Fugaku's Attempt to Change

Pfft!

Hanazuki coughed a few times, hurriedly set down his teacup, and asked with a feigned look of confusion.

"Mangekyo Sharingan? What is that? Is it another type of Sharingan?"

Seeing this, Fugaku narrowed his eyes slightly and began to explain to Hanazuki on his own accord.

"The Mangekyo Sharingan transcends the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, possessing ocular power that far exceeds that of an ordinary Sharingan."

"In the history of the Uchiha clan, it is an eye that only a handful of people have been able to awaken. During the distant Warring States period, due to the chaos of war, a vast amount of the Uchiha clan's records were lost, and there are very few accounts left regarding the Mangekyo Sharingan."

After speaking, he observed Hanazuki's expression without restraint. Seeing that he could not glean any useful information from the boy's demeanor, Fugaku continued.

"What is your take on the current Uchiha clan? I want to hear your most honest opinion, whether objective or subjective."

"The Uchiha clan? Subjectively speaking, they are arrogant and restless. Objectively, they hold power and look down on others—after all, they are the Konoha Military Police Force."

Hearing Uchiha Hanazuki's assessment, Fugaku did not flare up, nor did he nod in agreement.

"The so-called Military Police Force is just like that. Because we are responsible for the village's safety, it is inevitable that we take actions that damage our image. I have even heard some complaints from the villagers about the force."

Hanazuki smiled but said nothing. If there was still one person in the current Uchiha clan who remained clear-headed, it was likely this captain of the Military Police Force, who was struggling to maintain the relationship between the clan and the village.

However, the dark mines buried by the evil Old Senju White-Hair did not end there. His fear and attitude toward the Uchiha clan—no, the attitude of Senju Tobirama toward Uchiha Madara—had been inherited in full by the current Konoha F4.

"Then, what do you think the Uchiha clan needs to change its current situation?"

Hearing this question, Hanazuki was truly stunned, no less shocked than when Fugaku had mentioned the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Aside from overthrowing the village, was there a second path to changing the Uchiha clan's situation?

The Konoha Military Police Force was not the same as the police Hanazuki knew in his past life. Although both were law enforcement agencies, the force controlled by the Uchiha clan lacked the methods he was most familiar with.

The first was to cultivate a positive image, and the second was to punish both sides equally—what is commonly known as "smoothing things over."

Without a positive, favorable image, the impression the Konoha Military Police Force left on the ordinary villagers of Konoha Village—those who were not part of the various prestigious clans—could hardly be called good.

Moreover, in the eyes of the Third Hokage, who had always intended to integrate the village and abandon sectarianism, the unity of the Uchiha clan was an even more thorny problem.

When suspicion accumulated to the extreme, and the surging undercurrents were ignited by a sudden accident, the situation would shift from secret exclusion to open confrontation.

Driven out of the center of power by the village, targeted both openly and covertly, the Uchiha clansmen who failed to see their own limitations...

Furthermore, of the only two geniuses and Kage-level combatants, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, one was tricked by Danzo into committing suicide after losing an eye, and the other embarked on a life of a "filial son."

By comparison, the current head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Konoha Military Police Force was truly quite a failure, whether in political maneuvering or in the experience of raising a child.

"Change? Forgive my incompetence, but I don't know. Perhaps when the new Hokage takes office, the situation for the Uchiha will improve."

With a gentle smile, Hanazuki gave a perfunctory answer, as if this were his true opinion.

"A new Hokage taking office? Who do you think will be the outstanding Jonin to become the Fourth Hokage this time?"

"Teacher Orochimaru or Namikaze Minato; it will likely be between these two. Could it be that you are also interested in competing for the Fourth Hokage?"

Fugaku shook his head slowly. He was not yet in a position to compete with those two, whether in terms of achievements or the support of the village's Jonin.

Most crucially, the Konoha high-ups would never support an Uchiha clan member as Hokage. That was the current attitude of Konoha toward the Uchiha.

"Also, may the child outside the door come in? He has been standing there for so long; he doesn't seem as lively as an average child. It seems he will become a fine ninja in the future."

Fugaku was startled, then remembered something and hurriedly called out toward the door.

"Itachi, don't eavesdrop on your father's conversation with a guest!"

Creak. The door slid open slowly. Young Uchiha Itachi was silent, his eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Hanazuki.

"It's no matter. Is this your child, My Lord Fugaku? Uchiha Itachi—this child possesses talent. He may become an excellent Konoha ninja in the future."

With a kind smile and a gentle expression, Hanazuki watched as Mikoto hurried out of the kitchen and apologized upon seeing the scene.

"I'm sorry to disturb you. Itachi, don't interrupt your father's conversation with the guest!"

"It's nothing, just some casual chatter."

He smiled at Mikoto, and a mysterious, pleasant scent made her feel an inexplicable fondness for this child, who was only six or seven years older than Itachi.

"Hanazuki, is it? What a lovely child. Don't be shy later; you must eat well to grow up healthy."

A rich aroma drifted from the kitchen to the living room, and Mikoto suddenly remembered something, running out in a panic.

"Oh my, the stew in the kitchen!"

Seeing her hurried back and Itachi's curious face, Fugaku sighed helplessly and brought the previous tense topic to an end.

"Let's put those troublesome matters aside and properly taste Mikoto's cooking."

The fragrance grew richer, and the meticulously prepared stew and various dishes were enough to whet anyone's appetite. Fugaku and Hanazuki tacitly let the previous conversation fade away.

When Hanazuki left, Fugaku looked at the disappearing figure with a solemn expression.

"That child seemed very polite. Uchiha Hanazuki... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere."

Mikoto murmured to herself, lost in thought. Fugaku remained silent for a moment before introducing him to his wife, who had chosen family life over a career as a ninja.

"Do not underestimate him. He is a true genius. He is only a few years older than Itachi, yet his mastery of the Body Flicker Technique is not inferior to Namikaze Minato's."

"He has not only gained the upper hand in exchanges with the Kazekage's advisor Chiyo and the AB Duo—composed of the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki—but he also single-handedly killed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and held off the Third Tsuchikage."

"He is a true genius; whether or not he has awakened the Sharingan is something even the clan remains unaware of."

Hearing Fugaku's assessment, Mikoto was quite shocked. After a moment of reflection, she smiled and replied.

"But regardless of what kind of genius he is, isn't he still just a child right now?"

"A child, you say? I hope so."

Suddenly, Fugaku looked up. An emergency messenger hawk was flying toward the Hokage's office from the distance, and his originally calm expression turned inexplicably grave.

Emergency military intelligence—has something happened on the front lines?