Sign In for Kotoamatsukami! Kamizuki Yu Meets Fugaku in Secret, and the Countdown to the Uchiha Clan's Fate Begins!

Southeast of the village, Uchiha Clan territory.

Compared to other areas, the atmosphere here was noticeably more oppressive.

The members of the police force patrolling the streets wore less of their usual pride and more vigilance and wariness.

Kamizuki Yu walked slowly along the street, sensing the faint yet pervasive oppression in the air.

The aftermath of the Nine-Tails Attack was far from over.

Especially for the Uchiha Clan.

His purpose here was clear. First, he needed to speak with Fugaku Uchiha.

As the clan head, Fugaku's attitude was crucial.

At the entrance to the Uchiha residence, two guards stopped Kamizuki Yu.

"Who goes there?"

"Kamizuki Yu. I seek an audience with Clan Head Fugaku."

The guards exchanged glances, and one of them went inside to report his arrival.

Before long, the guard returned with considerably more respect in his tone. "Lord Yu, the clan head will see you."

Kamizuki Yu gave a slight nod and stepped inside.

The residence had deep, secluded courtyards, yet an air of grim severity hung over the place.

Fugaku Uchiha was already waiting in the reception hall.

He wore dark clan robes. His face was more haggard than Kamizuki Yu remembered, and deep worry was etched between his brows.

"Advisor Yu, you honor us with your presence. Forgive me for not welcoming you from afar." Fugaku rose, his tone still polite enough.

Kamizuki Yu waved casually. "There is no need for such formalities, Clan Head Fugaku. I came today because there are some matters I would like to discuss with you."

He took a seat reserved for guests without waiting for an invitation.

Fugaku sat back down and personally poured him a cup of tea. "What guidance does Advisor Yu have for me?"

He pushed the teacup toward Kamizuki Yu.

"Guidance would be too strong a word." Kamizuki Yu lifted the cup but did not drink. "It is merely that after the Nine-Tails Attack, there have been some unsettling voices in the village. I wonder whether Clan Head Fugaku has heard them."

Fugaku's hand paused slightly as he held his cup, sending ripples across the tea.

"What matter does Advisor Yu refer to?"

"Rumors concerning the Uchiha Clan." Kamizuki Yu set down his cup and looked directly at him. "Some say that the Nine-Tails' eyes bear quite a resemblance to the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan."

The air in the reception hall instantly froze.

Fugaku's expression darkened. "Absurd! The Uchiha Clan has been loyal to the Hidden Leaf for generations. How could we ever do anything to harm the village?"

His voice was not loud, but it carried suppressed fury.

"I naturally believe in the Uchiha Clan's loyalty." Kamizuki Yu's tone remained even. "But there are always people in the village who do not."

He paused before continuing.

"During the Nine-Tails Attack, the police force was tasked with maintaining order on the village's outskirts and was unable to participate in the core battle. In certain people's eyes, that 'absence' has become something they can use against you."

Fugaku abruptly looked up, his gaze sharp.

"Advisor Yu, what exactly are you trying to say?"

He felt the pressure.

Although this young man only held the nominal title of "Honorary Advisor," the strength he had displayed during the Nine-Tails Attack, along with the Hokage's trust in him, meant Fugaku could not take him lightly.

"I am saying that some misunderstandings need to be clarified proactively, and some pressure needs to be defused proactively." Kamizuki Yu leaned forward slightly. "Blind endurance and explanations alone achieve very little."

Fugaku fell silent.

How could he not understand that?

But how was he supposed to clarify things? How was he supposed to defuse them?

The upper echelon's suspicion was like invisible shackles, tightening more and more around the clan.

"Has the police force's authority been restricted recently?" Kamizuki Yu threw out another question.

Fugaku's fist quietly clenched inside his sleeve.

"Just some routine personnel adjustments." His answer was somewhat stiff.

That was undoubtedly an admission.

Kamizuki Yu understood.

Danzo and the two elder advisors had indeed already begun making their move.

"Would routine personnel adjustments transfer experienced clansmen away from key positions and replace them with inexperienced newcomers?"

Fugaku's breathing quickened slightly.

"Advisor Yu, did you come here today just to question me?"

"No." Kamizuki Yu shook his head. "I came to offer an idea."

Fugaku furrowed his brows and gestured for him to continue.

"The Uchiha Clan's strength should not be limited to the police force alone. There are many places in the village that need the Uchiha Clan's power."

"Such as?"

"ANBU, the Hokage's personal guard, even some important research departments." Kamizuki Yu spoke slowly. "Let outstanding Uchiha clansmen take positions that are more central and more crucial to the village."

Fugaku's pupils contracted sharply.

What a bold proposal!

Disperse the clansmen among various departments? That ran contrary to the Uchiha Clan's longstanding policy of sticking together.

And would the higher-ups even agree to it?

"This... would be difficult. The elders' wariness toward the Uchiha Clan..."

"Wariness stems from ignorance, and from fear." Kamizuki Yu cut him off. "Once they realize that the Uchiha Clan's power can be used by them and kept under their control, their wariness will naturally lessen."

"More importantly, it would prove to everyone that the Uchiha Clan is an indispensable part of the Hidden Leaf, not some special existence standing outside the system."

Fugaku sank into prolonged thought.

Kamizuki Yu's words were like a pry bar, forcing open a crack in the tightly sealed door to his heart.

All he had ever considered was how to preserve the Uchiha Clan's independence and the police force's authority.

He had never considered actively integrating into the village, or even "dividing up" the clan's strength.

"The clansmen... may not accept this easily." Fugaku spoke with difficulty.

He understood the younger generation's radical emotions better than anyone.

What they desired was greater status and greater power, not to be "diluted."

"That is why Clan Head Fugaku's foresight and resolve are needed." Kamizuki Yu picked up his teacup and took a small sip this time. "It is better to guide than to block. Give them a future they can see, a stage where they can display their talents, instead of trapping them in this little patch of land called the police force and letting their resentment grow by the day."

He paused and stressed his next words.

"Otherwise, when that resentment reaches its peak, Clan Head Fugaku should know better than I what will happen."

Fugaku's body trembled slightly.

The clan's destruction...

Those words haunted his heart like a nightmare.

He could not allow the Uchiha Clan to reach that point.

"I will consider your proposal carefully." Fugaku's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"I trust in the clan head's wisdom." Kamizuki Yu rose to his feet. "Also, you should be more wary of Elder Danzo. Some of those rumors were spread by him."

A sharp glint flashed through Fugaku's eyes.

Danzo!

He had suspected as much long ago.

"Thank you for the warning, Advisor Yu."

"Farewell." Kamizuki Yu said no more and turned to leave.

Fugaku did not try to keep him. He merely watched his departing figure in silence for a long time.

Kamizuki Yu's words had stirred up raging waves in his heart.

After leaving the Uchiha residence, Kamizuki Yu looked back once.

Fugaku was a qualified clan head, but his vision and resolve were ultimately limited.

To completely resolve the Uchiha Clan's problems, Fugaku alone would not be enough.

His gaze turned toward a certain direction deep within clan territory.

Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha should be living there.

Those two geniuses were the key to changing the Uchiha Clan's fate.

Especially Itachi Uchiha.

That boy who carried far too much on his shoulders.

Perhaps he could add a little "surprise" to the script of his life.

As he pondered this, an almost imperceptible fluctuation of chakra flashed past the street corner.

A faint curve formed at Kamizuki Yu's lips.

Root's little bugs had quite sharp noses.

It seemed Danzo was not only spreading rumors, but also closely monitoring the Uchiha Clan's every move.

As well as that of him, the "Chief Honorary Advisor."

Interesting.

He ignored that little bug. After a few flickers, his figure vanished from where he stood.

Since he had come to Uchiha Clan territory, signing in was essential.

[ Ding! Sign-in at Uchiha Clan territory successful. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained 'Uchiha Style Swordsmanship Mastery'! ]

[ Ding! Sign-in at the Uchiha main household successful. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained 'Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation'! ]

[ Ding! Special chakra residue detected. Would you like to perform a special sign-in at 'Shisui Uchiha's Training Ground'? ]

Shisui's training ground?

Kamizuki Yu paused.

That was quite an unexpected windfall.

"Yes."

[ Ding! Sign-in at 'Shisui Uchiha's Training Ground' successful. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained 'Kotoamatsukami (Trial Card · Single Use)'! ]

A Kotoamatsukami trial card?

Although it was single-use, it was more than enough of a pleasant surprise.

Used at a critical moment, it could produce remarkable results.

It seemed necessary to get in touch with those two genius boys as soon as possible.

Kamizuki Yu's figure once again melded into the shadows of Uchiha Clan territory.

He did not rush to find Itachi and Shisui.

A meal had to be eaten one bite at a time, and matters had to be handled one step at a time.

He first wandered around clan territory, taking in the atmosphere of the place.

The deeper he went, the more apparent the oppressive mood and dissatisfaction became.

Quite a few young Uchiha clansmen gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves. Their eyes held undisguised alienation and arrogance whenever they looked at outsiders, such as the occasional non-Uchiha villager passing by.

Now and then, he also heard complaints about the village higher-ups.

"Why does the Uchiha Clan not get any credit for the Nine-Tails Attack?"

"Exactly! They isolate us and guard against us as if we're thieves!"

"Clan Head Fugaku is far too weak. He should be tougher!"

Those voices reached Kamizuki Yu's ears clearly.

The situation was even more troublesome than he had anticipated.

Fugaku was likely powerless to suppress those radical voices.

Kamizuki Yu walked to a relatively secluded training ground.

Several young boys were practicing shuriken throwing.

One black-haired boy had flawless movements and focused eyes. Every throw struck the bullseye with precision.

Itachi Uchiha.

Even from just his back, Kamizuki Yu could recognize him.

That composure and concentration, so far beyond his age, made him stand out from the rest.

Beside him stood another boy who was slightly older, also black-haired and wearing a gentle smile as he offered guidance.

Shisui Uchiha.

So they really were both here.

Kamizuki Yu did not go over to disturb them.

He merely watched them from afar before turning and leaving.

There was no rush.

He still had something more important to confirm first.

That was exactly how much patience Danzo had left.