Chapter 19: Image Transformation
Boom, boom, boom.
"Fugaku, Gen is here."
Uchiha Mikoto knocked softly on the door and spoke with her usual gentle tone.
"Invite him in." A deep, dignified voice responded from inside.
"Thank you, Mikoto-san."
Gen Uchiha bowed politely and stepped into the room. Uchiha Mikoto closed the door quietly behind him.
"I've met the young clan head." Gen bowed slightly as he addressed Fugaku.
Uchiha Fugaku, with his sharp features and stern black eyes, sat in his usual dark blue robes emblazoned with the Uchiha fan crest on his back. His jōnin flak jacket forest green with reinforced plates and black trousers completed the look of an experienced leader.
"No need to be so formal. Sit down," Fugaku said, the faintest hint of a smile breaking his otherwise serious demeanor.
Gen knelt down formally across from him, his back straight but his mind somewhat reluctant. In truth, Uchiha Gen disliked the stiff formality of kneeling, especially given the modern, less rigid customs of his previous life. Still, this body young and well-trained could endure the position. In the grand Uchiha clan, basic etiquette was non-negotiable.
"Here. Drink some tea."
Fugaku slid over a cup of freshly brewed green tea, its delicate aroma filling the room. Gen accepted it with a polite nod and took a careful sip.
"How is it?"
"I don't have much knowledge of tea, but it tastes good."
"Haha, you're honest. That's a rare quality."
"Young patriarch, did you call me here for something in particular?"
"It's nothing urgent. I heard that a new genius has emerged within our clan, so I wanted to meet you in person," Fugaku said, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.
"I also heard you've joined Minato's team?" Fugaku added, his tone carrying a subtle weight.
Gen nodded lightly. "It's not official. I'm temporarily placed in Team 7. If I want to formally become Minato-senpai's student, I need to gain his and his teammates' full approval."
"Then make sure you prove yourself," Fugaku said, the authority in his voice unmistakable. "Minato Namikaze isn't just a rising star he's a likely candidate for the next Hokage."
"If you become his disciple, the Uchiha clan's prospects could brighten significantly."
"If you need any assistance from the clan, just let me know," he added, a rare note of encouragement in his voice.
"Thank you, young patriarch. I'll do my best."
Gen smiled slightly but kept his thoughts guarded. This standard of 'doing my best' is so vague… It's hard to know when I'll truly meet it.
"However," Gen added carefully, "if you want Minato-senpai to accept an Uchiha as his disciple as soon as possible, I may have a method."
"Oh?" Fugaku's brow arched in curiosity. "Tell me."
Gen's tone turned serious. "Obito's Sharingan was given to Kakashi. You're aware of this, right?"
"Of course." Fugaku's expression darkened slightly. "Several clan members have already voiced their frustration. They insist the Sharingan must be reclaimed. But… it's complicated."
Fugaku's fingers tapped the table softly. The problem gnawed at him. No prominent bloodline clan in the shinobi world would willingly allow its Kekkei Genkai to slip out of its grasp. And yet…
Kakashi's Sharingan had not been stolen. It was entrusted to him by Obito Uchiha himself during the chaos of Kannabi Bridge. Obito's final wish a comrade's dying gift was now Konoha's open secret. If the Uchiha clan were to disregard that and forcibly reclaim the eye, their reputation would suffer tremendously.
And Kakashi was no ordinary ninja. As the only son of Konoha's famed White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, he carried both prestige and influence. During Sakumo's lifetime, the Uchiha had shared a mutual respect with him, making it unthinkable to dishonor his memory by targeting his son.
Worse still, Kakashi was Minato's personal student. And Minato wasn't just a talented jōnin he was Jiraiya's apprentice, a direct student of the Sannin, and Jiraiya himself was the student of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Their combined political and social weight in the village was immense.
If the Uchiha pushed too hard, they wouldn't just offend Kakashi they'd potentially spark conflict with some of the most influential figures in Konoha, including the Hokage himself.
The Sharingan had not been reclaimed, and it was difficult for the Uchiha clan to explain this to the other members, which inevitably impacted the clan's reputation.
"Young Patriarch," Uchiha Gen said gravely, "in my opinion, recovering the Sharingan is extraordinarily difficult, for reasons that might be beyond what you expect."
"In that case," Gen continued, his voice calm and thoughtful, "why not exchange the Sharingan for political benefits?"
"They will need to provide the Uchiha clan with a way to save face, correct?"
"What if," Gen proposed, his tone measured, "we officially recognize Obito's act of entrusting his Sharingan to Kakashi, framing it as a noble gesture from one Uchiha to another, once Kakashi attains higher rank?"
Uchiha Fugaku's brows furrowed, deep in thought. "You mean to exchange the formal claim over the Sharingan to secure a position for an Uchiha as Minato's disciple?"
Gen offered a faint smile, his voice clear and unwavering. "It doesn't have to be me. Shisui, Itachi, any capable Uchiha could take that position."
"Everything is for the sake of the clan."
Fugaku's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected such magnanimity from Gen, who was willing to forgo his personal ambition for the good of the Uchiha.
Such loyalty, paired with sharp insight and strategic thinking… this boy was destined for greatness!
His mind raced to his eldest son, Itachi, whose prodigious talent and precocious mind had already attracted attention. If Itachi could become Minato's disciple, the prestige of the Uchiha would rise like never before.
Unbeknownst to Fugaku, Gen's loyalty to the Uchiha clan was not quite as pure as it seemed. He was hedging his bets.
Compared to Namikaze Minato's clean but high-risk style of leadership, Gen privately thought that his "backup plan" might be more suitable someone whose ambitions were more aligned with his own survival.
From the clan's perspective, aligning with Minato was the wisest course. But from Gen's own perspective, the "backup" might offer him more long-term security.
"I can see your heart beats for the clan," Fugaku said with conviction.
"No matter who among us becomes Minato's disciple, when I assume leadership of the clan, I will appoint you captain of the Konoha Military Police Force."
His voice was solemn, almost ceremonial.
For the Uchiha, the position of Police Force captain was not merely a title it was a symbol of authority, and traditionally, the clan leader himself often held this role.
In fact, Fugaku was already the deputy commander of the Military Police Force, and would assume full command when the current elder stepped down or passed away.
"Thank you, Young Patriarch, for your faith in me," Gen said, bowing deeply. Then, he shifted the conversation.
"But if we don't anticipate long-term risks, we may face immediate crises."
"Minato-senpai's position as the next Hokage is not guaranteed. Lord Orochimaru of the Sannin remains a formidable contender."
"Orochimaru-sama is not only immensely powerful but also politically shrewd. If he ascends to the Hokage's seat, given his youth and vigor, Minato-senpai may never get another chance in his lifetime."
Though Jiraiya was another of the Sannin, his eccentric nature and disdain for politics had always made him an unlikely candidate.
Tsunade was a powerful contender too, but her grief over Kato Dan and Nawaki had driven her to leave the village, leaving her disinterested in politics or leadership.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, had once been considered the inevitable successor to Hiruzen Sarutobi. His ambitions had not diminished if anything, they had intensified since Minato's sudden rise.
At these words, Uchiha Fugaku's expression shifted, his earlier elation vanishing into deep concern.
Yes… what if Orochimaru became Hokage?
If the Uchiha backed the wrong candidate in such a political struggle, the consequences would be severe.
While the Uchiha's strength and numbers might prevent outright destruction, they could face systematic suppression. At the very least, their prospects for advancement would be stifled.
"Gen… what are you suggesting?"
Fugaku now regarded Uchiha Gen not just as a promising genius, but as a strategist deeply committed to the clan's future.
"Young Patriarch," Gen said calmly, "the way for a great clan to ensure lasting strength is not to put all its hopes on a single path, but to diversify its allegiances."
"Though this approach may not yield the maximum immediate gain, it is by far the most stable strategy."
"Our Uchiha clan has survived for generations with a rich heritage. We're not like minor clans that have to gamble everything on a single candidate. If we win big, we rise rapidly; if we lose, we fall just as quickly."
"But if we distribute our support across multiple Hokage candidates, each one gains a valuable ally. Even if they suspect we're hedging our bets, they are unlikely to reject our offer."
"Because if they do, they risk pushing the Uchiha clan into the opposing camp, dramatically reducing their own chances of becoming Hokage."
"Acceptance is their best option to maintain the delicate balance of power."
"Moreover," Gen added with a hint of calculation, "some of them might even offer greater rewards to secure our stronger support."
The more Fugaku listened, the brighter his eyes became. At the end, he clapped his hands together and laughed aloud.
"Hahaha! Brilliant, brilliant."
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