Talking with Fugaku

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a shrewd old fox, too.

From everything Danzo had done since entering, he could naturally tell that Danzo was deliberately trying to win Obito over.

But he said little and made no particular effort to stop him.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi also wanted to win Obito over, he was in no hurry.

He knew Obito would graduate soon.

And once Obito graduated, his team assignment would be Hiruzen's decision.

When the time came, he would assign Obito to Minato's team and let Minato nurture the boy. Danzo would naturally have little room to interfere after that.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Yes, of course. Take all three of them back with you..."

And that brought the matter to a close.

Danzo took the three members of the Shimura Clan away.

Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to his official duties.

Obito, Kurenai, and Fugaku then left the Hokage Office Building together.

By then, evening had passed, and the sky was gradually growing dark.

Outside the building, Kurenai Yuhi waved goodbye to Obito. "Obito, let's skip training today. We can go together tomorrow."

Having her genjutsu forcibly broken by the fat man earlier had left Kurenai feeling somewhat unwell.

She wanted to go home and get some proper rest.

"Okay. See you. Be careful on your way home." Obito waved goodbye to Kurenai as well.

"I will." Kurenai nodded, turned, and headed off to the right.

Fugaku's workday had actually already ended.

He had originally been on his way back to the Uchiha.

But he had happened upon Obito's situation along the way and accompanied him to the Hokage Office Building instead.

"Let's go, Obito. We should head back, too," Fugaku said.

Obito nodded with a quiet "Mm" and walked beside Fugaku.

"Obito! Congratulations on awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan at your age."

After they had walked a little way, Fugaku turned to congratulate Obito.

"Ah... thanks." Obito's reply was absentminded.

Over the past two days, Obito had heard far too many remarks like that.

People were often like this. When you were just an insignificant nobody, no one paid you any attention.

But if you suddenly struck it rich or achieved something extraordinary...

Distant relatives and close neighbors alike would flock over to congratulate you and show their goodwill.

Obito had never really understood that before.

Now, however, he knew exactly how it felt.

Fugaku was very perceptive. He immediately picked up on Obito's mood and realized the boy was merely giving him a perfunctory response.

"Obito," Fugaku said calmly, "I know you must think I'm approaching you with some ulterior motive, just like Danzo."

"You're a member of the Uchiha Clan, yet I never paid you any attention before. Now that you've awakened your eyes, I'm suddenly treating you so warmly."

Obito was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Fugaku to read him so quickly.

"Clan Head, you..."

Before Obito could finish, Fugaku waved a hand. "Hear me out first, Obito."

"It's true that the Uchiha Clan has many members. As Clan Head, I have a great deal to handle every day, and I really can't look after everyone."

"I'm sure you've noticed that things haven't been going well for the Uchiha Clan in recent years."

"Our clansmen serve in the Konoha Military Police Force, and they often clash with the villagers."

"Sometimes, when I go drinking at a tavern, I hear people speaking ill of the Uchiha Clan."

"They say we abuse our authority and use excessive violence when enforcing the law."

"But none of these matters are that simple. More often than not, someone is stirring up trouble behind the scenes."

"Besides, the Uchiha Clan is in a very awkward position right now. Though we're part of Konoha, a huge divide separates us from the rest of the village."

Uchiha Fugaku must truly have been under immense pressure.

He actually laid out the Uchiha's difficult circumstances in full right in front of Obito.

Although Obito had already had some suspicions about the Uchiha Clan's troubles...

Hearing Fugaku explain them himself was still quite a shock.

"Clan Head, are you saying someone is deliberately trying to harm the Uchiha behind the scenes?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down." Fugaku frowned and shook his head.

Then he leaned closer. "Obito, I've already begun investigating these matters. But don't casually talk about someone plotting against the Uchiha in public again. Be careful. The walls have ears."

Obito quickly covered his mouth and nodded. "Okay, Clan Head. I understand."

Fugaku smiled and patted Obito's shoulder. "To be honest, Obito, I value your talent a great deal, just as Danzo does."

"The shinobi world has always been a place where strength reigns supreme."

"Before, you hadn't displayed such outstanding talent, so naturally, you had no exposure to matters at this level."

"But now that you've awakened your eyes at this age, even if I hadn't sought you out, the clan elders would still pay special attention to you."

"And as a member of the Uchiha, there are certain burdens you'll undoubtedly have to help shoulder in the future."

Obito turned to look at Fugaku, feeling a little moved.

This young Clan Head carried far too heavy a burden.

He had to consider the entire clan and ensure its survival in Konoha.

And he had to do so despite countless villagers' resentment toward the Uchiha, along with Konoha High Command spreading rumors and stirring up trouble behind the scenes.

At the same time, Fugaku had to keep the clan's hotheaded young members in check and stop them from causing trouble in the village.

No wonder Fugaku already had such a mature face despite being only in his twenties.

With so much to worry about every day, it was a wonder he hadn't lost all his hair...

If he's willing to share all this with me, that must mean he has a pretty favorable impression of me, right?

Obito turned to look at Fugaku again, musing to himself.

Then Obito activated his copying ability and directed it at Fugaku.

Whoosh...

A mass of white light enveloped Fugaku, followed immediately by a system notification sounding in Obito's mind.

[Congratulations, host. You have successfully copied Uchiha Fugaku's Ninjutsu, Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu.]

Phoenix Flower Fire? Not bad.

Obito was secretly delighted. It seemed his guess had been right: Fugaku really did have a favorable impression of him.

Again! Obito used his copying ability on Fugaku once more.

[Congratulations, host. You have successfully copied Uchiha Fugaku's Ninjutsu, Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique.]

He checked the system panel. He had three copying attempts left.

Obito didn't plan to use those three attempts now. If the next result was another Fire Release Ninjutsu, it wouldn't be worth it.

Soon, Obito and Fugaku entered the Uchiha Clan Grounds and went their separate ways.

Obito hadn't promised Fugaku anything or offered much of a response.

Fugaku was right about some things. As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Obito ought to give some thought to the clan's current situation and do his part.

But these weren't matters Obito should involve himself in just yet.

After all, Obito hadn't even graduated, nor did he have much actual authority to deal with these complicated disputes.

Everything could wait until later.

There was still a long time to go before the Night of the Massacre, anyway.

Itachi hadn't even been born yet, so there was naturally no need to rush.

Wouldn't it be better for yours truly to enjoy a few more peaceful years, earn some money, copy more Ninjutsu, and build up my strength first?