Fugaku's Shock

With flawless fighting talent, Izuna Uchiha Sengoku genius whom even the Second Hokage deeply feared.

In an instant, Fugaku's pupils constricted sharply, and a tidal wave surged within him.

Even though I had a premonition, I still couldn't stop my heart from trembling.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at Natsu.

The boy remained calm and composed, his expression serene and unwavering. He merely nodded slightly at him, a subtle gesture that confirmed all his unbelievable suspicions.

The scorching wind and waves pressed down on his heart. Fugaku took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and slowly bowed.

Unlike his Setsuna loss of control and emotional outburst, his bow was solemn and restrained, displaying the composure and self-control of a clan leader. However, his slightly trembling voice could not hide the awe and shock in his heart.

"Uchiha Fugaku greets Lord Madara and Izuna Uchiha. Welcome back to your clan."

Ban lowered his eyes and sized up the middle-aged man bowing in front of him.

Wearing the clan leader's high-ranking haori, his posture was upright and composed, and his brows and eyes held the forbearance and weight of someone who had experienced many hardships, the appearance of someone who had supported the clan in its ruins.

After only a few breaths, he spoke, his tone calm and resolute.

"You are Fugaku, the current head of the Uchiha clan."

"Yes," Fugaku replied, bowing his head respectfully.

"Natsu mentioned you to me on the way." Ban nodded slightly, his tone unhurried, revealing little emotion.

"You were the first clan leader after the founding of Konoha, Sasuke's father, and the one who led the defeated Uchiha out of the brink of extinction and settled them on this vast sea."

He paused for a moment, then gave a very apt assessment.

"Well done."

This word of approval, however, made Fugaku's heart feel even more bitter and heavy.

He slowly lowered his head, his back slightly tense, his tone full of guilt and self-mockery.

"Your subordinate is ashamed. The one who truly pulled the Uchiha out of the abyss and restored their glory was Natsu, not me."

"I have held the position of clan leader for many years, yet I failed to see through the layers of scheming by the Konoha higher-ups, failed to prevent the tragedy of the clan's near extinction, and even failed to keep my own son alive."

His voice was slightly hoarse as he frankly admitted all his incompetence and regrets.

"I am truly unworthy of Lord Madara's praise."

Izuna Uchiha listened quietly to the sound, then suddenly tilted his head slightly, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes.

"Do you think you're the only one who's been schemed against?"

His tone was gentle, with a hint of comforting banter, which eased the somber atmosphere.

"Back then, my brother and I also couldn't see through Black Zetsu's millennia-long scheme. In terms of being deceived and manipulated, the losses we brothers suffered were far more severe than yours."

He looked at Fugaku with great interest, asked softly, and then gave his own answer.

"Being betrayed by the person you trust most must be painful, right? Coincidentally, my older brother was almost stabbed in the most fatal blow by his best friend, someone he had staked everything on."

"If someone is unworthy to lead a clan after just one setback, then my elder brother would probably be trapped in his past defeats, never able to escape them, and wouldn't be standing here today."

Upon hearing this, Ban glanced at his younger brother expressionlessly and said in a light tone, "Don't use me as an example."

"Alright, alright, I won't talk about you, brother." Izuna Uchiha immediately stopped teasing, smiled gently and obediently, and turned to look at Fugaku, who was deep in thought, and spoke seriously.

"I'm serious. To be able to protect the bloodline of your people during the crisis of annihilation, to grit your teeth and survive the darkest hour, and to wait for Natsu to rise and for the clan to be reborn—you are already the best clan leader."

With just a few simple words, he gently soothed the obsession and guilt that had accumulated in Fugaku's heart for many years.

He remained silent for a long time, his mind racing with thoughts. Finally, all his guilt and relief settled down. He looked up at the two ancestors who seemed to have stepped out of the Sengoku period legends, nodded solemnly, and his eyes showed a hint of composure.

Setsuna had already wiped away the tears on her face, suppressed her surging emotions, and quickly walked to Izuna Uchiha's side.

After waiting for a thousand years, his heart is now filled with burning anticipation.

"Izuna Uchiha, Lord Madara, let me show you around Origin Island."

He looked up at the prosperous and peaceful scenery on the island, his tone full of emotion and pride.

"The Uchiha of today is no longer a pawn trapped in the shadows of Konoha, dependent on others, nor a lone clan fighting for their lives in the chaos of the Sengoku period."

We have our own islands, well-organized Clan Academy, stable territory, and a visible and viable future."

The wind blew past the old man's graying temples, carrying with it a lifelong wish.

"This scene is so close to the wish we made at the Naka Shrine back then."

Izuna Uchiha paused slightly, and the smile in his eyes softened a little.

Naka Shrine, the ancient altar, the young older brother, the youthful aspirations. Those memories sealed deep within the years are all awakened in an instant.

"Then I really need to take a good look."

He agreed softly, his eyes filled with genuine expectation.

Ban remained silent throughout, maintaining his usual indifferent and composed demeanor, standing quietly beside his younger brother.

But in that Setsuna, he knew in his heart that he would definitely go.

Just like the banks of the Naka River countless years ago, that young man never made a single promise of gentleness, yet he always moved forward relentlessly, step by step, towards protecting his people and building a home.

In Setsuna, he walked at the very front, his steps several times faster than usual. The tear stains on his cheeks had not yet completely dried, but his eyes were already filled with burning fervor, as if he wanted to unfold all the fireworks and scenery of the entire Origin Island before the two ancestors.

Turning from the bluestone path at the dock onto the main street, the scenery unfolds layer by layer along the way.

The well-organized Training Ground, the Clan Academy filled with the sound of students reciting their lessons, the meticulously planned research institute, and the neatly arranged new residential areas all passed by.

This island, rooted in the West Blue, needs no further explanation. With its vibrant and peaceful everyday life, it silently tells the story of the Uchiha's current state—they have long since broken free from the mire of the past and are living a stable and prosperous life.

"The Training Ground has been expanded three times, and its scale is no longer what it used to be."

He raised his Setsuna and pointed to the training ground in the distance, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, his tone revealing an irrepressible sense of satisfaction.

The evening breeze swept across the field, carrying a crisp sound as Shuriken were driven into the wooden stakes with a clear, precise click.

"The earliest batch of students in the clan were able to activate their Sharingan on their own before even graduating."

Now, the children of the tribe have been educated from a young age and have long since abandoned the shackles of their old obsessions. Everyone understands that this power of their bloodline eyes is not a curse, but the confidence and trump card to protect their people and safeguard their homeland.

A few toddlers, barely tall enough to hold onto the railing, were squeezed together by the fence. They stood on tiptoe, their bright eyes fixed on the seniors' training movements.