After Uchiha Fugaku returned home, he saw Mikota instructing Itachi in ninja basics, and said coldly, "Mikota, come over here."
"What is it, Fugaku?"
Uchiha Mikota knew Fugaku had just returned from Uchiha Yoichi, and seeing his face wasn't quite right, she had some bad suspicions in her heart.
"Just come over, don't talk about this in front of Itachi. Itachi, study here on your own."
After Fugaku spoke, he walked towards the innermost room; he had many things he wanted to ask Uchiha Mikota.
"Mom is going to talk to Dad about something, Itachi, you study by yourself first."
Seeing Uchiha Itachi nod, Mikota stood up and walked towards the room where Fugaku was. Once inside, she closed the door.
Seated at the table, the room fell silent for a moment.
As the atmosphere grew more tense, Uchiha Fugaku finally said, "Today I went to meet Uchiha Yoichi. Mikota, do you know what he demanded of me?"
Mikota hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Is it... to make you give up the position of Clan Leader?"
"It's not that, Mikota, you should know."
After agreeing to the divorce, Fugaku's memories suddenly became much active, and he quickly remembered many things he hadn't paid attention to before.
Formal suit, light makeup, among others—those never appeared on Mikota before, and previously, due to being busy with the Security Team, he hadn't noticed.
"Fugaku, what are you trying to say?"
Uchiha Mikota lowered her head and said, feeling a bit ashamed of being found out while also feeling sorry for Fugaku.
"Mikota, you were involved in this matter too, weren't you?"
Uchiha Fugaku said with a cold face, but the fists under the table were already clenched, bulging with veins.
"I've already agreed with Uchiha Yoichi, let's divorce tomorrow. But before the divorce, I want to clear up..... Mikota, when exactly did it start?"
"...."
The room fell silent for a while, and the atmosphere grew even heavier. Suddenly, Uchiha Mikota spoke, "From the very beginning, it's been like this. I don't want to be a spy. Mr. Yoichi trusts me greatly, but I've betrayed that trust. Fugaku, for your ambitions, I've repeatedly crossed the line. Before... before marrying you, I was also a ninja!"
Before completing the mission, ensuring the interests of the employer's task is a rule all ninjas must learn.
Except for outlaw ninjas like Uchiha Yoichi who might kill the employer, even traitorous ninjas usually complete their tasks properly.
Even Zabuza the demon killer would complete the task properly once accepted. If it weren't for Kado constantly pressuring Zabuza, he wouldn't have ended up dead.
"Perhaps from that day I was unwilling to get involved any further. But Fugaku, why did you not use legitimate means to compete, instead of doing this... in doing so, wasn't it admitting defeat from the start!"
Uchiha Mikota felt a bit of emotional release as she reached the end of her words. But after speaking, her heart felt much lighter.
"I apologize for this matter, and I'm willing to apologize and do anything to make up to Itachi. Sorry, Fugaku, but the idea of divorce is mine; it has nothing to do with Mr. Yoichi."
After speaking, Uchiha Mikota sat down to apologize and made a promise that she wouldn't neglect Uchiha Itachi.
"No need, Itachi is my son. I won't allow him to recognize anyone else as his father."
Uchiha Fugaku closed his eyes and slowly spoke. After a while, his eyes even bled.
How painful, this is what it feels like!
Must you lose everything to gain this kind of power?
In one day, he lost his family, almost lost his position as Clan Leader, and was betrayed by the closest person. Besides Itachi, he seemed to lose everything!
"Let's just do it this way. I'll go with you to handle the divorce proceedings and will move out with Itachi. As for the position of Clan Leader, I won't give it up! From today forward, I'll see you as an enemy...."
Uchiha Fugaku had just finished speaking when the voice of Uchiha Kazuki came from outside the door: "Young Master Itachi, why are you standing here?"
The two inside instantly fell silent. Though their marital relationship had deteriorated to the point of divorce, they still had feelings for Itachi.
Uchiha Fugaku wiped the blood from the corner of his eye and then walked to the door, opening it to reveal Uchiha Itachi standing outside.
Though he felt a bit surprised that Itachi approached without making any sound, Uchiha Fugaku began speaking with a cold face, "Itachi, didn't I tell you to study on your own? Why are you here?"
"Because I ran into a problem I can't solve, so I wanted to ask father."
"Wait for a while, there's no time now. Ms. Kazuki, could you please take Itachi?"
After sending Itachi away, Uchiha Fugaku intended to continue talking to Mikota about earlier matters, but with Itachi's interruption, neither knew where to start.
"Let's do it this way. Since there's no affection left, there's no need to maintain a fake marital relationship anymore."
Uchiha Fugaku had a lot of anger in his heart, but he found it difficult to vent it on Mikota, even though she betrayed him.
"You... take care of yourself."
"What about Itachi?"
Uchiha Mikota hurriedly asked, though she didn't have feelings for Fugaku, Itachi was still her son.
"If you want to see Itachi and Itachi doesn't mind, I won't stop you."
After speaking, Uchiha Fugaku left the room.
Leaving Uchiha Mikota alone, though she breathed a sigh of relief, having confirmed the divorce from Fugaku's mouth. But how did Fugaku find out about the previous matters?
"Could it be Mr. Yoichi took the initiative... no, Mr. Yoichi wouldn't say such a thing, maybe Fugaku found out on his own?"
No matter how it was leaked, Uchiha Mikota felt this was a very bad thing.
She wanted to immediately go to Mr. Yoichi; only by his side could Mikota feel supported. But now it's just talk of divorce, not formally processed yet, so Mikota could not leave home and had to wait until the divorce was finalized to move out.
She didn't plan to stay in this house. As for where to live, Mr. Yoichi should arrange it for her.
Thinking about the commotion at the door just now, Uchiha Mikota felt a wave of apology in her heart: "Itachi, I'm sorry..."
——————————————
The next clan meeting is in half a month, with small clan meetings held once a month and large clan meetings held twice a year.
Fifteen days later happens to be the time of the large clan meeting, where all Uchiha ninjas will be invited.
These ninjas essentially represent all clan members, and the main hall of Nankai Shrine is large enough, though it is rarely used.
Uchiha Yoichi felt that he had done enough, concerning the clan's welfare, war achievements, reputation, and even the Mangekyo Sharingan.
If he couldn't become clan leader with all this, it would mean the clan members had betrayed him... but that's impossible, his election as clan leader was certain.
"Where are you taking me?"
The blonde girl Yugito followed behind Uchiha Yoichi and asked, her face still full of bitterness, fearing her expression would become fixed like this if it continued.
Uchiha Yoichi said, "Taking you for a tour around Konoha Village. You'll be a Konoha ninja in the future, so get familiar with it first."
"I'm a Hidden Cloud ninja! I won't become a Konoha ninja!"
Yugito stomped her foot as she spoke, her voice loud enough that people on the street turned to look at her.
"You can speak louder, but I should warn you: the war between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud just ended, and many here lost family members to the Cloud ninjas. If they're moved to beat you because of that statement, I won't intervene."
After saying this, Uchiha Yoichi proceeded forward.
Upon hearing these words, Yugito glanced around and indeed noticed some unfriendly gazes, mostly from adults, and even the younger ones were taller than her.
Without the ability to use chakra, if beaten by these people, she'd be bedridden for at least ten days.
"Despicable H big villain!"
Yugito muttered under her breath, quickly catching up and sticking close to Uchiha Yoichi, within arm's reach, fearing she might be suddenly pulled away.
Soon afterward, the two arrived at a beautiful construction site, though under construction, most of the buildings were completed; visibly different from those seen earlier, looking more pretty and tidy.
Yugito asked quietly, "What's this place?"
"The future supermarket and food street; on this side, a dozen stores will offer different cuisines, while this area is the supermarket, where everything is for sale."
Uchiha Yoichi explained. In the Ninja World, there were already small supermarkets; his would be slightly larger, occasionally acquiring goods from various merchants within the Land of Fire.
"Oh, what a coincidence, you're here too?"
Suddenly, a voice greeted them, causing Uchiha Yoichi to look over, subconsciously using perception ability to survey his surroundings.
As expected, there were at least six Anbu.
"This is my venture; but what brings you here, Kushina?"
The one greeting Uchiha Yoichi was Kushina, who then smiled and said, "I've heard a supermarket will be opened here soon, with all products from the Land of Fire available, so I came to explore ahead..."
After speaking, Kushina paused, noticing Yugito beside her; not that she was curious about Yugito, but it was strange not to be curious when a beautiful girl stared at her with a look flooded with bitterness.
"Who is she, seems like she has a grudge with you... eh? Why does it feel like there are sealing techniques on her?"
Out of curiosity, Kushina laid her hand on Yugito, who couldn't react without chakra.
Then, suddenly wide-eyed, Kushina asked, "Huh? Who did this? Using opposing seals, it's no wonder she can't use any chakra..."
"I asked Tsunade to do it. She's a captive with a Tailed Beast inside."
"Then that's fine; should I reinforce it? The Five Elements Seal is slightly loose; if we add a Four Symbols Seal next... she'll never use chakra again."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoichi and Yugito both looked at Kushina.
Everyone else makes a pact with the Grim Reaper, but you seem to have been engraved by the Grim Reaper instead?
"No need; she'll be my subordinate in the future, so don't turn her into a cripple."
Uchiha Yoichi shook his head and said, while Yugito distanced herself from Kushina, thinking she looked like a person, yet turned out to be a demon.
"Haha, just kidding..."
Kushina said with a smile, then suddenly lowered her voice, continuing: "Thanks to your help last time, I now can control the Tailed Beast chakra up to six tails. However, the Third Hokage won't agree to me going to the front lines to assist Minato... can you help me again like last time?"
Despite the high cost, if a few days pass without absorbing the Nine-Tailed chakra, it gradually recovers on its own; making it so Kushina barely suppresses the Nine-Tails, and the six tails worth of Nine-Tailed chakra was amassed earlier.
"Forget it; although I can better control the Nine-Tails now, I no longer have the ability I had before."
After speaking, Uchiha Yoichi surveyed the area and continued: "Moreover, didn't you notice? The number of Anbu here is increasing, and if you're caught coming to me, you'll definitely be scolded later."
Nine-Tails plus Mangekyo is nearly equivalent to the destruction of Konoha in the eyes of Konoha's upper echelon, and in just a short period, the Anbu has increased to sixteen.
It seems like they've brought over half of the village's Anbu, hasn't it?