That's It?

As Minato's figure gradually faded away, the smile on Retsuo's face slowly froze. The Will of Fire really is Konoha's ultimate genjutsu. If I hadn't studied the Will of Fire so thoroughly, I might have actually believed it...

Come to think of it, what would happen if this barrier could recharge Minato's Chakra? His thoughts began to run wild.

Wouldn't that make Minato his "old man on call"? Or could he find even more "old men"?

Looking at it that way, failing to save Minato had its hidden benefits. Otherwise, Minato wouldn't have been able to come with him.

Suppressing his wandering thoughts, Retsuo wanted to leave. But how was he supposed to get out of the barrier?

Without needing anyone to teach him, he threw his head back and laughed wildly. "Hahahaha—hahahaha—"

He had to admit, once he got into that wild-laughing state, he really got fired up, and his Chakra felt positively surging.

A moment later, Uchiha Retsuo strode toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, his steps firm, unhurried, and steady. After a bout of wild laughter, a person really did become more confident!

Shimura Danzō frowned. This kid's bearing was completely different from before. His eyes were bright and brimming with confidence, as if his entire mental state had undergone a complete transformation.

As the "Darkness of the Ninja World," he had met countless people and possessed keen insight no weaker than anyone else's. He hurriedly looked around, but found nothing unusual.

That was strange. What had happened to the Uchiha brat in that brief moment? Could his strength have suddenly increased?

Danzō instinctively felt annoyed, even to the point of scratching his head in frustration.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Retsuo, the information you possess is extremely important. You can't return home for now. Come with me to the Hokage Building."

He then summoned the ANBU and told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to come to the Hokage Building. After seeming to consider it for a moment, he added with a frown, "Have Fugaku come as well."

Soon, at the Hokage Building.

Outside the Hokage's Office, Fugaku was extremely ill at ease. The cool October breeze blew in through the window. He tightened his collar, pursed his lips, crossed his arms, and did his best to project the bearing of the clan head of the Shinobi World's foremost clan.

However, once the office doors closed, the four elders began their meeting inside. Protected by a barrier, not the slightest sound escaped, and no one cared that the clan head of the Shinobi World's foremost clan was waiting outside.

Retsuo stood to the side and thought, As expected of the Shinobi World's foremost coward. He can actually put up with this? Fugaku truly embodies the meaning of the word "shinobi."

As the ancients said, "When suddenly confronted, one does not panic; when subjected to undeserved treatment, one does not grow angry. Such a person must have grand ambitions and far-reaching aspirations." But Retsuo knew that wasn't Fugaku's situation. He was simply a genuine coward.

If he were Fugaku, and had already awakened the Mangekyo, he would either kick open the door and go in, telling them to get to the point and finish their nonsense before he left, after which they could argue as much as they pleased; or he would flick his sleeves and walk away, telling anyone with business to come discuss it at the Uchiha Clan compound.

That was what he called imposing!

But alas, he wasn't Fugaku. It wouldn't be too late to worry about this after his strength had reached a level where he could compare with Fugaku.

That day wouldn't be far off.

In any case, if he were Fugaku, he would have reclaimed the respect he deserved long ago. He wouldn't still be getting humiliated so thoroughly at a time like this.

What was worse, perhaps the elder council hadn't even intended to humiliate him.

Only Retsuo continued to maintain his respect for Fugaku. "Esteemed Clan Head, that's roughly what happened. Teacher Minato and Aunt Kushina died fighting for the village, and their son was given the name Uzumaki Menma by the Third Hokage."

Fugaku nodded heavily, his mood extremely sour.

It wasn't because Retsuo had censored a great deal of crucial information. That was the village's order, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Rather, his beloved wife, Uchiha Mikoto, had been a close friend of Kushina Uzumaki. That emotional investment had begun very early and, up until tonight, had been extremely successful. The current Hokage had shown clear goodwill toward the Uchiha Clan.

As Minato Namikaze gradually established himself as the Fourth Hokage, the Uchiha Clan's long-standing disadvantage within the village seemed poised to improve.

Hiruzen, Danzō, and the others would eventually grow old. Moreover, Uchiha Retsuo might even replace Obito and take the Fourth Hokage as his teacher. The main family's situation was not merely good—it was practically flourishing!

Who could have imagined that it would turn out like this?

Forty years of effort by three entire generations had been reduced to nothing! Fugaku even had the illusion that his Dojutsu Power had grown because of it...

He knew that Retsuo often interacted with Kushina Uzumaki. Even many ninjas didn't understand the concept of a Jinchuriki, but Retsuo was no stranger to it.

After a long while, Uchiha Fugaku said in an unusual, exhausted tone, "Uzumaki, Namikaze... So, in the end, did Minato make his son the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? What a poor child. Sigh!"

Retsuo was astonished, though he kept his expression calm. Fugaku might have been a coward, but he was quite perceptive. He had actually inferred so much merely from the Third Hokage changing Naruto's surname.

Because Naruto was a Jinchuriki, his surname had to be changed to conceal his identity as the Fourth Hokage's son and prevent people from connecting him to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Besides, Uzumaki was a major surname in the Shinobi World. It was even openly depicted on the ninja flak jackets of Konoha. Having the surname Uzumaki was hardly conspicuous.

Moreover, Fugaku might have figured out even more... With that final remark—"What a poor child"—he might already have guessed how Hiruzen intended to shape Naruto's childhood.

As expected of the clan head of a great clan. There were truly countless twists and turns in his mind.

From that single sentence, Retsuo knew that he had underestimated Fugaku.

"I really can't underestimate these famous figures..."

After all, even in his previous life, he had only been an ordinary student. Intrigue and scheming had never been his strong suit. If he hadn't gained the advantage of foreknowledge, he would probably have been far inferior to this group of old schemers.

With Minato's death, the possibility of coasting to victory had vanished completely. The difficulty of this transmigration had risen to S-rank. From now on, he had to work himself to the bone.

Fugaku asked, seemingly offhandedly, "About the Masked Man's Sharingan..."

"Yes, three tomoe." Retsuo's expression was grave, with just the right degree of solemnity.

Regarding the Masked Man's Sharingan, there was no need for him to keep it secret. He had already mentioned it publicly while being harried by Root Ninjas, and many ninjas and civilians had heard it. There was no secret left to preserve.

Especially at the final moment, when Minato had actually called out to Retsuo. The ninjas fighting the Nine-Tails to the death had heard their Fourth Hokage personally mention the "Masked Man." The consequences were obvious.

After half a night of frenzied circulation, everyone who needed to know about such explosive news surely knew already.

But am I concerned about how many tomoe he has? I'm concerned about whether I can shake off this enormous pot that fell from the sky! Ah—

His expression was extremely conflicted. However, after mumbling for a long while, he merely pursed his lips and said in a roundabout way, "You shouldn't have publicly announced that the Masked Man possesses the Sharingan in the village. Now everyone knows, which is extremely disadvantageous for the main family."

Retsuo narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling that the clan head's level was still rather worrying. Why do you think I made it public in the first place?

In the Original Timeline, after the Nine-Tails' Rampage, the village and the Uchiha family entered a direct cold war. Three enormous tomoe had grown in the Nine-Tails' eyes, yet the village hadn't even asked Fugaku about it. Sarutobi Hiruzen claimed verbally that he believed the Uchiha were members of the village and its comrades, but then had the ANBU install countless cameras to monitor the Uchiha Clan compound around the clock.

The Uchiha family's way of thinking was even more remarkable. They firmly believed that the main family could control the Nine-Tails, and that once they tied up the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, they would have a good chance of staging a coup.

As for asking questions and explaining things? Both sides maintained zero communication.

That's it?

But he didn't know that the four elders inside the office had already argued themselves into a complete mess over this very matter.