Brother Weasel, You're From the Knife-Stabbing Sect, Aren't You?

"Uchiha Chen, if you are worried about opposition within the clan, I can..."

Before Uchiha Fugaku could finish his sentence, Uchiha Chen interrupted him.

Uchiha Chen spoke with a resolute tone, "My Lord Clan Leader, please do not trouble yourself further. No matter what, I will not agree."

"You... sigh, since you have already made up your mind, I will not force you!"

Uchiha Fugaku cast a quick glance at Uchiha Chen and let out a soft sigh, though he was secretly weighing his options in his heart.

The Mangekyou Sharingan was the pinnacle of power for the Uchiha clan. Although Uchiha Chen had always been unremarkable before, everything was different now that he possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Furthermore, how could he simply let a top-tier genius who awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan at the age of fifteen waste his talent?

This matter would require careful, long-term planning.

"Thank you for your understanding, My Lord Clan Leader. If there is nothing else, I shall return to check on the progress of my house's reconstruction.

If there hasn't been any progress, I will have to go and urge the Third Hokage."

Uchiha Chen cupped his hands in a salute and prepared to take his leave.

Uchiha Fugaku: ...

"Ah, right, I suddenly remembered one more thing I wanted to hear your thoughts on."

"Please speak, My Lord Clan Leader."

Forced by circumstance, Uchiha Chen had to retract the step he had already taken.

"It is like this: the war at the front lines is intensifying, and in a few days, I will lead members of the Police Force to provide reinforcements. However, I am considering taking Itachi with me to the battlefield to gain some experience. What do you think?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Chen calmly and asked.

"What? Take Itachi to the battlefield for experience? But he is only four years old!"

Suddenly, Uchiha Chen recalled that in the original story, Uchiha Fugaku had indeed taken the four-year-old Uchiha Itachi to the battlefield, allowing him to witness the cruelty of war and claim his first kill.

However, this had also left a massive shadow on Uchiha Itachi's young heart.

The seeds of his hatred for war were perhaps sown and took root at that very moment.

Compared to Uchiha Fugaku's composure, Uchiha Chen appeared somewhat agitated.

After all, taking a four-year-old child to the battlefield was an incredibly explosive concept in any world or era.

"What does age matter? As a son of the Uchiha clan, one should not fear anything."

Uchiha Fugaku remained with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"Since you asked for my opinion, My Lord Clan Leader, I will say this plainly: I do not agree with taking Itachi to the battlefield!"

Uchiha Chen looked Uchiha Fugaku straight in the eyes, stating his position directly.

"Are you... certain?"

Uchiha Fugaku narrowed his eyes, a flicker of cold light passing through his pupils.

"Yes, I am certain!"

Uchiha Chen nodded firmly.

Uchiha Fugaku looked Uchiha Chen up and down once more. After a long silence, a meaningful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"However, if we go to the front lines to provide support, leaving Itachi here alone means there will be no one to look after him.

As his father, I cannot rest easy."

Good grief, he isn't at ease leaving him at home, but he is at ease taking him to the battlefield?

Just as Uchiha Chen was silently complaining to himself, Uchiha Fugaku changed the subject.

"Unless..."

"Unless what?"

Uchiha Chen sensed a hint of something ominous in Uchiha Fugaku's half-smiling expression.

Sure enough, Uchiha Fugaku continued, "Unless you take care of Itachi during the time we are away at the front lines!"

"Wait, there are so many people remaining in the village, why must it be me?"

"I do not trust anyone else."

"..."

Uchiha Chen felt as though he had fallen into yet another trap set by Uchiha Fugaku.

As expected of the Uchiha clan leader; he was far too cunning.

Then again, how could the head of a clan be a simple person?

"Since you are so sincere, My Lord Clan Leader, I will agree. Leave the task of looking after Itachi to me!"

Uchiha Chen chuckled and gave his consent.

Although Uchiha Chen knew that Uchiha Fugaku had other motives for asking him to look after Uchiha Itachi, he didn't care in the slightest. As it happened, Uchiha Fugaku's actions, through a twist of fate, aligned perfectly with Uchiha Chen's own intentions.

By altering the trajectory of Uchiha Itachi's life, the gears of destiny might just begin to turn.

Perhaps the great trouble of the future could be resolved easily and perfectly in this way.

Uchiha Fugaku: ...

Wasn't this change in Uchiha Chen's attitude a bit too fast?

Watching the smile on Uchiha Chen's face, Uchiha Fugaku felt as if he were the one who had been played, and it left him feeling quite uneasy.

"Then... in a few days, I will send my youngest son to your residence. Until we return, I will have to trouble you."

"There is no need for such formalities, Clan Head. I shall take my leave now!"

Uchiha Fugaku nodded, his eyes flickering as he watched Uchiha Chen turn and leave without a moment's hesitation, though it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

After leaving Uchiha Fugaku's estate, Uchiha Chen headed straight for his old house.

He had to admit, Hiruzen Sarutobi's ability to act as the Third Hokage was truly swift. It had only been the second day, yet the restoration work on his house was already underway, and the progress was remarkably fast.

Uchiha Chen estimated that in another three or four days, he would be able to move back in.

Time passed like a white horse galloping past a crack in a wall; in the blink of an eye, four days had already gone by.

Today was the day Uchiha Chen was to move into his new house.

As soon as he stepped inside, Uchiha Chen was stunned. The new house was identical to the old one; if not for the fresh materials, it could truly be called a one-hundred-percent restoration.

Just as Uchiha Chen was marveling at how impressive the craftsmen of this world were, Uchiha Fugaku sent someone to deliver Uchiha Itachi.

The Uchiha clansman who brought Uchiha Itachi over didn't even say a word before turning and leaving.

Seeing this, Uchiha Chen didn't say much either; he simply shrugged and brought Uchiha Itachi into his house.

Uchiha Itachi opened his large, dark, and bright eyes, which looked like grapes, and gazed around, acting every bit the curious child.

"Brother Chen, is this your house? It's so small!"

"Brother Chen, why doesn't your house have a lake?"

"The yard is so small, how do you usually train?"

After the tour, Uchiha Itachi blinked his innocent, large eyes and, without warning, stabbed a knife into Uchiha Chen's heart—no, several knives.

Uchiha Chen: ...

Good grief, he was just a nobody in the Uchiha clan; how could his living quarters be compared to those of the clan head?

"Little Brother Itachi, you wouldn't happen to be from the Knife-Stabbing Sect, would you?"

"What is the Knife-Stabbing Sect?"

"Uh, that's not important. What is important is that you have to live here for the time being, and you must listen to me, understand?"

"Mm-hmm, Father already told me that!"

"Good, then be a good boy and talk a little less..."

"Oh~ alright, hey, Brother Chen, that..."

"Shh, talk less, understand?"

"Oh~"