I Am Fugaku Uchiha

"There’s a problem!" Jiraiya announced it with a grave expression.

Having infiltrated the castle, an eerie quietness enveloped them. The bustling commotion they had witnessed earlier had evaporated, leaving the castle strangely devoid of life. The dark night sky above only intensified the somber atmosphere.

Fugaku frowned and acknowledged, "I noticed it too."

Concern etched on their faces, the group deliberated on their next move.

"What should we do? Keep going?" Jiraiya inquired in a hushed tone, seeking Fugaku's guidance, having taken the mission from him.

Komeko and Kenji turned their gaze to Fugaku, having traversed a long journey to reach this point. The desire to continue was palpable, yet the looming danger ahead was evident.

If Fugaku opted for an immediate retreat, they wouldn't protest, but they were also prepared to venture to the square of Hozuku Castle on their own.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Let’s go on, but I’ll go ahead and scout the way."

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Fugaku's frustration and confusion weighed heavily on him. The tasks along the way eluded successful completion, leaving everything in disarray. Despite his pride, he understood the importance of avoiding rash actions.

as he strode through the castle. Only a dim light illuminated his path, and an eerie silence prevailed, intensifying Fugaku's sense of unease.

Navigating through the corridor, he couldn't help but think that even a missile would go unnoticed in this desolate atmosphere. The people on the other side of the castle would remain oblivious to any disturbance within its quiet confines.

In the center of the square, Fugaku's eyes caught sight of a cage. Within its confines, a middle-aged woman knelt, her hands cuffed. Despite the grim circumstances, the square retained its brightness, illuminated by a radiant light.

Standing before the cage was a man adorned in the uniform of a guard captain. His eyes were shut, and his pallid face bore an air of calm composure. Fugaku, opting not to conceal himself, approached the man with deliberate steps.

"Although you are a samurai, you must be skilled to come here. What is your name?" The man inquired slowly, still keeping his eyes closed.

Fugaku chose not to respond immediately. Instead, he posed a question of his own: "Before I tell you that, I want to know why you brought me here."

"We didn’t expect you to return with that girl, but now that you are here, you can be a witness with her."

"Witness?" Fugaku frowned.

"Yes, witness the most glorious moment of our grass country. Show that girl’s father that he was wrong," the captain of the guard explained, opening his eyes and gesturing to the sky.

Fugaku couldn't help but chuckle. "That’s quite a dramatic plot, but... aren’t you worried that I might leave halfway?"

"You enter the grass country and infiltrate Hozuko Castle with a burden. How can someone as proud as you simply leave?"

"Oh? So you planned this, huh?" Fugaku shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

As Fugaku's power grew, so did his recklessness and arrogance. A clear example was his solo attack on the Suna camp that night, an action he now recognizes as impulsive.

Acknowledging the need for a change in his character, Fugaku realized the world was rife with uncertainties, and overconfidence was a luxury he couldn't afford. Thoughts of Kaguya, despite her immense strength, being sealed by the Sage of the Six Paths sent shivers down his spine.

"I'm Mui, the warden here and the chief of the guard," the man introduced himself, opening his eyes. "I knew you would come here as soon as you entered the Land of Grass."

Fugaku remained stoic, calmly responding, "So the border guards are working for you? You're the warden of Grass Village, and you want to kill the orphans of the former daimyo? Are you on Miyamoto’s side?"

Mui's passion and anger flared as he spoke, "You're right. The grass country is sandwiched between the great powers. The daimyo has no ambition to restore the country. He makes us bow to Konoha Village and the Fire Country. He doesn’t deserve to be the leader."

Fugaku couldn't help but smile helplessly. The plot before him felt clichéd, a narrative he had witnessed countless times on the screens of various countries. Politics were inevitable wherever there was a country, even in a smaller one like the grass country.

"I don't care who's the leader. I'm not interested in being your witness. Just give me the hostages," Fugaku stated.

Mui smirked and retreated to the back of the cage, revealing a woman with tape over her mouth. "If you want to save her, do it yourself."

Fugaku shrugged and approached the cage, drawing his katana. With a chakra blade, he swiftly cut the chain binding the woman. She had shackles on her wrists and ankles.

"Thank you for saving me," she said gratefully after tearing off the tape.

"You're welcome. I was just doing my job," Fugaku replied, cutting off the shackles in two swift strokes, indicating his intention to leave.

However, as he freed her, he caught a cold glint in her eyes.

"Die!" she suddenly exclaimed, pulling out a kunai and lunging at Fugaku.

Effortlessly dodging the attack with a sidestep, Fugaku moved back, mocking her, "Hahahaa, nice try."

A cloud of white smoke appeared, revealing the woman to be the same prisoner he had encountered earlier.

"Too bad. You can't escape alive," the man stated, still smiling.

At the moment, A woman, escorted by two ninjas, emerged from behind the wall at the back of the square. Her mouth was taped, rendering her silent. Fugaku turned to see her, his senses on high alert.

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