Father and Son Talk

"Seven years ago, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, the Jinchuriki, went into labor and broke the seal, causing some unrest within the clan at the same time."

Fugaku briefly summarized the events of the Nine-Tails Incident, then continued:

"The instigator of the turmoil was Uchiha Zensui. Taking advantage of the Jinchuriki's childbirth, Uchiha Zensui kidnapped the Jinchuriki and released the Nine-Tails outside the village. Then, taking advantage of the chaos, he sneaked into the village to assassinate the Fourth Hokage, but was captured by the Fourth Hokage."

The Nine-Tails Incident was an internal turmoil within the Uchiha. Because it involved the clan's honor, not many details about the Nine-Tails Incident have been released.

Fortunately, the Yellow Flash sealed the Nine-Tails, and the Fourth Hokage captured Uchiha Zensui, minimizing the destruction caused by the Nine-Tails Incident.

As one of the twelve department heads, Fugaku was also a high-ranking member of the Uchiha and a confidant of the Fourth Hokage. He was very clear about what had happened and could understand Naraku's intention to cover things up.

"How did Uchiha Zensui to escape?"

Uchiha Itachi pointed out the inconsistency in the argument.

"Heh, Uchiha Zensui is powerful. Itachi, you've become a reliable ninja. You also know some of the secrets of the Uchiha."

Fugaku chuckled and said something that Itachi didn't quite understand. Fugaku continued:

"Uchiha Zensui has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. The Mangekyō Sharingan is the ultimate power of the Uchiha, a realm above the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Anyone who can awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan can be considered a rare talent, one in several decades for the Uchiha!"

"Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Uchiha Itachi muttered to himself, his Chakra surging and converging in his eyes. Flash Cut red light appeared in his eyes, and the Three-Tomoe Sharingan emitted an eerie red glow. However, to Fugaku's astonishment, Itachi's Three Tomoe rapidly spun, transforming into a peculiar pattern.

"Itachi! You've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!?"

Fugaku was stunned by what he saw. He stared blankly at the double pupils in Itachi's eyes. Although they were not quite the same shape as his own, the power and pressure emanating from them were undoubtedly those of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"If this is the Mangekyō Sharingan, then it must have been activated."

Itachi's tone was calm, his Chakra dissipated, and the red light in his eyes disappeared, turning into ordinary black pupils.

Fugaku looked shocked and, for a moment, didn't know what to say.

"Truly worthy of being my son! Itachi, the illustrious name of the Uchiha will surely be inherited by you in the future!"

Uchiha Itachi's excellence and the superiority of his bloodline exceeded Fugaku's expectations. At just thirteen years old, Itachi had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and his future was truly limitless.

Fu Yue's joy at Itachi's enhanced eye power momentarily made him overlook what it takes to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Itachi showed no joy and was completely unmoved by his father Fugaku's praise. He lay down and turned to his side.

Fugaku then noticed Itachi's condition, realizing this was not something to celebrate, and coughed before saying softly:

"Ahem, Itachi, I'm sorry, these eyes are the result of blood and tears that made them possibly evolve."

Is it because of Shisui? I think Shisui would be comforted if he knew about your situation."

Fugaku was momentarily at a loss for how to communicate with Itachi, so he paused and continued:

"With this power, you can better avenge the Shisui."

Upon hearing the Shisui, Itachi's Chakra surged involuntarily, his eyes Flash Cut red, and he coldly said:

"I will definitely Shisui and take revenge!"

Itachi discovered that neither his father nor anyone else knew the true situation regarding the Nine-Tails Incident, nor even who killed Shisui. Only he knew the truth.

Itachi has now accepted Danzo's mission: to lure the Fourth Hokage to the Root's base within three days and kill his beloved, evil uncle, the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Nara.

"Luring and killing?"

Thinking of the trap, Itachi felt a little strange. Konoha concluded that Konoha was lured to his Shisui, and Danzo was planning to lure and kill the Fourth Hokage. It felt like this trap was a tactic that Danzo often used.

Uchiha Itachi didn't dwell on it, but instead asked a question that caused Fugaku to lose his composure.

"Dad, if the Fourth Hokage were to die, who do you think would be the most suitable to become Hokage?"

"The Fourth Hokage sacrificed? Itachi, what nonsense are you spouting? The Fourth Hokage was in his prime, protected by tens of thousands of Konoha ninja. Who could have caused his sacrifice?"

Fugaku sensed something was amiss with Itachi's question and replied with a serious expression:

"Itachi, the Fourth Hokage is the glory of our Uchiha Clan. Before, our Uchiha Clan didn't have this status, and..."

Fugaku thought for a moment and decided not to mention the past oppression of the Uchiha Clan.

"In short, Itachi, the Fourth Hokage is very important to us Uchiha, and equally important to Konoha. The Fourth Hokage is a ninja who is revered and loved by the Konoha Ninja."

"Only those who are revered by the villagers can become Hokage. The Fourth Hokage was able to become Hokage without the support of the villagers, do you understand?"

Sensing that the Uchiha Clan and the Konoha Ninja had been misled by the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Itachi recalled Danzo's words and the Will of Root.

Seeing that Itachi didn't answer, Fugaku, as Itachi's father, vaguely sensed that Itachi's thoughts were somewhat abnormal. Fugaku's expression became even more serious, and he continued:

"Itachi, you experienced the Shinobi World War, right? If the Fourth Hokage dies, the Shinobi World will likely erupt into another great war. The Fourth Hokage was a renowned figure in the Shinobi World, having served as Hokage for seven years."

The number of Konoha Ninja reached its all-time high. It was a time of true prosperity, with nobles and wealthy people from various countries frequently coming to Konoha to watch the Chunin Ninja Exams and spending lavishly to recruit ninja guards.

Under the Fourth Hokage, Konoha grew increasingly powerful, incurring the fear and resentment of many nations, who dared not attack only out of fear of Konoha's strength.

The Fourth Hokage was a powerful figure in international affairs, and the fear that nations had of Fourth Hokage was one of the key reasons for the peace in the Shinobi World today.

"The Shinobi World... Great War?"

Uchiha Itachi muttered to himself.

Itachi vividly remembered the scenes of the ninja war between the Northwestern Stronghold and the Land of Earth during his childhood, where countless Konoha Ninja and Iwagakure Ninja fought each other in the valley.

The ninjas on both sides harbored mutual hatred. As the war escalated and more comrades fell in battle, their hatred deepened, and the fighting became increasingly brutal.

Uchiha Itachi thought to himself:

"Now that Konoha, I think Shisui would never want to see a war break out in the Shinobi World, even if it costs him his life."

If the Fourth Hokage dies and a Shinobi World War really breaks out, how many more people will die, how many families will be displaced? Sasuke will also...

Uchiha Itachi stood with his back to Fugaku, his handsome face furrowed in thought as he pondered Danzo's plan to save Konoha and the situation following the Fourth Hokage's death.

The Fourth Hokage enjoyed the support and recognition of the vast majority of people in Konoha, regardless of his character; this is an indisputable fact.

If the Fourth Hokage's rule required the sacrifice of some ninjas, then for the peace of the majority, such sacrifices were worthwhile, regardless of whether the sacrifice was made by Shisui, himself, or Danzo.

"Is it to save Konoha... or to avoid war, or to sacrifice oneself?"

In Itachi's memory, Danzo always made sacrifices in secret and made outstanding contributions in the war. As for the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Nara, before becoming Hokage, he was a ninja known as the "Shura of Asura of Konoha" who led his troops to subdue Hidden Mist and played an important role in the battle against Hidden Sand.

With a Hokage like that in charge, at least Konoha won't be threatened by war.

Itachi's mind was in turmoil as he pondered his thoughts, and he inadvertently drifted off to sleep.

Fugaku heard Itachi's even breathing, remained silent for a long time, sighed softly, covered Itachi with a light blanket, and got up to leave.