Uchiha Fugaku's Probe

After savoring the lingering taste of the three-colored dango for a moment, Uchiha Itachi suddenly remembered that his father had mentioned wanting to meet Uchiha Chen.

Uchiha Chen's visit today was likely for that very reason.

"Brother Chen, you're here to see Father, aren't you? I'll show you the way."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Itachi~"

Uchiha Chen nodded with a smile.

He followed behind Uchiha Itachi, walking along a stone path until they stopped in front of a door.

Uchiha Itachi turned around and gestured for him to enter.

"Brother Chen, my father is inside. Please, go ahead."

It had to be said, even though Uchiha Itachi was only four years old, his demeanor was like that of an adult, which was truly mind-boggling.

"Many thanks, Brother Itachi!"

Uchiha Chen cupped his hands in a salute, stepped past Uchiha Itachi, and approached the door. Just as he was about to knock, a dignified voice echoed from within.

"The door isn't locked. Come in!"

Uchiha Chen's expression shifted, and he pushed the door open with a calm demeanor.

Inside the spacious room, only a massive Uchiha clan crest was emblazoned on the wall.

Beneath the crest, a middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a dark blue robe with the Uchiha crest on his back, sat cross-legged on a cushion, facing Uchiha Chen.

This man was none other than the head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Chen took a step forward, preparing to offer a formal greeting, but as he looked up, he met the blood-red gaze of Uchiha Fugaku's eyes.

An invisible ripple spread outward, centered on Uchiha Fugaku.

To his surprise, Uchiha Chen watched as Uchiha Fugaku's figure began to blur and turn illusory.

Even everything in the surroundings started to become surreal.

Space itself twisted, and the area was filled with endless darkness and a chilling aura.

Suddenly, countless kunai and shuriken appeared in the air above, raining down upon Uchiha Chen like a torrential storm.

Seeing this, Uchiha Chen was caught completely off guard.

In his desperation, his own eyes shifted instantly.

Single tomoe, double tomoe, triple tomoe, Mangekyou Sharingan...

However, the moment Uchiha Chen's eyes transformed into the yin-yang pattern, the surrounding space snapped back to normal.

"As I thought, you have also awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan."

At the same time, Uchiha Fugaku's dignified voice, laced with a hint of excitement, rang out.

Damn it!

The moment Uchiha Fugaku spoke, Uchiha Chen realized he had fallen into a trap, and his heart sank.

Although Uchiha Chen had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan and mastered Sage Mode, he had been in this world for less than half a month and was still a complete novice.

By testing him like this, Uchiha Fugaku had managed to force him to reveal his hand.

However, Uchiha Chen quickly regained his composure.

Uchiha Fugaku had likely guessed he possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan after Uchiha Yujin returned to the village and reported everything that had happened on the road.

With Uchiha Fugaku's experience, he could naturally deduce that Uchiha Chen's ability to instantly kill those Iwagakure jonin was due to the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Since the fact that he had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan could not be hidden, there was no point in trying to hide it.

However, playing the fool and admitting to everything was obviously out of the question.

Uchiha Chen looked up, feigning confusion.

"Uh, Mangekyou Sharingan? What is that?"

"Well, your talent was average before, so it's normal that you wouldn't know about the Mangekyou Sharingan. But now that you have awakened it, you are qualified to know the relevant details."

Seeing Uchiha Chen's bewildered expression, Uchiha Fugaku nodded.

Previously, Uchiha Chen could be considered a fringe member of the Uchiha clan, and his knowledge of the Sharingan was likely no greater than that of an outsider.

"I ask for your guidance, Clan Head!"

Uchiha Chen's eyes "lit up" with feigned surprise and delight.

Though he appeared surprised on the surface, he was inwardly scoffing.

Tch, I've even watched Boruto; can you really know more than me, a man who's doomed from the start?

"Tsunade and Jiraiya wanting to take you as their disciple yesterday was likely because they discovered you had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan and wanted to strike first. To awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan at your age is a rarity in the history of our Uchiha clan."

"It is only natural that they would be tempted."

Uchiha Fugaku crossed his arms, his analysis delivered in a calm tone.

"So that's why a nobody like me suddenly caught the eye of two of the Sannin; it was all because of this!"

Uchiha Chen "realized" with a sudden start.

"Hmm, though what truly surprised me was that you actually refused to become their apprentice."

Having said this, Uchiha Fugaku cast an appreciative look toward Uchiha Chen.

"Ahem, you flatter me, Clan Leader."

Uchiha Chen bowed slightly to show his humility.

"While others might think it foolish of you to reject Tsunade and Jiraiya, in my eyes, you did well to refuse! As members of the Uchiha clan, the Sharingan is the foundation of our power. How could those outsiders possibly understand the Sharingan?"

Uchiha Fugaku continued in his detached manner.

Although Uchiha Fugaku's tone remained flat, Uchiha Chen could feel the arrogance within it, which seemed to fill the entire room.

"The Clan Leader is right."

Uchiha Chen continued to nod in agreement.

"Now that you possess the Mangekyou Sharingan, you only need to master it, and there will be few in all of Konoha who can stand against you! Uchiha Chen, become my deputy. With my guidance, your future will be limitless!"

As he said this, the gaze Uchiha Fugaku turned toward Uchiha Chen became intense.

This was the future backbone of the Uchiha clan; he had to recruit him!

"I appreciate the Clan Leader's kindness, but I must decline. As for the position of deputy, let's just forget about it!"

Uchiha Chen refused Uchiha Fugaku's solicitation without a second thought.

"Good... I..."

Uchiha Fugaku wore a composed smile, but it quickly froze on his face.

"Hmm? You... what is the meaning of this?"

Uchiha Fugaku had never imagined that Uchiha Chen would actually reject his offer.

"I'm just a small fry with no grand ambitions. Especially after this recent serious injury, I only want to live as an ordinary person. Besides, I'm still young; what qualifications do I have to serve as the Clan Leader's deputy?"

Uchiha Chen rolled his eyes internally.

Stop trying to drag me into trouble!

It was a joke; he had already attracted enough attention over the past two days. If he really became Uchiha Fugaku's deputy, he would likely become a target for everyone. How many pairs of eyes hidden in the shadows would be watching him? If his plan to reform Uchiha Itachi failed, as Uchiha Fugaku's deputy, he would be the first to die on the night of the clan's annihilation! Of course, the greater possibility was that he wouldn't even live to see that night.