"If only I had a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Uchiha Fugaku was getting a bit greedy. A Three-Tomoe Sharingan had already boosted Subject One's strength to Elite Jonin level. If they could get a Mangekyo Sharingan for transplantation, the Spore Clone's power might even reach Kage level. And because of the Hashirama Cells' properties, these Mangekyo Sharingan wouldn't suffer from blindness. Having a Kage-level clone completely under his control would be a huge advantage, freeing him from many tasks.
Unfortunately, Mangekyo Sharingan aren't easily acquired.
"That Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Thinking of the Mangekyo Sharingan, Uchiha Fugaku was reminded of the one Obito Uchiha had entrusted to Kakashi.
"That Mangekyo Sharingan won't be easy to take!"
Uchiha Fugaku's brow furrowed slightly. In fact, he had considered taking Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan a long time ago. However, after careful thought, he had given up on the idea. Kakashi was once the youngest Jonin in the Hidden Leaf Village, so his talent was undeniable. After all these years, Kakashi, now in his twenties, had undoubtedly reached at least "quasi-Kage" level, if not full Kage level. With that Mangekyo Sharingan, Kakashi's power could probably reach Kage level, making it difficult to snatch it from him. After all, he was a person who would one day become the Sixth Hokage; he absolutely couldn't be underestimated.
As for hypnotizing him in his sleep and secretly replacing his eyes without him noticing, that was simply impossible. The target possessed a Mangekyo Sharingan; even if Fugaku personally attempted the hypnosis, it would be extremely difficult to do so undetected. Moreover, an eye transplant is a surgical procedure. After an eye transplant, most people would notice something was off, let alone a ninja, who are highly attuned to changes in their bodies.
"Besides, now isn't the right time to take it!"
Uchiha Fugaku shook his head. He and the Uchiha clan were currently in the fiercest part of their struggle with the Third Hokage's faction. He was striving to change the Uchiha clan's image in the village and expose the Third Hokage's true nature. At a time like this, taking Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan would inevitably sour relations with the Hatake clan, whose relationship with the Uchiha clan had only recently improved. It might even negatively impact the Uchiha clan's already improving image. Therefore, now was absolutely not the time to seize Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Even if I were to take it, it would have to be after I've overthrown the Third Hokage's faction, become Hokage, and fully gained control of the village."
Uchiha Fugaku had no choice but to temporarily abandon the idea of taking that Mangekyo Sharingan. For the current Uchiha clan, overthrowing the Third Hokage's faction and achieving the position of Hokage was far more important than that one Mangekyo Sharingan.
Hokage's Office
The Third Hokage sat at his desk, his expression kind and benevolent, giving off a welcoming aura. Across from him sat a young boy. The boy wore an Anbu ninja uniform and a cat-shaped mask, his slightly long hair tied back with a hair tie. This boy was Uchiha Itachi.
"Itachi, remove your mask and speak." The Third Hokage's voice was gentle as he instructed.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Uchiha Itachi removed his mask, revealing a tender face, barely in his early teens. He looked at the Third Hokage with a gaze filled with respect and awe.
"Has your identity as a double agent been exposed?" The Third Hokage's expression grew slightly serious as he asked.
"I haven't felt any surveillance... My identity as a double agent should not have been exposed," Itachi reported after a moment of thought.
"Good, that's good!" The Third Hokage let out a sigh of relief. Uchiha Shisui's identity as a double agent had been exposed; if Itachi's identity as well were compromised, things would become difficult, and they would no longer be able to monitor the Uchiha clan's movements.
He cautioned, "Be extra careful. You must not expose your identity as a double agent."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Itachi responded clearly.
"What is the current situation within the Uchiha clan?" the Third Hokage continued to ask.
"The clan is the same as usual; there are still voices of dissatisfaction towards Hokage-sama and the village," Itachi answered objectively, without any emotion.
"Still the same, huh? Alas, it's my failure as Hokage that has caused the Uchiha clan to harbor such deep prejudices against me and the village," the Third Hokage sighed, his voice filled with self-reproach.
"That's not your fault, Hokage-sama. It's because some people in the clan are too stubborn," Itachi quickly interjected.
After a long silence, the Third Hokage spoke with a hint of helplessness. "The Uchiha clan is a part of the Hidden Leaf Village. My inability to gain their recognition and understanding is a dereliction of my duty as the Third Hokage."
"However, what makes me deeply relieved is that there are still people like Shisui and you within the Uchiha clan who possess the Will of Fire and are willing to fight for the peace of the Hidden Leaf Village." He looked up, gazing warmly at Uchiha Itachi, and after a moment, asked, "Has anything unusual happened within the Uchiha clan recently?"
"Anything unusual?"
Itachi recalled, and after a while, he said, "Clan meetings haven't been held for some time. Instead, Father, the three elders, and the clan's Elite Jonin have held several meetings."
"Sometimes in Father's study, and sometimes at the Naka Shrine."
"Clan Leader Fugaku, the three Uchiha clan elders, and the Uchiha clan's Elite Jonin have held several meetings..." The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't surprised that the Uchiha clan meetings were no longer being held. They must have discovered Shisui's identity as a double agent and were worried about other moles within the clan, so they stopped holding such meetings.
However, the meetings involving Uchiha Fugaku, the three Uchiha clan elders, and the Uchiha clan's Elite Jonin caught his attention. Uchiha Fugaku, the three Uchiha clan elders, and the Uchiha clan's Elite Jonin represented the highest echelons of the Uchiha clan. When these individuals gathered for meetings, they were undoubtedly discussing matters of extreme importance. If he could ascertain the content of these meetings, he would know the Uchiha clan's next moves, which would be highly beneficial for dealing with them moving forward.
"Is there any way to discreetly find out the content of these meetings?"
"No. The Naka Shrine is heavily guarded, so I can't get close, and at home, they set up sound-sealing barriers, making it impossible to eavesdrop," Itachi shook his head.
"I see..." The Third Hokage nodded, understanding. Such meetings, with their strict secrecy, were indeed not easy to infiltrate.
"You may go. Be careful, and absolutely do not expose your identity as a double agent."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Itachi put his mask back on and exited the Hokage's office.
Watching him leave, the Third Hokage's eyes held a deep, somber expression. With the exposure of Uchiha Shisui's identity as a double agent, the Uchiha clan had become wary. It was no longer possible to gather information on their movements as before. From now on, they would likely have to proceed with caution when dealing with the Uchiha clan.
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