Chapter 121: The Worst-Case Scenario Arrives So Suddenly!
After collecting enough "interest" from Mikoto, Oborotsuki had originally planned to take things all the way.
But at that very moment, someone else returned.
This time, however, it wasn't Uchiha Fugaku—it was Mikoto's eldest son, Uchiha Itachi.
Itachi had already graduated from the ninja academy and had just been exceptionally promoted to chūnin.
Today he had come specifically to share this good news with Mikoto.
Sensing Itachi's chakra signature drawing closer, Oborotsuki finally released his grip with visible reluctance.
He lightly scraped his finger across the stunned, trembling Mikoto's cheek:
"Sasuke is still so young. You wouldn't want to see him suffer the clan's total destruction alongside you, would you?"
"Itachi's talent is outstanding. If given a little more time and careful nurturing, he could become a truly renowned shinobi in the future."
"You wouldn't want him to die young either, right?"
"A six-year-old child—so pure, so innocent…"
Oborotsuki tsked twice and shook his head. Then, taking advantage of the moment, he copped one last feel.
At the same time, he left a special Flying Thunder God seal on Mikoto's body.
This particular mark would allow Oborotsuki to hear everything within a certain range around the target.
Having done all this, he activated Flying Thunder God:
"We'll meet again soon. Don't miss me too much."
With those words, he vanished completely.
A little while later, Mikoto heard the sound of the courtyard gate opening outside. Only then did she snap out of her frozen state.
The dazed, lost look on her face disappeared in an instant. She turned toward the courtyard—sure enough, Itachi's figure appeared in the bright sunlight.
"Mom!"
"I officially became a chūnin today!! Sensei said it was to recognize my outstanding performance and acknowledge my talent, so they made an exception and promoted me early!"
The moment Itachi saw Mikoto, he couldn't wait to share the good news.
Although Itachi was already more mature than others his age, he still retained the innocence and liveliness of childhood—he hadn't yet been brainwashed into the filial son he would later become.
Hearing her son's words, Mikoto forced a proud smile onto her face:
"Itachi is so amazing… as expected of Mommy's wonderful son…"
Even as she praised him outwardly, a bitter ache filled her heart.
Looking at the innocent, lively, adorable Itachi before her, Mikoto's mind involuntarily recalled Oborotsuki's playful, mocking smile from earlier.
And the words he had said right before leaving.
"You wouldn't want your son to suffer the clan's total destruction alongside you, would you?"
The sentence echoed again and again in her mind.
It filled Mikoto with unbearable pain and anguish.
"Mom, are you feeling unwell?"
Even though she had tried her best to hide her inner turmoil, Mikoto still unconsciously let some of her emotions slip.
Itachi's sharp senses immediately picked up on it.
Seeing her son's concern, Mikoto forced another bitter smile and gently touched his cheek:
"My child… Mommy is just very proud of you…"
They say a mother becomes strong for her children.
At this moment, Mikoto made up her mind deep inside.
She absolutely could not let her two sweet, adorable sons suffer this risk alongside the clan!
She decided that when Fugaku returned, she would have a serious talk with him.
She would tell him everything about Hōzuki Oborotsuki.
If… the Uchiha clan really could secretly leave Konoha and escape to Kirigakure without anyone knowing…
Then, just as Oborotsuki had said—
Sunagakure's people wouldn't be able to find the Uchiha clan, so they could only vent their anger on Konoha itself.
At that point, the conflict would become strictly between Sunagakure and Konoha…
When it came to the survival of her family and the safety of her two precious sons, Mikoto no longer cared about national loyalty or greater ideals.
She only wanted her family and children to live safe, healthy, peaceful lives!
…
In the afternoon, Fugaku finally returned.
As expected, his face was shrouded in a thick layer of gloom.
Just seeing her husband's expression, Mikoto didn't even need to ask—she already knew the outcome of the negotiations.
"Have some hot tea…"
Mikoto asked nothing. She simply brought him hot tea, helped him take off his outer coat, and hung it up.
But Fugaku had no mind for tea. With a dark expression, he let out a deep sigh, then took several deep breaths.
Then he stood up and walked toward the room. Looking at little Sasuke sleeping soundly in the crib, a rare, faint smile finally appeared on his face.
"This little guy really is cute… and he looks so much like you, Mikoto…"
Fugaku's sudden remark made Mikoto's heart jolt. That same inexplicable sense of tension and foreboding she had felt earlier while waiting alone at home returned once again.
Mikoto realized Fugaku still had something important to say.
And he may have already made some kind of decision.
Right now, she only gave a small smile and waited quietly for Fugaku to speak.
Fugaku lowered his head and played with little Sasuke for a moment. Then, as expected, he turned around with an extremely serious and solemn expression.
The gentle, affectionate smile that had briefly appeared on his face was completely gone.
"Mikoto, start packing."
"Tonight, take Sasuke and Itachi and leave the village together with the other women and children."
"Someone will meet you outside the village!"
"What happened??"
Hearing Fugaku say this so suddenly, Mikoto froze completely. She stared at her husband in disbelief, her mind buzzing.
The meaning behind Fugaku's words at this moment was already painfully obvious.
Evacuate the elderly, women, and children of the clan ahead of time—let them escape first.
Those who remained in the village afterward would be the Uchiha clan's true fighting force.
"Did Sunagakure's envoys reject our proposal?"
Mikoto asked in a trembling voice as tears silently slid down her cheeks.
She felt terrified.
Although she had already foreseen that something like this might happen,
She never expected it to come so quickly, so suddenly, with no room for negotiation at all…
"You don't need to ask about these things, Mikoto."
"Just do as I say. As soon as it gets dark tonight, leave the village immediately!"
Fugaku said nothing more.
The negotiations with Sunagakure's envoys had indeed broken down completely.
It turned out Shisui had been far too naive.
The other side wasn't willing to accept any of their proposals. They insisted the Uchiha fulfill all three conditions at once.
First—return the One-Tail Shukaku. This was the top priority.
Second—compensate Sunagakure for all losses from the tailed beast attack, including mental anguish compensation and survivor support payments for the villagers.
This too was a top priority.
And third—hand over the Uchiha clan's "culprit" to Sunagakure's envoys for judgment.
This condition was equally crucial to them.
They wouldn't accept anything less than all three.
What was even more infuriating was that throughout the entire negotiation, Konoha's higher-ups hadn't said a single word!
What was there left to negotiate?!
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