Chapter 4 — I, Asuka, Member of the Uchiha Divorce Faction
Uchiha Naoki is only two years old.
A genius like Kakashi graduated from the Ninja Academy as a genin at five, and the Uchiha clan's talent certainly isn't inferior to Kakashi's.
This means Uchiha Naoki was already at genin level at age five.
Hmmm…
Put another way: a jōnin challenging a genin to a duel has a better reputation than a jōnin beating up a child.
Although both are technically bullying, the first one can be justified as "letting the opponent experience the cruelty of the ninja world early."
Hmm!
After figuring this out, Asuka glanced sideways at that old man Uchiha Madou. He'd wait three years and see what surprises this system would give him.
Sasuke's system was now in his possession — it was his.
---
"Lord Minato Namikaze, Lady Kushina, congratulations on your marriage!"
"Thank you, thank you."
"We were watching from below the stage, and it's truly enviable. Now that the Hokage has such a virtuous wife, Konoha's recovery speed will surely surpass ours once again."
"Peace in the ninja world is hard-won. Konoha will not initiate war. The future still requires all of us to maintain it together."
"Lord Hokage, you must visit the Hyuga clan when you have time, and share some of your combat experience with our useless juniors, so they don't die unjustly on the battlefield."
"Clan Head Hyuga, you flatter me. I will visit each major clan one by one to impart some experience."
"…"
Watching the Fourth Hokage and his wife politely greet every guest — whether from foreign villages or ordinary villagers — Asuka quietly sighed while sitting in her chair.
"That's what you call a powerful alliance.
"And meanwhile we, the Uchiha — the number-one clan in Konoha — are busy marrying within the clan.
"Clan Head Fugaku's vision is truly narrow. Why can't he think of the clan's future, divorce his wife quickly, and pursue the woman from the once-number-one Senju clan?"
Clatter!
Seeing Itachi drop his chopsticks, Asuka shoved his own pair into the boy's hands.
"Keep eating. I wasn't talking about Clan Head Fugaku."
"I heard you."
"Since you heard me, what do you think of my proposed alliance between Uchiha and Senju?
"Besides, since the Senju clan only has one clan head left, the only Uchiha who can marry Princess Tsunade based on status is Clan Head Fugaku. If the clan head doesn't divorce his wife, who will?"
Itachi instantly shook his head. His expression showed complete rejection.
He had overheard this plan once while shopping with his mother. His heart nearly stopped that day — and his mother almost put on her battle garb to beat up the person who suggested it.
The plan was logical, but the person proposing it clearly hadn't considered his mother's, his own, or Lady Tsunade's feelings.
And worst of all, neither clan would ever agree.
Seeing Itachi silent, Asuka calmly took out the system's newbie gift pack, pulled out a book titled Detailed Explanation of the Will of Fire Course, flipped through it, then began reading softly:
"When I was in the Ninja Academy, my teacher told me that Konoha is one big family.
"We should not look at things from the perspective of a single member or clan. Don't look at things with a narrow view.
"More often than not… we must view things from the perspective of the village."
Ignoring Uchiha Madou's disdainful glare, Asuka tore off the book's cover, crumpled it up, stuffed it into his pocket, and continued reading:
"Only by unifying internal conflicts can we confidently face external conflicts."
Then he closed the book, stood, and dragged Uchiha Itachi to a quiet corner. He squatted down so Itachi wouldn't have to look up.
After glancing back at the wedding banquet, he looked at Itachi with praise.
"You're a genius. Smart, rational, good at thinking. Clan Head Fugaku often praises you.
"You're only four, but I want you to think about your parents' divorce from the Hokage's perspective — not from the viewpoint of the Uchiha clan."
He patted Itachi's shoulder.
"And if your father fails to win Princess Tsunade after the divorce, he can simply remarry your mother. Then you'll regain the 200,000 ryō… maybe even more. Either way, you lose nothing."
Asuka gave him a meaningful nod and walked away.
Asuka wasn't afraid of being labeled a "bad influence." What he taught was flawless — the pure Will of Fire, annotated by the Academy teachers themselves.
Since Itachi had already been corrupted by Shisui into thinking from the village's perspective…
Why not apply that perspective to his parents' divorce?
Watching Asuka's figure disappear, Itachi sat on the grass, plucking at blades as he sank deep into thought.
---
Being the son of the clan head, he knew about internal Uchiha matters.
The clan that co-founded Konoha with the Senju had missed the Hokage position four consecutive times, and resentment was piling up.
At the last clan meeting, the elders even fought.
If this continued, conflict with the village was inevitable.
The solution seemed simple: produce a Uchiha Hokage.
But Shisui once said the Uchiha becoming Hokage was nearly impossible — due to emotional issues and external distrust.
However… if the Uchiha married Princess Tsunade, everything would change.
She had perfect Hokage lineage and connections.
Their offspring would be the ideal Hokage successor.
Hmm…
He glanced at his parents at the banquet table — sitting close, affectionate, loving. His heart twisted painfully.
Advising divorce was unfilial… but good for the clan and the village.
Not advising was filial… but might harm the village's future.
Why did it have to be his father? Just because he was clan head?
As the banquet ended and they greeted the Hokage couple goodbye, Mikoto glanced around and noticed older women packing leftovers. She suddenly remembered her grandmother doing the same.
Smiling at the memory, she noticed a small figure packing leftovers in a corner.
She approached with gentle fondness — until she saw the face.
"Itachi? What are you doing?"
"Mother!"
Itachi raised a plastic bag filled with leftovers.
"Someone said the clan's finances are tight. As the future clan head, since I can't increase our income, I should save where I can.
"He said back after the Second Great Ninja War, the village struggled financially, so villagers would pack leftovers from weddings to reheat at home.
"He also said you came from that era, so you'd understand."
Mikoto's smile froze. She thought he was packing food for the kittens…
Not… this.
She took a breath and rubbed his head lovingly.
"That was then, but things are better now. Also, you packed too much — we can't finish it."
"No!"
Itachi shook his head and began counting.
"Because Father and Mother married young, and Mother didn't know Lady Kushina, we didn't get a wedding gift.
"Today, Mother gifted 200,000 ryō. In the future, when I marry, Lady Kushina's child will give 200,000 back. Then their child marries and we give 200,000 again.
"In total… we lose 200,000 ryō.
"Unless…"
Mikoto's eyelid twitched.
"Unless what?"
Itachi swallowed. He needed to test his mother's acceptance of divorce first.
He took two steps forward and hugged her like an innocent child.
"Unless Father and Mother divorce and remarry. Then the dowry can be reused.
"We can donate part of it to an orphanage and use the rest to help widows and orphans in the clan."
Mikoto went utterly still.
This child truly needed school immediately.
With a formal education, surely he wouldn't ask his parents to divorce and remarry just to recycle dowry money.
This idiot had clearly been misled.
Her voice turned cold.
"Who told you this?"
Feeling danger, Itachi instantly sold out Asuka.
"The one who tried to make Father divorce last time. Uchiha Asuka."
Mikoto's gentle expression vanished. She picked up her son, turned toward the Uchiha district, and bit her lip until it turned white.
That guy had gone too far.
Trying this hard to break up her marriage?
(End of Chapter)