Chapter 203 - Naruto: I am Uchiha Fugaku [203]

"No reaction at all…"Uchiha Fugaku was quite surprised.He had already returned to Konoha for several days, yet the retaliation he had anticipated from the Third Hokage never came. This unexpected calm made him wary.He had considered the possibility that the Third Hokage would attack Uchiha clansmen while they were on missions outside the village.He had considered that the Third Hokage would ambush him on his way back.He had made preparations for all of that.But none of it happened. It was as if the Third Hokage didn't even know that Sarutobi Asuma had died by his hand."He's more composed than I expected."Fugaku let out a cold chuckle.If the Third Hokage had really ambushed him on his way back, he wouldn't have minded killing him—killing the Third Hokage outside the village.Now that he possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, even if the Hokage had brought the full force of the ANBU elites, Fugaku was confident he could handle it.Unfortunately, the Third Hokage hadn't ambushed him."Whatever scheme he's planning, in the face of absolute power, it's meaningless."He wasn't too worried.With the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he held an invincible trump card in this power struggle.No matter what tricks the Third Hokage might use, they would be rendered useless."What I need to deal with now isn't the Third Hokage—but Uchiha Itachi."When he thought of Itachi, Fugaku frowned slightly.In terms of strength, even if Itachi had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku could suppress him with his own power. But dealing with him required careful consideration.If possible, he didn't want Itachi's identity as a spy for the Third Hokage to be revealed to the rest of the clan.Itachi, his own son, had betrayed the Uchiha and willingly become the Third Hokage's informant.If the rest of the clan found out, it would severely damage Fugaku's authority and prestige within the family.That was something he absolutely did not want.Moreover, he had to consider the feelings of Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Sasuke.Especially Sasuke—he was destined to reach a Six Paths-level of strength in the future. Fugaku couldn't afford to let anything cause a rift between them.He arrived at a forest clearing near the Uchiha compound.Uchiha Sasuke was practicing a newly learned Fire Style technique—Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Claw Crimson.Blossoms of flame floated through the air like scattered petals—beautiful and captivating.Fugaku observed for a while, then offered Sasuke a bit of guidance before stepping into the forest.Swish—Using the Body Flicker Technique, he reappeared dozens of meters away atop a tree.Swish—Again, another flicker—he appeared atop a different tree several dozen meters away.Over the past few days, he had discovered something:By refining Uchiha Shisui's corpse, the benefits he had gained went far beyond just evolving his Sharingan.His physical talents had also improved.Shisui, known as "Shisui of the Body Flicker," had astonishing mastery over the Body Flicker Technique.In all of Konoha, only the Second and Fourth Hokage surpassed him in this skill.His talent for the Body Flicker was extraordinary, which was the root of his prowess.After refining Shisui's corpse, Fugaku had inherited that same natural talent.Upon realizing this, he immediately began training in the Body Flicker Technique.The results were incredible—daily improvements.Fugaku firmly believed that if he continued on this path, his Body Flicker mastery would rival—if not surpass—Shisui's.After all, his abilities weren't just Shisui's—they were a combination of Shisui's, his own, and others whose corpses he had refined.Surpassing Shisui was inevitable.---At the White Zetsu baseA swirling black vortex appeared in the darkness. Emerging from it was Uchiha Obito, wearing his signature red cloud black cloak and spiral mask."Perfect timing—you're just the one I was heading to inform. There's important news from the Land of Water."Upon seeing Obito return, Zetsu immediately spoke."What important news?"Obito asked."You previously asked us to confirm whether Uchiha Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. It's confirmed—Fugaku has indeed awakened it."Zetsu's black half answered."So it's true… He really did awaken the Mangekyō. He hid it well."Under the mask, Obito's face showed a trace of surprise.Just as he suspected—Fugaku had indeed awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.Of the three of them, the first to do so might not have been him, but Fugaku.He hadn't expected that the usually meek clan head of the Uchiha had hidden his strength so deeply.Obito frowned."In this era… there are actually three Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingan.""No—not three, only two."Zetsu shook his head."What do you mean?"Obito looked at him, puzzled."We only found out about Fugaku's Mangekyō because Shisui attacked him.""And in that battle, Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan."Zetsu's white half explained."You mean… one of them died in the fight? Who died?"Obito was shocked.Two Mangekyō Sharingan users from the Uchiha Clan had clashed—and one had died."Fugaku won. Shisui was killed by him in that battle."Zetsu's white half stated."Fugaku won?"Even Obito was surprised under the mask.He had fought Shisui before—he knew how strong Shisui was.If Fugaku could kill Shisui, it meant Fugaku was even stronger.That was not good news.If Fugaku became an enemy, he would be a major threat."Have you identified what Fugaku's eye technique is?""During the fight, he used Ice Release and Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse). I suspect his Mangekyō ability is related to that."Zetsu's black half answered."He used both Ice Release and Dead Bone Pulse?"Obito placed a bandaged hand against his chin.In the notes left behind by Uchiha Madara, there was information about transplanting Kekkei Genkai—but the success rate was extremely low.For Fugaku to possess both Ice Release and Dead Bone Pulse, it likely wasn't through surgery.More likely… his Mangekyō ability allowed him to obtain Kekkei Genkai."Fugaku's Mangekyō likely allows him to acquire Kekkei Genkai.""That's our conclusion too."Zetsu nodded."The ability to acquire Kekkei Genkai… So it was you!"Suddenly, Obito's visible eye flashed coldly.This realization reminded him of the person who once impersonated him using Wood Release.If Fugaku could use Ice Release and Dead Bone Pulse, then possessing Wood Release wasn't far-fetched—he was likely the one who had impersonated Obito!Obito voiced his suspicion:"Uchiha Fugaku was the one who impersonated me.""With Ice Release and Dead Bone Pulse already in hand, adding Wood Release makes sense. That's entirely possible."Zetsu nodded in agreement."Looks like it's time I paid Konoha a visit."Obito sneered.If Fugaku had indeed plotted against him back then, this was not something he would let slide.