Chapter 52
ITACHI UCHIHA
"The Chunin Exams?" he asked, as his father nodded. The three of them—him, his father, and his elder brother now sat in his father's office. He had called them both here, saying that he had something important to discuss.
"Yes," his father added as he sat on the opposite side of the table, wearing his usual Police Force uniform as the light from the window hit a side of his face.
"The Hokage has asked for our permission to nominate you for the exams. Sunagakure is holding the exams in a few months, and as their allies, Konoha must send teams there, but it is not all so simple," and he had not expected them to be, not after what had happened in the last decades.
"Because of the wars," and though over the years, Itachi had begun to understand the necessity of war, it had little to lessen his hatred for death and conflict. He knew that it was wishful thinking on his part that there would come a time when there would be no need of fighting, yet it was his dream to at least make sure to push the world in that direction.
"Yes. Iwa and Kumo are expected to participate in the exams as well, and your nomination for the exams is mainly to act as a reminder to these nations of the might of Konoha," and that would mean murder.
It was upto the organising village to choose the format for the Chunin exams, but in the end, no matter the format or the village. It always involved some semblance of fighting, and so he was being asked to kill the Iwa and Kumo nins who would surely target him, given that he was a Konoha Uchiha nin who was brother to the infamous Seven-Headed Demon.
"Is this an order?" he asked, confirming the words.
"No," and it was his brother who answered, and he did not miss how his own father's expression shifted at that.
"What do you mean?" he asked, turning towards his elder brother, who sat by his side.
"Yes, Minato-san has asked you to participate in these exams and act as a symbol of Konoha's strength, but he has given you full autonomy in how you choose to do such a thing," and it was as if he had read his mind.
He gave him a subtle smile as he continued.
"The Hokage-sama does not care how the message is delivered, just that it is delivered in an emphatic manner. How you do so is up to you," and that at least meant that there was some leeway for him.
Itachi was not averse to killing, yet if he were to bring his dream to fruition, then he must start acting now, doing what little he could to make the world a better place.
"You can refuse to participate in the exams as a whole if you wish, but I would advise against it," and this time it was their father who had cut in.
"After all, it would do well if the next clan head of the Uchiha clan was feared across the lands," and the words made him frown, especially as he saw his gaze lingering on him.
His brother was already rather famous. He doubted if there was a shinobi alive who did not know his name, yet what fame would he gain by participating in the exa....
And suddenly it all clicked together as he gasped.
"You want me to be the next clan head," he asked, and his father nodded.
"Yes," he said. He had heard whispers of this notion but ignored them, for he had no desire to replace his brother, who was sitting just beside him.
"But what about Izuna-nii. He is the eldest son, and traditionally, the position is passed down to the eldest son," he asked as his father closed his eyes and answered.
"Indeed, but we have parted with many traditions, and I believe you are the better option to lead the clan," and he shook his head.
"No. Izuna-nii is a better shinobi than I will ever be. He is an S-ranked nin feared throughout the lan...."
"I did not say stronger, Itachi," his father cut in softly, making him stop, as suddenly he felt a hand ruffle his hair, as he looked at his brother who smiled at him encouragingly.
"Don't worry about me. I have always known that my future lies away from the clan. You will make a finer clan head than me," and they seemed to have come to an agreement already.
Yet it was a great responsibility, and this offer explained much of their father's previous actions in how he had taken him under his wing, and had helped him up in the Police Force.
And if he was to be a clan head and the Police chief, it would indeed lower his exposure to the outside world. And it would not stand if the Uchiha clan head were some unknown shinobi.
"I will participate in the exams," he said resolutely, his mind made up as he promised to live up to the expectations his father and brother placed on him.
"I had already guessed that," his father agreed with a smile.
"The exams require you to have a three-man team. The Hokage has already decided upon your teammates and the team sensei. You will report to training ground twelve in a week's time, where you will meet your new team and your new sensei, who will make the final decision regarding your participation," and it seemed as if they had already made plans expecting his answer.
"Do you have any information about these teammates?" for it would be better for him to have some knowledge about them, so that they could function together as a unit.
"You will meet them a day before your evaluation. Until then, you are free from your duties at the Police Station, rest well and make preparations, and make sure that you do the name you wear proud," and that was enough time.
"Will you help me train, Izuna-nii?" he asked, and much to his dismay, his brother shook his head.
"I am afraid I have to leave the village on a mission soon. But I will be back soon. We can train then," he said, understanding his reasons.
"Thank you. Father, Nii-san. I will not let you down...."
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FUGAKU UCHIHA
And as he watched his second son walk out of his office, he felt nothing but pride at the boy he had raised. Itachi was not Izuna, yet his second son was the kindest boy he knew, and over the years, he had learned to temper his kindness with pragmatism and optimism in a way that he could never do.
It made him a better person and shinobi than Fugaku could ever hope to be.
And as his eyes turned towards his eldest, he realised that both of his sons had surpassed him now, for though he was strong, it was clear to him that in the five years since he had been away, Izuna had become stronger than him.
"So, you are going away on a mission," and he had been back only for a few weeks and was leaving again. Mikoto would be saddened upon hearing it, yet this was the life he had chosen, and why he had overlooked him for Itachi as the next clan head.
Izuna's importance to Minato was the same as the Sanin's had been for the Sandaime, and though there were but a few whispers, it was heavily implied that he would be the next in line for the seat of Hokage.
Minato had been a Hokage for half a decade now and was still in the prime of his life. But, it was in the nature of the people to speculate, and in these speculations, the name thought to be most suitable for the Godaime Hokage was the name of his eldest son.
"Yes, it's a matter that required some delicate handling," and years ago, he would have worried for him, but no more.
Izuna was more than capable of handling any and all matters on his own now.
"But I will return within a week at max. It's not a very lengthy mission," and that was good.
"Good then, but are you sure that you have no qualms with my decision of making Itachi the clan head?" he asked again, and Izuna shook his head.
"You and I both know that my future does not lie with the clan. Itachi will make a finer clan head than I ever could hope to be. It was the right decision," and it was good that he understood the circumstances as well.
"But I do wonder, why the rush?" his eldest asked with a narrowed gaze.
"You are still in your prime, and Itachi, for all his maturity and strength, is rather young. All this could clearly have waited a few years," and indeed it could have, and that had been his intention, but in many ways his hand had been forced.
"Yes, it may all seem a bit rushed to you. But there is good reason for that," and at that, he pushed chakra into his eyes, and for the first time since his son had stepped into the room could he finally see his face.
Until now, he saw the world as a blur. A consequence of the Mangekyo Sharingan that he bore in his eyes.
"Because the truth is that I have nearly lost all my sight," and Izuna's eyes widened, though he did not ask why or how. For he possessed the same eyes as him, and must be suffering the same degeneration as him.
"The world is a blur to me nowadays, and I fear that soon enough I will lose the rest of it as well," and as the clan head, he must act before that.
"Though premature, I must prepare Itachi to step into my shoes once such a day comes, when I can see no more and my eyes are of no use to me at all," and there was a way for him to heal his vision.
As a clan head, he was privy to the journals of previous clan heads, including Madara Uchiha. He knew the solution to his problems, and it sat right in front of him.
But he was not Madara. He would never harm his family, just for his sight.
"And it is my intention to leave you with my eyes, just as I plan to leave the clan and the Police Force to Itachi," and this was his inheritance, as Itachi would inherit the clan, while Izuna would get his eyes.
"There is a doujutsu that goes beyond the regular Mangekyo Sharingan, called the et..."
"I know of the eternal Magekyo Sharingan," Izuna cut in, she should have expected that.
"I know what it means and how one can get it," he clarified as he looked him in the eye.
"You have had these eyes for years as well. Your vision would be just a little better than mine," he guessed, yet Izuna shook his head.
"It has deteriorated, but I have been somewhat cautious in using the Mangekyo, which has slowed the erosion. Plus, my abilities also make it so that the deterioration is not so rapid," and that was good news.
"You don't have to do this, you know," Izuna added, his tone grave and serious.
"I am both your father and the Uchiha clan head. It is my duty to aide the next generation however I can and this is what I can do for you, and I will do so no matter what you say," and his son looked him in the eye, before he reached into his pocket and took out a small scroll.
"You say that, but I think I might have a better solution," and with that, he opened the scroll, and Fugaku saw that it was a modified storage scroll, and as he placed it on the table, Izuna bit into his thumb and placed his blood on the seal.
"Unseal!" and in a cloud of smoke, an object appeared. A container made of glass with a greenish liquid and two rounded objects floating in it.
"What is that?" he asked, his mood souring instantly as his chakra roared in rage and abhorrence.
"Don't get so riled up. I am not the one who pulled them out," he clarified, and Fugaku frowned.
"These are the eyes of Kagami Uchiha," and his body stilled as he heard him mention his uncle's name like that.
"Kagami-san," he gasped, and Izuna nodded.
"Yes, and by my estimation, you are a close enough match to him genetically that they could serve as the replacement for your eyes," and it seemed as if he had given it all quite some thought.
"But how did you get your hands on them? My uncle died years ago," and he had been a comrade of the Third, and had died during the early days of the Second Great Ninja War.
"I recovered them five years ago from a person who had stolen them from him," and as he tried to connect the dots, it clicked together at once as his eyes widened, as he gritted out a name with sheer rage.
"Danzo...."
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"Five years, yet you do not trust me at all," Orochimaru lamented as he sat opposite to the Godaime Hokage, Minato.
"It is not that I do not trust you, but we have need of you elsewhere," Minato corrected with a smile, yet it did not fool the Snake Sanin at all. Ever since Minato had investigated Danzo's actions thoroughly, the Hokage had found it difficult to trust him.
He did not blame him, but he was getting tired of it all.
"Maybe, but if you are going to take my team away from me, then I have a proposal of my own," and he had considered this for years now, for he had no desire to live a life like this, constantly suppressing his curiosity and intrigue as he tried to please Minato and his ilk.
"Of course," Minato added, prompting him to continue.
"I wish to be given access to Lord Hashirama's cells for an experiment."
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