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Chapter 42: A Shaken Heart
🕑 Added 2025-02-20 14:42:38 +0000 UTCChapter 42: A Shaken Heart
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"Danzo..."
Uchiha Fugaku was in an exceptionally foul mood. He had just received some very bad news.
His son's humiliating defeat had already left him dissatisfied.
Not that he expected his son to counter the Flying Thunder God Technique.
As the Uchiha clan head, he was well aware that Uchiha Izuna, Madara's younger brother, had been killed by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, using the Flying Thunder God.
And back then, Izuna had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
His son, Itachi, was only ten, almost eleven years old. It was completely understandable that he stood no chance against such a technique.
Fugaku believed in his son. He was certain Itachi would never repeat the same mistake in the future.
Because in his mind, Izuna hadn't lost because the Mangekyō was weak—he lost because he had been careless.
After all, the Mangekyō Sharingan was one of the Uchiha clan’s greatest powers...
But now, his son had publicly lost to the Flying Thunder God Technique in front of everyone.
How could Fugaku possibly accept this so easily?
"Even if it was just a normal exam, did they really have to make things so difficult for Itachi?"
Fugaku was already upset. But when they got home, Itachi dropped another bombshell on him.
The exam proctor—the boy who had mastered the Flying Thunder God—had asked Itachi a very dangerous question.
And in that moment, Uchiha Fugaku realized the truth.
That boy did it on purpose. Konoha did it on purpose. This was a deliberate act of revenge!
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"Itachi, I’ll ask you one more time. Are you absolutely certain that’s what he said?"
Fugaku took a deep breath, his expression incredibly serious.
"Yes, Father," Itachi replied, sitting properly across from him. He lowered his head slightly and repeated the question he had been asked.
"Do you still remember the Root ninja you once defeated?"
He then hesitated for a moment before adding,
"Father, what exactly is Root?"
Fugaku’s expression darkened.
"Root..."
He wasn’t sure if he should tell Itachi the truth yet.
There was simply too much involved.
But one thing was undeniable—Danzo had always harbored deep hostility toward the Uchiha.
Fugaku would never forget how, on the night of the Nine-Tails attack, Danzo had personally intervened to stop the Uchiha from assisting.
And later, it was Danzo who led the push to relocate the Uchiha to their current isolated district, far removed from the rest of the village.
These events led to many consequences.
For example, rumors spread suggesting the Uchiha were responsible for the Nine-Tails attack. After all, why else wouldn’t they have stepped in to help?
And because of their forced relocation, unrest grew within the clan, fueling the radicals and giving them more influence.
All of this… was Danzo’s fault.
Thinking about it, Fugaku was seething with rage.
Yet, he never once considered his own role in these events…
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"I can’t answer that question right now. There’s too much at stake."
Fugaku forced himself to remain calm as he addressed his son.
"You’ll understand in the future. But for now, it’s too soon for you to be involved in this matter."
"I see. I understand, Father," Itachi nodded without pressing further.
He was already used to this kind of response.
Since childhood, his father had instilled in him the belief that a true shinobi could only rely on himself.
As a result, Itachi had grown accustomed to thinking, deciding, and acting on his own.
His father’s refusal to explain wasn’t unexpected or a problem for him.
However, he still asked one more question.
"Then, Father, should we at least inform Shisui about this?"
"Shisui is in Anbu, and he is also teammates with that boy. I trust he can handle it," Fugaku said after a moment of contemplation, shaking his head.
Shisui served as a bridge within Anbu, someone who could relay messages to the Third Hokage.
For now, it was best not to change anything.
"I understand, Father," Itachi said, bowing slightly before rising to his feet.
"I will take my leave now."
"Go rest," Fugaku nodded. As he watched his son walk away, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
"Third Hokage… what exactly are you planning…?"
He hadn’t voiced his deeper concerns to Itachi, but his mind was racing.
That boy, Haruta, was Danzo’s subordinate.
Did the Third Hokage not know that?
If he did, why let Danzo’s people oversee Itachi’s exam?
And why allow Danzo’s people to be teamed up with Shisui?
Unless…
"They still don’t trust us?"
Fugaku closed his eyes.
He had always hoped to ease tensions with Konoha peacefully.
But after everything that had happened… his faith in that possibility was beginning to waver.
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Somewhere in Konoha’s Cemetery…
Beneath the dim moonlight, Uchiha Obito stood quietly before a gravestone.
It belonged to Nohara Rin—the strong-willed, ever-smiling girl from his memories.
She now rested here, in Konoha.
After witnessing her death, Obito had lost all hope.
But he hadn’t forgotten her wishes.
That was why he hadn’t taken her body. Instead, he had allowed Konoha to bring her back, to be honored as a hero and buried here.
"It won’t be long now, Rin… soon, we’ll see each other again."
Obito’s voice was soft, almost gentle. But then, his expression darkened slightly.
Suddenly, from the ground beside him, a pitcher plant-like creature emerged.
White Zetsu’s half-face grinned as he spoke.
"Obito, I’ve finished gathering information. In a few days, Uchiha Itachi has a mission. I think this could be your opportunity."
"Oh?"
Obito’s irritation at being interrupted faded instantly.
"He’s leaving the village?"
Although he was annoyed that his "spiritual conversation" with Rin had been cut short, he quickly refocused on the matter at hand.
"What about that kid, Haruta? If he’s on a mission too, it could be a problem."
"He doesn’t seem to have any assignments coming up," Black Zetsu replied, his sinister voice filled with amusement.
"And even if he does, it will be within the village. I was thinking… we could deliberately draw his attention. That should take care of the problem, right?"
"Hmm..."
Obito nodded slowly.
Luring Haruta away and pulling him into the conflict wasn’t a bad idea.
If he was discovered, that would only serve to complicate things further for Konoha.
And if he wasn’t, well… there were still other plans in motion.
Thinking about it, Obito's mood brightened considerably.
After all, whether it was getting Shisui—or just his eyes…
Or watching his carefully cultivated "seed" take root and grow…
Everything was progressing exactly as he wanted.
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