Chapter 262: Itachi, Daily Life, Gray Flames
Nightfall.
Konoha.
Uchiha District, Fugaku's private estate.
The two Great Elders of the clan arrived together. Fire Clone–Fugaku welcomed them into a reception room.
"You may go."
After the servants had poured tea for all three of them, Fire Clone–Fugaku waved his hand. The servants bowed and left, closing the door behind them.
The moment the door shut, the radical faction elder didn't even touch his tea. He slammed the table, leaned forward, and coldly questioned Fire Clone–Fugaku, "Clan Head, why didn't you speak up at today's Hokage Council to send our clan's shinobi to the front lines?"
Earlier that day, the Third Hokage had gathered all clan heads for a wartime mobilization meeting. He had requested that each clan dispatch more shinobi to the front lines in the Land of Earth, aiming to deal a decisive blow to Iwagakure.
But once again, the Uchiha clan had been excluded.
It had been a year since the war began, and the Uchiha were still being kept in Konoha, with only a few newly graduated Academy genin permitted to fight at the front.
This made many in the clan resentful. Why were they being forced to sit back?
Without the honor of war, how could they ever produce a Hokage?
And their own clan head wasn't even fighting for their inclusion—letting that old monkey, Hiruzen, dictate the terms.
The radical elder now felt like Fire Clone–Fugaku had deceived him all along—this man had no intention of restoring the Uchiha's former glory.
"Don't be so hasty, Elder."
Fire Clone–Fugaku smiled and gently pushed the teacup in front of the elder toward him. "Drink some tea first, then hear me out."
"Yes, what's the rush? The Clan Head surely has his own plans," the conservative elder beside him chimed in.
Even he was anxious about the exclusion of the Uchiha from combat.
After all, it was clear discrimination and distrust from the Third Hokage.
But he chose to believe in the young clan head before him—surely he had a different solution.
"How can you not be anxious!"
The radical elder stood up and pointed at the conservative elder. "If this continues, who will even remember the glory of the Uchiha? Who will fight for our clan's interests?"
The conservative elder remained silent. Though more moderate, he still hoped for the Uchiha to be reintegrated into Konoha. But continued exclusion like this would only push the Uchiha further away from the village—which was exactly what he wanted to avoid.
"What's your plan, Clan Head?" the conservative elder finally asked.
The radical elder also turned his eyes toward Fire Clone–Fugaku.
His expression calm, Fire Clone–Fugaku took a sip of tea and said lightly, "Sit down."
The radical elder glared, about to lash out again—but when he met Fugaku's unwavering gaze, he froze. With a shiver in his heart, he obediently sat back down.
This man had grown stronger again.
Though uneasy, the radical elder was also pleased. A strong clan head was always a good thing.
He just wished Fugaku would be a bit more forceful.
"No need to worry about our clan being left off the battlefield,"
Fire Clone–Fugaku smiled. "And we don't need to push for it either. Before long, the Third Hokage will come begging for the Uchiha to fight."
Li Yao would not allow Konoha to enjoy such a smooth war. Otherwise, how would he create the chaos necessary for Madara's plans and Obito's descent into darkness, awakening the Kamui Mangekyō?
"All we need to do is wait patiently," Fire Clone–Fugaku said.
The radical elder frowned. "Do you mean the other three Hidden Villages will attack us?"
The conservative elder looked thoughtful.
This war had begun with the best conditions Konoha had ever had since the First and Second Ninja Wars.
Not one village had attacked Konoha directly. Sand, Stone, and Mist had tangled with each other. Iwa, in particular, had faced Suna, Konoha, and Kumo simultaneously.
This excellent opening had encouraged the Third Hokage to concentrate forces to wipe out Iwa first.
That way, even if the remaining villages later ganged up on Konoha, the village would have more resources to defend itself.
Compared to the past—when Konoha had faced all four major Hidden Villages at once—this was a far better scenario.
It was precisely because of this smooth start that Hiruzen had the luxury to suppress the Uchiha and keep them at home. After all, other clans wouldn't be happy to risk their lives while the Uchiha sat back in safety.
Suppressing the Uchiha was about cutting down how many people would fight over spoils.
But if there were no spoils—just costs—then other clans wouldn't want to sacrifice themselves while the Uchiha enjoyed peace.
So for the Third Hokage to come begging the Uchiha to fight, Konoha would need to be overwhelmed by multiple Hidden Villages.
But right now, none of the other villages were attacking Konoha.
The two elders couldn't figure out where Fire Clone–Fugaku's confidence was coming from.
But he didn't explain—he simply told them to go home and wait.
Helpless, the two elders had no choice but to leave under his pressure.
After they were gone, Fire Clone–Fugaku returned to the main bedroom.
"The elders came by again,"
Uchiha Mikoto greeted him, cradling a baby in her arms. With one hand, she helped him remove his outer robe and quietly shut the door.
Since the war began, the elders had been visiting often. Mikoto was already used to it.
"Mm," Fire Clone–Fugaku nodded. Then, smiling, he stretched out his arms. "Come here, my little Itachi—let Father hold you."
Yes, Uchiha Itachi had been born.
Whether he was the son of Fire Clone–Fugaku or Li Yao's old Amegakure body was unknown.
But Li Yao had chosen the name himself: Uchiha Itachi.
He wanted to see if this Itachi would one day grow into the same tragic genius from the original story.
Itachi stared at his father with wide, curious eyes.
Locking gazes with those large eyes, Fire Clone–Fugaku was suddenly amused. He held his "good son" in one arm and wrapped the other around Mikoto's slim waist. He pushed her down against the table and placed their son gently on her back.
"The carousel begins now, little Itachi!"
"Honey… wait…"
"Itachi… not yet… he can't…"
"Ah…"
An hour later—
The curtains closed on a warm and harmonious family scene.
Beauty was a momentary indulgence. In Li Yao's mind, power was always the greater priority.
In the training room, Fire Clone–Fugaku sat cross-legged, hands forming seals in the air. Between his palms burned a small flame.
A strange one.
It wasn't orange-red or white—but a dim, gray flame.
Though its temperature was scorching, its glow was faint.
Without the training room's lights, one might not even see the flame at all.
"Almost there."
Looking at the gray flame, Fire Clone–Fugaku continued refining the properties within it and murmured softly.
At this point, its chakra property transformation was already comparable to a Kekkei Genkai.
It had immense heat and burning ability. It no longer adhered to the limits of basic chakra elements—it had evolved into a new fire nature chakra.
But it still fell just short of the Kekkei Tōta level technique Li Yao was aiming for.
Once he integrated extreme heat into the burning property, he would finally possess the Fire Release chakra needed for a Bloodline Elimination–class fire technique.
His fire ninjutsu was being developed in the style of Amaterasu—emphasizing an all-consuming burn.
(END CHAPTER)
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