"Itachi, did you learn it? With your Sharingan, even a jōnin could fall under this genjutsu if they're not careful. And once your Sharingan's genjutsu takes hold, it requires help from others to break free. This is the perfect time for you to launch an attack," Fugaku said as he dispelled the genjutsu he had placed on Itachi.
For the past few days, Fugaku had been teaching Itachi how to use the Sharingan's genjutsu techniques. To his surprise, he had underestimated Itachi's talent. Many of the genjutsu only needed to be shown twice before Itachi could perform them flawlessly.
This left Fugaku both bitter and proud. Bitter because he hadn't been around to train Itachi over the past few years, and proud because his son's potential was incredible. Given time, Itachi might even surpass Madara.
Unfortunately, the Mangekyō Sharingan that Fugaku had intended to leave for Itachi had been taken by Yoichi, contributing to Yoichi's rise in power.
"I've learned it, Father. Thank you for your guidance," Itachi said respectfully. They were in the northern forest of the Ninja Park, a place rarely patrolled by the village guards.
Last night, after learning the location of today's meeting, Itachi had gone to Shisui and subtly inquired about the patrol schedules around the Ninja Park. He had found out the general times and locations of the guard patrols.
However, Itachi knew that these routes were not fixed and were decided only the night before, with the teams being notified via a sealed scroll each morning. So, how had his father known and avoided patrols for several days in a row? Itachi began to hope that his father had come only to teach him, without any other hidden motives.
"You awakened your Sharingan a few days ago. Although you haven't reached the three-tomoe stage yet, you can still start learning the Uchiha clan's forbidden techniques, such as Izanagi."
Fugaku continued, "Izanagi is a technique that can alter life and death at the cost of losing the light in one of your eyes. It's the ultimate Uchiha technique. But unless you're in a life-or-death situation, there's no need to use it."
"Understood, Father," Itachi replied, pretending not to know about Izanagi's intricacies, though he had already been informed about its dangers.
Itachi prayed that Fugaku was merely here to visit his son and not for more sinister reasons.
Time passed, and after an hour or so, the sun had set, and Itachi knew it was getting late. Fugaku, however, seemed aware that the time for action was nearing.
"Itachi, I need your help. Once everything is done, you can leave the village with me."
"Leave Konoha? Father, are you saying…"
"That's right. You'll come with me. Staying here in Konoha won't do you any good. Yoichi will never fully trust you, and because of me, he'll secretly suppress you. I'm working toward bringing lasting peace to the ninja world, and when the time comes, you'll leave with me."
Itachi felt his heart race. The moment he feared had finally arrived.
However, his face remained impassive as he asked, "What do you need me to do, Father?"
"As expected from my son, I knew you'd agree. Yoichi hasn't properly trained you. He's likely only kept you around because of that idiot Mikoto," Fugaku said, patting Itachi's shoulder, oblivious to the slight tightening of Itachi's fists.
"I'm following Madara's plan to bring about eternal peace to the ninja world through the Moon's Eye Plan. Once it's implemented, everyone in the world will live in a dream where their deepest desires come true. But before that, we need to gather all nine tailed beasts."
Fugaku paused before continuing, "Tsunade is due to give birth in a few days. When that happens, Yoichi will definitely be at Konoha Hospital. I need you to find out the whereabouts of Yugito, the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails, and lure her to this forest. Once that's done, we'll leave the village together."
Itachi was shocked but showed only a slight reaction, asking, "Father, you intend to target Yugito?"
"It's not about targeting her. In the end, she'll also live in the perfect world of Infinite Tsukuyomi. This plan comes from the Sage of Six Paths himself. If you had the Mangekyō Sharingan, you'd be able to see the Uchiha Stone Tablet beneath the Naka Shrine that has been passed down for generations."
Itachi's heart sank. He couldn't imagine betraying Yugito, who was not only his comrade but someone he had trained with. He couldn't bear to think of the disappointment on Sasuke's or Karin's faces if they learned he had done something so dishonorable.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Itachi asked, "Father, is this why you've returned to the village?"
"It's one of my reasons. My main goal is to take you with me, Itachi," Fugaku said, patting his son's shoulder again. "I knew you'd understand."
Itachi remained silent for a while before finally saying, "I'll try my best, but I can't guarantee anything. I don't know Yugito very well."
This was a lie. He and Yugito had met countless times, trained together, and even sparred, with Itachi losing to her once.
"No matter. I trust you. Just bring her here in the next day or two," Fugaku said with a satisfied smile. "Now go home, my son. Don't raise any suspicions."
"I will… Father," Itachi said before turning to leave. It would take some time to get home from this part of the forest.
Once Itachi was gone, Black Zetsu emerged from the ground and said, "Are you sure this kid can do it?"
"He's my son, and you've seen his talent yourself. If he weren't born in this era, he would already be as strong as Madara," Fugaku replied confidently. Over the past few days, he had been teaching Itachi many of the Uchiha clan's Sharingan-based genjutsu.
It was as if Itachi had never been exposed to these techniques before, which only solidified Fugaku's belief that Yoichi had been holding him back.
"Let's hope he succeeds. This might be our only chance. If he fails, we'll have to rely on Madara."
Black Zetsu said cautiously, still wary of Konoha's other powerful figures, like the First Hokage. If Yoichi and the First Hokage joined forces, even Madara might struggle.
"According to the hospital, Tsunade should give birth in two days. By then, Yoichi will likely be at the hospital with her. He seems like a family man, after all," Zetsu added.
Fugaku snorted, "A family man? He's nothing but a lecherous fool. He doesn't deserve that title."
"Alright, alright. I'll be watching from the shadows, and I'll send Tobi to help you," Black Zetsu said, preparing to depart.
"I'm home," Itachi said as he returned to his house, where the others were already seated at the table. Sasuke waved at him, "Nii-san, hurry up! We've been waiting for you!"
"Sorry for being late," Itachi said, washing his hands before sitting down at the table. Then, looking puzzled, he asked, "Where's Father?"
Mikoto smiled, "He won't be home tonight. Let's eat without him."
Itachi couldn't help but think, So he really is at the hospital, just like Father said…
Even though he was usually quite hungry after training, hearing about this situation left Itachi feeling uneasy. His normally delicious dinner now tasted like ash.
After finishing the meal, Itachi didn't stay to play with Sasuke. He picked up his younger brother and set him down in front of Karin, much to Sasuke's shock and disbelief.
Itachi sat in the living room for a while before finally making a decision. Once Mikoto had finished tidying up, he approached her and said, "Mother, I need to talk to you."
"Hmm? What's the matter?" Mikoto asked, noticing the serious expression on Itachi's face.
"Let's talk outside," she suggested.
Once they were alone in the forest outside their home, Itachi took a deep breath and said, "Mother, Father has returned."
"You mean Yoichi? Isn't he at the hospital…?"
Mikoto looked confused at first, but quickly realized the truth. Her expression grew serious. "Itachi, you mean Fugaku. He's already contacted you? What has he tried to persuade you into doing?"
"Yes. But Mother, did you know about this?" Itachi asked, stunned by how calm she seemed.
"Actually, I knew a few days ago. Yoichi told me," Mikoto replied, feeling grateful that Itachi had come to her with this. She continued, "One of the Akatsuki members has already been captured, and they revealed their plans. Yoichi and I knew about Fugaku's attempt to manipulate you long before this."
"You and Father knew? Then why didn't you—"
"Yoichi said he trusted you. That's why we acted like nothing was happening. He even told me not to interfere with your decisions, and he didn't assign the police or ANBU to watch over you."
Mikoto gently stroked Itachi's hair and said, "Which parent wouldn't trust their own child?"
"Thank you, Mother," Itachi said, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. But then he remembered his biological father's plan and asked, "What should we do about him? Should we tell Father?"
"What do you think we should do?" Mikoto asked, curious to hear Itachi's thoughts. If he didn't have a clear idea, she would inform Yoichi herself.
"I don't want to tell him yet. No matter what, Fugaku is still my father. I'd like to ask Shisui for help. He and the police can arrest Fugaku, and then maybe we can…"
Itachi trailed off, unable to say that he didn't want Fugaku executed. He hoped they could at least imprison him instead.
"You don't want Yoichi to know?" Mikoto asked. "That's fine, but we'll need to be prepared."
She reassured Itachi, "As for Fugaku, you can explain everything to Yoichi when the time comes."
Why did he have to come back? Both Mikoto and Itachi thought the same thing. Mikoto, however, was filled with more anger than sadness.
The last time, she had pleaded for Fugaku's life out of respect for their past relationship. But now, he had returned to manipulate her son. She couldn't forgive him.
"Forget about asking Shisui. Let me handle him," Mikoto said, her voice firm.
"Mother, you?" Itachi asked, shocked. "Wouldn't it be better to let Shisui handle this?"
"Don't underestimate me, Itachi," Mikoto said, playfully flicking his forehead. She had undergone surgery to transplant Hashirama's cells and had mastered Sage Mode. But thinking about Fugaku's strength, Mikoto added, "I'll ask Mina and Kushina to help out. Don't worry, I just want to teach that fool a lesson for trying to manipulate my son."
Itachi felt touched but still concerned. "Mother, are you sure? Wouldn't it be better to tell Father?"
"Are you sure?" Mikoto replied.
Itachi paused, remembering the day he witnessed Yoichi's overwhelming power—only a fraction of his full strength. If he told Yoichi, Fugaku wouldn't stand a chance.
"No, Mother. I'll leave it to you. Tomorrow evening, just before dinner. The meeting place is in the Ninja Park."
Itachi carefully relayed all the details to Mikoto, even asking her to talk to Yugito.
Despite feeling somewhat uneasy, Itachi decided to visit Shisui the next day, just in case.
(End of Chapter)
====
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Tsunade had been admitted to Konoha Hospital three days early, but she couldn't stay still. Being a top-tier medical ninja with excellent health, she wasn't the least bit worried about childbirth.
Yoichi had no choice but to accompany this older expectant mother, leaving a Wood Clone behind to keep an eye on Tsunade while his true body gathered life energy.
Yoichi's sensing abilities had expanded greatly, allowing him to detect even the faintest life forces within a five-kilometer radius thanks to his mastery of Yomi. Today, he ventured to the sea, sensing numerous powerful lifeforms beneath the waters.
This was the ninja world, where even a wild boar could grow to three or four meters, and there were even larger predators like giant tigers and bears. Naturally, the creatures of the sea were even more fearsome.
While Yoichi was away, Mikoto began to execute her plan.
First, she informed Mina and Yugito of the situation. Mina, who always had Yoichi in her heart, immediately suggested, "Mikoto, we should tell Yoichi-sama. This concerns a rogue ninja."
"Yoichi-kun already knows about this, but Itachi doesn't want to tell him. Sigh," Mikoto said with a sigh, "After all, Fugaku is still Itachi's father. I want him gone, but I'm worried about Itachi's feelings. You understand, right, Mina?"
"I do, but we should still let Yoichi-sama know," Mina began, but Mikoto quickly grabbed her hands, batting her eyes with a pleading look that made Mina uncomfortable. "Alright, alright. I didn't say I wouldn't help, but are you sure it's just the two of us? I haven't fought in a while."
"Don't worry. I'll borrow power from Matatabi," Yugito said with determination, her fists clenched. She wasn't about to let someone take her away without a fight.
"With my full strength, few in the ninja world can stand against me," Yugito added confidently.
Mikoto and Mina exchanged glances, slightly more interested in Yugito's relationship with their household than her strength. Yugito had become quite integrated into their lives, and now it seemed she had no plans to leave.
Even Mikoto, who was often busy with the Uchiha Trading Company, hadn't noticed when Yugito had started taking extra care of her appearance.
Mina puffed her cheeks, frustrated. This cheeky girl is following in Mikoto's footsteps, she thought.
"I'll also ask Kushina for help. She's been training a lot lately, and with her control over the Nine-Tails chakra, she'll be a strong ally," Mikoto said, realizing they needed more muscle.
With that decided, Mikoto set off to find Kushina, but halfway there, she turned toward Konoha Hospital. Mina was right; no matter what happened, Yoichi needed to know about this.
At the hospital, Mikoto found Yoichi's Wood Clone and explained everything. The clone quickly made a Shadow Clone and dispelled it to inform the real Yoichi, before reassuring Mikoto, "The real me knows now. Don't worry."
Feeling relieved, Mikoto continued on to Kushina's house.
"Kushina, we need your help," Mikoto said once she arrived, explaining the situation.
"Why isn't that idiot Yoichi dealing with this himself?" Kushina almost let a curse slip but managed to hold back in time.
"Yoichi-kun knows. The problem is Itachi. The boy has already aligned himself with the village's ideals. Seeing his father die… it would be too much for him," Mikoto explained.
Kushina thought it over, realizing that such a sight would be cruel for a ten-year-old. "Alright, I understand. When are we making our move?"
"Tomorrow afternoon. Itachi will bring Yugito to a forest south of the Ninja Park."
The following afternoon, Fugaku felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety as the time drew near. Trusting in Itachi's intelligence, he pushed his doubts aside. Eventually, Black Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"How are things?" Fugaku asked.
"Seems like the Fifth Hokage is still at Konoha Hospital, but my clone didn't dare get too close. I had to gather information through others. As for your son, he's already on his way with the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. You'll need to act quickly," Zetsu warned.
"Don't worry. Even if she uses the power of the Tailed Beast, I won't be careless," Fugaku replied confidently. With White Zetsu's support, he could summon a Susanoo up to 20 or 30 meters tall. Dealing with the Two-Tails should be no problem; his only concern was Konoha's response time.
Soon, Fugaku heard the distant sound of footsteps and conversation.
"Itachi-kun, how much farther? Can't we spar here?" Yugito asked.
"This is still too close to the park. We need to go farther to avoid attracting attention," Itachi replied.
Fugaku felt a surge of pride for his son. As expected, my son is clever.
In a flash, Fugaku used Body Flicker to appear before Itachi and Yugito, causing them both to stop. Itachi remained calm, his expression unfazed, while Yugito's face showed clear suspicion.
"Who are you? This is Konoha!" Yugito shouted.
Fugaku chuckled, "Konoha or not, I'm Itachi's father. I've come here specifically to—"
Before he could finish, Itachi suddenly fired a signal flare into the sky.
Bang!
A brilliant signal exploded in the air, and moments later, a four-sided purple barrier surrounded the area, sealing them in completely.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!?" Fugaku immediately recognized the technique. But to his shock, a second barrier of golden chains emerged within the purple barrier, forming a tighter seal.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
"ITACHI!!" Fugaku roared in fury. At this point, it was obvious that his son had betrayed him. There was no way Konoha could have prepared such a rapid response without prior knowledge.
"Why!? I'm your father! Why, Itachi!?" Fugaku's voice trembled with anger and disbelief. Memories of Mikoto's betrayal years ago resurfaced, and now he faced betrayal from his son—his hope and future.
"You should never have returned, Father. I warned you several times, but you refused to leave Konoha," Itachi said, taking a deep breath before meeting his father's bloodshot, furious gaze. "The village has finally achieved peace, and both the villagers and our clan are living in harmony. Father, you shouldn't take that away from them."
"Fool! That peace is a lie! The rest of the world is still consumed by war. You idiot! Idiot!!"
"Enough, Fugaku!" a sharp voice cut through the air. Fugaku turned to see Mikoto and Kushina approaching. His rage intensified at the sight of Mikoto.
"You're the reason for all of this!" he snarled, his hatred for her growing even stronger.
"You shouldn't have come back, Fugaku. You've tried to manipulate Itachi, but you don't deserve to call yourself his father," Mikoto said, her face full of anger.
"Curse you! It's all your fault!" Fugaku roared, knowing there was no escape now. But even if he couldn't flee, he would kill the woman who had betrayed him and turned his son against him.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Both Fugaku and Mikoto simultaneously unleashed their jutsu, sending massive flaming dragons crashing into each other with a deafening explosion.
Flames erupted, scorching the surroundings and reducing trees to ash. Black Zetsu and White Zetsu had already fled underground when the barriers were raised, while Itachi and Yugito leapt to safety.
Moments later, the firestorm subsided, leaving the battlefield charred and empty.
"This can't be! How could you block my jutsu?" Fugaku gasped in disbelief. He knew Mikoto had been a jōnin before their marriage, but she had given up the ninja life after that. How could she match him in power, especially when he had the enhancements from White Zetsu?
"Tail-Tail Flame Balls!" Yugito shouted, unleashing a barrage of blue fireballs that rained down on Fugaku like a storm. Alarmed, Fugaku quickly performed hand seals.
"Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall!"
Explosions echoed as the blue flames smashed into the wooden barrier, obliterating it. However, the wall had bought Fugaku just enough time to escape underground.
"There! He's underground!" Kushina, now in her Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, detected his presence and extended her adamantine chains, slamming them into the ground with incredible force.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground shattered with each strike, creating deep craters as Kushina relentlessly pounded the earth, leaving Fugaku no choice but to surface. Burrowing further underground would have been too dangerous due to the risk of being crushed by the collapsing earth.
"Be careful, he can use Wood Style and Earth Style. Don't let him escape," Yugito warned.
Kushina smirked. "Don't worry. I've got him locked in my sensory range. He won't get away."
Itachi had withdrawn from the battle, standing next to Shisui. No matter what, Fugaku was still his father, and he couldn't bring himself to fight him. Besides, he wasn't strong enough to contribute in this battle.
Shisui patted Itachi on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Itachi. They've got this. You did well. Both the village and the clan will understand your decision."
Itachi nodded. "Thank you, Shisui."
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Fugaku found himself in increasingly dire straits. He had grossly underestimated the situation. Yugito wasn't just learning to control the power of the Two-Tails—she had full mastery over it. And Kushina, with her control over the Nine-Tails' chakra, had him locked down with her sensory abilities.
Then there was Mikoto…
Just seeing her filled Fugaku with rage. Of all the people he wanted to kill, she was at the top of the list. But even as his anger grew, he couldn't deny the truth.
Mikoto's power was overwhelming. Her chakra reserves were massive, and though her battle instincts were rusty, her raw strength more than made up for it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kushina's chains forced Fugaku back, while Yugito unleashed another volley of blue fireballs, taunting, "What's wrong? Weren't you going to capture me? Why are you running?"
"Mikoto!" Kushina called out.
Mikoto immediately understood. Forming rapid hand seals, she unleashed her jutsu.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song!"
Four massive fire dragons roared from her mouth, surging toward Fugaku with incredible speed.
Damn it! How dare they! Fugaku's pupils contracted as he summoned a massive amount of chakra, activating his Susanoo. The armored warrior materialized around him, standing at 30 meters tall.
(End of Chapter)
====
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