Finding a Stepfather for Second Pillar

Fugaku looked at Mikoto and said sternly, "Mikoto, you must understand that the Uchiha Clan is finished. As the clan head, it is my duty to die with it. But you are different; you are not only a member of the Uchiha, but also Sasuke's mother. I do not want that child to spend the rest of his life living in darkness."

In truth, Fugaku had no desire to wear a green hat.

But if Mikoto were to die, given how events were unfolding, once Itachi acted against Chiya under the orders of the Konoha higher-ups, the latter's vengeful nature meant he would show absolutely no mercy.

Chiya had been able to silently wipe out the Shimura Clan and the Sarutobi Clan; it was highly probable that the current Itachi would die at his hands.

If the eldest son died, the younger son would also be in grave danger.

For the sake of both sons and the revival of the Uchiha Clan, he had no choice but to entrust Mikoto to Chiya.

"Sasuke." Hearing those two words, Mikoto's heart softened once more, and she lowered her head, unable to speak further.

"I beg of you, Chiya." Uchiha Fugaku performed a dogeza, bowing deeply to Chiya once again.

Mikoto hesitated for a moment, then knelt down as well, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I understand. Taking her out is not difficult, but ensuring her safety afterward is a major problem."

"You should know that unlike Izumi, she is someone who knows the truth behind the Uchiha massacre. If it becomes known that she is still alive, it will invite a great deal of trouble."

"In other words, Aunt Mikoto, for a long time to come, you will need to announce your death to the world. You will never be able to see Sasuke again, and as for that filial son of yours, that is even less of a possibility."

Chiya looked at Mikoto with an appreciative gaze. Ultimately, he could not resist the temptation of a peerless beauty—and, well, the Pure Gold that could grant eternal life—so he chose to agree to Fugaku's terms.

"I am eternally grateful." Uchiha Mikoto closed her eyes in agony, tears streaming uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.

"Time is running out. I will now use a special sealing technique to send you into a different dimension, just like Izumi, and then create an illusion capable of deceiving the Mangekyo Sharingan to die in your place at Itachi's hands. Once we reach a safe enough place, I will release you."

As he spoke, Chiya summoned a crow, drew the Zanpakuto at his waist, and whispered, "Shatter! Kyōka Suigetsu."

In an instant, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto felt their souls drift. When they looked at Chiya again, they saw that the crow beside him had somehow transformed into Mikoto.

"A truly divine technique. Not just the appearance, even the chakra is almost identical." Uchiha Fugaku widened his Mangekyo and exclaimed.

"Then, let us begin." Chiya walked up to Uchiha Mikoto. "Are you ready?"

Uchiha Mikoto took one last look at Fugaku. Fugaku returned a look of relief and said, "Rest easy, Mikoto. Sasuke will need you in the future."

Hearing this, Mikoto nodded with a desolate expression. She knew that after this, they would be separated by the divide between the living and the dead.

Chiya did not waste any more words; he suddenly struck Mikoto's pressure point, causing her to lose consciousness.

Then, with a symbolic, rapid sequence of hand seals, he pressed both palms against her chest and, to Fugaku's shock, drew her into the system space.

On the other side, Uchiha Itachi had already arrived at Uchiha Izumi's residence.

He knew that Chiya was a formidable enemy.

Out of caution, he had deliberately left Uchiha Izumi for second-to-last.

His parents were first.

He pushed the door open cautiously, seeing no traps in the room, and found 'Uchiha Izumi' sleeping peacefully on the bed.

Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.

Could it be that something happened to Chiya?

He had assumed that the reason Chiya didn't show up for their appointment was that he had discovered something and intended to take Uchiha Izumi away from Konoha.

Now that Uchiha Izumi was here and Chiya hadn't appeared, there was only one explanation.

He figured Chiya must have discovered something and confronted the Konoha higher-ups.

He was either delayed or killed by Danzo.

After all, Shisui was a precedent.

Thinking this, Uchiha Itachi had no further doubts and swung his blade to kill 'Uchiha Izumi'.

However, the next instant, a feeling of extreme unreality suddenly welled up in his heart.

He stepped forward to pinch the cheek of 'Uchiha Izumi' and inspected her carefully before setting his mind at ease and body-flickering out of the room.

"It seems I was overthinking it. What follows will be a duel between Mangekyo."

Uchiha Itachi whispered to himself, quickening his pace as he rushed toward his home.

"Your precious son is almost here. Do you have any final wishes?" Chiya sensed the filial son's chakra and, seeing that the system had yet to sound the notification for the reward, asked Fugaku nonchalantly.

Fugaku nodded, took out a ninjutsu scroll collected by the Uchiha Clan from a hidden compartment in the room, and handed it to Chiya. "The illusion you created was able to deceive my perception, which means your genjutsu has already surpassed the Mangekyo. If Itachi acts against you, I fear he will not escape with his life."

"I hope you can spare Itachi for Mikoto's sake. I believe that after this, Itachi will never dare to strike at you again."

"As payment, I can give you this."

As he spoke, Fugaku pulled a letter from his robes, on which the words 'Divorce Paper' were clearly written.

"What is the meaning of this?" Chiya frowned.

"Do you remember me saying before that you are the hope for the revival of the Uchiha Clan?" Fugaku gave a bitter smile and knelt beside the illusion of Mikoto. "At first, I thought it was you who had saved a portion of the clansmen. It wasn't until just now, when I activated my Mangekyo Sharingan and saw both you and Mikoto at the same time."

"In the future, you two will..."

"Will what?" Chiya asked, feeling a bit guilty. Could it be that his desire for his wife's body had been seen through?

Uchiha Fugaku shook his head with a wry smile. "No, it is nothing. In any case, from this moment on, Mikoto is no longer my wife. I hope you will treat her well and, at the same time, spare her eldest son. As for Sasuke, I trouble you to look after him when you have the time."

After saying this, Uchiha Fugaku closed his eyes, quietly awaiting the arrival of death.

Listening to these words from Fugaku, which could not have been more obvious, how could Chiya fail to guess what the other party meant?

Moreover, he had never intended to kill that "filial son" right now.

To a certain extent, living while bearing the weight of everything, just like in the original story, was the greatest punishment for Itachi.

"Fine, I agree to your terms." Chiya nodded.

As the words fell, a system notification rang in his mind:

[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining 1kg of Pure Gold from the One Piece world; it has been automatically stored in the system warehouse.]

Chiya took out the Pure Gold to examine it, immediately cut off a small piece, and used Lightning Release and Fire Release chakra nature transformations to melt it into a circular ring. Holding it in his hand, he whispered to himself, "Izumi is only thirteen right now, and Hinata is even younger, so this first Pure Gold ring shall go to Kurenai."