"For now, stay here, Madam Mikota. This was my home before, though it's a bit small. After I become Clan Leader, we'll improve it, and then we can..."
"That's enough, Mr. Yoichi. It's already very nice here. I... am quite satisfied."
Uchiha Mikota gazed at this small house, despite its crampedness, feeling very content just knowing it's where Mr. Yoichi lives.
"Mr. Yoichi, you don't have to call me 'Madam' anymore. I've already divorced."
Mikota spoke in a teasing tone, and as she just entered the house, she felt Uchiha Yoichi's hand getting restless. It had been on her waist but now it was sliding down.
"Alright, Mikota, when there's no one else around, I'll call you that from now on."
Uchiha Yoichi suddenly felt a craving, wanting more.
However, outside stood Uchiha Fugaku with an ominous expression, one hand clenched into a fist with nails digging into the flesh, soon bleeding from the palm; the other hand held Uchiha Mikota's packed luggage, which she hadn't brought along.
He saw Uchiha Mikota leave the house but didn't take her belongings, thinking it was an oversight, so he brought them over.
But unexpectedly...
'You betrayed first, Uchiha Mikota. You are not worthy of being Itachi's mother...'
Uchiha Fugaku turned and left, almost silent upon returning home.
Uchiha Itachi slowly came to his father's side, initially wanting to ask about ninja knowledge, but instinctively felt it inappropriate to speak now, and just sat silently beside his father.
"Itachi, do you love your mother?"
"...I do. I love father too. I hope to become as strong a ninja as you."
"Strong... Itachi, I might not be strong, but you will surely become a mighty ninja. Father believes in you."
Uchiha Fugaku turned, earnestly gazing at Itachi as he spoke, at that moment feeling that only Itachi hadn't betrayed him.
Born intelligent, although not yet trained, Itachi quickly learned whether it was teaching him to recognize characters or ninja basics, rarely needing a third repetition.
Should the family upheaval not have occurred, Uchiha Fugaku was confident of nurturing Itachi into a genius rivaling Uchiha Yoichi or Uchiha Shisui, but his determination set, time seemed scarce.
"Itachi, follow me to meet someone. He's a renowned genius of the Uchiha Race who once advised me."
Thinking of plans ahead, Uchiha Fugaku led Itachi to Uchiha Yashiro's home.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yashiro was entertaining a guest in his home, also a genius of the Uchiha Race, though not as outstanding as Uchiha Yoichi.
"Shisui, you can try merging Illusion Technique and Instant Body now. Both jutsu are your strengths, and I have little more to advise in Illusion Technique. From here, you'll have to progress on your own..."
Before Uchiha Yashiro finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
He got up to answer it, only to find Uchiha Fugaku and his son behind the door.
"Clan Leader, is there something you need? Why did you bring Mr. Itachi...?"
"Yashiro, let's discuss inside."
After observing Uchiha Fugaku's expression, Uchiha Yashiro nodded, saying, "Alright, come in now. But Clan Leader, Shisui is visiting today. He's inside."
"Let Shisui take care of Itachi. I have matters to discuss with you."
Once inside the living room, Uchiha Fugaku asked Shisui, "Shisui, could you do me a favor? The Clan Leader needs to speak with me. Can I ask you to look after Itachi?"
"No problem, rest assured, Clan Leader."
Uchiha Shisui got up, came by Itachi's side, and seeing young Itachi trying hard to maintain a calm demeanor, greeted with humor, "Hello, I'm Uchiha Shisui. Let's take a walk in the courtyard."
Uchiha Itachi glanced at Fugaku, received approval, then reached out to Uchiha Shisui, saying, "Hello, I'm Uchiha Itachi."
After the two left, Uchiha Yashiro closed the door, then asked, "Clan Leader, what happened?"
"I divorced Mikota."
Uchiha Fugaku, originally wanting to conceal it for a while, realized he couldn't hide it anymore after his resolve.
Furthermore, the upcoming clan meeting would soon be held, and apart from those on missions or battle, all clan ninjas would attend, and they would learn of it then.
"What worries me now is Itachi. He's highly talented, even more exceptional than me, destined to be a great ninja... but I probably won't have time to care for him. So I intend to entrust Itachi to you, Senior Yashiro."
Uchiha Fugaku's words left Uchiha Yashiro stunned, wondering why there was suddenly a divorce and a request to care for Itachi?
"Fugaku, what happened? Why did you suddenly divorce? And why entrust me with Itachi, what's going on with you and Mikota?"
"I've gained some power, but lost much else. Senior Yashiro, at the next clan meeting, I intend to use my strength to settle with Uchiha Yoichi who becomes the new Clan Leader."
Uchiha Fugaku opened his eyes, revealing a transformed Sharingan pattern with the three tomoe morphed into three-pointed shurikens and surrounding three black dots, entirely unlike the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
"Mangekyo Sharingan?"