Konoha Notes

Chapter 293 The Uchiha Clan
Uchiha Izumi's performance was outstanding.

It wasn't because he passed his graduation exam ahead of schedule, but because of his performance in the recent joint military exercises.

When she came to see Itachi, Fugaku showed a rare gentle smile.

"Itachi hasn't returned yet. Please have a seat, Izumi."

"Excuse me, clan leader."

"No need to be so polite, Izumi." Mikoto Uchiha peeked out from behind. "Come in quickly."

"Yes."

Izumi entered with restraint and politeness under the gaze of the two, and then saw Itachi's younger brother.

Sasuke stared at her, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"Sasuke! That's so rude of you! Why didn't you say hello?" Mikoto immediately scolded him.

“Izumi…” Sasuke managed to open his mouth.

Mikoto Uchiha cast a menacing glance at her.

"Sister Quan."

"Hello, Sasuke-kun," Izumi replied with a smile. "You'll be going into your second year soon, right?"

Sasuke turned his face away and squeezed out a muffled "hmm" from his throat.

Snacks were already laid out on the low table inside. Izumi knelt upright on the cushion, and Fugaku sat down opposite her.

"In the match against Yunyin, the tactical choices were decisive and executed very well."

"You flatter me, clan chief."

“No need to be modest,” Fugaku said, picking up his teacup. “After the martial arts competition, the Chunin Exams will be held in two months. With your current performance, getting promoted won’t be difficult.”

"Are you planning to apply for a position in the police department?"

"Yes, joining the police department has always been my wish."

"Yeah……"

Before Fugaku could say anything more, Mikoto Uchiha brought over some tea: "Izumi will definitely pass the test, right?"

Faced with his wife's powerful gaze for the first time, Fugaku could only respond vaguely, just like Sasuke.

“I will try my best,” Izumi continued, picking up where Mikoto left off.

"You're really excellent, Izumi..." Mikoto smiled and turned to the girl, praising her repeatedly.

Quan tried her best to respond to her enthusiasm with a smile until a sound came from the doorway, at which point she prepared to get up.

Fugaku had already stood up.

"Itachi."

"Father, mother."

Itachi greeted his parents one by one.

"Too slow," Fugaku said in a deep voice. "Since you made an appointment with Izumi, you should have arranged the time properly."

"Yes."

"Brother..." Sasuke was about to go over when he found his mother blocking his way.

"You promised to go to training, right? Then hurry up and go, Izumi. I've been waiting for a long time, Itachi."

Quan quickly stood up and waved his hand: "No, actually it's just..."

"Let's go, Izumi."

Upon hearing this, Izumi took two steps in one and walked to Itachi's side.

"I'll take my leave now, Chieftain, Aunt Mikoto."

Fugaku nodded, Mikoto smiled, and Sasuke was about to speak when his mother gently pressed her fingers against his lips.
-
What does it mean that the older brother is doing something important? If it's just training, either Dad or Mom can accompany him.

After Itachi and Izumi left, Sasuke, who had been given a serious warning, stormed out of the house indignantly.

He thought to himself, "I don't need an older brother, nor do I need a father or mother. I can train on my own." But not long after he left, he saw someone he hadn't seen in a while appear near his home.

Sasuke stopped wandering and quietly followed, watching the newcomer walk step by step toward his home.

My brother isn't here, so why are they coming to the door...?

Sasuke, puzzled, watched as his father ushered the man into the house. Instead of going through the main gate, he climbed over the courtyard wall and headed towards the family's reception room.
-
Shuji took his seat. Fugaku frowned and asked, "Can't Hyuga Hiashi even handle a little verbal criticism?"

He couldn't think of anything else besides the war of words between the police headquarters and the branch offices that would warrant Xiuji coming to his house.

"I have done my best to appease the clan, and there have been no further incidents like the one that occurred when the branch was established."

"But this point..."

The person opposite Fugaku raised their hand.

"It's not about that; it's unrelated."

"The village wouldn't care about such a trivial matter."

Fugaku looked at him: "Or, the village might want the police department to do some more reforms."

"Do not."

The head of the Uchiha clan was not at ease. For someone to appear on their own initiative is rarely a simple matter.

"I just want to let you know one thing—the Five Kage Summit will be held outside the village next month. At that time, both the police headquarters and the branches will be mobilized."

Fugaku nodded: "I will instruct my clansmen."

"As for the other question... it's an extra part, and also a way of repaying you for your cooperation all this time, Chief Fugaku, so I'll mention it a little more."

"Does the Uchiha clan want to produce a Hokage?"

A faint sound came from outside the room. Fugaku frowned, about to speak, but then he saw Shuji's hand movements.

So he fell silent.

“Of course, I’m not referring to now, or even the next ten years or so,” Shuuji continued.

Fugaku turned his attention back to the person in front of him. Since he had demonstrated the power of Wood Release, he knew that there was no one in the village who could compete with him for the time being.

Especially now, the power he wields is practically indistinguishable from a shadow.

Among the clan, besides himself, the one most capable of competing for the position of Kage is his eldest son, Itachi.

But expecting Itachi to compete with Shuuji...

“I have no interest in the Hokage,” he continued. “I’ll probably retire after the Fifth Hokage chooses to step down.”

Fugaku's eyes widened.

"What does the Uchiha need to give up?" he asked immediately.

This was the long-cherished wish of the clan, and he could not afford to be modest.

"Hmm... Rather than saying what the Uchiha have to give up, it's more accurate to say what the Uchiha are willing to show for this position."

"And whether there is a candidate who can take on the role of Shadow."

"Before that, the village's first choice was Kakashi."

Fugaku immediately expressed his objection in a deep voice: "Kakashi Hatake? Forgive my bluntness, but the Uchiha clan would find it difficult to accept him as Hokage."

"Then let's see how it goes. It just so happens that Kakashi isn't very interested in becoming Kage. Even if he did become Kage, he'd probably step down as soon as someone capable of taking on the role comes along."

Fugaku Uchiha was about to suggest a candidate: "In that case..."

“Oh, and one more thing,” Shuuji interrupted him, adding, “Don’t argue with me, it’s not appropriate, and it’s not enough.”

Fugaku's hands, which were resting on his lap, tightened suddenly. He had intended to nominate Itachi, but being so directly rejected still made him feel embarrassed.

Before he could continue speaking, Shuji immediately stood up and said, "That's all I wanted to say."

"That's all for today. But before considering long-term matters, please first resolve your relationship with the branch."

"Otherwise, if even one or two departments can't be sorted out, it's hard to believe that anyone from the Uchiha clan would be suitable to become Hokage, Chief Fugaku."

(End of this chapter)