When he opened the laboratory door, he saw Orochimaru conducting an experiment.
Seeing Masaki Uchiha enter, Orochimaru stopped working. From among the nearby equipment, he took out two syringes filled with red liquid and a glass jar containing a Byakugan, showing them to Masaki.
"After a series of experiments, I've confirmed that the Byakugan, Shikotsumyaku, Hashirama Cells, and Sharingan no longer show any incompatibility."
"But without human trials, I can't be certain there won't be any problems."
"So..."
Orochimaru gave him a look that said, You know what I mean. Masaki couldn't help but marvel at how money could make even the devil do your bidding.
Even Orochimaru couldn't resist the lure of money.
"Don't worry. I've already prepared the one hundred million ryo in sponsorship money for you, Orochimaru-senpai."
He took a storage scroll from the ninja tool pouch behind him and handed it to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru took the scroll, his eyes practically turning into money signs. Then he extended his long tongue and swallowed it whole.
No matter how many times he saw it, it still gave him goosebumps, Masaki thought.
"Since we haven't extracted much essence from the Shikotsumyaku, we only have enough for two human trials."
"If you can bring me more members of the Kaguya Clan, we can conduct more trials."
Orochimaru's distinctive voice was full of temptation.
It was like the devil whispering in his ear.
Masaki chuckled. "No problem. If these two human trials prove successful, members of the Kaguya Clan will be lying on your operating table soon enough."
With Masaki's current strength, wiping out the entire clan by himself would be no problem. It was simply a matter of whether he wanted to.
"Then there's just one last issue. For the best results, I recommend using a Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan as a test subject."
"Only then can we determine whether it's useful for the Mangekyō Sharingan. After all, we already have experimental data for the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
"The Mangekyō, huh?" Masaki pondered for a moment before replying, "No problem. I'll bring someone over when the time comes."
There were three Mangekyō users in the Uchiha Clan at present: Masaki, Fugaku, and Shisui.
Shisui was working in the Land of Waves, which left Fugaku as the best choice.
Fugaku probably wouldn't refuse.
Besides, Fugaku's Mangekyō ability might improve the chances of the experiment succeeding.
It's you, Fugaku!
"By the way, Shimura Danzō came to see me a few days ago. He suspected I'd leaked his information to you."
"I did leak it, but I didn't admit it at the time. As a result, I lost some experimental equipment."
As he mentioned the loss, Orochimaru put on a regretful expression.
"All right. To thank you for your help, Orochimaru-senpai, I'll bring you the test subject and the money together."
Masaki chuckled. Orochimaru was greedy, but that made him pretty easy to deal with.
"That's settled, then. I'll come back in a while."
When Masaki said he was leaving, Orochimaru personally escorted him to the laboratory door.
··········
"I agree, but I'll go after my child is born. The due date is less than a month away."
Fugaku agreed readily, without a moment's hesitation. He only made one small request.
Masaki had no objections. He hadn't expected Fugaku to agree so readily and had thought he would need to talk him into it.
"I'm planning to marry Mie next month. In that case, let's wait until we've all taken care of our affairs before we go."
"It's not especially urgent, anyway."
"I'll be off. Go spend some time with your family."
Masaki brushed the dust from the road off his clothes, said goodbye, and left.
··········
One month later
Uchiha Clan Compound
Fugaku's home was bustling. Ever since the family had welcomed a new member last week, clan members had been arriving one after another with gifts to offer their congratulations.
Fugaku was so happy he couldn't stop grinning as he warmly welcomed the clan members.
Masaki arrived with his new wife, Mie Uchiha, carrying a gift.
Fugaku spotted the clan leader at once and hurried over to greet him.
"Clan leader, come on in and have a seat." Fugaku first took the gift from Masaki, then promptly invited him inside.
Seeing that the clan leader had arrived, the clan members present all stood to greet him.
Masaki responded to each of them in turn.
But when he saw Fugaku grinning like an idiot, he figured he shouldn't be the only one suffering. So he played the role of the instigator and called out, "Deputy Head Fugaku, bring out the Uchiha Clan's future genius and let us have a look!"
The others thought it was a good idea and chimed in. "Lord Fugaku, bring the baby out for us to see!"
Fugaku couldn't refuse under the circumstances, so he smiled and replied, "Of course."
Then he had Itachi, who was standing nearby, bring out the newborn.
After a short wait, Itachi emerged carrying the baby in his arms.
Everyone immediately crowded around, eager to see Lord Fugaku's second son.
"What's the child's name?" Masaki asked after taking a look at the baby.
"Sasuke Uchiha," Itachi replied respectfully, his head bowed.
"If I remember right, the Third Hokage's father was named Sasuke. Did you get his permission?"
"We wouldn't have dared to give the child that name without his approval," Fugaku interjected.
"Bearing that name, he's bound to be a genius. Make sure you raise him well, Fugaku," Masaki said teasingly.
"Of course. Now that we've given him that name, we can't let him disgrace it."
The Ninja World's course-correcting force really was powerful. The Uchiha Clan's circumstances were completely different from the original story, yet Fugaku had still needed to ask Sarutobi Hiruzen's permission to use his father's name.
Still, it didn't matter. In the Ninja World, strength was what counted, Masaki thought.
Then he said, "Once Sasuke is a little older, I'd be happy to take him as my student."
At once, the other clan members started cheering. Fugaku seized the opportunity and said, "Thank you, clan leader, for giving him this chance."
Truthfully, Fugaku had been hoping for this for a long time. He just hadn't found the right opportunity to ask.
Since Masaki had brought it up himself today, Fugaku would lose the opportunity if he didn't follow up.
However...
"I hope you'll also take my eldest son, Itachi, as your student." Fugaku bowed, looking utterly sincere.
Masaki was caught off guard. After pondering for a moment, he replied, "All right."
Fugaku's face lit up at the affirmative answer.
The next clan leader would probably be chosen from among his children.