"Here is another two billion ryō."
As he spoke, Uchiha Makoto pushed forward another stack of notes.
"This is for Fugaku's upbringing and education. I leave everything in your hands."
Hearing this, Aoi crossed his arms and smiled faintly. "Why do you believe I can keep him alive? I'm just a child myself, you know."
Anyone with a brain knew that the Uchiha clan was heading toward its end. Much like in the original timeline, Makoto, as the Clan Head, was fully aware of this fact!
Unfortunately, being the leader meant he had no choice but to share the fate of his people — living and dying with them.
However, Makoto was slightly wiser than Fugaku would be in the future: he at least had the courage to face reality and actively send his child away to safety.
In comparison, the future Fugaku would merely close his eyes and wait for death, eventually crushing all responsibility and burden onto the shoulders of his eldest son, Itachi.
Seeing that Aoi was hesitating, Makoto and Mizuhana slowly lowered their heads and knelt on the ground.
"Aoi-san, I have searched the entire village. There is no one else capable of saving Fugaku but you."
"Please, save him. He is innocent." Mizuhana's eyes were filled with tears.
If it weren't for the heavy burden of the Uchiha name, wouldn't she have wanted nothing more than to stay and watch her child grow up?
"Innocent?"
Aoi raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp and unyielding. "Innocent people don't come with two billion ryō attached. He carries the blood and name of the Uchiha clan. With that kind of wealth and status, how can you possibly call him innocent?"
These words struck the couple like a bolt of lightning.
Indeed... When the avalanche comes crashing down, no single snowflake claims innocence.
When a clan falls, not a single Uchiha is truly without fault... Such is the tragedy of belonging to a great family.
It seemed Aoi would refuse them after all.
Makoto and Mizuhana's eyes dimmed with despair. They reached out to take the baby back, ready to leave.
But just then...
"Hold on!" Aoi grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "When did I ever say I wouldn't agree?"
"What?"
Makoto stared blankly. "But then... what was all that just now?"
"Whether he is innocent or not, what does that matter to me?" Aoi scoffed and shook his head. "As far as I'm concerned, as long as his name is Uchiha Fugaku, he is worth my effort."
Uchiha Fugaku.
This was the man destined to be the father of Itachi and Sasuke!
Although, with the timeline and plot already so thoroughly messed up, it was an open question whether Itachi and Sasuke would even be born in this life... or if perhaps two entirely new brothers would come into the world instead. The thought was actually quite exciting.
"My son... we leave him to you."
Mizuhana reluctantly placed Fugaku into Aoi's arms, her heart breaking.
Aoi patted the ground, summoning his contract partner...
Hissss~
Shin appeared, his blood-red eyes locking onto Makoto and Mizuhana. He flicked his tongue menacingly. "Shall I eat these two humans?"
"Of course not. They are my clients." Aoi gently patted the snake on the head. "Let me introduce you. This is my summon, Shin."
"Heh... hehe..." Makoto let out a nervous chuckle, instinctively pulling his wife behind him for protection.
"Truly worthy of you, Aoi-san. Even your summon is so... imposing. But... why did you call him out?"
"To take your son away, of course!"
Aoi laughed as he picked up Uchiha Fugaku and tossed him casually into Shin's open mouth, as if he were throwing away trash.
"Fugaku!"
Mizuhana cried out in alarm, tears almost spilling over. Thankfully, Makoto gripped her hand tightly, holding her back from doing something reckless.
Seeing their reaction, Aoi grinned and patted Shin's massive head.
"Take him to Orochimaru. Tell him to raise the boy well and teach him everything he knows."
From this moment on, Uchiha Fugaku belonged to Aoi. If they couldn't even trust him with this much, then the whole act of entrusting the child to him had been meaningless from the start.
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