Invitation

Upon learning that Itachi and Shisui were double agents, Fugaku Uchiha suffered a near-fatal heart attack before finally recovering.

He couldn't even trust his own son; he was truly failing as a clan head.

Fugaku Uchiha inquired, "Itachi, if the Uchiha Clan were to launch a coup, would you choose Konoha, or the Uchiha Clan?"

Itachi's face froze, and he stammered for a long time, unable to speak.

Fugaku Uchiha already knew Itachi's answer.

Fugaku Uchiha looked at Shisui, "If Kagami were still alive, he would be happy to see the Uchiha reintegrated into Konoha."

Shisui respectfully replied, "Yes, Father's wish has always been for the Uchiha Clan to integrate into Konoha."

Fugaku Uchiha recalled Danzo's words.

'If you want to thank someone, thank yourself for giving birth to that brat, Sasuke Uchiha.'

Because the situation within the clan had been dire, Fugaku Uchiha had no energy to care about other things, and thus hadn't paid much attention to Sasuke recently.

"Itachi, do you know what Sasuke has been up to lately?"

"Sasuke? He should be playing with his friends."

Fugaku Uchiha was very surprised. In the past, because of Sasuke's Uchiha identity, no one his age wanted to play with him. How did he suddenly have friends, and a group of them at that?

Fugaku Uchiha had a vague feeling that Danzo's sudden change of heart might be related to Sasuke's friends.

"Which friends?"

Itachi listed the names of Sasuke's companions one by one.

When he heard the name Uzumaki Menma, Fugaku Uchiha's mind suddenly roared, and he understood everything.

"No wonder... no wonder, so that's how it is!"

Itachi and Shisui exchanged strange glances, unable to understand why Fugaku Uchiha was suddenly so surprised.

Itachi asked, "Father, what's wrong?"

Fugaku Uchiha countered, "You two are just Lord Hokage's double agents, right?"

Itachi and Shisui nodded.

Fugaku Uchiha sighed, "The entire Uchiha Clan should really be thanking Sasuke."

"Sasuke?"

Itachi and Shisui were increasingly confused. How did Sasuke get involved again?

"You should know that the biggest obstacle to the Uchiha Clan's integration into Konoha is Root's Danzo, right?"

Itachi and Shisui nodded in agreement again.

Fugaku Uchiha explained, "Although the Uchiha Clan's relationship with Konoha had been strained before, it truly reached the point of no return during the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Uprising.

Because Lord Danzo believed that if the rampaging Nine-Tails were controlled by the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, the consequences would be unimaginable, and he also suspected that Uchiha members were involved behind the scenes, so he refused to allow our Uchiha Clan to participate in the rescue.

At the same time, because the Uchiha Clan didn't participate in the Nine-Tails incident, it triggered misunderstandings and dissatisfaction among the villagers of Konoha towards the Uchiha Clan. Our Uchiha Clan's situation became increasingly difficult after that day.

Lord Hokage wanted to improve the relationship between our Uchiha Clan and Konoha, but Lord Danzo intervened to prevent it, so there was no progress, and the Uchiha Clan has always been under the surveillance of Root ninjas.

I have tried many times to find Lord Danzo to mediate the conflicts and misunderstandings between us, but Lord Danzo has extremely distrusted our Uchiha Clan, and wouldn't even give me a chance to meet.

But this time, Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo took the initiative to find me and offered the Uchiha Clan the opportunity to integrate into Konoha, even though they knew that some members of the Uchiha Clan wanted to stage a coup.

With Lord Danzo's tough methods, he should have tried everything possible to eliminate the Uchiha Clan and prevent future troubles, rather than giving the Uchiha Clan a chance to integrate into Konoha."

Itachi and Shisui understood Fugaku Uchiha's meaning.

Itachi asked in confusion, "Father, are you saying that some factor caused Lord Danzo to change his mind?"

Fugaku Uchiha nodded, "Yes, that factor is among Sasuke's friends."

Itachi and Shisui suddenly said in unison, "Uzumaki Menma?!"

Fugaku Uchiha had already said so much; they couldn't possibly not guess.

Because among these people, only Uzumaki Menma had a relationship with Root, and an extremely close one at that – he was Danzo's grandson.

Itachi and Shisui were a little incredulous, "Is it really just because of Menma that Lord Danzo changed his mind and is willing to give our Uchiha Clan a chance?"

Fugaku Uchiha sighed, "It should be. Don't underestimate the importance of Uzumaki Menma in Lord Danzo's heart. The ninja circles of Konoha all know how much Lord Danzo dotes on Uzumaki Menma, and is completely grooming Uzumaki Menma as his successor.

The recent major event in Konoha, the Hyuga Clan's reform, abolishing the main and branch family system, also had Lord Danzo's intervention and help.

You should know that with Hyuga Hiashi's cautious personality, he would only request Lord Danzo's intervention and help if he had received some promise from Lord Danzo, and I heard that dozens of Hyuga ninjas have already joined Root for training.

All indications are that the current Root may not be the same as the Root we imagined before, and the reason for the change is likely due to Uzumaki Menma."

Itachi and Shisui couldn't quite accept it.

They had worked so hard for so long, and they weren't as effective as a child Sasuke's age?

People really couldn't be compared to each other.

"This time, our Uchiha Clan owes Uzumaki Menma a debt. Itachi, do you know where they are now?"

"They should be playing on the streets of Konoha."

"Invite Uzumaki Menma to the Uchiha compound as a guest. Oh, and bring Naruto Uzumaki along too."

Itachi and Shisui, aware of Menma and Naruto's status as Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, expressed their concern, "Father, at this critical juncture, wouldn't this be unwise?"

Fugaku Uchiha smiled and explained, "You still don't understand. Menma Uzumaki is our only way to establish contact with Danzo. By inviting Menma and Naruto to the Uchiha compound, Danzo will naturally be aware of it. I simply want to convey to Danzo that we, the Uchiha Clan, are grateful to him, and we have no designs on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Establishing a good relationship with Menma is equivalent to establishing a good relationship with Danzo, which would greatly benefit the Uchiha Clan."

Itachi and Shisui understood Fugaku's intention and were about to head to the streets of Konoha to find Menma and Naruto.

Fugaku stopped Itachi, "Wait, Itachi, tell Mikoto that the two boys are coming to visit. I believe Mikoto will be very happy."