A few days after Uchiha Shisui went into hiding, inside the Security Department office—
"Captain, we still haven't found Uchiha Shisui."
Uchiha Kana reported to Uchiha Fugaku.
"Still no trace of him?"
Fugaku raised an eyebrow.
Since his identity as an informant had been exposed, Uchiha Shisui had not returned to the Uchiha clan. It was obvious that he had realized the danger of retaliation and had chosen to go into hiding somewhere in the village.
After a brief moment of thought, Fugaku spoke.
"I will try other methods to locate Uchiha Shisui, but continue gathering intelligence on your end."
"I understand."
Uchiha Yaowei nodded, took his leave, and exited the Security Department office.
After finishing the remaining documents, Fugaku left the Security Department and made his way home.
As he walked through the Uchiha compound, his clan members greeted him with respectful bows.
"Patriarch."
"Patriarch."
"Patriarch."
Each greeting was filled with genuine respect, a sign of how much authority Fugaku now commanded over the clan.
Ever since he had gained full control over the three elders, the entire Uchiha clan had become unified under his leadership.
The only thing still lacking was the fear and awe of his strength—a vital aspect of the Uchiha's traditional respect for power.
Right now, his authority was based on his position as clan leader, not sheer strength.
Though those who had accompanied him to the Land of Rice knew he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, it was only a small fraction of the clan.
But this wasn't a problem.
When the right time came, he would demonstrate his true strength publicly, and then he would naturally earn absolute respect from every member of the Uchiha clan.
Arriving home, he was greeted by Uchiha Mikoto.
"I'm back."
Hearing the door open, Mikoto walked toward him with a gentle smile.
She wore a beige, form-fitting dress, elegantly accentuating her graceful figure.
Her long, silky black hair cascaded down her back, and as she moved, he caught the subtle fragrance of her shampoo.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of a sparring match echoed from the backyard.
Fugaku turned toward the source and asked, "Who is Sasuke training with?"
"It's Itachi. He hasn't had many missions recently, so he's been helping Sasuke train."
Mikoto replied with a smile.
The bond between Itachi and Sasuke was something that made her happy.
"Itachi?"
Fugaku's brows furrowed slightly, though he quickly masked his expression before Mikoto could notice.
He didn't want Sasuke spending too much time with Itachi.
A strong brotherly bond would only complicate matters when the time came for Itachi's fate to be sealed.
Fugaku had already decided—Itachi would not escape punishment.
And if Sasuke became too attached, it could lead to resentment when the inevitable happened.
But separating them wasn't possible either. They were brothers, and stopping them from interacting entirely would only raise suspicion.
When he stepped into the backyard, he saw Itachi sparring with Sasuke.
They weren't using ninja tools, only engaging in hand-to-hand combat—practicing taijutsu.
Fugaku's sharp eyes watched their movements closely.
"Sasuke, Itachi—take a break."
He called out, interrupting their match.
"Father."
Sasuke, covered in sweat, immediately ran over.
A servant handed Fugaku a towel, which he used to wipe the sweat off Sasuke's forehead.
Itachi, walking calmly, followed behind.
"Itachi, do you not have any missions lately?"
Fugaku asked, his tone even.
"There have been fewer ANBU missions recently."
Itachi replied, but a flicker of guilt passed through his expression.
In truth, he was lying.
It wasn't that ANBU missions had decreased—he had simply received orders from the Third Hokage to keep a closer watch on the Uchiha family.
"I see…"
Fugaku's expression remained unreadable.
If Itachi weren't a traitor, he might have believed the excuse.
But knowing Itachi was an informant, Fugaku naturally did not trust a single word.
If his suspicions were correct, Itachi had been ordered to spy on the Uchiha family by the Third Hokage.
"The Third Elder informed me that Shisui hasn't returned to the clan in a long time. Since you're in the same ANBU unit as him, do you know why?"
Fugaku asked, watching Itachi's reaction carefully.
Itachi's heart pounded.
"Brother Shisui… he was given a mission outside the village and has been away for some time."
Itachi forced his expression to remain neutral, trying his best to hide his unease.
He was well aware that Shisui's status as a spy had likely been exposed.
And if his father was asking about him, that meant something was wrong.
Does Father suspect me as well?
Itachi wondered, feeling increasingly on edge.
"I see."
Fugaku nodded, acting as if he accepted the answer.
Not long after, Mikoto came over and invited them to lunch.
During the meal, Itachi remained calm and composed, though internally, his thoughts were racing.
After finishing lunch, Itachi excused himself and left the house.
Meanwhile, Fugaku remained behind, his expression darkening slightly.
"Leaving the village on a mission, huh?"
He scoffed, mocking Itachi's lie.
This excuse might work on ordinary clan members, but it wouldn't fool him.
"There's no doubt about it—the Third Hokage isn't letting Shisui return to the Uchiha clan."
This realization made things complicated.
"If Shisui is being hidden… then how do we find him?"
If he wanted to eliminate Uchiha Shisui, he at least needed to know his whereabouts.
Without that, planning an ambush was impossible.
But then, something clicked in Fugaku's mind.
"Wait… maybe I don't need to find Shisui."
His lips curled into a cold smile.
To deal with Uchiha Shisui, it wasn't necessary to track him down.
All that was needed… was to force Shisui to appear.
"If I make a move that enrages the Third Hokage… then Shisui will come to me."
Fugaku knew that Shisui's ultimate plan was to use Kotoamatsukami to manipulate him if conflict became irreconcilable.
If that was the case, he would push the conflict faster.
He would force Shisui's hand.
If Shisui believed the situation was reaching a breaking point, he would come out of hiding.
And when he did—Fugaku would be waiting.
Just then, he noticed Mikoto and Sasuke preparing to leave for the nearby park.
A calculated thought formed in his mind.
This is the perfect chance…
A small, knowing smile appeared on his lips.
"Mikoto, Sasuke," he called out, "I have nothing urgent today. I'll come with you."
(End of this chapter)
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