One demand—and the balance between clans shifted forever.
"Fugaku."
"What's your take on what happened today?"
Standing before Fugaku Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately avoided mentioning the clash on the training grounds. Instead, he calmly tossed the question back at him.
The sudden change in direction caught Fugaku completely off guard.
He had already prepared himself to apologize.
To compensate.
To bow his head if necessary.
Yet now—
"This… this…"
After a brief pause, Fugaku forced a stiff smile.
"It was merely a spar between classmates."
"And in the end, no one was seriously hurt. Wouldn't you agree?"
In Fugaku's view, since neither child was injured, the matter shouldn't escalate further.
What he failed to remember—
Was that this wasn't just Hiruzen.
Standing beside him was Danzo Shimura, a man who had always treated the Uchiha as a thorn in his flesh.
Danzo let out a cold snort.
"Ninjutsu. Kunai."
"Both aimed at vital points, if I recall correctly."
"Do you even realize who that was?"
"That was my grandson."
"And you think you can brush this aside so casually?"
The moment Danzo finished speaking, Fugaku knew—
There would be no easy end to this.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
"Then… what does Danzo-sama suggest we do?"
Danzo didn't answer him.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward Alaric, who had been quietly observing the scene.
"Alaric."
"You decide."
Even Hiruzen turned toward him with a genial smile.
The message was obvious.
Don't be afraid.
We're here.
Not just Fugaku—
Even those standing nearby couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
As for Fugaku himself, bitterness churned in his chest.
The head of the Uchiha clan…
Lowering his posture before a child the same age as his son.
"I'll think about it."
Alaric narrowed his eyes slightly.
As his gaze shifted, it landed on an ANBU operative not far away—one who was currently comforting Sasuke.
Uchiha Itachi…
That name flashed through Alaric's mind.
And with it—
An idea.
"I want to change servants," Alaric said casually.
"Ever since I was little, everyone around me has been a bunch of rough old men."
"It seriously ruins the mood."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted back to Fugaku.
Watching the clan head tense up, Alaric grinned.
"I've heard there's a girl in the Uchiha clan named Izumi."
"About my age."
"Send her to be my personal attendant."
"What do you think, Clan Head Fugaku?"
The moment the words left his mouth—
Itachi Uchiha stiffened.
His eyes snapped toward Alaric.
Then—slowly—toward his father.
Fugaku, however, seemed completely unaware.
Instead, his thoughts began racing.
Izumi liked Itachi—that much he knew.
But if Izumi were sent to serve Alaric…
It would greatly ease tensions between the Uchiha and the Hokage's faction.
After all, Alaric was the grandson of the Third Hokage—and Danzo's grandson.
With that status, if Izumi could earn Alaric's favor…
Perhaps he could speak on behalf of the Uchiha.
Perhaps the clan's situation could finally improve.
The more Fugaku thought about it, the brighter his eyes became.
As for Izumi's own feelings?
That wasn't something he needed to consider.
"Hahaha! So that's all."
"Rest assured, Young Master Alaric."
"I'll return immediately and inform Izumi."
"She'll report to the Sarutobi estate."
"Tomorrow—no, tonight. How about that?"
Seeing Fugaku's eagerness, even Alaric didn't know whether to laugh.
He simply nodded.
Fugaku turned to look at Hiruzen and Danzo.
Both elders were smiling.
With Alaric's demand satisfied, there was nothing more to say.
Seeing this, Fugaku quickly excused himself and left.
He never realized—
That the moment he agreed so readily, something inside Itachi quietly broke.
—
As the incident concluded, news from the Academy spread once more throughout the village.
Inside the Uchiha compound.
Izumi knelt on the tatami, hands placed neatly before her.
Fugaku, usually stern, wore an unusually gentle smile.
"Izumi. How is your mother, Hazuki?"
Caught off guard by the sudden summons, Izumi Uchiha answered honestly.
"Ah—she's doing well, Clan Head."
"That's good."
"There's a mission for you."
"You'll need to be prepared."
Hearing the word mission, Izumi straightened immediately.
But Fugaku's next words froze her in place.
"You'll pack your things and report to the Sarutobi clan."
"From today onward, you are Alaric Sarutobi's personal attendant."
Izumi's mind went blank.
"B-But, Clan Head… didn't you say I shouldn't give up on Itachi—"
"Enough."
Fugaku's expression hardened instantly.
His gaze sharpened as it fixed on her.
"Do not harbor unrealistic thoughts about Itachi."
"Your most important task now is to report to the Sarutobi clan."
"And don't forget your mother."
That final sentence crushed any remaining resistance.
Izumi immediately bowed low, pressing her forehead to the floor.
Her chest ached with grievance—but she understood.
This was not something she could refuse.
"I understand, Clan Head."
"I'll go prepare at once."
Fugaku said nothing more, dismissing her with a gesture.
Izumi rose and left respectfully.
At the doorway, she nearly collided with someone returning.
Itachi.
Her lips parted, instinctively wanting to say something—
But Fugaku appeared behind her.
And Itachi…
Didn't even look at her.
He walked past as if she were nothing more than empty air.
"Heh…"
A soft, bitter laugh escaped Izumi's lips.
Then she turned and walked away alone.
—
As night fell.
A girl in a purple cheongsam stopped before the gates of the Sarutobi clan.
Her posture was straight. Her voice steady.
"Uchiha Izumi reporting."
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