The forest was silent, the remains of battle carefully concealed by Fugaku and his son. Fallen trees and the scars upon the ground had been made to look natural, as if no conflict had ever taken place.
"Good work hiding everything, Father," said Itachi, putting away the used kunai."It's not enough just to hide, son. You have to think about what comes next. Danzō will have eyes in every corner." Fugaku frowned, adjusting his cloak. "We cannot leave any trace that someone from Root was here."
Immediately, they returned to the Clan with much to process, yet with a desire to continue improving step by step.
The next day, as the sun slowly rose, two shadows walked side by side: one tall and firm in his stride, the other small, filled with grace and youth.
Itachi pulled out a scroll and began sketching the sequence of his Plasma Cannon, explaining each step to his father.
"The trick is synchronizing the Gauss cannon with the plasma sphere," he said, while a glowing sphere of fire and lightning formed in his hand. "If the timing is off, the plasma disperses too early."
Fugaku frowned, trying to mimic the movements."Hmm… this requires precise coordination and very fine chakra control. But if it works, it will be devastating in battle."
Itachi nodded and summoned several shadow clones around him. Each clone repeated the practice pattern he performed, projecting multiple plasma spheres and miniature Gauss cannons simultaneously.
"This allows me to test combinations quickly," he explained. "Each clone can serve as a trial run—measuring the reaction of materials, the speed of projectiles, even how enemies might dodge or block them."
Fugaku watched, impressed."Your creativity is… remarkable, Itachi. This will be more useful than you can imagine. But remember: theory does not always apply in real combat."
Meanwhile, at Root's headquarters, Danzō received vague reports from his spies."Something happened in that forest…" he muttered, gripping his staff. "Someone attacked one of my inner-circle men. We must investigate every corner—no one can know…"
But Fugaku had been meticulous. Every seal, every footprint, every trace had been erased or disguised. For now, Danzō had no way of proving who was behind it.
"Father, with the clones I can simulate more complex attacks and train with different jutsu combinations," said Itachi. "I think we can optimize both offense and defense—even in the middle of battle."
Fugaku allowed himself a faint smile, a rare show of pride."That is the future of the clan, Itachi. Every move calculated, every strike measured. But do not forget: all of this must remain secret. No one can know what you know."
Itachi nodded, his eyes reflecting the intensity of someone who was not merely training, but already beginning to invent new ways of fighting.
Itachi remained in the clearing, watching his shadow clones with keen attention. His crimson eyes moved from one clone to another, tracking the flow of chakra, the synchronization of movements, the subtle changes in posture and tension.
"The memory transfer still doesn't work…" he murmured. "But there's something in how the clone perceives my intent—how it mirrors my mind, even without acting on its own."
He drew seals on the ground, measuring the chakra of each clone as they performed simple movements. Each time a clone executed a gesture correctly, Itachi felt a mental echo, a thread of connection that allowed him to sense the link between the clone's energy and his own consciousness.
"If I can understand this connection, maybe I can control it better…" he whispered, curiosity and ambition gleaming in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Fugaku sat in the family house's hall, reviewing reports and scrolls. Recent investigations into Danzō's actions during the massacre in Amegakure and his dealings with Hanzō had uncovered compromising details: hidden orders, manipulation of spies, and strategic decisions that had never been made public.
"This could strike a heavy blow to his operations in the future… though with Danzō, nothing is certain," Fugaku muttered thoughtfully. "If we expose him properly, public opinion of him could turn decisively."
Itachi appeared behind his father, his face still marked with concentration."Father… I'm analyzing the connection between the clones and myself. I think if I fully understand how they synchronize with my mind, I'll be able to improve my training and anticipate enemy movements."
Fugaku nodded, a mixture of pride and concern on his face."Very well, son. But remember—this must remain secret. No one else can know what you are doing. And as for Danzō… we must act carefully. Exposing him will be more effective if done strategically, not rashly."
Itachi nodded again, his eyes drifting back toward the clones. The combination of research, training, and family strategy was beginning to carve a path that not only strengthened the young Uchiha, but also prepared Fugaku to move his pieces in the shadows and confront Danzō's growing influence.
Night fell upon the forest, and as the clones continued their practice, Itachi realized that every small advance, every observation, brought him closer to something far greater: the complete mastery of chakra and a deeper understanding of the flow of energy between body and mind.