"Clan leader."
"Fugaku-kun, why are you here so early? And why didn't you let me know?"
The next morning, Yuhara found it was already close to ten by the time he woke up.
Fortunately, now that the pressure on him had lessened, he could afford to slack off a bit.
What he didn't expect was finding Uchiha Fugaku waiting patiently outside his door, accompanied obediently by Sasuke.
Although Yuhara was slightly puzzled, he greeted them with a smile.
The night before last, Fugaku's performance had been genuinely impressive, greatly improving Yuhara's trust in him.
Even though Yuhara hadn't instructed Fugaku to take action against Itachi, there's a saying that goes something like this:
A look of murderous intent can't be hidden.
It was impossible for Yuhara not to notice the cold, distant gaze Fugaku had directed at Itachi.
Moreover, that night Fugaku had helped him look for Naruto and even confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen together, clearly siding completely with Yuhara.
It was only natural now for Yuhara to treat Fugaku more kindly. Though Fugaku appeared somewhat foolish in the original story, perhaps that was due to the desperate situation he had faced.
Now, Yuhara had given him hope, revealed who plotted against the Uchiha clan eight years ago, and provided him a clear direction. Change in Fugaku was therefore understandable.
"Clan leader, you were resting. Naturally, I couldn't disturb you," Fugaku replied softly, head slightly bowed. "And considering how exhausting these past few days have been for you, waiting a bit is entirely appropriate."
"You've worked hard," Yuhara responded, nearly adding, stop being so formal, but decided against it.
"Coming here this early must mean you have something important to discuss?"
As he spoke, Yuhara glanced at Sasuke, already guessing Fugaku's purpose likely concerned his son.
Sasuke hadn't been home that fateful night, apparently detained because of his studies, so he hadn't witnessed the events directly.
Yuhara briefly wondered why Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't seized Sasuke as leverage for negotiation, though ultimately found no satisfying answer. At least Sasuke was safe.
Yuhara wasn't entirely sure why Fugaku had brought Sasuke here. Perhaps to confirm how utterly foolish Itachi had been?
But when Sasuke spoke, Yuhara realized his guess was entirely wrong.
"Clan leader."
Sasuke seemed slightly uneasy. After all, he'd previously been the clan leader's son and had now suddenly lost that status.
He didn't hold strong feelings about it, though it still felt strange. But that was trivial; there was something far more important to him now.
After learning about what happened that night from his father, Sasuke couldn't believe his brother, who had once loved him dearly, could commit such acts.
Yet, with Fugaku confirming Itachi had sided with the person who had attacked Konoha and unleashed the Nine-Tails eight years ago, Sasuke felt profoundly hurt. Though incomprehensible, one thing was clear:
A person who attempted to slaughter their own family alongside someone irredeemably evil, especially targeting his own father, was no longer his brother.
Although Itachi hadn't succeeded in killing the clan this time, for the deeply affectionate and demanding Uchiha, such betrayal was unimaginable.
Sasuke couldn't fathom how he would cope if he lost his family. This emotional and familial betrayal filled him with disgust.
He still remembered vividly the unsettling looks from his clansmen these days.
In this moment, Sasuke briefly understood what his classmate Naruto endured daily.
He didn't know how Naruto tolerated those stares, but Sasuke himself couldn't bear them, especially from his own people.
Itachi's actions hadn't merely been betrayal; he had disgraced the entire clan's honor.
Thus, Sasuke made a decision, one fully supported by his father.
Taking a deep breath, Sasuke lowered his head, slowly bending down until he knelt on one knee.
"I humbly request you accept me as your disciple, clan leader. I wish to follow your guidance, obtain enough strength, and then… kill Itachi—eliminate the man expelled from the clan, the one who tarnished our honor!"
"Huh?"
Yuhara stared blankly at Sasuke, then instinctively looked towards Fugaku, who was now bowing slightly, clearly indicating his agreement.
This situation gave Yuhara a headache—not because he was unwilling, but because he genuinely lacked experience in mentoring disciples.
Even with experience, he'd still be hesitant due to one particular "fine tradition" of the Naruto world:
Disciples frequently ended up killing their teachers!
Consider the notorious examples: Orochimaru killed his mentor, the Third Hokage. Uchiha Obito killed his teacher, Namikaze Minato. Nagato killed Jiraiya.
Sasuke himself attacked both Kakashi and Orochimaru, truly excelling in this twisted "tradition."
However, Yuhara understood Sasuke's actions were shaped by environment and mindset. Moreover, Sasuke was only seven or eight, a perfect age for establishing proper values.
With proper guidance, he could indeed become an excellent ally. Additionally, Yuhara planned reforms in the clan's internal education.
After careful consideration, Yuhara finally said:
"I can accept you as a disciple, but I can't guarantee that man is still alive. Also, becoming my disciple won't be easy; I'll test you rigorously in various aspects. While the tests might not all involve combat, they'll be essential for everyone. Consider carefully, because to me, becoming a decent person matters far more than simply becoming a competent ninja."
"I accept, clan leader!"
Sasuke raised his head resolutely.
"After discovering that man's actions, I've resolved to kill him myself—if he's still alive. I'll reclaim our clan's lost honor and wash away the humiliation suffered by me, my father, and mother. Even if he's already dead, I'll gladly follow your teachings. No matter the hardships or difficulties ahead, I'll persevere. Please guide me!"
Seeing Sasuke's determination, Yuhara nodded. He'd initially thought of letting Sasuke deal with Itachi anyway, if Itachi survived.
Now, with Sasuke willingly stepping forward and Fugaku displaying his sincerity, Yuhara had no reason to refuse. Moreover, it fit perfectly into his plans for the clan's new educational reforms.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to 30+ at patreon.com/Emik01.