"The Uchiha Clan!"
"I heard that Clan Leader Uchiha Fugaku's younger brother, that man called 'Uchiha Mingyue', killed the Third Hokage's son and daughter-in-law."
"How terrifying, why aren't they driven out of Konoha?"
"Shh~ Keep your voice down, don't let them hear you!"
"Damn it! Not only did they not help when the Nine-Tails was causing trouble, but he also killed the Third Hokage's children. The detestable Uchiha!"
On the road back to the village from the Konoha Cemetery.
As the Uchiha Clan, dressed in black, returned to their clan grounds after attending the funeral of Namikaze Minato and the ninjas who died in the Nine-Tails Rampage.
The surrounding villagers, while avoiding eye contact, whispered words that were piercing to the ears of the Uchiha.
"Damn it!"
As a high-ranking member of the Uchiha Police Force, the Jōnin Uchiha Tekka heard these words, his veins bulged, and he stepped out of the ranks to do something.
"Get back!"
However, before he could take a step, Uchiha Fugaku, walking at the very front, had already shouted to stop him.
"Don't cause any more trouble."
Under the deterrence of Uchiha Fugaku, the Clan Leader, many indignant Uchiha clan members had no choice but to suppress the anger in their hearts.
"Clan Leader."
Uchiha Yashiro, with a head of gray hair and over fifty years old, whose qualifications were above Uchiha Fugaku's, walked beside him and said in a low voice:
"Regarding the matter of Vice-Captain Mingyue... do you know anything?"
The Mingyue he knew, although serving as the Vice-Captain of the Uchiha Police Force, was merely at the level of "excellent."
But now—
A genius at the age of 15, who developed his own exclusive Fire Release and awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at the same time.
Even the genius Uchiha Shisui, who was called "Shisui of the Body Flicker" at the age of 12, seemed to dim by thirty percent under his radiance.
However, what was unacceptable to the Uchiha was that such a genius displayed his power at the moment of his defection.
"After fifteen years of being together, I seem to have never seen through him..."
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes were deep as he fell into contemplation.
"Is that so... I'm sorry, I misspoke, Clan Leader."
Uchiha Yashiro and the others said no more.
The Uchiha Clan had now moved from the original central area of the village to the periphery.
So, it did not take much time to return to the clan grounds from the village's main gate.
"Father, you're back."
When Uchiha Fugaku stepped into his home, Itachi, holding the sleeping Sasuke, walked out from inside the house.
"Itachi, is school over? How were your classes today?"
Uchiha Fugaku sighed inwardly, forcing a smile as he asked.
"Too easy, Father. Please teach me ninjutsu."
On Itachi's young face, a maturity unlike someone of his age was displayed.
Uchiha Fugaku was stunned, then let out a proud laugh, "Hahaha, as expected of my child. Come with me."
"Yes!"
After placing the sleeping Sasuke back in the crib, Itachi followed Fugaku towards the Uchiha's exclusive family training ground.
When he saw his son learn the Uchiha's signature Fire Release, the Great Fireball Technique, after seeing it only once, Uchiha Fugaku once again revealed a long-lost smile.
But when he recalled what Kakashi had said about the unprecedented Fire Release Mingyue had displayed on the night of his defection, his smile retracted again.
"Father, was it not good enough?"
Seeing his father's smile appear and then disappear, Itachi thought he hadn't learned it well enough.
"No, Itachi, you did beautifully. As expected of my child."
After praising him, Uchiha Fugaku added:
"By the way, Itachi, you told me before that on the night of the Nine-Tails incident, you and Sasuke ran into Mingyue, right?"
"Uh..."
Although he didn't know why his father brought this up at this time, Itachi nodded obediently.
"Did Mingyue say anything?"
Uchiha Fugaku asked again.
[The countdown to the Uchiha's life has begun, Itachi. If one day you are willing to join me, I will be happy.]
Mingyue's last words before leaving echoed in Itachi's ears.
After struggling internally for a few seconds, Itachi shook his head, "No, Uncle didn't say anything."
Although with Itachi's current understanding, he couldn't think too deeply.
But Itachi had already keenly sensed that his uncle's defection was not simple; he must be planning something.
If he told his father what Mingyue said, it would trigger a series of unpredictable consequences.
However, although Uchiha Fugaku was a father, to be honest, he did not understand his son.
Especially the Itachi who was not even 6 years old this year.
Hearing his eldest son's words, Uchiha Fugaku did not suspect anything and turned around, saying:
"Is that so? Then let's go home. Mother should have finished cooking dinner by now."
On the way back, Uchiha Fugaku looked outside the clan grounds—
The Justice Department Building, the Ninja Department Building, and the Investigation Department Building surrounded the Uchiha clan grounds.
Are we being monitored?
What Mingyue said in the letter he left, that the conflict between the Uchiha and the village would rise to an irreconcilable level, is it really going to be like that?