After regaining his composure, Fugaku smiled broadly. "I really don't like what Jonin Minato just said—it's an honor to have you visit my home. How could there be any talk of compensation afterward?"
Minato wore an apologetic expression. "But it was still our..."
Fugaku interrupted with a serious face. "If you keep talking like this, you're not giving me face!"
Since Fugaku had put it that way, Minato dropped the formalities. "Then we'll trouble you."
"That's the way to go! Quickly, have a seat!" While welcoming Seiki and the others, Fugaku shouted, "Mikoto, bring some tea, snacks and desserts!"
When there was no response, he called out again. "Mikoto!"
Itachi peeked his little head out from the room. "Mom just went out earlier."
"Oh? Then can you help your dad..."
Seeing how Fugaku was employing a mere three or four-year-old "child laborer," Minato felt even more embarrassed. "No need to bother. Actually today we have something we'd like to ask you to help us with."
"Ask me for help?" Though puzzled, Fugaku didn't ask for details and simply agreed. "As long as it's within my capabilities, I definitely won't refuse."
He had been wondering how to get closer to both of them. Now that they came knocking on their own door, naturally he wouldn't hesitate.
"To put it simply, we hope Clan Leader Fugaku would be willing to pursue Kakashi's Sharingan back in the name of the Uchiha Clan."
Fugaku widened his eyes. What kind of development was this?
Was it that the master and student had parted ways? Or a love-hate relationship?
"I see! They must've heard about some people in the clan being dissatisfied and specially came here to test me!" Soon, Fugaku thought he'd found the "answer." He sternly declared, "This was Obito's final decision before death. Does our Uchiha clan lack the capacity to respect a clan member's choice?"
Seeing that Fugaku seemed to misunderstand, Seiki quickly explained everything from beginning to end.
"So that's how it is!" Surprised, Fugaku couldn't help but feel admiration inwardly.
After all, Minato was Kakashi's teacher, while Seiki was merely Kakashi's senior schoolmate. Yet he worked just as hard as Minato for Kakashi's affairs—truly warm-hearted and kind.
Although he himself might not reach Seiki's level, this wouldn't hinder him from being happy to establish a good relationship with him.
Because being friends with someone like him gave the greatest sense of security.
At least you wouldn't have to worry about so-called friends disappearing faster than anyone else when difficulties arose.
"Well then, naturally there's no problem at all!"
Grateful, Minato said, "Thank you so much!"
Fugaku happily replied, "There's no need to speak like that. I also want to take this opportunity to discipline those disobedient people in the clan."
The stubborn old-timers always claimed he was too soft—he'd show them exactly how tough he could be!
...
On the third day—the clan meeting.
Most participants in this meeting were high-ranking clan members including Jonin, influential young Chunin, and elder representatives.
Even without counting elite clan members currently at the battlefield, the room still held more than thirty participants.
Across all of Konoha, only their Uchiha clan and the Hyuga clan could convene meetings on such a familial scale.
At this moment, these clan elites were eyeing Fugaku, who sat cross-legged at the top of the room with curiosity.
Normally, it wasn't yet time for a clan meeting. Why had one been called now?
Fugaku gave a soft cough to get everyone's attention. "I've gathered you here today mainly to discuss the ownership of an eye… You must've all heard about it—Obito gave his Sharingan to Kakashi Hatake."
Everyone silently nodded. While Obito himself wasn't particularly noteworthy, Kakashi was a different story entirely—a genius whose talent might even surpass that of the White Fang and who already showed signs of becoming a legend. Every single action he took drew intense scrutiny.
Therefore, when he returned from the battlefield with a new eye—and not just any ordinary Sharingan, but one that couldn't be deactivated—it naturally didn't go unnoticed by the observant ones.
However, many among them knew about Kakashi's relationship with Minato Namikaze. Because of Minato's position as the Hokage's chosen successor, most people cleverly chose to turn a blind eye, except for a few individuals who either couldn't read the situation or had hidden agendas.
"But why would the Clan Head suddenly bring this up?"
While others were still puzzled, those few individuals known for always opposing Fugaku's faction immediately jumped forward.
"Obviously, we must recover our precious clan's eye!"
"If the Uchiha bloodline leaks outside the clan, Clan Head, you will bear full responsibility!"
"There can absolutely be no compromise on matters concerning our clan's most sacred traditions!"
Fugaku wasn't surprised by their attitude.
Wherever people gather, conflict follows. Even more so now, when the Uchiha are in such a fragile situation, factions are rampant, and many resist his conciliatory policies.
"But I can't let them disrupt our current strategy!"
Just as a few individuals continued stoking tensions furiously, they noticed something unexpected—the clan head actually nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. I admit I handled this poorly before. That's why I've already sent a request under your names to Jonin Minato, asking him to remove Kakashi's eye and return it to the clan."
Suddenly, the room fell into terrifying silence.
Except for one elder who seemed indifferent, the other two were practically stunned—couldn't he just make demands normally without dragging their names into it like that?
"You… you…"
Fugaku smiled kindly. "Thanks to your wise counsel, I've finally seen reason. Jonin Minato should arrive shortly, so please help me firmly oppose him… And the same goes for Seiki, the Jonin."
"Sei… Seiki Jonin?!"
"The Commander-in-Chief himself is coming too?"
Fugaku said cheerfully, "Of course he'll come."
Upon hearing this, a nervous swallow echoed through the suddenly silent room.
Compared to Minato Namikaze, most people actually feared that seemingly gentle and harmless Jonin Seiki far more.
Especially those who had once fought on the Western Front—though they didn't fully understand everything, they still had a vague sense of *that event* from a year ago that had completely changed the course of the war. Precisely because of this, they understood better than anyone just how horrifying his capabilities truly were.
A man of immense strength, ruthless methods, and deep scheming — even the Tsuchikage had been outmaneuvered by him, and Elder Danzo dared not show defiance. A figure like this was far more terrifying than a mere powerful expert.
They would dare to provoke Minato Namikaze, but would never dare to anger Seiki Shimaseki.
Realizing this, the two hurriedly said:
"I think... maybe we should soften our tone a bit?"
"Kakashi Hatake is, after all, the son of the legendary White Fang. For his father's sake alone, I believe we should reconsider."
But that elder was clearly dissatisfied with their hesitation: "The clan head spoke correctly! We must remain firm. When have the Uchiha ever feared anyone? Back in the Warring States period [when clans ruled themselves like sovereign nations], even someone who accidentally found a lost Sharingan [the legendary eyes of the Uchiha clan] would still return it respectfully!"
Everyone silently exchanged glances. Did he actually think they were still in that family-dominated Warring States era?
Sir, times have long since changed!
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