Born with boundless love, Uchiha

[Silent Thunderclap]

[Rank: C]

[Ability: Converts Lightning Release chakra into wireless electromagnetic waves to scan, locate, and identify the surrounding environment]

[Assessment: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!]

Uchiha Minamoto let out a gentle breath.

The Lightning Release chakra he had refined through [Thunder Breathing] silently transformed into electromagnetic waves, spreading in every direction from his kitchen and encompassing the entire Uchiha New Clan Compound in an instant.

After making contact with physical matter, the electromagnetic waves bounced back at the speed of light, compiling information about objects' sizes, shapes, heights, and more in Uchiha Minamoto's mind, ultimately forming an exquisitely detailed map of the entire new compound.

So detailed, so incredibly detailed! So big, so incredibly big!

The actual effects of [Silent Thunderclap] were even stronger than Uchiha Minamoto had expected.

It required no hand seals, was extremely discreet to use, offered highly efficient perception, and covered an incredibly wide area...

There was only one way to describe it.

Abso-friggin'-lutely perfect~

Uchiha Minamoto stopped using [Silent Thunderclap], picked up two steaming Krabby Patties, and headed for the front door.

During his scan just now, two "human outlines" had been approaching his house.

Those two familiar body outlines are...

Before anyone could ring the doorbell, Uchiha Minamoto opened the door.

"Aunt Hazuki, Izumi, good morning."

Uchiha Minamoto greeted his captain and younger cousin with a smile.

"Want some Krabby Patties I made?"

"Thank you, Senior Minamoto!" Uchiha Izumi accepted without standing on ceremony.

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Uchiha Hazuki also accepted a Krabby Patty and held it in her hand.

"Minamoto, I came this morning because I have some news to pass along."

Uchiha Minamoto ushered his captain and teammate into the living room.

"An examination found very clear traces of Yin Release chakra intrusion in the brain of the mask shop owner you arrested yesterday."

Sitting on the sofa, Uchiha Hazuki conveyed the Fourth Division's examination results and the details of the subsequent handling to her subordinate.

"So what happened yesterday was definitely someone deliberately trying to drive a wedge between the clan and the village!

"I've already reported the details to Captain Yashiro, and he said he would report directly to the Commander-in-Chief.

"The clan absolutely won't let the mastermind who set you up get away with this!"

Uchiha Yashiro, division captain of the Konoha Military Police Force's Fifth Division.

The Commander-in-Chief, the highest-ranking official in the Konoha Military Police Force, was also the head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Fugaku.

"Mm." Uchiha Minamoto nodded to indicate that he understood.

As for Uchiha Hazuki's "promise," he simply let it go in one ear and out the other.

The mastermind behind the mask shop owner incident was Shimura Danzō.

It might even have been Hiruzen Sarutobi.

What could the Uchiha Clan possibly do to make the leader of Root and the Third Hokage pay?

Condemn them?

Strongly condemn them?

Or publicly condemn them at an internal clan meeting?

At any rate, they probably wouldn't take any actual action...

Uchiha Hazuki had no idea Uchiha Minamoto was inwardly badmouthing the clan.

After explaining how yesterday's incident had been wrapped up, she moved on to another topic.

"Minamoto, I heard from Izumi that you refused to join the Anbu. Is that true?"

"It's true."

Uchiha Itachi patiently explained to his father.

"Senior Minamoto refused to join the Anbu, but the Third Hokage didn't punish him for it."

"That Minamoto!"

Arms folded across his chest, Uchiha Fugaku frowned deeply, furious.

"Does he even understand what joining the Anbu means?"

If he could.

Uchiha Fugaku really wanted to pry open Uchiha Minamoto's skull and see just what was inside!

The conflict between the clan and the village had already escalated so far.

If Uchiha Minamoto joined the Anbu.

Even if he couldn't help ease the conflict between the clan and the village.

He could at least help the clan actively gather intelligence from the village!

Why couldn't Uchiha Minamoto learn from Itachi?

What good did doing more work for the Konoha Military Police Force accomplish?

Uchiha Fugaku had long since seen through this.

Ever since Konoha's founding.

Except during wartime.

The vast majority of the Uchiha Clan's strength had been tied down within the Konoha Military Police Force.

It was an honor, but also a shackle.

Since becoming clan head, Uchiha Fugaku had never abandoned his dream of strengthening the clan.

But trapped in the Konoha Military Police Force, however grand his dreams were, they could only remain daydreams.

After years of harsh lessons from reality, Uchiha Fugaku understood one thing very well.

No matter how well he did his job in the Konoha Military Police Force, the Jonin Commander would never collectively nominate him to become the Fifth Hokage!

If the Uchiha Clan wanted to survive and develop, there was only one option-

Take the initiative to change!

"Enough about that brainless idiot Uchiha Minamoto!"

Uchiha Fugaku looked intently at his eldest son, the Super Genius who made him so immensely proud.

"Itachi, you've joined the Anbu now, correct?"

"Yes, Father."

For the seventh time since returning home last night, Uchiha Itachi answered this question, responding automatically like a robot.

"Lord Hokage has assigned me a mission-to protect Naruto Uzumaki in secret."

This was indeed an order Hiruzen Sarutobi had given.

But it was only the first half.

Uchiha Itachi did not reveal the second half.

Because his father certainly wouldn't like hearing it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's full order was-

While secretly protecting Naruto Uzumaki, secretly monitor Uchiha Minamoto as well. Don't let Uchiha Minamoto do anything that crosses the line!

That was Uchiha Itachi's real mission.

Hiruzen Sarutobi: have an Uchiha monitor an Uchiha!

"Naruto Uzumaki, huh..."

Upon hearing that name, Uchiha Fugaku's expression immediately grew somewhat complicated.

Back then, he and Minato Namikaze had been friends, and his wife Mikoto had also been quite close to Kushina Uzumaki.

At the time, the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village had been very close.

Unfortunately, now.

Times had moved on. Things had changed.

Uchiha Fugaku could no longer remember how many times he had sighed over something like this-

If only the Fourth Hokage hadn't died!

If Minato Namikaze hadn't died, the Uchiha Clan would never have fallen into its current situation!

That damned Nine-Tails!

That damned... Masked Man!

A figure flashed through Uchiha Fugaku's mind. His eyes flickered a few times, and he waved his eldest son away.

"You may go, Itachi. Do your work in the Anbu well, and remember to attend this week's clan meeting."

Uchiha Itachi joining the Anbu was indeed good news for the clan, worth publicizing far and wide.

"Yes, Father."

Uchiha Itachi knelt and bowed, then left the quiet room that made him feel somewhat suffocated.

As the conflict between the clan and the village deepened, the atmosphere at home was growing worse by the day.

Uchiha Itachi quickly finished breakfast and took his little brother out with him.

His little brother, Sasuke-only Sasuke could still give Uchiha Itachi's life meaning.

"Sasuke."

Uchiha Itachi stroked his little brother's head.

"To me, you are my light..."

"Big brother..."

The young Sasuke Uchiha couldn't understand his brother's words. He only felt that his brother's hand was so big and warm.

Just then, a little blond suddenly entered Uchiha Itachi's field of vision.

But his little brother seemed to have noticed the little blond before he did.

"Dead last?"

"Sasuke!!!"

Naruto Uzumaki sprinted over, taking the steps two at a time. He was just about to ask that stuck-up Sasuke for directions when he suddenly saw Uchiha Itachi's hand resting on Sasuke's head and stopped in his tracks.

Sasuke Uchiha also noticed the dead-last's reaction and immediately caught on.

His persona at school was that of a cool, aloof ninja prodigy.

How could he let anyone see him looking so childish?

The tips of Sasuke Uchiha's ears reddened, and he ducked away from his brother's palm in embarrassment.

Uchiha Itachi: ?

This inherently evil little blond brat actually dared to ruin the bond between my little brother and me. I'll-

Before Uchiha Itachi could personally cut down the blond.

Sasuke Uchiha took the initiative to change the subject.