Shimizu Uchiha was pleased with his efficiency.
He glanced at the documents in his hand. Though he couldn't fully decipher them, he could sense progress was being made.
"I'll take my leave, Lord Fugaku," Shimizu said.
Seeing that the fine powder had nearly finished dispersing, with much of it entering Fugaku's body through his nose, Shimizu prepared to depart.
The same fine powder was also being absorbed by Shimizu himself, entering his body with each breath.
As a result, Fugaku remained completely unaware of anything unusual.
The Sharingan only fully enhanced the body when activated. When dormant, Fugaku was little different from an ordinary person, save for his superior eyesight.
He couldn't see the tiny, dust-like particles circulating in the air.
"What's this? Feeling a bit warm?" Fugaku muttered to himself.
Not long after Shimizu left, Fugaku felt his throat dry.
The paper slip in his hand seemed to draw his attention even more.
Shaking his head, Fugaku stuffed the slip into his pocket, intending to discard it later.
He hurried home and caught sight of Mikoto washing clothes.
Unable to hold back, he spoke up, "Mikoto, you've been resting for a while now. You should be feeling better, right?"
Fugaku's words caught Mikoto off guard.
She didn't want to rest.
Perhaps it was an innate disinterest, or even aversion, to such matters—a psychological barrier.
"Fugaku, please, just a little more time," Mikoto pleaded, goosebumps faintly rising on her skin.
She didn't know why she felt this way.
She simply didn't like it and only wanted to sleep, to do nothing at all.
Even that day with Shimizu hadn't been too intense.
Seeing Mikoto shake her head frantically, Fugaku felt his enthusiasm wane.
"I'm going for a walk," he said, turning away.
It wasn't as if he hadn't tried forcing the issue before, but the moment he grabbed her clothes, Mikoto's body would break out in goosebumps, her face would pale, her lips would turn purple, and she'd look gravely ill.
"What's going on?" Fugaku muttered, frustrated. Being rejected for so long was far from pleasant.
Was the Uchiha bloodline doomed to end with his generation?
If it came to it, they might have to resort to a hospital for in vitro fertilization.
Lost in thought, Fugaku found himself in an alley at Konohagakure's Third-Five-Six Street.
Women in revealing clothing stood in a row, striking provocative poses and occasionally calling out to passersby.
Fugaku gave them a cursory glance and was surprised to recognize a few familiar faces among the patrons.
The pleasure industry was legal in Konoha, not considered taboo.
However, the three ninja prohibitions meant most shinobi held themselves to strict standards.
From the shadows, Shimizu observed everything, discreetly scattering more of the fine powder.
Every time he helped Mikoto condition her body, if Fugaku was present, Shimizu would subtly alter Fugaku's physiology, stimulating hormone production.
All of this was to catch Fugaku in a scandal.
Fugaku's expression shifted, hesitation giving way to a strange flush on his face. With a step forward, he entered the establishment.
As long as he was careful not to be recognized as the Uchiha clan leader, there would be no issue.
Fugaku used a Transformation Technique and stepped inside, ready to satisfy his curiosity.
After all, the pleasure houses were legal; at worst, it would only invite moral criticism.
At that moment, Shimizu pulled out a camera and captured it all.
He had never visited a pleasure house himself.
He had little interest in women who were available to all.
He preferred virtuous, refined women.
Click…
With the soft sound of the camera's shutter, Shimizu vanished from the spot.
It was time for Itachi to be born.
Ninja Academy
Yuri Hong looked at the children around her, utterly bored.
The lessons here were far too basic, nothing compared to what Lord Shimizu had taught her.
"Are you Yuri?" Utsuki Yugao approached.
She had heard this new student had already learned chakra refinement techniques and could skip ahead to join their class.
Yuri nodded.
"I heard you were brought here by Uchiha Shimizu?" Yugao asked, curiosity piqued.
That older brother had once helped her retrieve a balloon, a memory that stuck with her.
Moonlight Hayate's condition was worsening, likely due to a hereditary illness.
Shimizu's reputation as a healer was growing, and Yugao desperately wanted his help for Hayate. But asking directly felt too presumptuous.
Only the wealthy or influential could afford Shimizu's treatments, unless he chose to help an ordinary person himself, which left little opportunity for contact.
"What's up?" Yuri asked, instantly wary. Anything involving Lord Shimizu required caution.
"Nothing, nothing," Yugao said quickly, glancing at Hayate coughing in the distance. She made up her mind—she had to cure him.
And it would start by building a rapport with Yuri.
Konoha Hospital
Hyuga Ginka stood quietly outside Hyuga Nobuhiko's private ward.
As members of Konoha's prestigious Hyuga main branch, they were entitled to such accommodations.
"Come here," a voice called.
Ginka turned to see Shimizu beckoning her from outside.
She set down the fruit tray she was holding and stepped out.
"I've nearly completed my research on treating Nobuhiko's Byakugan," Shimizu said, holding up a small vial.
He explained that using it for three months would lead to recovery.
Ginka's face lit up, and she reached for the vial, but Shimizu pulled it back.
"You…" Her expression froze.
"I've put in a lot of effort. Surely I deserve some reward," Shimizu said.
"I can pay you handsomely," Ginka offered.
Shimizu shook his head. "I don't lack money."
"I can teach you the Gentle Fist."
"Not enough."
Shimizu stepped closer, his fingers brushing lightly against Ginka's silky hair.
"I've got a lot of fire in me. I need something to cool it down."
With that, Shimizu turned and left.
Ginka stood there, clutching her fingers, her expression shifting rapidly.
Over the next few days, Shimizu focused on building a laboratory, quickly creating a sizable space.
Precision instruments were neatly arranged inside.
Ninjutsu truly transformed life.
Without Earth Release techniques, creating a secret chamber without anyone noticing would have taken far more effort.
Once the lab was complete, Shimizu called for Nohara Rin and handed her a new formula, along with a few strands of hair from Uchiha Hazuki and Miko.
He instructed Rin to create a cloning solution based on their genetic material.
Rin looked at the array of sophisticated equipment, unease stirring in her chest.
Whatever Shimizu was planning with this, it couldn't be good.
"Whose hair is this?" Rin asked, examining the two test tubes containing strands of distinctly different colors.
She feared Shimizu might be plotting something harmful to the village.
He had been pushing her to conduct cloning experiments, and if Konoha didn't prohibit human experimentation, she had no doubt Shimizu would be the first to try it.
This man only ever cared about his own interests.
"You don't need to know whose hair it is, Rin," Shimizu said, patting her shoulder. His nostrils flared slightly, as if catching a scent. "What you need to know is that there are many unfortunate people in this world who want children but can't have them. We're doing a good deed."
The fragrance on Rin seemed stronger, like the scent of blooming flowers, signaling maturity.
Rin's eyelashes trembled, her brows furrowing as she braced herself to refuse Shimizu.
But he simply left.
For some reason, that left her feeling oddly disappointed.
She shook her head, casting the thought aside, and began working with the test tubes and equipment.
Shimizu emerged from the underground lab into the courtyard above.
Now wasn't the time to indulge in desires.
It was best to let Rin focus on perfecting the cloning solution.
One portion would be used on Uchiha Hazuki, the other on Miko in the Land of Demons.
To ensure Shion would be born with the Sharingan, Shimizu had tweaked the formula, incorporating a trace of his own genetic material.
It was just enough to give Shion Uchiha bloodline traits, but not enough to make them father and daughter by blood.
It was similar to the Heaven's Curse Seal he'd given to Suzumebachi, created using his own cells. Her body contained some of his cellular material.
But could that be called a blood relation?
It was merely akin to the relationship between Hashirama's cells and their user.
Uchiha Compound, Fugaku's Residence
Mikoto gently swept the house, diligently cleaning despite there being no visible dust.
Looking at the brilliant sunlight outside, her mood lifted slightly after rejecting Fugaku.
Such tranquil days weren't so bad.
But her calm thoughts were soon shattered by the arrival of a letter.
It appeared in the bedroom without a sound.
As a former elite Jonin, Mikoto's senses sharpened, scanning her surroundings for any anomalies.
Finding nothing unusual, she cautiously inspected the envelope for seals or toxins.
A minute later, she confirmed it was an ordinary letter.
"Something from Fugaku?" she wondered.
He hadn't returned home last night, likely tied up with Konoha's Police Force duties.
As his wife, she wanted to support him.
She'd already bought ingredients to prepare a feast for tonight.
Casually, she opened the letter, only for her eyes to widen at its contents.
Photos of Fugaku!
In one, he stood at the entrance of a pleasure house, seemingly using a Transformation Technique.
The next showed him in a different appearance.
And the final one captured him entering the establishment.
Mikoto's face paled. Unable to be intimate with him, Fugaku had sought release in such a place.
This counted as infidelity, didn't it?
Yet, as a dutiful wife, Mikoto suppressed her emotions.
The bigger issue was Fugaku's reputation.
If he were an ordinary Uchiha, it might only invite a few jokes.
But he was the clan leader!
A leader had to set an example.
Otherwise, rival factions within the clan would seize the moral high ground to criticize him.
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