"This was the right decision."
Itachi said, "Recently, the Ino-Shika-Cho, Hyūga, and other clans have noticeably softened their attitudes toward the Uchiha. They're still wary, but at least they're no longer openly hostile."
"Yes..."
Uchiha Fugaku sighed, but then something occurred to him, and his expression grew grave again.
He took a report from his drawer and handed it to Itachi.
"Take a look at this."
Itachi took the report and skimmed it, his brow gradually furrowing.
"This is... about Uncle Ghost Fire?"
The report had been submitted by an Uchiha ANBU member and detailed observations made during the days before the coup.
It mentioned that Uchiha Onibi had left the clan territory alone several times, keeping his movements secret. The last time had been the day before the coup plans were leaked, when someone had seen him near the Hokage Building.
The report concluded that there was reason to suspect Uchiha Onibi of leaking news of the coup.
"Do you believe this, Father?" Itachi set down the report and looked at Fugaku.
"I don't want to."
Uchiha Fugaku stood and walked to the window. "Ghost Fire is one of the few in the clan to have awakened the Mangekyō. Although he didn't fight on the night of the coup, he didn't help Konoha either. If he really wanted to betray the Uchiha, he had plenty of opportunities to bring about our destruction."
"But how do you explain this report?" Itachi asked.
"That's what puzzles me, too."
Fugaku turned, a complicated look flashing through his eyes. "I investigated the person who submitted it. He's an ordinary Chunin from our clan with a clean background and no signs of colluding with other powers. His observations are detailed, too. They don't look fabricated."
Itachi considered it for a moment, then said, "Father,