Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 133 Can you keep this a secret, Itachi?

As Uchiha Hikaru and Shura's figures completely disappeared into the vast night, Fugaku's courtyard returned to peace.

As if these two mysterious and powerful figures had never appeared, leaving only a Fugaku with a heart full of turmoil and a silent mansion.

Fugaku swayed, but ultimately couldn't stand up and collapsed back onto the living room floor.

He stared blankly in the direction where the two had disappeared, his mind replaying Uchiha Hikari's words "Uchiha Hikari" and her last words.

Uchiha Hikaru… The name sounded so unfamiliar. He pondered the ancient clan texts he had read and the conversations with his elders, but he couldn’t recall ever hearing this name before.

Seeing that the two had finally left, Mikoto hurriedly stepped forward and carefully supported Fugaku, feeling his trembling body and the unprecedented dejection and helplessness he felt.

"Fugaku...are you alright?" Mikoto asked softly, her voice filled with worry.

Fugaku did not answer, but simply waved his hand wearily, indicating that he was alright.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

The immense power displayed by Uchiha Hikari, her words about the 'destined fate' of the Uchiha clan, and her vague hints about the Nine-Tails' rampage weighed heavily on his heart like boulders.

"Taking away the remaining Uchiha clan members... What does she mean? Could it be... could she really do something that even Madara Uchiha couldn't do?"

"And the real culprit behind the Nine-Tailed Fox's rampage... what's behind all this..." Fugaku felt an unprecedented sense of confusion and bewilderment.

He once thought he was the leader of the Uchiha clan and could control the fate of the family, but now it seems that he can't even touch the truth.

Based on what Uchiha Hikaru said, it wasn't hard for him to deduce that besides Uchiha Hikaru, there was at least one other Uchiha with the Mangekyou Sharingan outside of Konoha!
This mysterious Uchiha, lurking in the shadows, orchestrated the Nine-Tails' attack, clearly harboring immense malice towards the village...

Fugaku Uchiha suddenly recalled Shura's words: "The Uchiha clan was once the most powerful clan in the ninja world, but now it has fallen to the point of being distrusted by the village and torn apart by internal conflicts. This is all because of you incompetent clan leaders who lack true vision and sufficient courage."

He now realized that the other party had already seen through the Uchiha clan's current situation and their conflict with the village.

When Shura said that he was "incompetent," it was not a sarcastic remark, but rather an explanation of a fact that Fugaku was unwilling to accept!
Once upon a time, in order to repair the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village, he led his clansmen to participate in the Third Shinobi World War, and was even assigned to the eastern front to fight against the Hidden Mist Ninja.

They were forced to confront the Hidden Mist Technique, which somewhat limited their Sharingan.

Fugaku even brought his own child to the battlefield.

After the Third Shinobi World War, Fugaku bet on Minato Namikaze, and he certainly made the right choice.

After Minato Namikaze was elected the Fourth Hokage, the Uchiha clan transformed into a faction of staunch supporters of the Hokage, and their relationship with the village gradually improved.

Until the Nine-Tailed Fox's rampage occurred.

The Fourth Hokage and his wife died in battle, and the Sharingan pattern in the Nine-Tails' eyes was seen by many Konoha ninjas. The Uchiha clan was ostracized and isolated, and even their clan territory was forced to relocate to the outskirts.

"Mikoto, take Sasuke to bed," Fugaku ordered in a hoarse voice, his tone tinged with weariness and despair.

"Don't tell anyone about what happened today, including Itachi."

Mikoto nodded gently. She knew that Fugaku's mood must be extremely heavy at this moment.

She helped Fugaku sit down on the sofa, then silently turned around, picked up the still somewhat clueless Sasuke, and went back to the room.

Fugaku leaned back on the sofa, staring blankly at the courtyard outside.

His mind kept replaying Uchiha Hikaru's earlier words—

"She will take the remaining Uchiha clan members with her and leave this decaying Konoha..."

This thought lingered in his mind like a curse.

Should he report everything that happened tonight, as well as Uchiha Hikaru's prophecy, to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?

But if this is reported, how will the Konoha leadership react?
Is it to tighten the surveillance of the Uchiha clan, or to deepen suspicions about the Uchiha clan?
But what would be the consequences if he didn't report it?
Fugaku's indecisive nature plunged him into unprecedented turmoil and pain.

The night seemed to grow even deeper.

The next morning.

The first rays of sunlight slanted through the windows of the Uchiha clan head's residence, falling obliquely onto the living room floor, dispelling some of the night's chill, but unable to dispel the heavy gloom in Uchiha Fugaku's heart.

He remained in the same position he had been in the previous night, slumped on the sofa, his eyes bloodshot. On the coffee table in front of him, family scrolls lay scattered, silently telling of his torment throughout the night.

A faint sense of melancholy permeated the air.

"Uchiha Hikaru... Uchiha Hikaru..." The name echoed repeatedly in Fugaku's mind.

But after searching through all the old books in the house, I couldn't find a single clue. Should I go to the Namakawa Shrine to investigate those stone tablets?

Fugaku Uchiha once believed that as the clan leader, he had a mission to protect the clan, and even if he had to endure humiliation, he had to fight for a chance of survival for his clan members.

He carefully maintained his relationship with the village, even recommending his eldest son, Itachi, to join the Anbu as a bridge for communication and mediation.

However, the appearance of Uchiha Hikaru and Shura was like a bolt from the blue, shattering all his efforts and hopes.

The entire Uchiha clan seems to be secretly manipulated and guided by an invisible, intangible force whose very existence cannot be detected.

"The true culprit behind the Nine-Tails' rampage...is deliberately manipulating the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village..."

Fugaku's thoughts were in turmoil, and he felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

If what Uchiha Hikaru said is true, then what he has always believed and insisted on has been nothing but an illusion.

He thought of the Yuki clan and Kaguya clan, who were wiped out in Kirigakure. It was said that the Yuki clan was plotted to rebel and was suppressed and slaughtered by the Fourth Mizukage.

The Kaguya clan rebelled, causing great damage to Kirigakure. They were eventually suppressed by the Mizukage faction and various clans and civilian ninjas in Kirigakure, and the entire clan was slaughtered!
There are now many radical dissents within the Uchiha clan. If he can't suppress the rebellion within the clan...

The soft clatter of dishes came from the kitchen; Mikoto was preparing breakfast.

Soon, the enticing aroma of miso soup and fried fish wafted through the air, bringing a touch of warmth to everyday life.

However, this warmth could not touch Fugaku's cold heart.

The front door was gently pushed open, and a calm figure walked in—it was Uchiha Itachi, who had just returned from a mission.

He was dressed in the uniform of the Dark Guard, and although he was not wearing a mask, he exuded a faint but chilling aura.

"You're back just in time. Let's get ready for breakfast." Fugaku looked at his eldest son's slightly tired face, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

He was both proud of Itachi and heartbroken for the heavy burden he carried.

"Father, Mother." Itachi walked into the living room and glanced around as usual. Although he didn't activate his Sharingan, he could still see the bloodshot eyes in Fugaku's eyes and the trace of worry on Mikoto's face.

He knew something must have happened at home, but instead of asking immediately, he first informed his parents.

"Hmm." Fugaku crossed his arms and nodded calmly.

"Brother! Come and play!" Four-year-old Uchiha Sasuke toddled into the living room with his short legs.

Seeing his younger brother, Itachi forced a smile onto his tired face and gently picked up Sasuke, who was rushing towards him.

"Let's get ready to eat," Mikoto said to the two children as she placed breakfast on the table.

"Yes, Mother." Itachi carried Sasuke to the dining table.

Sasuke hugged Itachi's neck, his voice soft and dependent, and whispered in a childish voice, "Brother, two very strange people came to the house last night! One was very beautiful and had Sharingan like us, and the other... wore a fox mask, so strange."

Itachi's gentle gaze suddenly sharpened, and he tightened his grip on Sasuke's arm.

Deep within those eyes, the Sharingan with two tomoe instantly lit up, then quickly disappeared.

A very beautiful Uchiha clansman? And a mysterious person wearing a fox mask...

Itachi Uchiha looked at his father in the living room.

Although Sasuke's voice was soft, it still reached Fugaku's ears.

Facing his eldest son's gaze, Fugaku sighed deeply, his eyes complex and heavy: "It's Shura, and the strong person Shisui encountered in the Land of Stars before, she calls herself Uchiha Hikaru."

'Shura and...Uchiha Hikaru?! They actually came to my house?!' Itachi's heart was instantly filled with shock.

As a member of the Anbu, he had been monitoring the Uchiha clan all night, and these two individuals, whom the village's higher-ups considered a great threat, had somehow managed to sneak into the clan head's residence without anyone noticing!
Moreover, it seems that Shura did not attack the Uchiha clan as he did with the Hyuga clan.

How did these two mysterious enemies come together? Could it be that the mastermind behind the Star Ninja Village rebellion is Shura?

What is the purpose of that girl named Uchiha Hikari who stole one of Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan?
Countless possible guesses flashed through Itachi Uchiha's mind.

"Itachi, what happened last night... is very complicated. Those two are incredibly powerful, especially the one who calls herself Uchiha Hikari... her eye power is far superior to mine." Fugaku paused, his tone becoming earnest and low.

"For now, do not report this matter to the village, nor let the rest of the clan know about it. The village already harbors suspicions about the Uchiha clan. If they find out that an unknown Uchiha powerhouse has appeared, it will only deepen their suspicions and may even lead to more unpredictable consequences."

"I need time to find out their background. I'll keep it a secret until I figure out the identities of Shura and Uchiha Hikaru."

He gazed at Uchiha Itachi, his eyes filled with the helplessness of a clan leader and the expectations of a father: "Itachi, now that you are in the Anbu, you must learn to weigh the pros and cons even more."

"I hope you can understand my predicament. I concealed this matter to buy some time for the Uchiha clan and the village. If it is not handled properly, it may end up like the Kaguya clan."

Itachi Uchiha held Sasuke in his arms and fell silent.

The Kaguya clan of Kirigakure was brutally suppressed and exterminated for launching a rebellion, and Itachi Uchiha, as the son of the clan leader, knew some of this.

He looked at Sasuke's innocent face, then at Fugaku's tired and earnest eyes, and a fierce struggle was raging deep within his heart.

On one side is the blood ties of family, her father's pleas, and her worries about the future of the family; on the other side is loyalty to the village, her duty as an ANBU ninja, and her mission to maintain peace and stability in Konoha.

He deeply understood his father's worries and also appreciated the "good intentions" behind the concealment.

"Yes, Father." Itachi Uchiha suppressed his unease and pretended to agree.

Seeing this, Fugaku nodded and invited his wife and children to have breakfast together.

The miso soup on the breakfast table was steaming, and Sasuke's laughter echoed in the restaurant.

The weasel chewed the rice ball mechanically, the rice grains turning into tasteless crumbs in his mouth, while he caught a glimpse of his father's profile as he tried to appear calm.

He was well aware that the strength and identity of those two visitors were no small matter, and if he concealed it, the consequences would be unimaginable if the situation got out of control!
After breakfast, Fugaku changed into his Jonin vest and, with his wife and children watching him go, headed to the Konoha Police Department to begin his day's work.

After Fugaku left home, Mikoto took care of the housework and played games with Sasuke, making sure not to disturb Itachi's rest.

But shortly after Fugaku left, Itachi Uchiha returned to his bedroom, formed hand seals to create a shadow clone, and stayed at home to sleep.

The main body opened the window, leaped out, and transformed into a gust of wind, rushing towards its best friend's residence.

Somewhat confused, Itachi Uchiha wanted to hear his best friend's opinion.

　Just a reminder that it's the end of the month, and your monthly votes will be cleared soon. Saving them is a waste, so remember to vote for your favorite books, like mine! (Hehehehe)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)