Naruto: I am Uchiha Fugaku

In the backyard, Uchiha Fugaku sat with little Sasuke, listening as the child talked about his training progress over the past few days.

Even during Fugaku's absence, Sasuke had not slacked off and had continued to train diligently.

With a gentle smile, Fugaku reached out and patted Sasuke on the head as a reward.

Sasuke, like a content little kitten, squinted his eyes and visibly enjoyed the gesture.

"Fugaku, Sasuke, it's time for dinner!"

Uchiha Mikoto's voice called out.

Fugaku and Sasuke turned around and saw Mikoto wearing a yellow apron adorned with a cat motif.

She had clearly just finished preparing dinner.

"Coming," Fugaku and Sasuke replied, following Mikoto into the dining room.

"Ooh, all my favorites!"

Fugaku smiled upon seeing the dishes laid out on the table.

"You probably haven't been eating well these past few days, so I made your favorite dishes," Mikoto said with a warm smile.

"Then I'd better eat a lot," Fugaku chuckled as he pulled Sasuke into his seat.

Mikoto served them rice, smiling as she passed the bowls to the two of them.

…

By the time Uchiha Shisui left the Hokage Tower, it was already evening.

He removed his mask, revealing a face partially covered by an eyepatch over his right eye.

He walked along the nearly deserted street, heading back toward the Uchiha compound.

Warm light shone from the houses on either side of the road, casting a soft, homely glow that warmed his heart.

He had to protect this hard-won peace—even if it meant becoming a traitor to his clan.

As long as he could bring peace to the village, even being condemned by his own kin would be worth it.

Unfortunately, aside from Itachi, there was no one in the Uchiha clan who could understand this resolve.

He had once believed that the clan head might understand, but their conversation a few months ago had made it clear: Fugaku was no different from the average clansman.

He could not understand or carry the weight of greater ideals.

Upon returning to the compound, Shisui didn't go to his own home. Instead, he visited a residence not far from his own.

Knock, knock, knock!

He knocked on the door. A short while later, a man in his twenties appeared.

The man was Uchiha Hiro, a special jōnin and one of the twelve Uchiha who had followed Clan Head Fugaku out of the village.

"Shisui? What brings you here? Come in!"

Hiro was surprised to see him but warmly stepped aside to let him in.

The two sat cross-legged at a low table. Hiro poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward Shisui.

"Have some tea."

"Thanks," Shisui replied politely.

As he thought about the reason for his visit, a pang of guilt surfaced—but he quickly suppressed it.

All of this… was for peace. For the greater good.

"Hiro-kun, congratulations on returning safely."

"Ahaha… thanks. I owe my life to the clan head this time."

Thinking back to the mission, Hiro couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.

If not for the clan head fending off over a hundred Root ninjas alone, he likely wouldn't have made it back alive.

"Did the mission go smoothly?" Shisui asked casually.

He seemed nonchalant, but his attention was fully focused.

The purpose of this visit was to gather intel—specifically, what the Uchiha had done during the mission and whether they were involved in Danzo disappearance.

"There were some bumps, but overall it went okay," Hiro replied with a hint of reflection.

"Oh? What happened?" Shisui asked, feigning surprise.

"Well…"

Hiro hesitated.

If word got out that Shisui was the Third Hokage's mole planted in the Uchiha clan, it would surely spark chaos.

To avoid that, only Fugaku, the three elders, and a very limited number of people knew Shisui's true identity. Even Hiro, a special jōnin, was not among them.

Moreover, to keep the mission details from reaching Shisui, Fugaku had issued a strict order forbidding anyone from speaking about what had happened.

After a moment's hesitation, Hiro shook his head apologetically.

"Sorry, Shisui. It's not that I don't trust you—Clan Head Fugaku ordered that no one is to reveal anything about the mission."

"No worries. I understand."

Shisui smiled and shook his head as if he didn't mind, but internally, his mind was racing.

The Uchiha's journey to the Land of Fields, officially to rescue the president of the Taiwa Trading Company, clearly had hidden motives.

They must have done something else—otherwise, Fugaku wouldn't have issued such strict orders.

"This mission definitely had complications. With your position in the clan, Shisui, if you want to know more, you could ask the clan head directly. I'm sure he'd tell you," Hiro offered awkwardly.

"I'll ask him if I get the chance," Shisui nodded.

But deep down, he knew that wasn't realistic.

Months ago, he had questioned Fugaku about signs of internal rebellion within the clan.

Since then, Fugaku had treated him coldly.

If he asked directly, he doubted Fugaku would say anything.

That was why he had sought Hiro out in the first place.

Unfortunately, due to Fugaku's orders, Hiro had also remained silent.

But that didn't mean Shisui would give up.

With resolve in his eyes, he looked at Hiro and said, "Hiro-kun."

At the sound of his name, Hiro instinctively looked up and met Shisui's gaze.

In that moment, his eyes locked with Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Hypnosis—"

Shisui activated the innate hypnosis ability of his Sharingan.

Though Hiro was a special jōnin and had awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan, he could not withstand the power of Shisui's genjutsu-type Mangekyō.

His expression immediately dulled as he fell under the hypnosis.

"I'm sorry, Hiro-kun,"

Shisui apologized silently in his heart, then his eyes grew firm.

He spoke:

"Hiro-kun, tell me—was Advisor Danzo disappearance the work of our clan?"

The question clearly touched on a secret Hiro had been desperately trying to keep.

A look of struggle appeared on Hiro's face.

Shisui increased the intensity of his Sharingan's power, and the struggle vanished.

With a blank, wooden expression, Hiro began to speak:

"Advisor Danzo…"