The Uchiha Clan

"Is Father really that strong? How does he compare to the Third Hokage?" Although Fugaku's ego had been inflating rapidly of late, Uchiha Itachi had always assumed this was just his father's self-delusion. After all, the Ninja Academy constantly taught that the Third Hokage was the strongest in Konoha, and indeed the strongest Hokage in history. This was the consensus across the entire village, which felt far more convincing than Fugaku's self-aggrandizing claims!

"Of course he is. Fugaku-clan-head's current strength could be called the second strongest in Konoha!" Uchiha Gen replied earnestly. After all, with the several times he had 'poured money' into the system, Fugaku's ocular power should now have surpassed Madara Uchiha! Aside from himself, there was no one left in Konoha who could best Fugaku!

After all, the Might Guy from the original story was only a teenager now, and he struggled to even open the seventh gate, let alone contend with a Fugaku capable of manifesting a Super Body Susanoo! He would be hammered into his next reincarnation in a matter of minutes!

"So it really is true, the Third Hokage is still stronger after all~" Itachi muttered to himself upon hearing Gen's reply.

"What kind of mental gymnastics is going on in that little head of yours? What does this have to do with that old geezer Hiruzen Sarutobi?" Uchiha Gen was speechless.

"Huh? If Father is the second strongest in Konoha, doesn't that make the Third Hokage the strongest?" Itachi asked with an expression that suggested it was only logical.

"That strength of Hiruzen Sarutobi's? The strongest in Konoha? If that were true, Konoha would be finished! Let's put it this way: among the current powerhouses of Konoha, that old geezer Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't even make the top five! Even among the Kage of the same generation from other villages, Hiruzen Sarutobi is on the lower end!" Uchiha Gen explained, exasperated.

"Senior Gen, you're just biased against the Third Hokage. You're letting your personal feelings cloud your judgment and belittle him!" Although Itachi hadn't been fully brainwashed yet, he had been in school for quite some time! Hearing the academy constantly fawn over the Third Hokage every day had inevitably left its mark.

"Oh, is that so? Then tell me, what impressive feats does this 'Third Hokage' of yours have? Can he go head-to-head with the Eight-Tails? Or hold off an army of ten thousand ninja single-handedly? Or perhaps he possesses a forbidden jutsu or Kekkei Tota recognized by the Ninja World for its immense power? He's not even as good as his own students; at least they managed to stand against the Demigod of the Ninja World! What about him? Does he have anything to show for himself?" Uchiha Gen dismissed him with disdain. The only thing about Hiruzen Sarutobi that commanded any fear was that 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' technique that took the opponent down with him.

As for other things like the Five Elements Great Barrage and the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, it wasn't that they weren't powerful, but they didn't befit the title of Third Hokage. Compared to the Kage of other villages in the same generation, even the weakest, the Third Kazekage, had Magnet Release. While Hiruzen Sarutobi was likely stronger than the Third Kazekage, consider the scale of Sunagakure versus Konoha—being slightly stronger than the Kazekage only placed him at the bottom of the barrel!

Look at the Third Raikage or the Third Tsuchikage! If the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had to face Tengai Shinsei in the original story, he probably wouldn't even be able to block the first one!

"How could there be someone as powerful as you describe?" Itachi looked at Uchiha Gen with suspicion. His own grades at the academy were excellent. Usually, ninja missions were conducted in four-man squads—one Jonin leader and three Genin—or perhaps a special Anbu squad consisting of multiple Jonin for high-stakes missions! As for an army of ten thousand ninja, Itachi's young mind simply couldn't fathom such a scene.

As for the Third Raikage's battlefield reputation, the Third Hokage naturally wouldn't go around publicizing it, and he certainly wouldn't let impressionable children at the academy know about it. What if it cultivated some blind-worshipping traitors? As a master of brainwashing, Hiruzen Sarutobi took such things very seriously.

"How could there not be? The battle between the Third Raikage and the ten-thousand-strong Iwagakure army happened just a few years ago. Well, you were already born by then. It's common knowledge in the Ninja World! Oh, and the one who fought the Eight-Tails alone? That was also the Third Raikage!" Uchiha Gen provided the history lesson.

"If the Raikage is that strong, why hasn't he attacked Konoha? Is it because the Third Hokage is even stronger?"

"No, to be precise, it's a matter of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. Minato's signature Flying Thunder God Technique is the perfect counter to the Raikage, who is famous for his speed. Even the Fourth Raikage—before he took office—and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki combined suffered losses at Minato's hands!" Since they were already on the subject, Uchiha Gen didn't mind sharing a bit more.

"But the Third Hokage is the master of the Fourth Hokage's master. Doesn't that make the Third Hokage stronger?" Itachi was getting more and more invested in the conversation.

"By that logic, the Second Hokage was Hiruzen Sarutobi's master, right? Didn't he shamelessly claim to be the strongest Hokage in history? As it stands now, Minato's strength exceeds Hiruzen Sarutobi's. Even his master, Jiraiya, is stronger than Hiruzen Sarutobi. By now, Jiraiya should have already mastered the Sage Mode of Mount Myoboku!" Among the Sannin, Jiraiya had come from behind and should have left Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade in the dust by now!

"Then who is the strongest in Konoha now? Could it be the Fourth Hokage?" Itachi's mind couldn't help but conjure the image of that red-haired lady. She was the Fourth Hokage's wife, and a very close friend of his own mother!

"Far away in the horizon, yet right before your eyes—the strongest in Konoha right now is yours truly." When he reached this point, Uchiha Gen got excited. Who didn't have a bit of a desire to show off? Uchiha Gen's expression was just like that of the Toad Sage Jiraiya when he first introduced himself to Naruto in the original story!

"Uh~" Itachi was speechless. Why was this senior just like his father? Or were all Uchiha like this? Getting arrogant the moment they had a little strength?

"What's with that look, kid? You don't believe me?" Uchiha Gen pinched Itachi's punchable little face and said.

"Uhh, n-no, Senior!" Because of the pressure, Itachi couldn't even finish his sentence!

"Hmph~ Don't you doubt it. My strength is recognized by all of Konoha. Did you see when I subdued the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox? That giant over a hundred meters tall was me. I taught the Nine-Tails how to behave in a matter of minutes—oh, wait, I mean how to act like a fox. That so-called 'strongest' Third Hokage of yours couldn't do a thing about the Nine-Tails, alright!" Uchiha Gen said with a look of disdain.

"Haha, Gen-kun, do you have such a strong opinion of the Third Hokage?" A voice suddenly came from the side.

"Fourth Hokage!" Itachi hurriedly bowed.

"Ah, you must be Fugaku's eldest son, Itachi, right? I've heard Kushina mention you—a very cute and sensible child!" Namikaze Minato smiled.

"What brings the Fourth Hokage to the Uchiha compound?" Uchiha Gen wasn't particularly surprised; after all, at his level of strength, he could sense others from hundreds of meters away, and Minato hadn't made any effort to hide his presence.

After all, this was the Uchiha clan's territory; Minato couldn't just zip around using the Flying Thunder God Technique.