Fugaku and Mikoto looked at Wen Lan in astonishment. They had never imagined that a five-year-old child could speak such words.
Itachi's whole body trembled as well, staring at Wen Lan in shock.
"Itachi, remember this! The village belongs to everyone—it is not Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal domain!
The Uchiha can sacrifice for the village, but we will never sacrifice for the Hokage himself!
The village and the Hokage are two separate things!
When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. If you don't understand this, then you are utterly unfit to be the clan's future head!"
Wen Lan's young yet resolute words echoed through the room. Itachi's pupils shrank slightly, as though those words had struck a hidden corner deep within his heart.
Itachi stared blankly at Wen Lan, complex emotions flickering in his deep eyes.
In that instant, he seemed to glimpse a vague shadow of the future—one shrouded in endless darkness, yet still struggling to seek the light.
Wen Lan's words were like a blade, cutting through the fog in his heart and awakening a long-buried realization.
He slowly lowered his head, his voice low and trembling.
"You're right… I was too naïve."
Tears welled in his eyes but did not fall.
He clenched his fists tightly, as if making a firm decision.
Fugaku and Mikoto exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock and unease—this child seemed to have spoken a truth even they had never fully contemplated.
"Itachi, remember this as well! Fighting for the clan's interests is what you, as the future clan head, are supposed to do!
Fighting for the village's interests is the responsibility of everyone in the village!
Not blindly sacrificing yourself for some so-called 'greater good' preached by the Hokage!
If the ruler cannot defend the land for the people, then the people will not defend the ruler!"
These words exploded in Itachi's heart like thunder.
He raised his head, his gaze gradually becoming firm.
In that moment, he seemed to see the cracks in the village's future—and also his own helplessness within them.
Wen Lan's words were like seeds quietly taking root in his heart, bringing a clarity he had never known before.
He said softly,
"I understand… True protection isn't blind obedience—it's holding fast to the justice in one's heart."
Watching Itachi's change, Fugaku and Mikoto felt both relief and a faint sense of unease. Did these words also foreshadow an even greater storm to come?
"That's all I have to say. Itachi, you're still young—it's normal not to see some things clearly yet. You'll understand in the future."
Wen Lan stood up, stretched lazily, and said, "Alright, I'm going back to rest. I still have training tomorrow."
With that, he left the clan head's residence and returned to his own courtyard.
Fugaku sat silently at the table, deep in thought.
Early the next morning, Wen Lan went off to train with Might Guy's father, Might Duy.
By the time the sun was fully up, Uchiha Fugaku stood before the clan shrine, gazing at the Uchiha crest with a complicated expression.
He had pondered Wen Lan's words over and over through the night. At last, he made his decision, turned around, and headed for the Hokage Tower.
When he arrived at the top-floor office, quite a few people were already gathered inside. The atmosphere was heavy and tense.
There were members of the Hyūga clan: Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi.
From the Yamanaka clan: Yamanaka Inoichi.
From the Nara clan: Nara Shikaku.
From the Akimichi clan: Akimichi Chōza.
From the Inuzuka clan: Inuzuka Tsume.
There were also many jōnin, as well as the two senior advisors: Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
And one Hokage's aide: Shimura Danzō.
The atmosphere in the Hokage's office seemed frozen solid.
As Fugaku stepped inside, many eyes turned toward him. Most greeted him with friendly nods.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat in the main seat. His expression was calm, though the fatigue in his eyes was impossible to hide.
"Fugaku, you came at just the right time," he said in a low, steady voice.
"This meeting was convened to discuss the war.
The battlefield has now entered its final stage, and I'm considering the possibility of peace talks.
Although Konoha suffered heavy losses in this war, Iwagakure has also been gravely weakened.
We cannot allow meaningless fighting to continue, or we'll only end up with mutual destruction. I trust everyone here understands that."
What Hiruzen was really doing with these words was hinting at the Hyūga clan.
In essence, he was saying: the village's foundation is currently too weak to start another war. Pursuing the Byakugan relentlessly could provoke Kirigakure. Konoha simply no longer has the strength to fight the Mist.
Hyūga Hiashi's expression shifted slightly. He lowered his gaze, his eyes full of resentment.
"Hokage-sir, I believe we must retrieve the Byakugan!"
The moment Uchiha Fugaku spoke, everyone present was stunned and turned to look at him in disbelief.
Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi both stared at Fugaku in surprise.
Because among everyone here, anyone might speak up for the Hyūga—except the Uchiha.
The two clans had always competed for the title of the strongest dōjutsu clan. Even though there had been no open conflict, not kicking someone while they were down was already considered generous.
Hiruzen's heart sank, and his face visibly darkened.
Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō also darkened in expression.
"Give me a reason!"
Hiruzen's voice turned cold.
To him, the Uchiha were an evil clan. Over the years, Fugaku had always been soft and easy to manipulate.
Yet today, Fugaku had suddenly grown a backbone.
And this was in front of everyone—openly challenging his authority.
"I'd like to ask the Hokage something," Fugaku said calmly.
"Today, when the Hyūga clan's Byakugan was taken, all that was issued was a bounty.
So tomorrow, if the Uchiha's Sharingan, the Akimichi clan's Expansion Techniques, or the Nara clan's Shadow Techniques are stolen—will it also be nothing more than another bounty, with no regard at all for how our clans feel?"
Those words caused Nara Shikaku's expression to change.
He had long thought of this implication—and everyone else here understood it as well.
But understanding it privately was one thing. Saying it out loud was another.
Everyone could see that Hiruzen had no intention of pursuing the matter further. By stating it outright, Fugaku had placed Hiruzen directly over a blazing fire.
Forcing Kirigakure to return the Byakugan was simply impossible.
Among the three great dōjutsu of the ninja world—the Sharingan, the Rinnegan, and the Byakugan—no village that obtained even one of them would ever give it up.
If Konoha tried to negotiate with Kirigakure, the talks would inevitably collapse.
And collapse meant war.
But after the Third Shinobi World War, the combined number of surviving jōnin across all villages had fallen to fewer than five hundred.
Meanwhile, Kirigakure had avoided the war entirely—it was at the height of its power.
"Hmph!"
Shimura Danzō slammed his cane heavily against the floor. His single visible eye fixed on Fugaku as he spoke coldly:
"Didn't you hear what Hiruzen said? The village is no longer suited for war!"
"So the peace we have now was bought with the blood of our ninja clans," Fugaku shot back, his gaze burning as he looked at Danzō.
"And now that the war is ending, you want us to accept unnecessary losses in exchange for peace?
Danzō-dono, aren't you afraid this will break the hearts of the ninja clans?
Or is it that, when necessary, Konoha will abandon us ninja clans—just as it once abandoned the Uzumaki clan?"
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