Hokage Building, top-floor office.
Uchiha Fugaku sat upright, facing none other than the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Yao.
In truth, ever since Uchiha Yao had become Hokage and the Uchiha Clan had truly risen to the pinnacle of Konoha's power, Fugaku, the former clan head, had rarely taken the initiative to meet with Yao.
After stepping down, Uchiha Fugaku had retained the nominal title of elder. Of course, this elder position was little more than a ceremonial decoration, with no real authority.
Fugaku himself knew his place and had not caused any trouble.
If it had not been for Sasuke, he would not have come to see Uchiha Yao today.
"Speak, Fugaku," Uchiha Yao said.
"You did not come all this way just to have tea, did you?"
Fugaku took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Hokage-sama, I came because of Sasuke."
"Oh?"
Uchiha Yao looked at Fugaku.
"Sasuke? Is something wrong with him?"
"His strength is insufficient."
Fugaku's answer was blunt and direct.
"Compared to your disciple, Naruto Uzumaki, the gap between them is far too great."
So he finally could not sit still.
Fugaku still had a fire burning in his heart. His son had lost to my disciple; as his father, he must have taken it harder than anyone.
Still, that was good. That was precisely Sasuke's value.
"A gap can only be bridged through effort and talent," Uchiha Yao continued.
"I heard that you have been training him harshly lately."
"Yes," Fugaku admitted without hesitation.
"But I know very well that Sasuke will struggle to catch up to Naruto Uzumaki with my guidance alone. That child... he is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and also your personal disciple. The resources available to him are far beyond anything Sasuke can compare to."
Fugaku stared intently at Uchiha