Master, Please Become a Hokage

The moniker "Shisui of the Body Flicker" would come much later.

"Young Master Ryo."

Uchiha Yashiro's expression was gloomy, his mood low due to the death of the clan leader.

Sarutobi Ryo invited him inside.

Soon, Uchiha Yashiro explained his purpose.

"Before Captain Fugaku died in battle, he left behind some last words..."

Uchiha Yashiro looked at the young man before him, a variety of emotions flickering in his eyes.

"Captain Fugaku said... Young Master Ryo is a ninja who possesses the Will of Fire. He saw the future of the Uchiha clan in you..."

Sarutobi Ryo's various actions had not gone unnoticed.

Because he was the Hokage's son, everyone would talk about Hokage-sama's son this and that during their leisure time.

Therefore,

most of the things Sarutobi Ryo did were widely known.

Naturally, this included Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Fugaku had mentioned it more than once during the clan's secret meetings.

If Sarutobi Ryo became Hokage, the Uchiha clan's current situation would definitely change.

This idea became even clearer after Obito's death in battle.

Uchiha Fugaku could see that Sarutobi Ryo had been helping Hatake Sakumo, hoping the latter would become Hokage.

The White Fang of the Leaf was the Fourth Hokage.

Then, Sarutobi Ryo would be the Fifth Hokage.

The Uchiha clan... might be the Sixth Hokage.

Because...

"Captain Fugaku's son... Itachi, is a true genius. If he could receive Young Master Ryo's guidance, or even protection, he would definitely become Hokage..."

Uchiha Yashiro mentioned Uchiha Fugaku's son, Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi's talent completely surpassed the Sannin.

"This is what Captain Fugaku determined... These aren't boasts, but..."

Yashiro tried his best to explain.

In the current village, in this kind of situation, Itachi's talent simply couldn't be utilized.

Just like how the Uchiha clan had always been suppressed by the higher-ups.

No matter how capable you are, it's all for naught if people don't use you.

Therefore...

"Once things have settled down, I will personally pay a visit."

Sarutobi Ryo immediately gave Yashiro an answer.

Facing Yamanaka Kei's question, Sarutobi Ryo nodded.

The true Will of Fire is to protect important people or things.

The Uchiha clan is also a member of the village, so naturally, they should also be cared for...

Chapter 80: Widow Mikoto, Itachi

Uchiha Fugaku's name was engraved on the Memorial Stone.

Ninjas without bodies, such as Obito, would be handled in this way.

Amaterasu burned everything to ashes, and Uchiha Fugaku himself was no exception.

Uchiha Fugaku's residence was shrouded in an atmosphere of sorrow.

Uchiha Mikoto... that is, Uchiha Fugaku's widow, was dressed in black.

A portrait of her husband was placed in the living room.

Uchiha Fugaku's son, Uchiha Itachi, who was much younger than Kakashi, was also keeping vigil for his family.

Kneeling before the portrait, he understood everything, despite his young age.

His father had taken him to the battlefield at a young age.

He wasn't a ninja yet, and hadn't even entered the Ninja Academy.

It was only because Uchiha Fugaku wanted his son to experience... that this was a cruel world.

This was... the reality of the Uchiha.

Parents always hope that their children won't repeat their mistakes.

Uchiha Fugaku, from a young age, entered the Ninja Academy like the other children, graduated, and yearned for the title of Hokage...

But only later did he realize.

Reality wasn't as simple as he thought.

The Uchiha clan... although also members of the Leaf, were different from everyone else.

They had to face even more problems.

Therefore.

Having once gone astray and understood things too late, he decided to let Itachi accept some things early.

Uchiha Fugaku, who wasn't good with words, believed that the best way to temper a person was to let him recognize the truth of the world early on.

This contained a parent's painstaking efforts and love for their child.

It's just that... Uchiha Itachi was still young after all.

Going to the battlefield too early and seeing the scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood would leave a deep psychological shadow at this age.

Seeing his father's death with his own eyes would affect a person's entire life even more.

— For example, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan of the Rain Country.

Nagato witnessed his parents being killed by Leaf ninjas.

Later, he also witnessed Yahiko's death due to Danzo's scheme.

These painful experiences completely changed Nagato, or rather... shaped Nagato into a certain form.

Then, will Uchiha Itachi also follow the original path?

Probably not.

The premise is... that he can realize the meaning of his father's death.

Just like Might Duy's self-sacrifice, illuminating the path for future generations, eventually allowing Guy to become the most upright ninja.

Sarutobi Ryo, as a member who came to offer condolences, went through the motions like everyone else.

"Please accept my condolences."

After saying the formal words, Sarutobi Ryo walked to the side.

After all, Uchiha Fugaku was a person of high status, so naturally, many people would come to offer condolences.

Of course, most people were just going through the motions.

"Thank you..."

Uchiha Mikoto returned the greeting, and Itachi bowed together with her.

After one person after another completed the formalities, the place began to become deserted.

Uchiha Mikoto looked at the empty courtyard and was preparing to close the door when she suddenly noticed that Sarutobi Ryo was standing at the door, not leaving.

"Young Master Ryo?"

Uchiha Mikoto remembered the last words her husband had brought back by Yashiro.

She had also heard Yashiro talk about his visit to Sarutobi Ryo's residence.

Knowing that Sarutobi Ryo had something to say, she invited Sarutobi Ryo into the living room that had lost its head of the family.

Returning again, Sarutobi Ryo was accompanied by Yamanaka Kei.

This was a way to avoid suspicion.

After all, Uchiha Mikoto's family was now a widow and orphan.

"Madam Mikoto, I won't say any polite words. You and Mr. Fugaku must have deeply understood the situation the Uchiha clan is facing..."

Sarutobi Ryo looked at the beautiful woman before him.

He had also seen Kushina's figure among those offering condolences earlier.

She also felt unspeakable sadness for her good sister's misfortune.

Knowing that loss takes time to soothe, Kushina, who had once experienced the pain of a country's destruction, decided to let time heal her best friend's grief.

"Itachi..." Uchiha Mikoto looked at her son on the side, wondering if Itachi should hear the following conversation.

"Madam Mikoto, it's okay. My young master has come here this time to discuss the future of the Uchiha clan... Itachi is Mr. Fugaku's son, so he should also participate in the conversation as a member..."

Yamanaka Kei immediately smiled and stopped Uchiha Mikoto from preparing to let the child leave.

Uchiha Mikoto was slightly stunned.

She thought to herself, this Young Master Ryo in front of her didn't seem to be treating Itachi as an ordinary child?

"Uchiha Itachi... I heard about you from Mr. Yashiro..."

Sarutobi Ryo immediately looked at Uchiha Itachi.

The latter immediately straightened his body, his expression slightly serious.

This showed the good upbringing of the Uchiha Fugaku family.

And this quality was well-known.

Even his old father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, praised the Uchiha Fugaku family's family style.

"You are not an ordinary child, you are naturally precocious and talented... But such talent is like a piece of raw jade..."

Next.

Sarutobi Ryo told Uchiha Itachi about Kakashi's situation.

Kakashi was also very proud once.

Without being beaten down, he took many detours and made many wrong decisions.

It wasn't until Uchiha Obito died in battle that he understood... that talent sometimes also means a burden.

"..."

Uchiha Itachi listened thoughtfully to the analogy.

Of course, he knew the story of the White Fang of the Leaf's son... the genius boy Hatake Kakashi.

He also knew that the White Fang of the Leaf was most likely to become the Fourth Hokage.

These were words that his father had said many times during his lifetime.

Then, Sarutobi Ryo told the story of Might Duy.

Then... he told the story of his guide, Senju Nawaki.