Waving Madara's Name Around

Fugaku's composure made Obito uneasy. From what he'd seen in the anime, the Uchiha didn't seem all that bright!

Obito picked up his teacup and took a sip, sorting out his thoughts as he did his best to appear calm and collected. You fools. I'm trying to save you, you know!

"Clan Head Fugaku, you're older and more experienced than I am. But there's a saying: those involved can't see the situation clearly, while outsiders can. The conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha can't be resolved through a coup. Let's set aside whether one could even succeed. What then? Do you or the Uchiha High Command really want Konoha to be torn apart? Could a weakened Konoha survive an attack from the other great nations? Would countless Uchiha rush off to the battlefield, never to return, leaving their country broken and their clan destroyed?"

After finishing, Obito said no more. He leisurely raised his teacup and sipped his tea, while his thoughts raced. Money wasn't easy to get!

Fugaku's wariness toward the boy who called himself Obito rose several notches. He'd described the situation between the Uchiha and Konoha with astonishing accuracy—something no five-year-old could manage. More importantly, how had he learned all that? Someone even more powerful than the boy had to be behind him! Was he a spy sent by the Third Hokage to probe the Uchiha Clan? Or were the elders within the clan testing him?

"Obito, tell me what you're after." Fugaku stared at Obito, his dark eyes turning crimson as the Three Tomoe Sharingan appeared in them. The atmosphere between them suddenly grew tense.

"Honestly, I really do want to help you—or the Uchiha Clan. Uchiha blood runs through my veins, and the mark of my family will never disappear. My clan's fortunes are my own. Clan Head Fugaku, you're being overly cautious, but I understand your predicament. Sitting in your position must be exhausting!"

"If you still have doubts, then watch what I do from here on. I did come to ask you for something today, Clan Head Fugaku. I need some money. You can consider it a loan, or an investment."

The Three Tomoe Sharingan appeared in Obito's eyes. Without the slightest blush or hesitation, he stated his purpose.

"Oh? How much do you need, Obito?" Fugaku asked, looking somewhat puzzled.

Obito's real reason for coming had left Fugaku at a loss. After all that talk about the clan's very survival, he was asking for money? Fugaku couldn't help feeling like he'd been played.

"Not much. Three hundred million ryo."

"Pfft! Cough, cough..." Even Fugaku, head of a clan, choked at Obito's words. Did the boy think money grew on trees? He asked for three hundred million just like that!

"Don't joke around, Obito. I don't have three hundred million. Even if I did, I wouldn't give it to you. You awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan at five, so you're certainly a genius. But at this point, that's not enough." Fugaku spoke gravely after stopping his coughing.

What Fugaku meant was that the boy had potential, but he wasn't worth three hundred million yet! Having been rejected, Obito actually felt relieved. He was one step closer to success!

"What about now?" Obito circulated the chakra within him. The Three Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes spun sharply, and the three small scythes joined tip to tip, forming the shape of a shuriken!

"Mangekyō! You... That's impossible!" Fugaku shot to his feet in shock! A genius with the Three Tomoe was still within the bounds of what he could accept; he himself had awakened his Sharingan at nine. But the Mangekyō was another matter entirely. In the Uchiha Clan's long history, fewer than a handful had awakened it! Uchiha Madara had been able to contend with Senju Hashirama, the man known as the God of Shinobi, precisely because of the Mangekyō Sharingan!

"Clan Head Fugaku, do you think I'm worth three hundred million now?" Unlike Fugaku, who had lost his composure for the first time, Obito remained perfectly calm.

"You... Who are you, really?" Fugaku subtly adjusted his posture, looking ready to attack if they couldn't come to an understanding.

"I'm Obito Uchiha. You can have someone investigate who I am. As for these eyes of mine, there's one person I have to tell you about. But first, you'll have to swear not to reveal it. And after I tell you, three hundred million won't be enough—I'll need to raise the price. Do you still want to hear it, Clan Head Fugaku?" Obito asked, sounding increasingly relaxed.

Fugaku realized he'd been too shocked. Before he knew it, he'd lost the upper hand in their conversation. He sat back down and took a sip of tea to steady himself, then began to think. Who was this person? The question was like catnip to his curiosity. He sensed danger, yet couldn't help testing the waters!

"Go ahead, Obito." I just want to know who's behind this. Someone capable of cultivating a Mangekyō Sharingan user! As clan head, I have to know where this person stands. It matters to both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha. This has absolutely nothing to do with that damned curiosity of mine!

"His name is... Uchiha Madara!" Obito deliberately paused before saying Madara's name. He'd laid enough groundwork; now it was time to hit Fugaku with the big reveal. Whether Madara would find out Obito had used his name to fleece the Uchiha was a problem for another day. What if this draw made him invincible? Then what did he have to fear from Madara?

At that moment, Obito felt fantastic! He was completely in control of the pace. It was a real shame he hadn't gone to acting school in his previous life.

"Impossible! Madara died long ago..." Fugaku had been more shocked that day than he'd been in the previous twenty years combined! He tried desperately to deny it. How long had it been since the First, Hashirama, had passed away? The Third Hokage was practically retired by now. Could Madara still be alive?

But the Mangekyō Sharingan in Obito's eyes left him no choice but to believe it! If that man was behind Obito, then it was certainly possible. He was a man who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the God of Shinobi!

Uchiha Madara had defected from the village—or perhaps it was the Uchiha Clan of Konoha that had betrayed its clan head! When the village was first founded, everyone had consciously avoided his name, eager to distance themselves from Madara and live in peace. But there was no denying that they'd been disappointed! Things had been fine while the First was alive. But after the Second Hokage took power, the Uchiha without Madara had become toothless tigers, stripped of their ability to stand up to Konoha's leadership!

If the clan learned that Madara was still alive, they would do everything they could to reconnect with him! The hardliners would become even more forceful. This information absolutely couldn't get out!

Fugaku suddenly realized he was at a disadvantage. If this boy spread the news, the Uchiha Clan and Konoha would be plunged into turmoil without him having to do anything. That was the influence of Uchiha Madara!

It looked like there was no way to settle this without paying a hefty price...