After Shisui and Itachi left, Fugaku remained in his office. This had become a common occurrence. He missed his home and his wife, but his sense of duty prevented him from wasting a moment of this precious time. Currently at the height of his popularity as the new Hokage, he needed to make several moves to stabilize his rule and ensure fast, effective change.
He had removed two of the most experienced Konoha elder advisors and held a third in captivity, while the Third Hokage remained injured and unavailable for council. Still, this was much better than being trapped between the resentment of the village on one side and the radical faction of his own clan on the other. That faction had been increasing its pressure from within, pushing him to align with their ideology as he had no other option back then.
Thinking of the radical faction caused Fugaku's mood to sour. He had expected that once he was appointed Hokage, they would finally reintegrate into the clan and the village. However, it appeared that his leadership had not satiated their hunger. He wondered what it would actually take to satisfy them as he stood and moved his body.
Multiple ANBU appeared around him instantly. Their leader asked, "Where to, Lord Hokage?"
Fugaku opened his eyes, his sharp pupils focused. "Let us visit the old Uchiha compound."
A complicated look appeared on the ANBU leader's face as he spoke cautiously. "But Lord Hokage, it is dangerous there. From our reconnaissance, they are still maintaining a semi-military force to control that compound."
Fugaku nodded. "I know. If you enter, you will cause friction and might escalate things unnecessarily. Accompany me to the edge of the old Uchiha compound and stay there. I will handle this."
The ANBU leader wanted to object, but Fugaku's tone left no room for argument. He started to move with powerful steps.
Fugaku moved fast across the rooftops. His ANBU accompanied him, their eyes scanning the surroundings for danger. Their bodies tensed as they approached the edge of the village where the light seemed to dim. Fugaku finally noticed it: multiple pairs of Sharingan blooming in the distance within the darkness of the Uchiha compound.
He raised his hand. "Do not come closer. I will move on my own from now on."
The ANBU leader nodded, though he made a few silent hand signs to let his agents know they should remain vigilant and ready to move at the slightest sign of trouble.
Fugaku moved slowly into the compound. His demeanor was calm and his mind steady as he walked toward a familiar home. It was a place he had tried not to visit because he previously had no solution to offer the radical faction. Now, however, he had achieved something unheard of and likely saved his clan in the process.
While multiple eyes observed him from the shadows, they accompanied his progress calmly. In a fraction of a second, a body flickered into existence right next to him. The Hokage wore a small smile. Shisui knelt and spoke with a reverent tone. "Lord Hokage, may I accompany you?"
Fugaku looked around. The red eyes shining within the darkness seemed to want to deny that request, but with Fugaku present, they stayed silent. Fugaku nodded as Shisui stood up. Kaen flickered into view nearby, his body shaking slightly.
He spoke as well. "Please allow me to accompany you, Lord Hokage."
For the first time, Fugaku hesitated. Shisui nodded toward him. "He needs to be there, sir."
Fugaku exhaled and resumed his walk while Kaen and Shisui followed. The closer they got to their destination, the more Kaen's body shook. Finally, they reached his home. The doors slid open to reveal a large room with multiple mats surrounding a large table. Fugaku walked in with purpose.
Takeshi Uchiha, Kaen's father, sat at the head of the table. This was a clear slight to the Hokage, yet Fugaku did not seem to mind. He sat down calmly with Shisui and Kaen on either side of him. Takeshi focused his gaze on Kaen, who shrank back. Knowing that his Hokage and his sensei were there provided some relief, but he was far from comfortable.
Fugaku began the conversation. "So, why haven't you moved into the village proper yet, Takeshi? Why are you and those who follow you still staying here?"
Takeshi took his eyes off Kaen and looked at Fugaku, speaking with a grim tone. "Because you getting the Hokage seat means you are under the thumb of the village. You are not the true leader. The other clan heads and the Jonin still have a say in how the village moves and operates."
Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "Was your biggest issue not that the Uchiha never received the respect they deserved? Was it not that we lacked real power? Now we have both. I am sure you have heard that the Uchiha will no longer handle the Police Force exclusively. We will reintegrate, take missions, and teach at the Academy. We will have the presence and respect we deserve by participating in what our ancestors built."
A sour look appeared on Takeshi's face as he laughed mockingly. "Our ancestor wanted us to dominate. They wanted us to rule with an iron fist. We were not meant to talk with others, but to order them. They were too sentimental and too weak. We, on the other hand, are resolute and decisive. We are made to rule above the rest."
Takeshi took a deep breath and shook his head while raising his hands. "From what I see, Lord Hokage, you have achieved a victory. There is no doubt about that. However, it is a victory that will lead to us mixing within the village only to be diluted. We will fade into the background and lose our identity as a proud clan. We will become extinct, just like the Senju."
Takeshi's eyes turned red, slowly shifting into the three-tomoe Sharingan as he focused on his younger son. "Like this idiot son of mine. You refuse to see the truth. The village will just take our blood." He clenched his hand with a mixture of rage, sadness, and resentment. "They take our children and sacrifice them, then they insult us to our faces as payment."
Kaen could not maintain eye contact with his father. He looked down at the floor, the memory of his brother weighing heavily on him. Takeshi scoffed at the sight of the boy's slumped shoulders. "Just look at what happened to my son here. Working with the rest of the village will just make us weak. It makes us too cowardly to face the ugly truth that they will always see us as a threat. They will never trust us fully. Our only true purpose is to be used and then discarded because they will always fear our strength."
Shisui could not hold back as he spoke. "How could you say that while seeing the truth with your own eyes? Our fellow clan members and the village are reestablishing this trust. They see our missions and the way we care for the prosperity of Konoha. They have started to see us as fellow villagers again. Isolating ourselves brings nothing but misery and anger, and it makes us even more bitter."
Takeshi chuckled. "Good. That only makes us stronger."
Shisui shook his head. "It does not. We are not the only strong people in this village. Konoha works because we cooperate. We complete each other's strengths and cover each other's weaknesses." He looked at Kaen. "Isn't that true, Kaen?"
Kaen hesitated now that multiple eyes were focused on him. Fugaku did not intervene because he knew certain words needed to be said out loud. A word coming from the Hokage carried a different weight, so he remained silent as Kaen finally gathered enough courage to speak.
"It is true, Father. I do not doubt our strength. However, when I worked with Sena and even Noa, I achieved more. We accomplished things I would not have been able to do alone. Through our constant competition, I aspired to improve and increase my own strength. We need others to reach the next level."
Takeshi's anger rose until he was almost shouting. "We need no one. They have gotten to you, you cowardly idiot." He stood up, rage radiating from him. "It looks like I have to discipline you back into the correct way of thinking."
The air tensed as Shisui spoke. "He is a Chunin now. He moved out to live with me, so please refrain from doing so."
Takeshi looked at Shisui, his voice dripping with anger. "Are you telling me now what I should do with my own son?"
Takeshi's eyes started to shift, moving toward the Mangekyo Sharingan pattern. Fugaku's eyes opened fully as he observed the situation. A thick bloodlust wove through the room. Shisui's voice became haunting, causing Kaen to shake.
"Do not even think about it. I will knock you out before you can use it. The Lord Hokage came here himself. He is still our Clan Head. You should at least speak with respect for that title, even if you do not respect the office of Hokage."
Takeshi's eyes stayed on Shisui, who looked ready to move at full speed. Finally, he shook his head. His eyes turned black again as he sat down. "I guess we have nothing else to speak of then."
That was when Fugaku finally spoke. "Shisui, take Kaen and go outside. I need to speak with Takeshi alone."
Shisui was hesitant, but it was a direct order from his leader. He moved, taking a visibly shaking Kaen with him. The door closed behind them, leaving the two men in silence.
Fugaku addressed Takeshi directly. "Very well. Let us speak of the future of our clan then."