Fugaku was moved to tears

Halfway through speaking, Fugaku pointed at Chikage's eyes.

"Don't think I don't know."

"You didn't awaken those eyes because eating too much dango got you overheated."

"You forced them to awaken under immense fear and pressure!"

Chikage nearly choked on his own saliva.

With an imagination like that, Fugaku was wasting his talents by not writing novels.

Still, this worked out well. It saved Chikage the trouble of inventing an explanation for his Sharingan.

"Clan head, you're right."

"I am under pressure."

"But I still have to go on this mission."

"Not only am I going, I'm going to make every last ryo of that two hundred thousand count."

Fugaku's eyes widened, his face full of bewilderment.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"You're about to lose your life, and you're still thinking about spending money?"

Chikage waved a hand.

"Let me run the numbers for you."

"This is a Joint Enforcement Mission. I'm going to the border to investigate a case on behalf of the Konoha Military Police Force."

"If I'm attacked along the way, what does that make it?"

"Violent resistance to law enforcement and the attempted murder of a police deputy captain carrying out official duties."

"As long as I make it back alive, Danzo will be in serious trouble."

Fugaku cut him off.

"The key is making it back alive!"

"Root never leaves survivors!"

Chikage picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip.

"Killing me won't be that easy."

"Don't forget, I have far more chakra than an ordinary Jonin."

"I'll stay on the Konoha Main Road, then follow the Official Trade Route to the border."

"There are village outposts and merchant caravans all along the way."

"No matter how brazen Danzo is, he wouldn't dare send a large force of Root ninja to intercept and kill me on a main road in broad daylight."

"At most, he can send a few elite operatives to strike somewhere remote near the border."

Fugaku considered it carefully. Chikage did have a point.

Root was an organization that operated in the shadows. It couldn't launch a major operation somewhere crowded with witnesses.

"Even a few elite operatives would be more than you could handle alone."

"You don't even have any combat experience!"

Chikage set down his teacup, his tone steady.

"I have money."

"With two hundred thousand ryo in funding, I can hire local guides and guards under the authority of the joint enforcement operation once I reach the border."

"Then I'll buy a supply of Explosive Tags, antidotes, and intelligence."

"If mission funds can solve a problem, I'm definitely not using my fists."

Fugaku listened in a daze.

What kind of tactic was this?

Using the funds Danzo had allocated to buy Explosive Tags to defend against assassins Danzo sent?

How did this kid's brain even work?

"That's all just theory!"

"What if the people you hire aren't reliable?"

"What if the Explosive Tags don't kill the enemy?"

Still unconvinced, Fugaku stood and paced around the living room.

"No."

"Even if we can't turn down this mission, I can't let you go alone."

"I'll have Yashiro pick a few skilled members of the Second Squad. They'll change into civilian clothes tomorrow and follow you in secret."

"With them there, Root won't be able to cause much trouble."

The moment Chikage heard that, he sprang out of his chair.

That won't do!

If Yashiro brought people along, not only would they draw too much attention, but all the arrangements for his business trip would be thrown off.

More importantly, with more people involved, the two hundred thousand ryo in funding would have to be recalculated based on the number of participants.

"Absolutely not!"

Chikage hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

Fugaku stopped pacing and looked at him in confusion.

"Why not?"

"This is for your safety!"

Chikage's mind raced as he searched for a suitable excuse.

"Clan head, think about it."

"What position is Captain Yashiro in right now?"

"Root just arrested him. The whole village is watching him."

"If he suddenly leaves the Konoha Military Police Force, Danzo will hear about it immediately."

"Then Danzo will turn around and accuse the police of abandoning their posts and plotting something."

"Can we afford to bear that charge?"

Fugaku froze.

Chikage was right. Yashiro's position was far too sensitive right now.

"Then I won't send Yashiro."

"I'll have Inabi lead the team."

Chikage shook his head repeatedly.

"Inabi is too hotheaded."

"If he clashes with Root along the way and things escalate, we'll end up in the wrong even if we started out in the right."

"Listen to me. I have to go alone."

"I'm less conspicuous on my own, and I'll be leaving the village legitimately, with an official letter."

"Even if Danzo wants to act, he'll have to weigh the consequences."

Fugaku looked at Chikage, his gaze filled with conflicting emotions.

He felt Chikage was deliberately making excuses to keep the clan out of danger.

This child would rather face Root assassins alone than bring trouble down on the Uchiha.

Fugaku's heart ached, and his guilt deepened.

"Chikage, you..."

"Why put yourself through this?"

Seeing Fugaku look as though he was about to cry made Chikage feel uneasy.

He really hadn't thought that far.

He simply wanted to protect his clock-in points and the two hundred thousand ryo in funding.

"Clan head, please don't look at me like that."

"I really don't feel wronged."

"Tomorrow morning at nine, I'll clock in at the village entrance on time... no, I'll set off from the village entrance on time."

"Just stay in the village and wait for my good news."

Fugaku let out a long sigh.

He knew Chikage was stubborn. Once his mind was made up, it was hard to change.

And Chikage's analysis of the situation really had left him with no argument.

Returning the official letter would mean disobeying orders.

Sending people to protect him in secret could give others ammunition against them.

Now, it seemed their only option really was to let Chikage make the trip to the border alone.

Fugaku reached inside his clothes and rummaged around for a while.

He took out a black Sealing Scroll and solemnly handed it to Chikage.

"Take this."

Chikage accepted the scroll. It felt heavy.

"What is it?"

Fugaku lowered his voice.

"It's something I used on the battlefield in my younger days."

"There are fifty specially made High-Explosive Explosive Tags sealed inside."

"They're far more powerful than the ordinary Explosive Tags sold on the market."

"If you're in danger, forget about the budget."

"Just unseal the scroll and throw them into the crowd."

Chikage's eyes lit up.

Fifty High-Explosive Explosive Tags.

In the System Shop, those would be worth at least several hundred points.

Clan head Fugaku really was generous.

"Thank you, clan head!"

Chikage quickly stowed the scroll in his Ninja Tool Pouch, his movements deft.

Seeing Chikage perk up at the prospect of valuables eased Fugaku's worries a little.

At least the child knew to take something for self-defense.

"Chikage, remember."

"It doesn't matter if you can't complete the mission."

"It doesn't matter if you can't solve the Smuggling Case, either."

"You must come back alive."

"I'll be waiting for you at the Konoha Military Police Force every afternoon at five."

Fugaku's tone was deadly serious.

Chikage nodded firmly.

"Don't worry."

"I may not have many strengths, but I always stick to my schedule."

"When it's time to clock out, not even the king of heaven can stop me."

Fugaku gave him a few more reminders about wilderness survival and guarding against assassination.

Chikage appeared to listen attentively, but inwardly he was planning his route for the next morning.

Which road from the Konoha Gate would get him to the border fastest?

The sooner he finished investigating the Smuggling Case, the sooner he could return to the village and resume his nine-to-five life.

After nearly half an hour of fussing, Fugaku finally finished.

He straightened the casual kimono he was wearing and turned toward the courtyard gate.

When he reached the gate, Fugaku stopped and glanced back at Chikage.

Under the moonlight, Chikage's One-Tomoe Sharingan had already deactivated, returning his eyes to ordinary black.

Fugaku sighed silently.

The Uchiha Clan had finally produced a fine young man who was willing to solve problems with his head and shoulder pressure for the clan.

Starting tomorrow, he would keep a close eye on Danzo's movements within the village.

He absolutely could not give Root a chance to mobilize its personnel on a large scale.

"Get some rest."

With those parting words, Fugaku pushed open the courtyard gate and left.

Chikage watched Fugaku's figure disappear at the end of the street and let out a long breath of relief.

"Finally managed to talk him around."