"I understand."
Sasuke certainly understood that.
Having crossed over into the Ninja World and gained the Soul Space, he naturally wouldn't limit his ambitions to the tiny village of Konoha or the little position of Hokage.
But throughout history, anyone seeking to seize power had needed a legitimate cause and the moral high ground.
And to secure their rule, they needed to create myths, deify themselves, and prove that Heaven had chosen them, so the people would revere them.
The theory of the Heaven-Favored Clan was meant for the future—to overturn the public's stereotyped view of the Uchiha Clan.
For now, though, it was only a rough outline, and the time wasn't right. If word got out now, it would just look like they were patting themselves on the back.
Given the Uchiha Clan's current situation and its members' personalities, if they heard this—not to mention the whole Ninja World, even just the clan—and accepted it, they'd all get carried away and start clamoring to throw their lives away!
Suddenly!
The room door flew open.
"Itachi, you mustn't tell anyone what Sasuke just said!"
"Remember, anyone!"
"Do you understand?!"
Fugaku Uchiha had been a beat slow, but he'd caught on now. His voice was urgent and grave!
"I understand, Father."
At seven, Itachi already had the mindset of a Hokage. He naturally understood the gravity of the matter and nodded firmly.
Still, Fugaku wasn't entirely reassured. He gave Sasuke a subtle look, then scolded him, "Sasuke, do you think you can say things like 'Heaven-Favored Clan' whenever you please?"
"People already see the Uchiha Clan as a thorn in their side. Do you have any idea that saying things like this could drive our clan to the brink of ruin?"
"Perhaps awakening your intelligence so early isn't such a good thing after all!"
"With your family and clan members praising you, you've already lost your awe for the world!"
Hearing his father's stern words and seeing Sasuke frozen in fear beside him, Itachi's heart tightened. He quickly dropped to his knees. "Father, Sasuke is still young. I beg you not to scold him too harshly."
"Sasuke only said that to comfort me... I'm sure he didn't mean any harm. If you must scold someone, scold me instead."
As he finished, he lowered himself into a full prostration.
This is the feeling... Watching Itachi, Sasuke sighed inwardly, then glanced at Fugaku to signal that he'd made his point.
But Fugaku shook his head gravely and continued, "Itachi, precisely because he's still young, I must teach him strictly, so he doesn't go astray!"
"If this continues, he'll become even more arrogant than the rest of our clan!"
"He won't!" Itachi pressed his forehead to the floor and shook his head fiercely. "Sasuke is well-behaved. I believe he won't be like that."
"Hmph!" Fugaku snorted and looked at Sasuke. "Tell me! Did you sneak a look at the Uchiha Clan's Top Secret Historical Records?"
"???" What in the world were the Top Secret Historical Records?
Then he understood what his father meant. Sasuke's eyes widened, and he lowered his head, stammering, "I... I..."
The Top Secret Historical Records? In other words... Itachi Uchiha looked up in shock. "Father, could it be..."
Fugaku folded his arms, took a deep breath, then nodded helplessly. "That's right. Our Uchiha Clan are descendants of a supreme god from a thousand years ago. Our clan has always considered itself a clan of gods."
"But the people of the world feared that our clan would once again rule the world in the name of the gods, so they did everything they could to slander us."
"After a thousand years, the world has forgotten our former name. They think we're an evil clan, and even our own people... Sigh."
"These records have only ever been kept by the Uchiha Clan leaders and passed down from one generation to the next..."
At this, his gaze sharpened. "I just never expected Sasuke to... Hmph!"
Holy crap, he actually went along with it?... Sasuke was drenched in cold sweat.
Still, he had to admit that Fugaku wasn't wrong. The Uchiha Clan really were descendants of God. The persecution and slander, though? Yeah, right.
In the Soul Space, Elder Nobuhiko was also stunned. He couldn't help thinking that when it came to sheer shamelessness, Fugaku was already a qualified clan leader!
Descendants of God... Itachi Uchiha believed him. He murmured to himself, even imagining a tragic history of the clan suffering persecution for a thousand years, while generation after generation of clan leaders were forced to endure humiliation.
Just then, Sasuke tugged at Itachi's sleeve with a frightened look, seemingly asking him to keep speaking on his behalf and calm their father's anger.
That gesture was as good as an admission that he'd sneaked a look at the records.
"Sasuke... How could you... Sigh." Itachi sighed. He couldn't bring himself to scold him harshly, so he turned and prostrated himself again. "Father, Sasuke is still young. I believe he knows he was wrong and won't say anything like that again."
"Please rest assured, too. I'll keep this secret, and won't let a fourth person besides us find out!"
"Today is Izumi's graduation, and we still have to celebrate with her. Things were already unpleasant because of my earlier attitude. If Sasuke and you fall out, too, Izumi might get the wrong idea."
Good grief, he was even using Izumi's graduation to soothe their father's anger.
Sasuke could only speak up timidly. "Yes, Father. I won't do it again."
Hearing that, Fugaku realized that was probably enough. His expression softened a little. "Remember what you've said. Both of you, get yourselves together. We're going out to celebrate Izumi's graduation!"
"Yes, Father!" X2
The brothers nodded obediently, and Itachi finally let out a breath of relief.
But the words "descendants of God" wouldn't leave his mind. He couldn't help wanting to study the clan's history.
Still, after what had just happened, he didn't dare sneak a look at those Top Secret Historical Records...
Once Fugaku left the room, Sasuke sighed and murmured apologetically, "Brother..."
Thinking Sasuke was still shaken, Itachi smiled and ruffled his hair in comfort. "It's all right. Father has calmed down."
Then he reminded him, "But, Sasuke, remember not to tell anyone else. Not even Izumi, okay?"
Sasuke sighed again, then nodded obediently. "I understand, Brother."
Meanwhile.
When Uchiha Izumi saw Fugaku come out of Itachi's room, she looked a little awkward.
She didn't know what they'd been talking about, but she'd vaguely heard Fugaku's angry voice.
She couldn't imagine Fugaku scolding Sasuke.
So it could only have been Itachi...
Thus, she assumed Fugaku had been angry about Itachi's earlier attitude and his absence from her graduation celebration.
Uchiha Mikoto thought the same thing. She looked at Fugaku reproachfully.
Realizing what they were thinking, Fugaku nodded to Izumi and smiled. "Izumi, this has nothing to do with you. Don't overthink it. It's just Itachi... Sigh. Never mind."
Could it have something to do with Itachi and Shisui?... Seeing that Fugaku seemed reluctant to explain, Izumi didn't press him. She simply nodded obediently and said, "Mm," to show she wasn't bothered.
Seeing this, Fugaku turned to Mikoto. "They'll be out soon, Mikoto. You can get dinner ready."
As he spoke, he glanced at the flak jacket he was wearing. "Mm, I'll go back to my room and change first."
"Okay." Mikoto nodded, then went into the kitchen with Izumi to bring out the dishes.
Back in his room, the moment Fugaku shut the door, his calm expression vanished.
He pried up a floorboard, then formed a hand seal with one hand.
A hidden compartment appeared beneath the floor, which had been perfectly seamless before. A black symbol was inscribed on it, with a Three Tomoe pattern at its center.
He opened the compartment and took out an old book.
As he looked at the passage about the Uchiha Clan's founder, Fugaku's expression shifted again and again.
Before you continue