Police Force Captain's Office.
Zhengye told Uchiha Madara and Izuna's story from beginning to end.
Then he said to Itachi:
"The solution to the Mangekyō Sharingan is to fuse two pairs of eyes into one, advancing them into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."
Itachi was still immersed in Zhengye's story when Fugaku gave a bitter smile beside him.
"Zhengye, it seems there isn't anything about the clan that you don't know."
Zhengye rolled his eyes. "The Uchiha Clan has such a long history and so many books."
"If Itachi read a little more from the library, he would naturally know these things."
"Most of the losses the Uchiha have suffered over the years were basically caused by not reading enough."
Fugaku was speechless. Though he had been clan head for many years, he did not enjoy reading either.
But he also felt that Zhengye's lesson was right.
At that moment, Itachi was not thinking about the Eternal Mangekyo. Instead, he looked at Fugaku with concern.
"Then what about your eyes, Father?"
Fugaku pointed at the bookshelf beside them. "I can't even make out the words on that row anymore."
Zhengye turned to look. From two meters away, Fugaku could not even see characters the size of a thumb.
Those eyes are probably three or four hundred degrees nearsighted, or over a hundred degrees astigmatic.
Estimating based on his eyes from his previous life, Zhengye quickly realized that Fugaku's eyes were practically at their limit.
He could still see, but it put him at a severe disadvantage in battle.
Fugaku sighed. "That is why I avoid fighting whenever I can."
Zhengye had not expected Fugaku's conciliatory approach to have such a reason behind it.
Then Fugaku smiled with relief.
"But now that you younger generation have Mangekyō Sharingan, these eyes of mine can be left to Itachi."
"Father..."
Itachi opened his mouth, wanting to refuse, but when he met Fugaku's already-blurry eyes, the words caught in his throat.
He had not expected Fugaku to have already decided to give his precious Mangekyō Sharingan to him.
Fugaku's face was full of emotion. He patted Itachi's shoulder, his eyes filled with fatherly affection.
After their heart-to-heart talk, the knot between father and son had been untied.
Every day, Fugaku thought about making amends.
Giving his eyes to Itachi was something he had planned long ago, both to fulfill his son and to ensure the clan's future continuity.
He already knew of Itachi's talent in battle. Now, all that remained was to make up for the gap in his ideological education.
Fugaku did not doubt in the slightest that Itachi could surpass Uchiha Madara!
But Zhengye interrupted the touching moment between father and son.
"Oh? So you're not planning to take care of Sasuke?"
There was a hint of teasing on Zhengye's face that neither of them could understand.
Fugaku and Itachi were both stunned, because Sasuke was currently quite ordinary, just like any normal five-year-old child.
He loved to play, was attached to Itachi, and had practiced for a long time before mastering the Great Fireball Technique.
Compared to ordinary people, he was already quite good.
But within the Uchiha Clan, he was not outstanding.
He showed none of the traits of a prodigy.
They could never have imagined that Sasuke would become a Six Paths level powerhouse at the age of seventeen.
Fugaku's gaze shifted. Looking at Zhengye with hope in his eyes, he carefully asked:
"Are you saying Sasuke will also awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future?"
After asking, he felt that he was being a little greedy. The Mangekyō Sharingan was so precious—how could his family possibly claim all of them?
Itachi also looked at Zhengye in deep confusion.
Zhengye chuckled. "I'm only saying Sasuke isn't as good as you right now. That doesn't mean he'll be ordinary in the future."
"The emergence of Itachi and Shisui has made all of you define talent by whether someone shows combat aptitude in childhood."
"In reality, most Uchiha are mediocre during childhood."
"Not to mention the Mangekyō Sharingan—even the ordinary Sharingan places a tremendous burden on the body."
"Only when the body can withstand the Sharingan's drain does an Uchiha enter a period of rapid growth."
Fugaku nodded unconsciously. The Uchiha Clan really was like that. Once someone awakened their eyes, their subsequent progress would be swift.
"I have seen the future. Sasuke will definitely awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"But he has not suffered the heart-piercing pain of the clan's destruction, so it may happen later."
"So, are you sure you want to leave those eyes to Itachi?"
Fugaku fell silent at once.
It was not simply a matter of both sons being equally dear to him. Even if he favored Itachi more, Itachi's love for Sasuke meant that he would surely not agree.
Father and son looked at each other, frozen in place.
Seeing how conflicted they were, Zhengye waved his hand.
"There is no need to rush. Both Itachi and Sasuke are still young."
"We can discuss this again in the future."
Father and son both breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, Sasuke was only five now. Those matters were still many years away.
Zhengye glanced at the clock. It was already time for dinner.
"I'm going to eat. Fugaku, handle things on the Police Force's side."
"Get things sorted out here over the next few days. Stay ready in case the Third Hokage makes a move."
Zhengye had not forgotten that Naruto had been beaten so badly, yet the Nine-Tails still had not reacted.
It seemed the other side had taken his words as nothing. Today, he would have to go have a proper talk with the Nine-Tails.
Land of Rain.
Amegakure. The sky was overcast, a light rain fell steadily, and the air always carried a damp smell.
In the dense woods outside the village, a creature resembling a pitcher plant emerged from the ground and spoke to a man wearing a tiger-striped mask.
"There have been major changes in Konoha. Perhaps you should go back and take a look."
These two were Zetsu and Obito, who was currently disguised as Uchiha Madara.
Obito let out a quiet sound of surprise, confusion in his voice.
"What change could make you come specifically to tell me?"
He had recently gone to the Land of Water, leaving Konoha entirely to Zetsu.
"The Uchiha Clan suddenly produced five Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Fugaku, Shisui, Itachi, Inabi, and Zhengye. They overturned Root, and Danzo was chopped into a human stump."
"Five Mangekyō Sharingan!?" Obito's whole body shook, his voice filled with astonishment.
"How is that possible!?"
Fugaku had been clan head for so many years, so it was not strange for him to possess a Mangekyō Sharingan. Shisui had been famous for years, so that was barely acceptable as well.
Itachi, Inabi, Zhengye...
Wasn't Zhengye in the same class as me?
He actually became a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder!?
Obito recalled Zhengye, who had attended school with him years ago but whom he had never known well. For a moment, he was dazed.
Then his thoughts returned, and he immediately felt that things were troublesome.
Over the years, he had relied on Kamui to deceive and swindle plenty of people, while using Madara's name as a banner.
But that only worked because he was deceiving outsiders.
If he had to deceive the Uchiha Clan, it would be far more difficult.
Previously, the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha had been so poor that he believed Konoha's higher-ups would eventually find an opportunity to deal with the Uchiha Clan.
He had never expected the situation to reverse!
"In that case, I should go take a look."
Obito muttered, then his body slipped into the swirling vortex that rose into the air.
Watching Obito leave, Zetsu's voice was equally troubled.
"I never expected the Uchiha Clan to suddenly become an unpredictable factor. This is troublesome. The plan may not proceed so smoothly."
Then he too sank into the soil.
Before you continue