Bearing the Name of Uchiha!

Inside the Uchiha clan compound.

Sasuke Uchiha was happily enjoying his meal.

Mikoto Uchiha watched Sasuke from the side, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Meanwhile, in Fugaku Uchiha's study, several men sat with grave expressions.

Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, Nagasawa Uchiha, Natsume Uchiha, and Shisui Uchiha.

"Clan Head, while we shouldn't interfere with Sasuke's choice of friends..."

"But... that is Naruto Uzumaki..."

After a moment of silence, Nagasawa Uchiha spoke up.

As a loyal supporter of Fugaku and the captain of the first division of the Police Force, any thought or opinion Nagasawa held was rooted in the interests of the clan.

As the second son of the Uchiha clan head, Sasuke's actions were often scrutinized by the higher-ups and frequently attributed to the Uchiha clan as a whole.

Having just finished the relocation of the clan compound, the second son of the Uchiha clan head was now associating with the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.

This would undoubtedly stir up suspicion and unwanted attention from many within the village.

For the Uchiha at this moment, this clearly presented significant drawbacks.

"Nagasawa is right."

"Young Master Sasuke should be more cautious in his words and actions."

"Today's incident could be dismissed as a child's whimsy or the stubbornness of wanting to appear different from others."

"However, Clan Head..."

Natsume Uchiha, representing the hardline faction, also did not want Sasuke associating with Naruto at this time.

Once they were targeted by those fellows in the Anbu, it would become quite troublesome.

"Father... Clan Head, Sasuke has only just begun to venture outside the family, and regarding the outside..."

"Enough, I understand."

"If this is only about Sasuke, let us stop discussing it for now."

"If there is nothing else, you may all leave."

Before Itachi could finish, Fugaku cut him off.

He had yet to fully understand his second son.

Especially lately, there had been significant changes in both his talent and his personality.

Until he figured out the reason for these changes, Fugaku was not prepared to interfere with Sasuke's behavior.

"Understood, Clan Head."

"But..."

Nagasawa nodded and stood up to leave, pulling Natsume, who was still preparing to speak, away with him.

Shisui Uchiha said nothing; he bowed respectfully and retreated from Fugaku's study.

"Are you confused?"

"Or do you think such matters will bring trouble to the clan?"

"Or perhaps... you fear it will displease the higher-ups of Konoha?!"

Seeing the puzzled look on Itachi Uchiha's face, the dissatisfaction in Fugaku's heart became apparent.

As the person the clan had planted near the Konoha leadership, Itachi's performance was somewhat unsatisfactory.

Coupled with Shisui Uchiha's attitude and the relationship between Itachi and Shisui, and most importantly, the fact that his second son now possessed extraordinary talent, these factors had caused a subtle shift in Fugaku Uchiha's stance.

"That is not it, Father. I am only worried about Sasuke..."

"Focus on your own duties."

"The clan requires your actions..."

After Fugaku Uchiha finished speaking, he waved his hand.

"Go."

"And tell Sasuke to come to my study once he has finished eating."

With that, Fugaku Uchiha picked up the files on his desk and began to review them.

As the head of the Police Force, there were still many matters to attend to each day.

Itachi saw this and had no choice but to leave for the time being.

Since he could not get a solution from his father, he would have to resolve the issue in his own way.

After all, that was his little brother!

By the time Itachi went to find Sasuke, Sasuke was already training at the training grounds.

Even the entrance ceremony today had not diluted his determination to become stronger.

Seeing Sasuke like this, Itachi momentarily forgot why he had come.

"Brother, can you stop staring at me with that strange look?"

"Do you have time to train with me today?"

Sasuke stopped his training and glared at Itachi with a look of disdain.

In his memory, Itachi had been very busy with missions lately.

On one hand, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi testing his strength; on the other, it was to remove Itachi from the center of power within the Uchiha Clan.

This made it easier for future control.

This was also the reason why Itachi was not in the village when Danzo made his move against Shisui.

By the time Itachi rushed back, everything had already been settled.

"Next time, I will definitely..."

"Anyway, Father wants you to go to his study."

"I still have a mission. Once I return from this mission, I will definitely train with you properly."

Itachi had originally intended to say "next time," but he was rebuffed by Sasuke's disdainful gaze and could only awkwardly relay Fugaku Uchiha's words.

"I understand."

Sasuke tidied up and began walking out of the training grounds.

"Brother, I actually don't approve of some of the things Shisui did."

"If the direction of one's efforts is wrong from the start, then no matter how hard one tries, there won't be a good outcome."

Sasuke left these two sentences behind and slowly disappeared from Itachi's sight.

"Shisui?"

Itachi was confused.

With a mission still pending, he did not dwell on it further and vanished from the spot using the Body Flicker Technique.

Inside Fugaku Uchiha's study.

"Father."

Sasuke sat down before Fugaku Uchiha and said respectfully.

"Why did you approach that child?"

Fugaku did not waste words and went straight to the point.

"Because I like him."

"Moreover, he possesses something that others do not."

"As for the so-called talk of him being the demon fox's child, I do not believe it."

Sasuke gave his reasons simply.

However, when mentioning Naruto, Sasuke's eyes clearly brightened.

The reason he hadn't continued tempering his body with Lightning Release chakra today was that his body had reached its limit.

Even if he continued to temper it, it would not satisfy the requirements of the system mission.

Therefore, Sasuke was now desperate to shock Naruto.

He needed to find a way to allow his body to break through at this age.

But Sasuke's explanation left Fugaku stunned.

Indeed, for a five-year-old child wanting to be friends with another child...

There was no need for any reason.

Was he... overthinking it?

"Sasuke, I have a question."

"If a rift were to appear between the clan and the village..."

"How would you choose?"

Fugaku asked the same question he had once asked Itachi.

At the time, Itachi's answer had been, [I will become a bridge between the clan and the village, and use myself to mend this rift].

While this answer was standard, it was not the one Fugaku Uchiha had been looking for.

"A rift?"

"I don't have a choice, because I am also a member of the Uchiha."

"I am now, and in the future... I will be too!"

Sasuke's expression was resolute.

Upon hearing Sasuke's reply, a rare smile appeared on Fugaku's face.

That was right, they were Uchiha...

They were now, and they would be in the future!

In that case, whenever a rift appeared, every Uchiha should possess such resolve!