"Fugaku—what do you think about what happened today?"
Standing before Uchiha Fugaku, Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately avoided mentioning the incident itself. Instead, he calmly tossed the question back to him.
The sudden shift caught Fugaku completely off guard.
He had already prepared himself to apologize, to compensate, to bow his head if necessary—
Only to be hit with this.
"…Well, uh…"
"It was nothing more than a spar between classmates," Fugaku replied awkwardly after a moment of thought."And in the end, no one was hurt… isn't that right?"
From Fugaku's perspective, since neither child was injured, the matter shouldn't need to be blown out of proportion.
What he forgot—
Was that this wasn't just Hiruzen standing here.
There was also Danzo Shimura, a man who had always regarded the Uchiha clan as a thorn in his side.
Hearing Fugaku attempt to brush it off so lightly, Danzo let out a cold snort.
"Ninjutsu.""Kunai.""If I remember correctly, both were aimed straight at vital points."
"Do you know who that child is?""That's my grandson."
"What—do you think this can just be waved away?"
With Danzo's words, Fugaku immediately realized—
This was not going to end easily.
A bitter smile crept onto his face as he spoke again.
"Then… what does Danzo-sama believe should be done?"
Instead of answering, Danzo turned his gaze toward Yashiro, who was watching the situation unfold like a spectator enjoying a show.
"Yashiro," Danzo said."You tell us. What do you want to do?"
Beside him, Hiruzen was smiling warmly as well.
The two elders practically radiated the message:
Don't worry. We've got your back.
Not just Yashiro—
Even the surrounding onlookers couldn't help but feel envious.
Meanwhile, Fugaku felt nothing but bitterness.
The head of the proud Uchiha clan—
Forced to lower his stance before a child the same age as his own son.
"…Let me think~"
Yashiro narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, then suddenly glanced toward the ANBU operative comforting Sasuke nearby.
Uchiha Itachi…
At the thought of that name, Yashiro's eyes lit up.
An idea formed instantly.
"I want to change attendants," Yashiro said lazily."Ever since I was little, all my servants have been rough, burly men."
"It seriously ruins my mood."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted back to Fugaku.
Seeing the tension written all over the clan head's face, Yashiro broke into a wide grin.
"I've heard the Uchiha have a girl named Izumi."
"She's about my age."
"How about letting her come be my personal attendant?"
"What do you think, Clan Head Fugaku~?"
The moment Yashiro finished speaking—
Uchiha Itachi, who had been tending to Sasuke, stiffened violently.
His eyes snapped toward Yashiro.
But more than that—
They locked onto his father.
Fugaku, however, noticed nothing.
Instead, his mind was already racing.
Izumi liked Itachi—this much he knew.
But if Izumi were sent to serve Yashiro Sarutobi…
It could significantly ease the strained relationship between the Uchiha clan and the Hokage's faction.
After all—
Yashiro Sarutobi was the Third Hokage's grandson.
Danzo Shimura's grandson.
With that kind of status—
If Izumi gained Yashiro's favor,If Yashiro were willing to speak a few good words for the Uchiha…
The clan's position in the village might truly change.
The more Fugaku thought about it, the brighter his expression became.
It was as if he could already see a future where the Uchiha reconciled with Konoha.
As for whether Izumi herself was willing—
That wasn't something Fugaku concerned himself with.
"Hahaha! So that's all it is," Fugaku said heartily."Please rest assured, Young Master Yashiro!"
"I'll return immediately and inform Izumi to report to the Sarutobi residence."
"Tomorrow—no, how about tonight?"
Looking at Fugaku's barely contained eagerness, Yashiro didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Still, he nodded.
Seeing this, Fugaku turned toward Hiruzen and Danzo.
The two elders had no objections at all—
Both were smiling broadly.
After all, if the grandson's demands were satisfied, there was no need to press further.
Fugaku quickly took his leave.
Unbeknownst to him—
At the very moment he eagerly agreed—
Something inside Itachi quietly disappeared.
With the matter concluded, the incident at the Ninja Academy once again spread throughout the village.
Within the Uchiha compound—
Fugaku sat facing Uchiha Izumi, who knelt respectfully before him.
The clan head's usually stern face now wore a rare smile.
"Izumi," Fugaku said gently,"Your mother, Hazuki—she's doing well, yes?"
Caught off guard by the sudden summons, Izumi answered honestly.
"Ah—yes! Everything is fine, Clan Head!"
"That's good," Fugaku nodded."There's a mission for you now."
"You'll need to prepare yourself."
Hearing the word mission, Izumi immediately straightened, not daring to slack.
But the next words froze her in place.
"In a moment, pack your belongings and report to the Sarutobi clan."
"From today onward, you will serve as Yashiro Sarutobi's personal attendant."
Izumi stared at him, stunned.
Unable to understand, she blurted out,"But Clan Head… didn't you say before that I shouldn't give up on Itachi and—"
"Enough!"
The moment Itachi's name was mentioned, Fugaku's expression hardened.
His gaze sharpened as he stared her down.
"Do not harbor unrealistic fantasies about Itachi."
"Remember this—your most important task now is to report to the Sarutobi clan."
"And don't forget your mother."
At those words, Izumi immediately dropped to her knees.
Though her heart was filled with grievance and sorrow, she understood—
This was not something she could refuse.
"I understand, Clan Head," she said quietly."I'll go prepare at once."
Fugaku said nothing more and waved her away.
Izumi rose and left the clan head's residence obediently.
But as she stepped outside—
She nearly collided with Itachi, who had just returned.
Just as Izumi opened her mouth to speak—
She noticed Fugaku standing at the doorway.
And Itachi…
Didn't even look at her.
He passed by as if she didn't exist at all.
"…Heh."
With a bitter, aching smile, Izumi turned and left alone.
Under the cover of night—
Wearing a violet cheongsam, Uchiha Izumi slowly arrived at the gates of the Sarutobi estate.
She straightened her posture and spoke clearly.
"Uchiha Izumi reporting for duty."