"Uchiha Chen, if you're worried someone in the clan might object, I can..."
But before Uchiha Fugaku could finish, Uchiha Chen cut him off.
Uchiha Chen spoke with resolve.
"Clan Head, there's no need to trouble yourself. No matter what, I won't agree."
"You... Sigh. Since you've already made up your mind, I won't force you!"
Uchiha Fugaku shot Uchiha Chen a quick glance, then sighed softly, already considering what to do next.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was the Uchiha Clan's greatest power. Uchiha Chen might have been unremarkable until now, but with the Mangekyō Sharingan, everything was different.
What's more, he was a top-tier genius who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at just fifteen. How could they let him waste his talent?
They would have to take their time figuring this out.
"Thank you for understanding, Clan Head. If there's nothing else, I'll head back and see how far along the rebuilding of my house is.
If they haven't made any progress, I'll have to go give the Lord Third a nudge."
Uchiha Chen cupped his hands and prepared to take his leave.
Uchiha Fugaku: ...
"Uh, right. I just remembered something else. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it."
"Go ahead, Clan Head."
With no other choice, Uchiha Chen had to draw back the foot he'd already stepped forward with.
"Here's the situation. The fighting at the front is fierce, and in a few days I'll be leading members of the Police Force to reinforce the front lines. But I'm also thinking of taking Itachi along to gain some experience on the battlefield. What do you think?"
Uchiha Fugaku calmly looked at Uchiha Chen and asked.
"What? Take Itachi to the battlefield for experience? But he's only four!"
Suddenly, Uchiha Chen remembered that in the original story, Uchiha Fugaku really had taken the four-year-old Uchiha Itachi to the battlefield. There, Itachi had witnessed the brutality of war and made his first kill.
But the experience had also left a huge shadow in Uchiha Itachi's young heart.
Perhaps that was when the seed of his hatred for war first took root and began to grow.
Compared with Uchiha Fugaku's calm demeanor, Uchiha Chen was the one who seemed agitated.
After all, taking a four-year-old child to the battlefield was outrageous in any world or era.
"So what if he's four? As a son of the Uchiha Clan, he shouldn't fear anything."
Uchiha Fugaku still had his arms crossed, his expression impassive.
"Since you asked for my opinion, Clan Head, I'll keep it simple: I don't agree with taking Itachi to the battlefield!"
Uchiha Chen looked Uchiha Fugaku straight in the eye and made his position clear.
"You... are you sure?"
Uchiha Fugaku narrowed his eyes, a glint of coldness flashing in them.
"Yes, I'm sure!"
Uchiha Chen nodded firmly.
Uchiha Fugaku gave Uchiha Chen another once-over. After a long moment, a meaningful smile finally appeared on his lips.
"But we're going to reinforce the front lines, and Itachi would be left here alone with no one to look after him.
As his father, I wouldn't feel at ease."
Well, he wouldn't feel at ease leaving him at home, but taking him to the battlefield was fine?
While Uchiha Chen was silently complaining, Uchiha Fugaku suddenly changed tack.
"Unless..."
"Unless what?"
Uchiha Chen sensed something ominous in Uchiha Fugaku's half-smile.
Sure enough, Uchiha Fugaku spoke.
"Unless you look after Itachi while we're away at the front."
"Wait, there are plenty of people staying in the village. Why does it have to be me?"
"I don't trust anyone else."
"..."
Uchiha Chen felt as if he'd walked right into another trap set by Uchiha Fugaku.
No wonder he was the Uchiha Clan's leader. He was too cunning.
But then again, how could a clan leader be an ordinary man?
"Since you're asking so sincerely, Clan Head, I'll agree. Leave looking after Itachi to me!"
Uchiha Chen chuckled and accepted right away.
Uchiha Chen knew Uchiha Fugaku had another reason for asking him to look after Uchiha Itachi.
But he didn't care in the slightest. By a twist of fate, Uchiha Fugaku's plan actually suited Uchiha Chen just fine.
Changing Uchiha Itachi's path in life might set the gears of fate turning.
Perhaps that would solve a major problem in the future, easily and perfectly.
Uchiha Fugaku: ...
Hadn't Uchiha Chen's attitude changed a little too quickly?
Looking at the smile on Uchiha Chen's face, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help feeling as if he were the one who'd been led into a trap. Why did it feel so uncomfortable?
"Then... in a few days, I'll have my youngest son brought to your place. Until we return, I'll be troubling you."
"Don't mention it, Clan Head. I'll take my leave now!"
Uchiha Fugaku nodded and watched Uchiha Chen turn and leave without hesitation, his gaze shifting as he wondered what the young man was thinking.
After leaving Uchiha Fugaku's residence, Uchiha Chen headed straight for his old house.
He had to hand it to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Lord Third. He got things done fast. It was only the second day, and repairs on Uchiha Chen's house had already begun. They were moving quickly, too.
Uchiha Chen figured it would only take another three or four days before he could move back in.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, four days had passed.
Today was the day Uchiha Chen moved into his new house.
As soon as he stepped inside, Uchiha Chen froze. The new house was exactly like the old one. The only difference was that the materials were new; otherwise, it was a perfect replica.
While Uchiha Chen marveled at how skilled the craftsmen in this world were, Uchiha Fugaku sent someone to bring Uchiha Itachi over.
The Uchiha Clan member who brought Uchiha Itachi didn't say a word. He simply left.
Uchiha Chen didn't say anything either. He just shrugged and led Uchiha Itachi into his house.
Uchiha Itachi looked around with big, bright black eyes like grapes, a picture of childish curiosity.
"Chen-nii, is this your house? It's so small!"
"Chen-nii, why doesn't your house have a lake?"
"The yard is so small. How do you train here?"
After looking around, Uchiha Itachi blinked his innocent eyes and, without any warning, stabbed Uchiha Chen right in the heart. No, not once—several times.
Uchiha Chen: ...
Come on, Uchiha Chen was just an unnoticed nobody in the Uchiha Clan. How could where he lived compare to the clan leader's place?
"Itachi, are you in the Knife-Stabbing Sect?"
"What's the Knife-Stabbing Sect?"
"Uh, never mind that. What matters is that you'll be staying here for a while, so you have to listen to me. Got it?"
"Mhm! Father already told me that!"
"Good. Then be good and talk a little less..."
"Oh~ Okay. Hey, Chen-nii, that..."
"Shh. Talk a little less, okay?"
"Oh~"