I Am Fugaku Uchiha

Fugaku offered a congenial smile, not keen on the idea of owing a debt to the Hokage.

His friendship with Might Duy weighed on his mind, and the idea of directly offering money left him concerned about potentially bruising his self-esteem.

A man of discernment, Fugaku believed it would be more tactful if the Hokage extended assistance under some pretext, sparing Duy from the potential sting of charity.

Implicit in Fugaku's approach was the belief that the Hokage, with his influence and authority, could orchestrate a subtle alleviation of Duy's financial struggles.

Fugaku's subtle suggestion, and it wasn't lost on the Third Hokage, who found himself unable to refuse the unspoken request.

In the delicate dance of social dynamics, the Hokage understood the nuances of Fugaku's unspoken plea.

With a tacit acknowledgment, he accepted the responsibility, recognizing that sometimes the most meaningful assistance comes veiled in the guise of a benevolent gesture rather than a direct handout.

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Upon arriving home, Fugaku stretched his arms and took a moment to relax. Surveying the scene, he spotted Mikoto resting in their bedroom and couldn't resist a mischievous smirk as he slowly approached her from behind.

"Mikoto, how do you manage to maintain yourself so well? You look the same as before, even after having a child, and your figure hasn't changed at all!" Fugaku teased with a playful tone.

In response to his inquiry, Mikoto, in a somewhat weary voice, explained, "Konoha Hospital has such technology. I heard it was developed by Tsunade-sama so that mothers can maintain their good figure."

Mikoto's tired voice didn't deter Fugaku's mischievous spirit. Leaning in closer, he wrapped his arms around her, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Well, my beautiful princess, you're practically defying the laws of aging. It's almost unfair," Fugaku remarked, his tone dripping with exaggerated admiration.

Mikoto couldn't help but chuckle at her husband's antics. "You're not so bad yourself, my charming bandit. Still managing to sweep me off my feet after all these years."

Fugaku grinned, playing along with the role play. "Ah, but a bandit's heart is forever captivated by the beauty of his princess. No treasure in the world could compare."

Mikoto batted her eyelashes in mock coyness. "And what about those tales of an evil bandit causing trouble in the village? Heard he's been stealing hearts left and right."

Fugaku feigned innocence. "Evil bandit, you say? You must be a charming rogue, taking a page out of my playbook."

Mikoto playfully elbowed him. "Well, I hope my charming rogue doesn't get caught by the village's hero."

Fugaku chuckled. "Don't worry, my dear. The hero might be captivated by the bandit's charm too."

As their playful banter continued the next morning, Mikoto, feeling visibly overwhelmed, mustered the courage to address the underlying issue.

"Really… It's true… Husband, you need to find someone. I'm really…" Mikoto began, her words trailing off as she lay in bed, weakened.

Fortuitously, their three-month-old son was still in a state of blissful slumber, affording them this precious moment. Mikoto, unable to contain her emotions any longer, had finally broached the subject, and Fugaku, sensing the gravity of the situation, was ready to listen.

Hearing his wife's candid admission, Fugaku felt a pang of shame, questioning whether he had inadvertently neglected her for too long. It was an unusual realization, but one he couldn't ignore.

However, it seemed that he was taking longer and longer to finish, and the weight of the realization settled in. Reflecting on this, Fugaku approached the delicate matter with caution. "So… You're not really mad?"

"I… I… I don't know," Mikoto responded with frustration. How could she answer such a loaded question?

Expressing her true feelings seemed unthinkable; admitting she was not angry and that he could go and find someone else was a sentiment she couldn't bring herself to voice.

Fugaku, now dressed, forced a smile. "This is really not a solution. Let me think about something."

"By the way... How did you spend the last few months at the border? Did you have any? Interaction with Tsunade-sama?" Mikoto swiftly changed the topic, diverting the conversation away from the tense subject.

"Huh? Tsunade? No, it's not like that. But something did happen with a girl I don't know." Fugaku began unraveling the details of the night in question.

As the conversation unfolded, the couple navigated the complexities of their relationship, embracing the challenging yet necessary discussions that would shape their future together. After all, as the saying goes, confession is good for the soul, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.

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Meanwhile, somewhere in Konoha Village,

"Dad, what's going on?" A bewildered Might Guy queried, his gaze fixed on workers diligently tearing down their houses.

The sight left him stunned, especially since these workers had initiated the demolition during their training session, swiftly reducing their home to a mere shell.

Might Duy, equally puzzled, shared his son's confusion.

A worker, flashing a friendly smile at Might Duy, offered an explanation: "Hokage-sama has issued an order; the Konoha environment is being improved, and a rundown house like yours is not allowed to remain."

"What? How can that be? If we don't have a house, where do we live?" exclaimed Might Guy, who was not even ten years old.

Duy, too, found himself taken aback, grappling with the sudden realization that he might be deemed inferior to a commoner in Konoha.

Sensing the misunderstanding, the leader among the workers handed them a document to clarify: "You two can stay at this place temporarily until your house is fixed. Before we finish tearing it down, hurry up and get your stuff out!"

"to fixed?" The father and son, clad in their distinctive green jumpsuits, stared at the detailed depiction of a sizable house on the document, their shock palpable.

Could it be that Hokage-sama intended to assist them in repairing their house? Since when has the Hokage become so generous?

Amidst the confusion, Might Duy, uncertain of the unfolding events, adhered to the directive, initiating the process of packing their belongings with his equally perplexed son.

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A few days later, a spirited boy wearing goggles dashed wildly through the bustling streets.

"Hahaha, the clan leader, the clan leader is back... Hahaha… Sharingan, Sharingan!! I'm the one who wants to awaken the Sharingan," Obito rejoiced, his elation evident.

The unexpected return of the clan leader had caught him off guard, shattering his preconceived notion that the leader would remain on the battlefield indefinitely.

Obito's joy was fueled by the serendipitous encounter with Might Guy, the last in their class, who had shared the news with him today.

Notably, Guy's position at the bottom of the class standings was attributed not to combat skills but rather to his focus on taijutsu, making him a specialist in that domain.

Observing Obito's exuberant departure, Might Guy couldn't help but be speechless. Was the excitement warranted to such an extent?

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Fugaku, glancing at the ecstatic goggled boy, stroked his chin and spoke thoughtfully, "Awaken the Sharingan? I can help you try it, so... you go and bring Kakashi and Rin here!"

"Huh? Bring them…?" Obito expressed confusion but complied, heading off to fetch Kakashi and Rin as instructed.

Mikoto, standing with her arms folded, cast a helpless sigh at her husband. "The way to awaken the Sharingan is too cruel. Although these eyes are powerful, if possible, I'd rather him never awaken them in your life."

"That's true, so I want to try the new method I just learned!" Fugaku couldn't suppress a smile.

Regrettably, Obito found himself once again playing the role of a guinea pig.

Mikoto, visibly shocked, inquired, "The method you just learned? The process of awakening the eyes has only had two possibilities: either a life-threatening situation on the battlefield stimulates the awakening, which is rare, or it's accompanied by the death of loved ones. Do you have any other way?"

Fugaku, with a sly grin, raised the corners of his mouth, responding, "I'm not sure if I can do it!"

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