stormed off to confront her husband.
"Fugaku, did you know there was something wrong with Itachi's mental state?"
Uchiha Fugaku had been consumed by thoughts of being forced to move, but he was still taken aback by his wife's words. Then he angrily demanded, "Who's cursing my son?"
Mikoto said, "Shisui told me. A shinobi from the Yamanaka Clan made the diagnosis!"
"I told you Itachi was too young and shouldn't go to the battlefield, but you wouldn't listen!"
"And now our son has a mental illness. What's going to become of his future?"
When he heard that the diagnosis had come from a Yamanaka Clan shinobi, Uchiha Fugaku's anger faded.
His face darkened as he asked Shisui who had diagnosed Itachi and what exactly was going on.
Aside from Yamanaka Chujiu's name, Uchiha Shisui revealed nothing, telling them everything he knew about the Execution Line.
From Shisui's account, Uchiha Fugaku picked up on even more.
For example, when he heard, "Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sarutobi Clan aren't the same thing," Fugaku felt as if a light had suddenly dawned on him. Many problems that had seemed impossible to solve now had new possible solutions.
When he heard, "The Third Hokage isn't Shimura Danzō," and, "Root has never represented the Hokage," Fugaku felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.
From those two statements, he grasped the principle that "the Third Hokage can't fully represent Konoha," and it shook him deeply.
It was like putting on glasses for the first time after living with nearsightedness: the whole world suddenly came into focus.
So the wrong choices he'd been forced to make in the past hadn't been the only choices after all. He simply hadn't found the right way to solve things.
Fugaku had a vague feeling that if he could understand the principles behind those words, the Uchiha Clan's crisis could surely be resolved.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced and excited he became. He completely forgot about his son's condition and got up to pace around.
Suddenly, Uchiha Fugaku stopped and stared at Shisui. "Who told you all this?"
"I want to visit him in person and ask him how to save the Uchiha..."
Seeing how eager the clan head was, Uchiha Shisui opened his mouth to say Yamanaka Chujiu's name, but he couldn't get the words out.
Yamanaka Chujiu wasn't rigid.
He had restricted himself from targeting good people and refused to recklessly alter the beliefs of the kind, but he had also set conditions under which he could make exceptions.
If his own safety might be threatened, all his previous self-imposed restrictions would be void. After all, their original purpose was to protect him.
It would be putting the cart before the horse to risk his life for the sake of those restrictions!
So Yamanaka Chujiu had still targeted Uchiha Shisui, but very cautiously, putting two locks on his urge to speak.
Whenever Yamanaka Chujiu came up, Shisui's train of thought would be forcibly interrupted, making him think it over again before speaking instead of excitedly blurting everything out.
Saving the Uchiha didn't mean he had to sacrifice himself!
Because of the mental locks, Uchiha Shisui didn't blurt out Yamanaka Chujiu's name. Instead, he told Uchiha Fugaku about Chujiu's promise.
Fugaku understood at once. Chujiu genuinely wanted to help the Uchiha, but didn't want to put himself at risk, so he'd passed the information to Fugaku indirectly through Shisui.
Uchiha Fugaku agreed without hesitation and promised that in the future he would also accept indirect communication through Shisui and Itachi.
Only after clearing up the important matters did Fugaku ask about Itachi's condition in detail. He soon lamented, "I've been such a failure as a father."
Shisui reassured him, "There's no need to worry, Clan Head. If Yamanaka Chujiu was able to diagnose it, he'll surely be able to treat it too."
Fugaku's eyes lit up. "You're right, Shisui. The Yamanaka Clan will surely be able to treat him!"
Uchiha Mikoto was overjoyed. "That's wonderful! I'll visit Yamanaka Inoichi tomorrow and beg Yamanaka Chujiu to treat Itachi."
Overcome with emotion, Uchiha Fugaku blurted out, "I'll go with you. We need to show our sincerity when asking for help."
Uchiha Itachi was his eldest son, the one he'd placed such high hopes on and the son he was proudest of.
He'd lost his head and taken the boy to the battlefield, causing him to fall seriously ill. Of course he had to do everything he could to make amends.
Uchiha Shisui advised, "Clan Head Fugaku, I don't think you should go."
Fugaku immediately understood what Shisui meant, and realized he'd gotten carried away.
The Uchiha Clan was currently under suspicion for controlling the Nine-Tails, and that suspicion was difficult to dispel. Hiruzen Sarutobi was also forcing them to move. It really wasn't a good time for Fugaku to visit the Yamanaka Clan in person.
Besides, he'd just promised to communicate with Yamanaka Chujiu indirectly. If he went to Chujiu in person now, wouldn't that make him a liar?
It would be best for Uchiha Mikoto to take Uchiha Itachi to seek treatment.
That would show how much they cared about their son, and Yamanaka Inoichi and Yamanaka Chujiu wouldn't refuse to meet them.
Uchiha Fugaku let out a deep sigh. "In that case, I won't go."
"Shisui, please go with Mikoto, and take a gift from me."
"Don't worry, Clan Head Fugaku. I'll protect Aunt Mikoto and little Itachi!"
In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Fugaku was excited again. He called loudly toward the door, "Someone!"
Uchiha Tekka appeared in the doorway. "Clan Head!"
Fugaku took out his formal clothes and put them on as he ordered, "Tell the four elders to gather in the conference room. I have something to discuss with them."
"Yes, Clan Head."
After receiving the order, Tekka vanished in an instant.
Uchiha Mikoto frowned. "It's already dark. You're still going to hold a meeting?"
Fugaku answered excitedly, "What Shisui told me has given me a whole new perspective on the situation. There's hope of resolving the Uchiha's predicament."
"I have to take advantage of the inspiration while it's still fresh and work out a concrete plan with the elders. We need to come up with a solution tonight and put an end to the Uchiha's troubles once and for all."
With that, he hurried out of the house.
Before you continue