"Yue-kun, how does it feel to be heading home?"
As Uchiha Yue stood on the ship, feeling the sea breeze, Uchiha Fugaku suddenly came to his side and struck up a conversation with a broad smile.
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Yue nodded with a faint smile. "After killing on the front lines for so long, it's nice to be able to go home once. Konoha is my home, after all, and my father is waiting for me there. I stayed at the border of the Land of Water for so long that I nearly forgot I wasn't a machine made for slaughter, but a person. So, this trip home made me realize once more that I'm human, not a machine. Maybe after I return from Konoha this time, my strength will improve again!"
"As expected of the Uchiha Clan's genius, Yue-kun. You're truly incredible!"
Uchiha Yue's words left Uchiha Fugaku deeply shaken. He simply could not imagine how much stronger Uchiha Yue could possibly become.
At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku could only feel fortunate that Uchiha Yue belonged to the Uchiha Clan rather than the Hyuga Clan. If the Hyuga Clan had produced a genius like Uchiha Yue, Uchiha Fugaku would not even know how to deal with it. Still, once he thought of Uchiha Yue being part of the Uchiha Clan, the panic in his heart lasted only briefly before a different idea arose.
Then, fixing his eyes on Uchiha Yue and unwilling to miss even the slightest change in his expression, Uchiha Fugaku probed, "Yue-kun, by the time we return, Itachi will be nearly one year old. Could he become your disciple then? You know, both you and I are respected figures in the village. You can't possibly let your first disciple's apprenticeship be so shabby, can