Chapter 06: I don’t like old people
[Previously:]
Fugaku had a friendly sparring session with his dear friend Minato, and...
Fugaku was fuming after his sparring with Minato and rudely interrupted Bailed's narration. "Friendly my ass!" he exclaimed.
But the narrator, feeling mischievous, couldn't help but think, "Come on, Fugaku, show some gratitude for not ending up as a soprano!"
Through gritted teeth, Fugaku reluctantly muttered, "Thanks for sparing my family jewels, Bailed-sama."
"You better be grateful!": Bailed says while nodding his head.
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"Welcome back, Fugaku," Uchiha Tenjō's voice called out. "Please come in, I have something to discuss with you."
"Yes, Father," Fugaku replied as he entered the room.
Fugaku's return to the Uchiha compound was supposed to be unnoticed, yet he was surprised to hear his father's voice calling him out. As he made his way towards his father's room, he couldn't help but wonder how he was detected since he had been walking silently.
'How did you know I was back, Otōsan?' Fugaku asked himself as he opened the sliding door to the living room.
Fugaku's father is engaged in a lively conversation with a group of his trusted advisors.
"Everyone, good evening.": he politely greeted, and all the seniors nodded in response.
Fugaku listened in, his keen mind absorbing the details of their discussions.
One of the officers of the Police Force spoke up, addressing Uchiha Tenjō, "Lord Patriarch, Fugaku, the child we watched grow up, has grown up. He has already activated his Sharingan at such a young age. He will surely be able to inherit the position of Patriarch and lead our clan to even greater prosperity.".
Uchiha Tenjō smiled and said: "You're being too generous with your praise. I hope you'll continue to guide Fugaku in the future and offer your advice to him when he doesn't understand something.".
The senior officer nodded happily and replied: "We take pride in having Fugaku as a member of our Uchiha. Anyway, we should take our leave now, Patriarch. It's getting late.".
"Son, please escort your uncles out.": Uchiha Tenjō requested.
"Yes, Father.": Fugaku replied obediently.
Fugaku obediently saw off the Uchiha seniors and returned to the living room.
"Come with me," Uchiha Tenjō said to Fugaku, "Some things need to be explained to you."
Fugaku nodded and followed his father to the study in the house.
"What is it, Father?": Fugaku asked.
The study had good sound insulation and was well-suited for discussions. Fugaku followed his father into the study, ready to hear what he had to say.
"Congratulations, Fugaku. You have done well in the past three years and did not bring shame to the Uchiha clan," Uchiha Tenjō said. "Today, when I reported to Sāndaime Hokage, I requested that you be promoted to Jōnin. Sāndaime Hokage has agreed, so tomorrow you will go directly to Hokage's Office to get your promotion task. You are an Uchiha genius, and we have high expectations of you."
"Thank you, Father. I will not disappoint the clan," Fugaku replied with a hint of pride in his voice, but on the inside, he was seething.
He knew damn well that both he and Minato were light-years ahead of the average Genin in terms of skill and aptitude. But he despised being ordered around by a bunch of clueless old farts who refused to retire.
Who the hell did they think they were, telling him what to do?
Uchiha Tenjō spoke to Fugaku, "Ever since Uchiha Kagami passed away, our clan's influence in Konoha's High Echelon has weakened considerably. It was Uchiha and Senju who founded Konoha together, but now, there are no Uchiha members in the High Echelon. You are the most talented Uchiha genius of your generation, maybe you will be capable of awakening the Mangekyō and leading our clan to its former glory.".
"Fret not, Father. I will strive diligently, but I loathe those old geezers dictating my course," Fugaku replied with a nod.
Uchiha Tenjō responded with a reassuring tone, "It's important to keep in mind that this is all part of the game, my son."
Fugaku has confidence in awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, but as he is the only son in his family he has no way of obtaining the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. He needs to work harder to find a path to attain the eternal Mangekyō.
An ordinary Mangekyō won't save the Uchiha clan from its decline and will only lead to his own eventual blindness.
It seems as if not even the Uchiha clan members know much about the Mangekyō's potential, this knowledge might be useful in the future.
'Having the eternal Mangekyō means being invincible. With it, no one except Senju Hashirama can pose a threat, but seeing how Senju Hashirama is long gone, no one can or will stand in my path. It's the key to Uchiha's success and I must obtain it at all costs.': Fugaku thought with conviction.
*Sigh*
Uchiha Tenjō sighed and patted Fugaku's shoulder before leaving.
Fugaku could sense his father's helplessness. Despite Konoha's current peak status, there was no leading Uchiha figure among the many powerhouses.
Be it the Sāndaime Hokage, the Sannins, or Konoha's White Fang, none of them belong to the strongest, the No.1, Clan of Konoha, and without a Powerhouse to represent the Clan, the title of the strongest Clan just sounds more like a mockery of the Uchiha Clan.
Ultimately, the three-tomoe Sharingan is inadequate in the fights between Kage-level Powerhouses, where strength and skill reign supreme and each Kage has a few methods to deal with different situations.
Heck, even the Hokage has at least 1 or two methods, like the Kage Bunshin which was specially created with the Uchiha in mind.
Meeting the Hokage tomorrow is just a test for Fugaku, by his father, and the promotion task assigned by the Sāndaime is just another test, by Konoha for Fugaku. But given the sensitive period, he can already conclude, that there is a high probability of the mission being either espionage, intelligence gathering, or an assassination attempt.
Konoha would not task him with protection, bandit hunting, or delivery of important materials at the current time, and the Hokage cannot judge his abilities unless he has seen him accomplish a difficult task.
[Date: The next morning]
In the early hours, Uchiha Fugaku meticulously organized his ninja equipment, carefully placing kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, and other small items that could be used to set up traps into his pack.
As Fugaku approached Hokage's Office, he felt a sense of anticipation mixed with nervousness.
Fugaku stood in front of the door to Hokage's Office and hesitated for a moment before knocking.
*Knock*
*Knock*
He knocked on the door, and a moment later, The thick, powerful voice of the Sāndaime echoed from inside, inviting him in.
As he pushed the door open and entered the room, Fugaku saw the Hokage sitting quietly in his chair, radiating the aura of a true powerhouse, he could not help but feel a sense of awe as he laid eyes on the powerful figure seated behind the desk.
Unlike the Hokage he knows from the show who is several decades older and gives people the feeling, that he is an old loving pervert, the current Hokage exudes a youthful and vibrant aura.
"Hokage-sama, Uchiha Fugaku is here to report.": Fugaku announced as he entered the Hokage's office.
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