A True Man, How Can He Remain Depressed Under Others for Long

Just as Jiraiya prepared to leave.

Hyuga Hiashi, lying on the adjacent bed and hidden behind a curtain, was keeping his eyes shut, desperately feigning sleep.

I didn't hear anything, I didn't hear a single thing, please don't notice me!

Please, just ignore me!

After all, if that last sentence from Sarutobi Hiruzen were to leak to the outside world, it would cause a massive uproar and inevitably ignite friction between the village and the clans.

Furthermore, it would be troublesome if the summoning beasts of the Three Great Sage Regions found out, potentially even sparking conflict between them and the village.

And as the one who had overheard such a critical secret, could he really expect Sarutobi Hiruzen to let him off easy?

But just as Hyuga Hiashi prayed in his heart.

Jiraiya, who usually preferred windows, chose to use the door for once and immediately spotted Hyuga Hiashi pretending to be asleep.

"Clan Head Hyuga, what are you doing here?"

Hyuga Hiashi dared not open his mouth, cursing Jiraiya a hundred, no, ten thousand times in his mind. Why did you have to call me out for no reason? Are you bored out of your mind?

Jiraiya, however, was oblivious to Hyuga Hiashi's thoughts. Instead, looking at the man still feigning sleep, a happy thought crossed his mind.

When he dropped Uzumaki Naruto off at school today, Jiraiya had seen right through the intentions of Hyuga Hiashi's daughter, Hyuga Hinata, who was also heading to class.

Jiraiya could sense that Hyuga Hinata was a much better match for Uzumaki Naruto than that lovesick girl Haruno Sakura, and he believed the two of them would eventually end up together.

Though he thought this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret regarding himself and Tsunade.

Considering he might eventually act as a guardian for Naruto and interact with the Hyuga family, Jiraiya decided to let him off the hook, though he realized that even doing so now might be pointless.

Oh well, I can't save him, and he just happened to be here, didn't he? With that, Jiraiya chose to slip away, hoping that if they ever became in-laws, the man wouldn't make things difficult for him.

After Jiraiya left, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting on his hospital bed, narrowed his eyes. Seeming to have realized something, he looked through the curtain at Hyuga Hiashi and spoke.

"Clan Head Hyuga, how much of what was just said did you hear?"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's inquiry, Hyuga Hiashi no longer dared to feign sleep and could only reply with a slightly trembling voice: "N-not much."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."

─━ _ ─━✧

A few days later.

"You've found the feeling already?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Itachi, who had already begun to fuse Sage Chakra, and asked.

Uchiha Itachi nodded gently.

Izumi Uchiha couldn't help but feel shocked. As expected of the greatest genius in the clan?

Feeling the pressure radiating from Uchiha Itachi, Izumi Uchiha secretly resolved to work even harder.

I will definitely catch up to you, Uchiha Itachi.

At this moment, Uchiha Itachi felt the powerful energy flowing through his body and couldn't help but feel a sense of self-satisfaction.

In his heart, he began to compare his own strength to that of his father, Uchiha Fugaku.

How much of a gap is there between me and my old man now?

And when will I be able to stand up for myself, seize his position as Clan Head, and kick him to the side so I can take the seat?

After all, a real man should not live under another's shadow for long.

Besides, my father doesn't even handle clan affairs anymore; he dumps everything on me and Izumi.

Just as this thought crossed Uchiha Itachi's mind, Uchiha Fugaku suddenly felt a strange sensation.

This brat wants to surpass me?

He wants to take my position as Clan Head?

And he says I don't do anything? Do you have any idea where your Sage Arts came from?

Itachi, you've changed! You're no longer the simple Itachi you used to be.

But... why do I have this feeling?

Itachi is standing right in front of me and hasn't done a thing.

Could it be that I can hear Uchiha Itachi's inner voice? Or can I hear the thoughts of everyone who practices the Sage Arts I created?

Thinking this, Uchiha Fugaku decided to test it out.

"Itachi, since you've mastered the Sage Arts, why don't we have a spar?"

"Even though the restaurant opens this afternoon, there's still a little time to give you some pointers."

"What do you think?"

?????

Uchiha Itachi was stunned upon hearing this.

What had happened to his father? Why did he suddenly want to offer him pointers?

At the mention of pointers, Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but recall the Night of the Clan Annihilation, where he had been soundly thrashed.

He hadn't even had the chance to manifest his Susanoo before falling under a genjutsu.

However, since his father had spoken, Uchiha Itachi could only brace himself and softly agree.

"Yes, Father."

Sensing Uchiha Itachi's thoughts once more, Uchiha Fugaku finally confirmed that he could indeed perceive them.

This ability had only manifested after he cultivated the Sage Mode he had created himself.

But since Uchiha Itachi was his son, Uchiha Fugaku was momentarily uncertain.

He wasn't sure if this ability only worked on his close blood relatives or if it applied to anyone who cultivated the Sage Mode he had developed.

If anyone who cultivated his Sage Mode gained this ability, once the entire clan mastered it, what secrets could anyone possibly hide from him?

But for now, it was time to educate this "filial son" who wanted to rebel against his own father.

He wanted to surpass him using the Sage Mode he had created?

"A real man should not live under others for long," indeed?

Delusional. Let this father of yours help you recognize reality.

Uchiha Fugaku then brought Uchiha Itachi and Izumi Uchiha to the training grounds.

Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi stood at opposite ends of the field.

Seeing that Uchiha Itachi was ready, Uchiha Fugaku asked, "Shall we begin?"

Hearing the inquiry, Uchiha Itachi, already prepared, nodded and replied, "Let's begin."

The moment the words left his lips, Uchiha Itachi, having already gathered senjutsu chakra within his body, instantly activated Sage Mode and charged toward Uchiha Fugaku.

He had already mapped out a series of tactical maneuvers.

He used his Sharingan to lock onto every movement Uchiha Fugaku made.

Having already read Uchiha Itachi's inner thoughts, Uchiha Fugaku was well-prepared.

Just as Uchiha Itachi's fist was about to land, Uchiha Fugaku swiftly dodged the attack.

As Uchiha Fugaku evaded the strike, a sharp glint flashed in Uchiha Itachi's eyes.

Suddenly, a second Uchiha Itachi appeared behind Uchiha Fugaku, launching an assault.

Uchiha Fugaku played along with Uchiha Itachi's script, continuing to dodge.

But the moment Uchiha Fugaku shifted his position, a pair of Sharingan eyes locked onto his.

This was the arrangement Uchiha Itachi had prepared all along—a genjutsu.

Although he knew his father possessed the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and that he couldn't control him, he figured there would be no issue with causing a momentary distraction.

He only needed those two seconds of hesitation; bolstered by the power of senjutsu, he could strike him down with a fist infused with senjutsu chakra.

But how could Uchiha Fugaku, who had been on guard, possibly fall for a genjutsu?

In the next instant, Uchiha Itachi was tripped by Uchiha Fugaku and pinned to the ground.

"Your tactical planning was decent, but unfortunately, you underestimated my Eternal Mangekyo, and you underestimated my vigilance."

Uchiha Fugaku certainly wouldn't reveal how he had won so easily.

After all, if Itachi found out that he could peek into his inner thoughts, he would probably want to kill him.

Moreover, his plan to revitalize the clan might fall apart.