Uchiha Fugaku identified Hattori as one of the Uchiha clan, leaving Hattori momentarily stunned. He scratched the back of his head, a bit puzzled.
"Um… Clan Leader Uchiha, pardon me, but didn't you get enough sleep last night?"
Uchiha Fugaku: "..."
What does that mean? Is he saying I'm not fully awake or that I'm dreaming? Fugaku didn't fully grasp Hattori's intent, but he quickly brushed it off as unimportant and continued speaking.
"During our battles with Iwagakure, we stumbled upon a certain piece of information. Last year… no, actually, it was at the end of the year before that. In a canyon near Kirigakure, someone used a jutsu to summon a half-formed black chakra giant."
Fugaku glanced at Hattori, then went on.
"According to witnesses, as soon as the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki saw this black chakra giant, he ordered a retreat. Within a few moments, the Kirigakure canyon was destroyed, and thousands of Mist ninja were killed."
"Oh… Impressive."
Hattori nodded, took a sip of his tea, and let an expression of enjoyment wash over his face.
"Good tea. Please, go on, Clan Leader Uchiha."
"…"
Watching Hattori act like he was simply enjoying a story over tea, Fugaku's mouth twitched slightly.
"Don't you have anything to say about this black chakra giant, Hattori?"
"I do. Didn't I just say it?" Hattori replied, feigning surprise. "Didn't you hear me? Alright, I'll repeat it — oh… impressive."
Uchiha Fugaku: "(╬￣皿￣)"
Can you be any more dismissive?
Frustrated at not getting the answer he wanted, Fugaku decided to cut to the chase and directly voiced his suspicions.
"According to Uchiha clan records, that black chakra giant is a divine power known as Susano'o, accessible only when the Sharingan evolves to the Mangekyō. And the one who used Susano'o… was you, Hattori!"
With his gaze fixed intently on Hattori, Fugaku seemed determined to read something in his expression.
Hattori, feeling Fugaku's stare, took another sip of tea and nodded seriously. "Mm, excellent tea. Where'd you get it?"
Uchiha Fugaku: "(╬￣皿￣)"
Forget the tea! Is that what I'm asking about?
As Hattori casually drank his tea and opened a box of dango, taking out one of the tri-colored rice dumplings for himself, Fugaku started to feel exasperated.
Did he bring these just for himself and not as a gift?
Noticing Fugaku's gaze, Hattori paused, then pushed the dango box toward him. "Clan Leader Uchiha, have some! Make yourself at home!"
Uchiha Fugaku: "(╬￣皿￣)"
Make myself at home? This is my home!
Watching Hattori's carefree manner, Fugaku's mouth twitched again.
"Haa… sigh."
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, then spoke to Hattori once more.
"Hattori, unlocking the Mangekyō requires an extreme condition — one must witness the loss of someone dearly beloved. If you deny this, then I must ask you, where is the most important person to you now?"
"…"
This time, Hattori didn't respond with jokes. He slowly set down his teacup and stood up.
"Thank you for the tea, Clan Leader Uchiha. I'll be on my way now."
He turned and walked toward the door, but just as his hand was about to touch the handle, he felt a strange distortion in the space around him. In an instant, the scenery changed entirely.
The living room and Uchiha Fugaku were gone. Now he stood in a canyon shrouded in mist, resembling the foggy Kirigakure gorge.
On the cliffs above, shadowy figures were visible, and mist covered the canyon floor. In the fog, a familiar figure lay on the ground, drenched in blood, as two Sand Village ANBU agents, swords still dripping with blood, stood over them.
"Tsukuyomi, huh?"
Seeing this, anger briefly flashed across Hattori's face.
"A genjutsu that shows someone's deepest fears. Not bad, especially when cast through the Sharingan. But now, you can enjoy it yourself— *Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change!*"
At his command, the entire scene vanished, and Hattori found himself back in Fugaku's living room.
Behind him, Fugaku remained in his stance, eyes wide with shock, his Sharingan still activated.
He was caught in Hattori's genjutsu.
More accurately, he was caught in his own genjutsu, which Hattori had reflected back at him!
Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change is a Sharingan-based genjutsu that not only nullifies an enemy's illusion but also reflects its effects onto them.
Using one's own technique against them!
In that moment, Fugaku seemed trapped in horror, his expression betraying his fear.
After ten seconds or so, he gave a low shout.
"Release!"
As his voice echoed, he broke free from the genjutsu, though his face was tense, and beads of sweat dotted his brow.
Rather than showing anger, he looked at Hattori with a face full of excitement.
"So, you truly are of the Uchiha!"
Hattori's eyes had turned blood-red, with three black tomoe spinning within them — the unmistakable Sharingan, confirming Fugaku's suspicion. Fugaku immediately extended his hand toward Hattori.
"Hattori, the Uchiha clan needs you, and you need the Uchiha. Come back to us!"
"Heh…"
Hattori chuckled at the invitation, a smirk of disdain tugging at his lips.
"No, Clan Leader Uchiha, you're mistaken. I am not one of the Uchiha. Perhaps the Uchiha need me, but I do not need the Uchiha!"
With that, he ignored Fugaku's shocked expression and headed for the door.
Just as he stepped out, he paused, glanced back at Fugaku, and added, "Out of respect for the good tea, I'll give you a bit of advice. If the Uchiha clan wants to avoid disaster, don't have ambitions beyond your reach.
Learn from the Hyuga. Otherwise, your clan faces annihilation. Think it over."
With that, he shut the door with a firm "click" and left.
"…"
Fugaku watched in stunned silence.
After a long pause, his expression darkened, and a hint of rage flickered in his eyes.
"Annihilate the Uchiha? As long as I, Uchiha Fugaku, am here, I'd like to see who can achieve that!"
(End of Chapter)