Making Up for Fatherly Love to Itachi

As Uchiha Fugaku led the members of the Military Police Force back to the clan compound.

He noticed that the number of Anbu stationed around the perimeter had increased; the area surrounding the compound was terrifyingly silent, and even the members of the Military Police Force sensed that something was amiss.

"Clan Head, should we head back now?"

Uchiha Fugaku paid no mind to the ambushing Anbu and spoke immediately.

"Return. With the Great Elder and the others guarding the entrance, there will be no issues."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's assurance, the clansmen of the Military Police Force finally felt at ease and proceeded cautiously toward the compound.

Hokage Building

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the returning Uchiha members through his crystal ball, and a flicker of hesitation could not help but rise in his heart once more.

Was the choice he made this time truly correct?

But very quickly, Sarutobi Hiruzen dispelled this trace of hesitation.

As the Hokage, how could he waver once a choice had been made? Besides, he was merely following the plans laid out by his teacher.

To have a clan vanish and be fully integrated into the village—even the Senju Clan had already integrated, so the Uchiha Clan should have disappeared long ago.

For the sake of the village's peace, this sacrifice was necessary.

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression grew even more resolute.

Having brought the other clansmen back to the compound, Uchiha Fugaku found himself in a difficult position seeing so many people.

This was his oversight; there were simply too many of them.

However, Uchiha Fugaku immediately made arrangements, ordering the younger and weaker clansmen to return home and rest.

He left behind only the elders, a group of militant Uchiha clansmen, and the Jonin of the Uchiha Clan who possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Uchiha Setsuna, watching Uchiha Fugaku's arrangements, felt a sense of worry.

"Clan Head Fugaku, if we arrange things this way and the village is determined to wipe out our clan, we will be forced into a passive position."

Hearing Uchiha Setsuna's inquiry, Uchiha Fugaku immediately provided his answer.

"If even I, possessing these Sharingan, cannot stop them, then having more ordinary clansmen present would be nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

"Furthermore, once the battle begins, clansmen with insufficient strength will only hinder my performance."

"Besides, they are the future of our Uchiha Clan."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's response, Uchiha Setsuna ceased his objections. After all, what Uchiha Fugaku said did make sense, and since Uchiha Fugaku had already made his arrangements, clashing with him now would not be a good thing.

Uchiha Itachi, dressed in his Anbu uniform and holding his Anbu mask, walked slowly toward the Uchiha compound.

Uchiha Itachi's heart was filled with hesitation and pain; although he had become utterly disappointed in this clan, it still held beautiful memories for him.

Izumi Uchiha, and his younger brother, Sasuke.

Thinking of Sasuke, Uchiha Itachi's heart suddenly turned resolute again, and he walked even more firmly toward the Uchiha clan compound.

"For the peace of the village, and for the safety of my younger brother."

Uchiha Itachi was somewhat surprised to see the compound gates standing wide open, and from the footprints left before the gate, he could tell that a large group of people had just passed through.

Could the revolution have already begun?

But why hadn't Danzo notified him?

Thinking of this, Uchiha Itachi immediately quickened his pace and headed into the compound.

But just as he passed through the gate, Uchiha Itachi encountered the one person he least wanted to face.

"My own father—Uchiha Fugaku."

Uchiha Fugaku had been waiting there for a long time.

"Itachi, in the end, you still chose the village?"

"As expected, you aren't suited to be a ninja. Take off that Anbu uniform now and come home with me; everything can still be discussed."

"Otherwise, as your father, I will have no choice but to properly educate you."

As he spoke these words calmly, Uchiha Fugaku felt a small surge of excitement inside; after all, this was Itachi, one of the most popular characters in Naruto.

And how could Uchiha Itachi abandon the decision he had long since made in his heart just because of a few words from his father?

Seeing his father blocking his path, Uchiha Itachi understood that the greatest opponent of his mission had appeared: his father, Uchiha Fugaku.

And seeing Uchiha Itachi's unwavering resolve, Uchiha Fugaku understood that he truly had no talent for diplomacy; he would have to use physical means to knock some sense into this unfilial son of his.

Uchiha Fugaku thought to himself, Then let me properly make up for the fatherly love I once failed to give you.

Let me show you the greatness of a father's love.

With this in mind, Uchiha Fugaku spoke directly.

"Then let's have a fight, so you can realize the gap between you and me."

"Let you know that your father is still your father."

Although Uchiha Itachi did not understand the meaning of his father's last sentence, he understood the first part clearly.

"Then let's have a fight."

Uchiha Itachi did not hesitate; he quickly flung several shuriken, aiming straight for Uchiha Fugaku's vitals.

Watching the incoming shuriken, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help but remark.

"You really are a filial son, showing absolutely no mercy in your strikes."

Immediately, the Demon Blade Thousand Edges appeared in Uchiha Fugaku's hand, shattering into fragments to block the incoming shuriken.

"Get serious. Let me, your father, see what kind of ability you actually possess that makes you think you can decide the fate of the entire clan?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi no longer hesitated and immediately activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, casting his strongest genjutsu, Tsukuyomi, upon Uchiha Fugaku.

Seeing that his son had chosen not to use Amaterasu, Uchiha Fugaku sighed with rare appreciation.

"At least you have a conscience, Itachi. I'll make sure you take a few less hits later."

Subsequently, both of their consciousnesses entered the illusionary space of Tsukuyomi.

"Father, admit defeat. You are no match for me."

Uchiha Fugaku looked at his "good son" before him and couldn't help but smile.

"Are you so sure?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Itachi instantly realized something was wrong.

He saw that, without him even noticing, he had been bound by a rope.

Then, Uchiha Itachi felt the world spin, and he was hoisted into the air.

Only then did Uchiha Itachi realize that he had lost control over the Tsukuyomi space and was now at the mercy of another.

However, having already made up his mind, how could Uchiha Itachi give up now? He once again mobilized his ocular power, attempting to seize back control of the Tsukuyomi space.

Fugaku looked at his "good son" and stopped teasing him, walking down from the cross.

"Itachi, take a good look at my eyes."

"Do you remember me telling you that the Mangekyo is not the limit of the Sharingan?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but be stunned.

????

When Uchiha Itachi looked at his father's Sharingan, he discovered that his father's eyes had changed their appearance.

Based on his father's words, how could Uchiha Itachi not realize that his father's Sharingan must have evolved once more?

It was just that he hadn't told him about it until now.

Uchiha Fugaku looked at his son, who had stopped struggling, conjured a whip, grinned at Itachi, and spoke.

"Let Father properly make up for the love you missed out on."

"I'll give you a complete childhood."

"I've wanted to beat you up for a long time, but you were always too well-behaved, and I could never find an excuse."

Uchiha Fugaku found his excuse and began to lash out at Itachi.

"Who told you to learn from anyone other than Shisui?"

"Even Shisui didn't think about slaughtering the clan, yet you dared to do such a thing?"

"Izumi is such a beautiful girl, and you actually dared to give her up?"

"..."