Chapter 61: Accepting Itachi as a Disciple?
Is this the future great filial son of the Uchiha?
Hearing Fugaku's words, Yuu could not help turning his gaze to the child in front of him.
The child sat quietly, his posture straight, every movement precise. Even at this age, his etiquette was rigid, almost severe, and there was a sense of reverence on his face.
This was Itachi, as he was now.
Later, he would become the famous "great filial son" of the Uchiha. Yet the Itachi of this moment did not seem to possess anything outwardly striking. He simply left an impression of being very quiet.
Yuu watched him for a moment, then nodded.
"A very quiet child," he said. "He has extraordinary potential. I believe he can become an outstanding shinobi in the future."
"Haha, is that so?" Fugaku looked pleased.
Because of Itachi's young age, he had not yet displayed any especially remarkable talent as a shinobi. In Fugaku's eyes, Yuu's praise was likely just polite talk.
Even so, as a father, hearing his child praised still made him happy.
So Fugaku looked at Yuu and spoke again. "Since you think so highly of this child, may I ask whether you would be willing to take him as your disciple?"
Take Itachi as a disciple?
Yuu froze for an instant.
His first reaction was that it sounded absurd.
He, Yuu, what virtue or ability did he have that he could teach the future great filial son of the Uchiha? Did Fugaku not realize this child was the sort of ruthless person who could wipe out his entire clan if pushed to the edge?
And with Itachi's talent, did he really need Yuu to teach him?
But as the thought settled, Yuu realized it was not unreasonable at all.
By this point, the alliance between Minato and the Uchiha clan was essentially set. It was nearing completion.
The Uchiha choosing not to pursue Kakashi's Sharingan was their sincerity.
But in the same way, Minato needed to provide sincerity in return.
Having Yuu accept Itachi as a disciple was one of the tokens that needed to be paid.
In this world, the master disciple bond was relatively stable. Although from Yuu's perspective, patricide practically felt like a Konoha tradition, the customs of the present were still the customs.
Teacher and student were almost treated as one entity, a relationship that could be passed down like a lineage.
Under those circumstances, if Yuu accepted Itachi, it would undoubtedly tighten the connection between both sides.
Strictly speaking, it would have been more appropriate for Minato himself to handle this.
Unfortunately, Itachi was too young.
He was only four years old. Although Fugaku had taken him to the battlefield to witness the cruelty of war, he had not yet revealed any outstanding talent.
To outsiders, he was simply Fugaku's eldest son, nothing more.
Under those conditions, having Minato take him as a disciple was not suitable, neither in age nor in circumstance.
Having Yuu handle it was far more fitting.
On one hand, Yuu was one of Minato's only two remaining disciples. If Minato succeeded in the Hokage election and truly became the next Hokage, Yuu would rise with him, becoming one of Konoha's higher ups, like Danzo had once been.
Itachi becoming Yuu's disciple would naturally mean Itachi entered the Hokage faction, gaining the qualifications and the possibility to become Hokage in the future.
Moreover, Yuu's performance today had been truly outstanding.
At such a young age, he had dared to enter Uchiha territory alone, and he had even managed to sway these elders.
That ability, combined with his status as Minato's student, was enough to prove he was extraordinary.
Fugaku believed that even if Minato failed in this Hokage election, relying on Minato's strength and Yuu's capabilities, they would still secure a place in Konoha in the future.
After all, in the final analysis, they were different from the Uchiha clan.
Minato, as a direct student of the Third Hokage, could already be considered part of the Hokage lineage.
Even if Orochimaru became Hokage, he would still value Minato highly.
So placing Itachi under Yuu's tutelage now was not a loss by any measure.
"Furthermore, your talent in ninjutsu is definitely not weak either."
Fugaku sat in place, sighing inwardly.
He had seen Yuu before, and he had repeatedly heard others praise Yuu's talent. Yuu's aptitude in ninjutsu was definitely not weak, and with such ability, his future achievements would not be poor.
"If Itachi has no objections," Yuu said after a brief pause, "then I have none."
He smiled gently. "It is my honor to become Itachi kun's teacher."
"Haha, that is wonderful." Fugaku immediately broke into a broad smile, clearly satisfied.
After a short while, Yuu looked toward Itachi again.
Sensing his gaze, the young Itachi returned a small smile. His attitude was extremely respectful.
"Teacher," Itachi said.
In Yuu's eyes, Itachi's manner was nearly flawless.
At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.
"Let's stop here for today."
After speaking with Fugaku a little longer, Yuu stood and took the initiative to bid farewell.
Itachi personally escorted him out, seeing him off all the way to the edge of Uchiha territory.
Once Yuu left, the atmosphere inside instantly changed.
"Everyone," Fugaku said, sitting firmly in his seat, "share your opinions."
It had to be said, Yuu's words were indeed tempting.
If it were Fugaku alone, he would have supported Minato without hesitation and joined this Hokage election race.
But this involved the entire Uchiha clan. He had to be cautious.
At the very least, he needed to discuss it with the elders.
"Supporting Minato is not an issue," an elder said. "Just as that kid said, our Uchiha clan truly needs to change the current situation."
"Even if we cannot become Hokage ourselves, we must put forward a Hokage from our side. We cannot continue to be so passive."
From the First Hokage to the current Third Hokage, the Uchiha had always been in a suppressed position.
Strictly speaking, the First Hokage had been relatively fair and did not treat the Uchiha differently.
The Second Hokage remained vigilant toward the Uchiha, but he did not do much beyond that. His attitude was cautious, nothing more.
But with the Third Hokage, the situation was different.
Hiruzen seemed easy to talk to, yet in reality, his methods were not weak at all, and he was surrounded by people who harbored malice toward the Uchiha.
Under Hiruzen, the Uchiha's strength continued to weaken.
If this continued, who knew what would happen in the future?
Even if only to reverse the present situation, it was time for the Uchiha clan to change.
"Fugaku, you're familiar with Minato."
From the corner, Setsuna, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke in a flat voice. "What is his character like?"
"Very good," Fugaku answered without hesitation. "If he becomes Hokage, the promises made today will definitely not be an issue."
He had interacted with Minato personally. His wife was also close friends with Minato's wife, Kushina. He naturally understood Minato's character.
Because of that, Fugaku believed that if Minato ascended to the Hokage seat, everything promised by Yuu today could be realized.
After all, what the Uchiha sought was not excessive. It was simply treatment worthy of the Uchiha clan.
"If that's the case, then it's best." Setsuna nodded calmly, his expression unchanged.
He did not say anything else.
Fugaku was somewhat surprised.
Within the Uchiha, Setsuna belonged to the typical hawk faction.
Back during Tobirama's reign, he had even planned to stir unrest, attempting to seize political power in Konoha.
This faction had always opposed Fugaku's side and had always been difficult to deal with.
This time, cooperating with Minato, Fugaku had already braced himself for resistance.
Yet Setsuna remained calm and gave tacit approval instead.
"Don't look at this old man with that expression," Setsuna said lightly. "Everything I do is for the sake of the Uchiha clan."
"Since cooperating with Minato is beneficial to the Uchiha, I naturally won't oppose it."
The hawks had their logic too.
In the past, Fugaku's faction, as the leading group, had repeatedly compromised Uchiha interests and continuously yielded to the Hokage faction. Naturally, Setsuna's side opposed that.
But supporting their own spokesperson and backing Minato to become Hokage would benefit the entire clan.
If it succeeded, both hawks and doves would profit.
Setsuna had no reason to object.
"However," Setsuna continued, "just Itachi alone is not enough."
"If Minato becomes Hokage, then Minamikawa Yuu is very likely to become the successor for the next Hokage."
"To maximize our Uchiha clan's influence, one Itachi is insufficient."
The shinobi world was full of accidents.
Even if both sides had reached cooperation now, and even if Itachi had become Yuu's disciple and Minato's grand disciple, making their connection seem close, who could guarantee the future?
If something happened to Itachi one day, would the connection between the two factions not be severed?
Then who would guarantee the Uchiha's investment?
This was similar to what happened during the Second Hokage's era.
Back then, Tobirama, in order to appease the Uchiha, had also accepted Kagami as a student.
In theory, as the Second Hokage's disciple, Kagami also had the possibility of becoming Hokage.
But what happened afterward?
.....
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