Uchiha Souji's heart was screaming.
What do you know?! What do you know, Fugaku?!
If emotions could take form, Souji would have already grabbed Fugaku's collar, shaken him violently, and smacked him across the face while shouting:
"You know NOTHING, old man! NOTHING!"
But reality restrained him.
Because Fugaku spoke again.
Fugaku looked absolutely serious as he declared:
"I know you children have pride. But remember— even Uchiha Madara only became great because someone guided him."
Souji wanted to cry.
Where did you hear this nonsense?! Madara guided by others? Guided by who— the Sage of Six Paths?!
But Fugaku wasn't finished.
"So don't be afraid. Don't feel embarrassed. If you ever have questions, ask me directly. It's for your growth."
Souji opened his mouth, but before he could speak—
"Ah, yes. Itachi will be attending school with you. He's excellent, but he struggles with socializing. Teach him often. Guide him well."
Fugaku patted Souji's shoulder, his expression full of trust, pride, and expectation.
As if he was entrusting his heir to Souji.
Souji froze.
ME?! Teach Uchiha Itachi?! Are you insane?!
This wasn't guidance.
This was sending Souji to his death.
If Itachi ever decided to "honor his clan," what would Souji do? Give him snacks? Throw him a kunai and run?
Before Souji could object, Fugaku casually returned to his seat as if he had changed the fate of the world with a sentence.
"Alright. Go home. You look tired from training. Children need proper rest. I still have work, so I won't walk you out."
He waved dismissively, clearly believing he had done a wonderful deed.
Souji was stunned.
How can you dump all this on me and expect me to calmly walk home?!
He tried to speak—
He opened his mouth—
He raised his hand—
But the Uchiha intelligence operative standing nearby bowed respectfully and gestured toward the door.
A silent message:
"Leave. Now."
Souji looked at the man's large, muscular frame, the dagger at his waist, and the emotionless mask that resembled death itself.
Souji immediately understood the situation.
A wise man does not stand under a collapsing wall.
And a wise Souji does not oppose a masked Uchiha enforcer.
Confucius was right.
---
Inside the Study — A Different Perspective
A few minutes after Souji left, the door opened again.
A gentle-looking woman entered carrying a tray of food.
Uchiha Mikoto placed the dishes on the table, then stepped behind Fugaku and began massaging his shoulders.
With a soft voice, she asked:
"Is Souji… talented?"
She shouldn't have been concerned. As the patriarch's wife, she technically had no involvement in clan strategy or talent scouting.
But Mikoto was no simple housewife. No one ignorant could survive as the wife of the Uchiha clan head.
And Mikoto had eyes.
She understood perfectly well that Fugaku was building the future team for their son, Itachi.
The older generation would eventually fade. The next generation needed reliable allies.
The shinobi world was cruel—ultimately, ninja clans were powerful gangs, and every gang needed strong lieutenants.
Fugaku rubbed his forehead and tossed aside a scroll containing intelligence reports on Konoha's higher-ups.
Then he answered.
"Konoha is full of geniuses. But how many of them become true talents?"
He picked up another document and waved it lightly.
"Orochimaru—talented? Yes.
Jiraiya—talented? Yes.
But neither of them were the most talented shinobi of their generation."
He smirked.
"Yet the world remembers only the Sannin. Not the Uchiha geniuses who once surpassed them."
Mikoto nodded slowly.
Fugaku continued, deeper and more serious:
"Talent determines a person's lower limit.
But the heart of the strong determines their upper limit."
He leaned back, eyes sharp.
"Souji's talent is average. But his drive to improve, his iron will, his mentality—those are the qualities of a future powerhouse."
He lifted a finger and declared:
"Give him ten years. He and Itachi will become the twin stars of the Uchiha."
He paused, then added with amusement:
"And with Shisui, we can even form a new Sannin— Uchiha Sannin."
Mikoto blinked.
Fugaku was smiling, actually smiling, imagining a future where Souji stood alongside Itachi and Shisui as the pillars of the clan.
His enthusiasm grew.
"Orochimaru wasn't gifted with unlimited talent. Jiraiya struggled with chakra control for years. They succeeded not because talent carried them, but because they never stopped moving forward."
Fugaku's hands clenched.
"If Souji grows the way I predict… the Uchiha will rise again."
He tapped his desk.
"A village like Konoha isn't large enough to create a real myth.
There are too many layers of politics and schemes."
His tone dropped coldly.
"Sometimes, I feel that if Konoha disappeared from the map, the world would become more peaceful."
Mikoto quietly continued massaging his shoulders, her expression thoughtful but calm.
---
Meanwhile — Souji Walks Home in Agony
Uchiha Souji trudged through the clan streets, feeling emotionally bruised.
My plan was flawless. Train secretly at 3 a.m., stay invisible, survive quietly. So how did Fugaku find out?!
He racked his brain.
There was only one explanation.
It was the world's fault.
No, wait.
It was Fugaku's fault!
Why was that man wandering around at 3 a.m.?!
Why did he pass by the training grounds instead of going home?!
Why couldn't he go to some brothel area like a normal suspicious man?!
By the time Souji reached his house, he was furious.
To calm down, he immediately dug up a dozen bottles of Happy Water from his backyard.
He intended to drink until his soul left his body.
He needed to rethink his entire plan.
Because if things continued like this, he might truly become tied to this sinking Uchiha ship.
And if the ship went down…
he would be dragged straight to the bottom with it.
Souji stared at his bottles.
"If I die in this clan… it better not be because Fugaku misunderstood me."
He opened the drink.
Tonight, he would drink like a man betrayed by fate.