Father and Son Talk

Uchiha Masaki and Uchiha Fugaku returned to the estate.

The father and son did not go to sleep. Instead, they sat facing each other in the room, silent.

After a long while, Uchiha Masaki finally asked, "What do you think of this Chiyu, Fugaku?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked up at his elderly father and asked, "Father, are you asking about Chiyu's strength, or something else?"

Uchiha Masaki said, "Then tell me everything."

Uchiha Fugaku said in a low voice, "I actually don't know much about Chiyu himself. By the time he came to the Ninja Academy, I had already been studying there for two years.

"But I had heard more or less about him. After all, he was considered a 'celebrity' at the Ninja Academy.

"Because he was not acknowledged by the Uchiha Clan, he had always been the target of others venting their resentment toward the Uchiha Clan. During his first year at the Ninja Academy, he was often bullied.

"By his second year, however, he was rarely bullied anymore. A genius named Minato Namikaze emerged in his year—the Minato Namikaze whom one of the Legendary Sannin, Lord Jiraiya, had taken as a disciple.

"And Chiyu was second only to that genius, Minato Namikaze. Since they could no longer beat Chiyu, they resorted to verbal abuse instead.

"But no matter how vile their words were, there was never any news of Chiyu fighting anyone. He always let others curse at him."

After hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Masaki frowned. "He clearly had the strength, yet chose to let others insult him. This Chiyu is very patient."

Uchiha Fugaku continued, "But there was one time when he did attack someone, and it caused quite a stir.

"Three years after he entered the Ninja Academy, a transfer student joined Chiyu's class. Not long afterward, word spread through the academy.

"That transfer student had long red hair, so people bullied her and picked fights with her. But she was very strong and beat every one of them flat.

"Later, I heard that a student in Chiyu's class, seeking revenge against that transfer student, called in his older brother, who was a Genin. Chiyu nearly chopped off all four of that man's limbs.

"I also heard that Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade happened to return to the village that day and ran into them, which was why they managed to stop Chiyu."

Uchiha Masaki's brow furrowed tighter and tighter as he listened.

After asking Uchiha Fugaku when this had happened and doing the calculations, Uchiha Masaki realized that only a few days later, Chiyu had handed Thunder Breathing Nintaijutsu over to Konoha.

So he handed the Nintaijutsu to Hiruzen Sarutobi to settle that matter...

Uchiha Masaki asked, "Fugaku, is there anything else?"

Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "Yes. I also heard that Minato Namikaze was there that day and seemed to have lost to Chiyu. Not long afterward, Minato Namikaze became Lord Jiraiya's disciple. At the same time, Minato Namikaze would always take the initiative to challenge Chiyu at school, but from then on... Minato Namikaze never defeated Chiyu."

Uchiha Masaki said in shock, "You mean Minato Namikaze had already been training under Jiraiya, yet he never beat Chiyu even once?"

Uchiha Fugaku replied with certainty, "That's right. Their battles only took place during that one year. After that year, Minato Namikaze graduated early and left the village with Lord Jiraiya to train. Even in their final match, Minato Namikaze still failed to defeat Chiyu."

Uchiha Masaki was truly stunned now.

Orochimaru had taken Chiyu as his disciple only a month ago.

In other words, Minato Namikaze, disciple of one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, had been unable to defeat Chiyu even after receiving Jiraiya's guidance.

And at that time, Chiyu had relied solely on his own talent and strength to suppress Minato Namikaze.

Even without the Sharingan, Chiyu's talent was truly remarkable.

Uchiha Masaki continued asking, "By the way, Fugaku, who was that transfer student you mentioned?"

Uchiha Fugaku thought for a moment. "I think her name was Kushina Uzumaki."

Uchiha Masaki's expression froze.

Noticing that something was wrong with Uchiha Masaki's expression, Uchiha Fugaku asked curiously, "Father, is this Kushina Uzumaki someone special?"

Uchiha Masaki's expression shifted. After a moment of silence, he said, "Fugaku, you will certainly inherit my legacy and become the next clan head someday, so it is time for you to learn certain things.

"This Kushina Uzumaki is indeed very special. She is extremely important to Konoha. You know that Lady Mito is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, don't you?"

Uchiha Fugaku nodded solemnly. "Yes. Father once told me that those possessed by tailed beasts and made into vessels are called Jinchuriki. Jinchuriki are often regarded as a nation's military power."

Uchiha Masaki continued, "That's right. Lady Mito's full name is Mito Uzumaki, and she also has red hair. You should have guessed it by now, right?"

Uchiha Fugaku's expression changed as well. "Could Kushina Uzumaki be a Jinchuriki?!"

Uchiha Masaki shook his head. "No, but it is close enough. Kushina Uzumaki is the second vessel for the Nine-Tails. This is a Konoha secret. Aside from high-ranking officials like me, no one else knows of it.

"Lady Mito is already very old. She does not have much time left, so Konoha must begin considering a new Jinchuriki. Kushina Uzumaki, being from the Uzumaki Clan as well, is the chosen candidate.

"Fugaku, let me ask you another question. Is Chiyu very close to Kushina Uzumaki?"

Uchiha Fugaku answered with complete certainty, "Yes. He is very close to Kushina Uzumaki!"

Uchiha Masaki sighed. "Then there is no chance."

Uchiha Fugaku asked in confusion, "What is it, Father?"

Uchiha Masaki replied, "Fugaku, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki will always belong to Konoha. No ninja clan will ever be allowed to lay claim to them.

"Chiyu is very close to the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Lord Hokage did not stop it. He even allowed one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, to become Chiyu's teacher. This means Chiyu can never return to the Uchiha Clan. Even if we agreed, even if Chiyu wanted to, it would be impossible."

Uchiha Masaki was filled with regret at having allowed such a talented clansman, one who had awakened the Sharingan, to remain out in the world.

Uchiha Fugaku saw things more clearly than his father.

Uchiha Fugaku believed that even if the Uchiha Clan agreed, Chiyu would never be willing to return to the Uchiha Clan.

Otherwise, Chiyu would not have broken Uchiha Yuto's and Uchiha Kazuma's arms.

For Chiyu to do that and openly reveal his Sharingan meant that he most likely no longer worried about the issues between himself and the Uchiha Clan.

In Uchiha Fugaku's view, Chiyu and the Uchiha Clan might never reconcile.