Uchiha Clan Compound, the Clan Head's home.
Fugaku stepped out of Itachi's Room, frowned, and looked at his wife: "Where's Itachi?"
"He went out this afternoon and hasn't come back yet," Uchiha Mikoto answered.
She asked in puzzlement, "Do you need him for something?"
"No, nothing," Fugaku shook his head, said no more, and walked outside.
According to Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had decided to give Itachi a temporary leave so Fugaku could spend more time with and guide him.
So why wasn't Itachi at home?
Unease churned inside Fugaku; as he walked around the Uchiha Clan Compound, the feeling that events were slipping beyond his control grew stronger.
Shisui's house, the fake grave—
All empty.
Where had he gone?
Itachi!
Fugaku's thoughts tangled, his steps quickened.
Before he realized it—
"Ouch!"
A cry of pain jerked Fugaku back to the present.
He looked at the fallen Sasuke, frowned, then forced the expression away. "Sasuke, are you all right?"
"I- I'm fine, Father," Sasuke stood up, rubbing his forehead and backside.
Fugaku drew a deep breath. "Have you seen your brother?"
"Big brother? Isn't he home?"
Sasuke sounded surprised and a little disappointed.
Fugaku gave a slight nod. "I came back from outside and didn't see him."
"Then—"
A look of loss flitted across Sasuke's face; in the end he swallowed whatever he'd meant to say.
Fugaku had been about to leave.
But seeing Sasuke's expression, he thought for some reason of Itachi—so extreme, so frighteningly obsessed.
He stopped.
"Sasuke, do you need Itachi for something?"
"Father—"
Sasuke hesitated.
But finally he answered truthfully, recounting the joint training match.
Fugaku listened in silence.
He reached out; Sasuke instinctively shrank back.
The motion froze Fugaku's hand mid-air.
After another second of silence Fugaku said, "Sasuke, it's all right."
"Huh?"
Sasuke looked up, bewildered.
Fugaku said softly, "Just give it everything you've got. Even if you lose, I'll still be proud of you."
Hearing this, surprise flooded Sasuke's young face; his eyes went wide and for a long moment he couldn't speak.
Tears threatened suddenly—Father had never spoken to him so gently.
Sasuke declared resolutely, "Father, I'll train hard and win tomorrow!"
"I happen to be free today. Since Itachi's not here, let me train with you."
A rare smile appeared on Fugaku's face.
"Aren't you busy? Is everything all right at the Konoha Military Police Force?"
Sasuke still sounded uncertain.
Fugaku was quiet a moment. "Nothing urgent today. From now on I should have more time to spend with you boys."
It was almost eight o'clock.
Masahiko set down his pen.
He had sketched out basic contingency plans: if civil war broke out within the Uchiha, how to intervene and evacuate the children, where to place them in foster care—all listed on the paper.
After memorizing the details, Masahiko destroyed the sheet.
At eight sharp, after a brief title sequence, the episode opened with Fugaku and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The two exchanged pleasantries, sat, and began to chat, the focus naturally on Itachi's shocking statement.
Masahiko couldn't help wanting to laugh.
Even through the screen he could sense the awkwardness between them.
Just as the bullet comments said—
"Both think Itachi turned out like this because of them—dying of laughter."
"That line fits perfectly here: sure, they have issues, but Itachi's blameless?"
"Seriously twisted."
"He's just a kid—how did the Third even keep a straight face?"
The expressions on Hiruzen and Fugaku's faces were complicated, each hiding troubles he could not voice.
After some small talk they fell into silence.
Then Hiruzen stated his terms: "My idea is for the Village and the Uchiha to jointly run the Konoha Military Police Force, and for the Uchiha Clan to take part in more Village affairs."
Fugaku remained silent.
Even the bullet chat couldn't bear it.
"Still hesitating, still being greedy—keep it up and your family's finished!"
"Why haven't you agreed? What are you waiting for?"
"Damn! I'm getting anxious for Sasuke."
Viewers cursed loudly.
Fugaku's wavering hesitation drove their blood pressure sky-high; he hardly looked like a qualified clan head.
In the end the two parted without reaching any conclusion.
Still,
Masahiko felt Fugaku was inclined to accept, only held back by lingering doubts.
The scene shifted to his part with Shisui.
"The Old Thief's spinning tales again—ptui!"
"Objectively, compared with the rest, the Old Thief's almost human."
The moment the Black-Robed Man appeared, bullet comments exploded.
When Shisui said, "I've come to my senses," @Uchiha Fugaku @Uchiha Itachi—look and learn."
"Shisui's frustrating too; the Old Thief told him not to go but he still did. Next to those two clansmen, though, he almost looks human."
"If he hadn't thrown his life away, the Uchiha probably wouldn't have lost—equally insane."
Viewers couldn't help roasting.
After a string of god-awful moves, the "Uchiha" image built since the manga's start had mostly collapsed.
Right after the chat, the scene changed—Yagyu Masahiko walked out of the deep forest.
This cut was often used to bridge visits to Danzo, so viewers knew what was coming.
Masahiko must be off to see Danzo again!
Moments later—
The fight scene on screen, animated, was top-tier, far better than the version Masahiko remembered from his past life.
Even more,
the anime used Orochimaru's point of view for the edit—
In his sight, Masahiko's clones struck from left, right, and above, blades curving like crescent moons.
A three-sided assault: the classic Dance of the Crescent Moon.
When Orochimaru slashed at empty air, viewers wondered at the choice—until blades met, water spray, mist, and illusions mingled.
Masahiko's real form appeared here; the three phantoms slashed through Orochimaru without a trace.
"Holy crap!"
"A Hidden Mist variant?"
"Old Thief's awesome! So is Orochimaru!"
Before the cheers faded—
Splash! A cone-shaped vortex shot from the water like a spear and struck Orochimaru.
Then—boom!
The figure burst apart.
It had been only a Shadow Clone, yet the short clash, the mind-games, and the dazzling images left everyone thrilled.
When another Orochimaru appeared, viewers were still reliving the fight.
Masahiko's strength might not equal Orochimaru's, but each new appearance brought fresh tricks and surprises.
That steady improvement was what amazed them.
Before they calmed down, Orochimaru invited him to research the Sharingan.
"Even Orochimaru's eyeing them?"
"The Uchiha are Tang Monk—everyone wants a bite; can't take it."
"Old Thief, still pretending?"
"Stop the act, Masahiko—laugh if you want to."
Everyone was convinced Masahiko was the Black-Robed Man—
especially after he refused the invitation.
If he didn't have a double identity, he'd never sit out this Sharingan feast.
Yet—
before the shock wore off—
the scene cut again: Itachi reappeared on screen, kneeling on one knee, head lowered.
The camera slowly panned up to reveal Danzo Shimura and
Utatane Koharu standing ahead, expressions grave as they regarded Uchiha Itachi.
"The Uchiha problem is mainly the Sharingan. Remove the Sharingan, and we'll protect the rest; the clan can continue."
"Remove the Sharingan—"
Itachi was startled: they meant kill only those who had awakened it, and a glint of interest crossed his face.
Yet his father's words echoed in his ears at the same time: They are your clansmen, your uncles.
He struggled, anguished.
The two above exchanged glances.
Danzo pressed harder: "Itachi, this isn't just about you or your clan—it concerns the peace of all Konoha, the entire Ninja World."
After a brief pause, Utatane Koharu spoke gently, "They won't trust our people; that's why we need you to do this. Itachi, among the Uchiha you see the bigger picture—"
"Individual, clan, Village—which weighs most?"
Her voice carried sorrow and resignation.
Hearing her, Itachi finally closed his eyes and gave a heavy nod.