I Am Fugaku Uchiha

A few days later, at the eastern border of the Fire Country, Fugaku walked alone along the road, a heavy sense of melancholy weighing on him. Two distressing events plagued his mind, casting a shadow over his spirits.

Firstly, Mikoto had delivered a crushing blow by asking him to leave, expressing her inability to endure his presence any longer. Forced out of his own home, he departed without even gathering all his belongings—some of his clothes are still lying in scrolls.

As he left, the sight of his three-month-old son Itachi smiling at him lingered in his thoughts, leaving him perplexed about the meaning behind that infantile gesture.

The second thing: Jiraiya had conveyed that Fugaku was not destined to accompany him to Mount Myoboku.

Compounding the disappointment, Jiraiya had received orders to go to the battlefield against Lightning Country, leaving Fugaku with no influence over the decision.

Fugaku had envisioned the three Sannin uniting as a formidable force, only to find the reality of geopolitical constraints hindering their collective strength. The escalating tensions between nations had forced the distribution of the Sannin across multiple fronts.

With a sigh, Fugaku rubbed his temples, grappling with the conflicting emotions. Amidst the gloom, a glimmer of optimism emerged as he contemplated, "But... at least there is some good news."

"Stop; this is the border of the Bear Country. You need a pass to cross it," a samurai halted Fugaku on his journey.

Fugaku shook his head helplessly, observing the youthful appearance of the samurai assigned to guard the border. It seemed this small country relied on such pitiful guardians. Fugaku speculated that the number of ninjas in this region did not exceed a hundred.

Despite the initial obstruction, Fugaku handed over a pass and continued on his way, paying little attention to the samurai.

As he ventured further into the Bear Country, the samurai guard examined the pass, which featured the handwritten edict of Hokage-sama of Konoha Village, the Land of Fire. Just before stopping Fugaku, the samurai's expression shifted from determination to shock.

As a small country affiliated with Konoha, the Hokage's authority held more sway than even their own daimyo's words. Fugaku, seemingly accustomed to this dynamic, marveled at the efficacy of the Hokage's influence.

"This is nothing like I remember!" Fugaku muttered, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings of the Bear Country.

Consulting the map provided by Jiraiya, Fugaku mused to himself, "Star Ninja Village... Star Ninja Village... It's so far away... I'll need to try to get there by noon tomorrow." The revelation that he had previously visited the Star Ninja Village within the Bear Country dawned on him.

Recalling the village's unique history, Fugaku remembered a meteorite that had fallen two hundred years ago, granting the villagers enhanced chakra abilities.

The villagers trained around it, harnessing its power. Jiraiya's mention of the Star Ninja Village left Fugaku momentarily speechless.

"Your body's resilience should be able to resist these injuries, and with your current strength, it should be easy to learn their peacock method to fly."

The memory of Jiraiya's advice lingered in Fugaku's mind as he continued his journey towards the distant Star Ninja Village.

Having mastered the peacock technique, a method that materialized chakra into wings akin to Susanoo's full body, Fugaku recognized its utility.

However, the sheer size and luminosity of the Susanoo made it impractical for consistent aerial travel. As he sprinted, reaching the outskirts of the Star Ninja Village the following morning, guided by Jiraiya's map, Fugaku confronted a natural barrier—a canyon filled with green poison gas.

Frowning, he acknowledged the challenge ahead. Despite his lack of fear for the poison, the canyon's width prevented a straightforward leap.

"I guess I have to go through the canyon," Fugaku sighed, gathering chakra on his feet as he walked into the hazardous terrain.

“Hey, idiot, are you suicidal?” A loud voice caught Fugaku’s attention.

Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted his progress. "Hey, idiot, are you suicidal?"

Fugaku's attention was drawn to a person wearing a gas mask in the distance—a young man questioning his daring move.

Undeterred, Fugaku responded casually, "There is no other way. I can't jump over this. I have to go through."

Suspicion etched across the young man's face as he asked, "What are you doing in our village?"

Ignoring the inquiry, Fugaku continued walking, knowing he couldn't reveal his true purpose—to learn their secret technique.

Perplexed, the young man exclaimed, "What's going on? Aren't you afraid of the poison?" Fugaku smiled and gestured, inviting a demonstration of the village's sole ninjutsu.

With just one technique, the Star Ninja Village possessed a versatile ability with three functions: transforming chakra into a physical beast, absorbing an opponent's chakra, and turning chakra into wings for flight. Fugaku, interested only in the latter, goaded the young man,

"You're a star ninja, right? Come on, show me your ninjutsu. You only have one, right?"

Terrified, the young man hastily performed a strange hand sign, activating the peacock technique. Chakra manifested as wings sprouting from his back. Fugaku counted the wings and remarked, "One, two, three... seven, eight! Is this the peacock method?

Without lifting a finger, Fugaku caused the young man's wings to vanish. Vines emerged from the ground, binding the startled individual.

In a state of horror, the young man demanded answers. "What kind of ninjutsu is this? Who are you? What do you want from our Star Ninja Village?"

Faced with a barrage of questions, Fugaku found himself at a loss for answers. Deciding to take control of the situation, he approached the young man with measured steps, his tone calm and composed.

"I want to see your village leader. Take me to him. And don't try to attack me, or you'll regret it."

Feeling the tension ease, the vines loosened their grip on the young man. He cautiously removed his gas mask, revealing a wary expression. The star-shaped forehead protector on his head indicated his affiliation as a ninja from the Star Ninja Village.

“You want to see our Hoshikage?”

"Hoshikage? Is that what you call your leader? Well, yes, I do," Fugaku replied, intrigued by the title.