Chapter 190: The Conversation (Part 2)
"I can accept your condition," Fugaku said firmly, locking eyes with Kei. "You've contributed too much already. Tell me—what is it you want?"
He had already made up his mind. Some demands from Kei had to be met—at least in matters concerning the clan. Kei had given a great deal, and acknowledging that wasn't only a matter of necessity, but also of the Uchiha's future.
If by granting this he could stabilize Kei—make him less fixated on the Eternal Mangekyō—then all the better.
Of course, Fugaku knew better than to rely on luck. As fellow Mangekyō holders, they both understood the cost of overusing their eyes. Whether the outcome turned out favorable or grim, he had already calculated both sides in his heart.
Kei was the same. Even though he likely understood that Fugaku had no desire to fight him, Kei still carried himself as though he were ready for battle at any moment. It wasn't just a posture—it was proof he was seeking a complete, foolproof solution.
"The Police Force," Kei said without hesitation.
"You want to purge internal strife, and I need enough authority to shape things properly. Then give me the Police Force. You've seen the results of my division—I've already proven what I can do with it. No one has more right than me to rebuild it."
The Police Force was the Uchiha's most important institution—their face to the village, their symbol of authority.
To Fugaku, however, it had long been a burden, a hot coal in his hand. Were it not for the enormous pressure from within the clan, he might have considered abandoning it altogether.
But with Kei's arrival, things had changed. At first, he had only intended to grant Kei a small foothold in clan politics. Yet after Kei's restructuring, one of the divisions had flourished—aligning almost perfectly with Fugaku's own vision.
Now Kei was asking for the whole institution. And Fugaku could not dismiss the thought that if Kei continued this transformation, his standing in the clan might one day rival, or even surpass, his own.
Fugaku let out a sigh. He had always known Kei's ambition was vast, but never expected it to reach this extent. And most importantly, he had no real reason to refuse. What would he do instead? Let the Police Force rot under his care?
Copy Kei's reforms in secret? That would only deepen their conflict, which ran counter to his interests.
"…When the Fourth Hokage takes office, the head of the Police Force will be you," Fugaku said at last, eyes steady. "Congratulations, Kei."
"Good," Kei replied calmly, as if he had expected nothing less. "This won't be a loss for you, either. After all, everything I do is for the clan."
"Don't dress it up in noble words," Fugaku snorted coldly. "You don't care about the Uchiha. You only care about yourself."
"Perhaps," Kei admitted without the slightest embarrassment. "But I still bear the name Uchiha. Whatever my private motives, outsiders won't see it that way. And right now, we're still insects tied to the same rope… aren't we?"
Fugaku wasn't convinced. Kei was too independent, too dangerous. If he truly chose to walk away, hardly anyone would even react in time to stop him.
Yet another thought crept into Fugaku's mind: if Kei now carried so great a responsibility—if he was bound to the Police Force—would he still be so free to turn his back?
And he remembered Jun's words: if there was a chance to anchor Kei, to bind him tightly to the clan, it had to be taken.
Kei himself remained oblivious to Fugaku's calculations. What mattered to him was laying the problems on the table and addressing them directly.
From Fugaku's current attitude, Kei could tell—he truly wanted to resolve matters thoroughly. Which meant it was time to bring up the issue that concerned him most.
"Good. That's settled." Kei's expression hardened. "Now let's talk about the real matter. Clan Head, what are your thoughts regarding the possible birth of the Eternal Mangekyō?"
"…Perhaps," Fugaku said after a deep breath, "we shouldn't let it be born at all."
Their greatest source of conflict—the Eternal Mangekyō itself. The simplest solution was also the most brutal: ensure that both he and Kei each held their own Mangekyō, preventing any chance of fusion. No fusion meant no Eternal Mangekyō.
Without it, much of the tension between them could be dissolved. A pity, yes—but undeniably effective.
Kei frowned deeply. That's your solution? Patch one hole by tearing another?
Fugaku could afford such a stance. He had never relied heavily on his Mangekyō anyway. In the original course of things, he never used it at all; even in this altered path, his single use had been moderate at best. To him, stability outweighed the allure of eternal eyes.
But Kei could not think the same way. He had already crossed blades with Obito—hard, decisive blows. He needed the Eternal Mangekyō.
Kei possessed White Zetsu cells—cells of the First Hokage himself. But he was greedy; he wanted to unravel the truth of the Eternal Mangekyō for himself, and use it as a stepping stone—just as Madara once had with Hashirama's power.
And he could not trust Hyūga Ayaka completely, not yet. Her skill in medical ninjutsu was still new, and her character not entirely proven. To entrust his fate to her alone was impossible.
His thoughts spun rapidly. The more he turned the matter over, the more it seemed Fugaku's method was the most pragmatic choice. And that fact unsettled him. This development strayed from his original plans.
"…A sound idea," Kei admitted after a pause. His brows furrowed. "But I still want those eyes. Even if I never use them, I want to uncover their secret. And if necessary—destroy them once I do."
"…Destroy them?" Fugaku finally began to take Kei's intent seriously. The idea that Kei would go so far as to eliminate the Eternal Mangekyō outright—that was no idle whim.
"What exactly do you seek to uncover, Kei?" Fugaku pressed. "Or… have you already stumbled upon some hidden truth about those eyes?"
He could only speculate. Kei had given no indication he intended to share what he knew. And though they had agreed to exchange research, it was clear Kei had no intention of revealing everything.
But the problem was, all of this research was public. Fugaku had read the reports himself, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, there was indeed a notable boost—his chakra had grown stronger, and his mastery, understanding, and power in ninjutsu had all increased dramatically.
That kind of enhancement was the natural result of improved chakra quality. In fact, it matched Uchiha Isamu's case almost exactly. Which left Fugaku puzzled—what had Uchiha Kei discovered that he hadn't?
As for Uchiha Shuu's condition, Fugaku wasn't entirely sure. And truthfully, even if he had Shuu's full report, it wasn't something he could unravel quickly.
The data was sparse, and given how varied Mangekyō abilities could be, different kinds of augmentations weren't surprising in the slightest.
The truth was simple: Fugaku wasn't Uchiha Kei. He didn't have the advantage of foreknowledge, of knowing secrets buried deep in the clan's cursed future. Kei did. And that made him dangerous.
After some thought, Fugaku clenched his teeth and spoke firmly:
"Fine. I'll allow you to proceed with the fusion—but on one condition."
"As long as it's not too unreasonable, I won't be picky," Kei answered calmly with a nod.
"You'll have access to the eyes. The research, the experiments, even the chance to uncover the Eternal Mangekyō's full potential—I won't interfere." Fugaku's eyes locked onto Kei's. "But… only for one year. After that, those eyes will be mine."
Kei's lips curled into a cold smile.
"What generosity, Clan Head. And what a clever bargain. A year of research for me, and then you reap the reward? Doesn't that leave me on the losing end?
And tell me—aren't you worried that within that year I might simply kill every last one of you, and keep the eyes for myself?"
The truth was, Fugaku's condition was something Kei could live with.
Yes, Kei's ambition was vast—but he wasn't blind to reality. A year was plenty of time. Enough for Ayaka Hyūga to master the critical medical ninjutsu he needed.
And if he couldn't fully trust her, he could always seek out—or coerce—another medic-nin specializing in transplant research.
Even if Fugaku demanded the eyes after a year, Kei could easily stall, buying at least another six months of buffer.
And if his timing was precise, he might even intercept Orochimaru during his eventual defection, gaining an even greater edge.
Because in the end, another's eyes would never truly be his own. Kei had no illusions about that.
What he wanted most was security. And Fugaku, despite his authority, was craving the same.
If Kei failed to unravel the Eternal Mangekyō's secrets in time, he could always fall back on the path Obito had taken—experimenting with White Zetsu's cells, or rather, Hashirama's cells.
He just had to be careful not to end up like those grotesque "Uchiha trees."