"It would be nice if I had another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan..."
Uchiha Fugaku felt a twinge of greed.
The three-tomoe Sharingan had already elevated No. 1's strength to the level of an elite jonin. If he could obtain a Mangekyō Sharingan for transplantation, the spore clone's strength might even reach Kage level.
And because of the Hashirama cells within No. 1, the transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan would never go blind.
Having a Kage-level clone under his complete control would be an invaluable asset. He could delegate critical tasks instead of handling everything himself.
But unfortunately, the Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't something easily obtained.
"That Mangekyō Sharingan…"
As he pondered, Fugaku couldn't help but think of the Mangekyō Sharingan Uchiha Obito had left in Kakashi.
However, his expression darkened.
"Taking that eye… won't be easy."
In fact, Fugaku had considered stealing Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan a long time ago.
But after weighing the risks, he had ultimately discarded the idea.
Kakashi had once been Konoha's youngest Jonin, a testament to his talent and skill.
Now in his twenties, his strength had likely grown even further.
Even if he hadn't reached the Kage level, he was undoubtedly at quasi-Kage level.
And with Mangekyō Sharingan enhancing his abilities, Kakashi might already rival true Kage-level shinobi.
Stealing his eye would not be simple.
After all, Kakashi was a respected figure, and a likely candidate for the Sixth Hokage in the future.
Underestimating him would be a grave mistake.
Moreover, attempting to hypnotize Kakashi and replace his eye without him noticing was out of the question.
Kakashi himself possessed a Mangekyō Sharingan—hypnotizing him to the extent that he wouldn't notice an entire eye transplant was nearly impossible.
Not to mention, eye replacement surgery involved direct physical trauma.
Even if the hypnosis succeeded, Kakashi's heightened shinobi instincts would immediately alert him to something being off.
"And right now… isn't the time to take action."
Fugaku exhaled, shaking his head.
At this moment, the Uchiha clan was locked in an intense battle against the Third Hokage's faction.
He was working tirelessly to reshape the clan's image and expose the Third Hokage's true nature to the village.
If he were to steal Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan now, it would incite hostility from the Hatake clan, a family that had maintained a neutral, even friendly, relationship with the Uchiha.
Such an action would tarnish the Uchiha clan's reputation, undermining all his recent efforts.
"Even if I plan to take it… it has to wait until I overthrow the Third Hokage, become Hokage, and fully control the village."
For now, Fugaku would have to set aside the idea.
The Uchiha clan's immediate priority was not obtaining a Mangekyō Sharingan—it was defeating the Third Hokage and seizing power.
Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage sat at his desk, his expression gentle and kind, radiating an air of warm wisdom.
Across from him stood a young shinobi.
The young man wore an Anbu uniform and a cat-faced mask, with long, dark hair tied behind his head.
Uchiha Itachi.
"Itachi, remove your mask and report."
The Third Hokage's voice was calm, yet firm.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Itachi removed his Anbu mask, revealing the youthful face of a boy barely in his teens.
Despite his age, his gaze held a solemn intensity.
His respect and awe for the Hokage were evident in his posture.
"Has your identity as a spy been compromised?"
The Third Hokage's expression turned slightly more serious.
"I haven't felt like I've been under watch… My cover should still be intact."
Itachi paused to consider carefully before giving his response.
"Hmm… that's reassuring."
The Third Hokage let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Uchiha Shisui's role as an informant had already been exposed.
If Itachi's cover was blown as well, the Hokage's faction would lose all insight into the Uchiha clan's internal affairs.
The consequences would be dire.
He warned sternly, "Be extremely cautious. Do not let your identity as an informant be discovered."
"Understood."
Itachi nodded.
"What is the current state of the Uchiha clan?"
The Hokage continued his questioning.
"The situation remains unchanged—many still voice discontent toward both you and the village."
Itachi answered without hesitation, his tone neutral and emotionless.
"Still the same, huh?"
The Third Hokage let out a long sigh, his face clouded with melancholy.
"It's my own failing as Hokage… that the Uchiha clan harbors such deep-seated prejudice against me and Konoha."
His voice was filled with regret and self-blame.
"This isn't your fault, Hokage-sama. Some members of my clan… are simply too stubborn."
Itachi responded immediately.
A long silence followed.
The Third Hokage finally spoke again, his tone helpless yet resolute.
"The Uchiha are still a part of Konoha. If I fail to earn their trust and acceptance, then I have failed as Hokage."
"But… I am grateful."
His gaze softened as he looked at Itachi.
"Grateful that, despite everything, there are still loyal shinobi like you and Shisui in the Uchiha clan."
"Shinobi who carry the Will of Fire—who are willing to fight for Konoha's peace."
After a moment, he asked:
"Has anything unusual happened within the Uchiha clan recently?"
"Something out of the ordinary?"
Itachi thought carefully before responding.
"The full clan meetings haven't been held in a while."
"Instead, my father has been meeting privately with the three elders and the elite jonin."
"Sometimes in his study, sometimes at Naka Shrine."
Fugaku, the three Uchiha clan elders, and the elite jonin—these were the top decision-makers of the Uchiha.
If such figures were gathering in secret meetings, then something major was being discussed.
The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Not holding full clan meetings… that makes sense."
They must have realized Shisui had been a spy.
Worried about other potential informants, they were minimizing exposure—keeping discussions strictly within a trusted circle.
However, the private meetings between Fugaku and the clan's elite leadership—that was concerning.
Whatever they were planning… it was serious.
If he could uncover their discussions, he could predict the Uchiha clan's next move—giving him the upper hand in dealing with them.
"Is there any way for you to find out what was discussed?"
"No."
Itachi shook his head.
"The security around Naka Shrine has been significantly tightened—I can't get close."
"And at home… they've set up soundproofing barriers, so I can't eavesdrop."
"I see…"
The Third Hokage nodded slowly.
They were being careful. Too careful.
"Alright, then. Keep watching. And be careful not to expose yourself."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Replacing his mask, Itachi bowed respectfully before leaving the office.
As he watched him go, the Third Hokage's expression darkened.
With Shisui exposed, the Uchiha had become extremely cautious.
Gaining intelligence on them would no longer be easy.
Moving forward, he would have to tread even more carefully when dealing with the Uchiha clan.
(End of Chapter)
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