"Lord Hokage, Uchiha Mikoto has made private contact with Naruto Uzumaki. The ANBU on-site attempted to stop her but were blocked by Uchiha Fugaku."
An ANBU ninja rushed to the Hokage's office and quickly knocked, reporting the situation in an urgent tone.
"Uchiha Mikoto made private contact with Naruto… and Fugaku was there too?! "
The Third Hokage's face turned grim, fury flashing in his eyes.
Naruto Uzumaki was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki—a trump card he needed full control over.
He couldn't allow anyone, especially the Uchiha, to make contact with him.
Now, with both Mikoto and Fugaku approaching Naruto without permission, his anger boiled over.
"Send Captain Silver's squad to stop them. After that… bring Fugaku to the Hokage Tower."
He issued the order at once. It was relayed swiftly to ANBU HQ beneath the Hokage Tower, where ANBU Commander Silver—already on standby—received it.
Without delay, Silver mobilized several elite ANBU squads and headed straight for the park.
As they neared, they immediately spotted three frozen ANBU standing motionless—clearly trapped in a genjutsu.
Fugaku stood nearby.
"Release!"
The other ANBU accompanying Silver rushed to break the genjutsu on their comrades.
Meanwhile, Commander Silver kept his eyes fixed on Fugaku, locking onto his chakra in case of sudden movement.
"Clan Head Fugaku, by order of the Third Hokage, no one is allowed private contact with Naruto Uzumaki! "
"My wife was the closest friend of Kushina Uzumaki. For years, she's been forced to ignore the orphan her friend left behind. She's carried guilt all this time."
"I only wanted her to see him—nothing more."
Fugaku sighed as he spoke.
Commander Silver was silent for a moment, then responded.
"I understand the feelings of both you and your wife. But Naruto Uzumaki's status is sensitive. The Hokage's orders are clear: no one is to approach or contact him."
"Is the Third Hokage's order always right? "
Fugaku's gaze deepened as he stared into Silver's eyes.
"You've crossed the line, Fugaku," Silver said in a stern voice.
"Your father, Sakumo Hatake, was condemned for breaking protocol to save a comrade. The villagers turned on him… and in the end, he took his own life."
"It seems you've chosen a different path than him."
Fugaku spoke with a note of sorrow.
Silver hair. High position in ANBU. There was no doubt who this man was—Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi's emotions stirred slightly.
His face was masked, so his expression couldn't be seen. But he took a deep breath, calming himself before replying.
"I never believed my father was wrong."
"And yet your actions now deny his choices," Fugaku said with a soft chuckle, exposing Kakashi's internal contradiction.
"All these years, Naruto has been treated as a demon by the village. Bullied. Isolated."
"You've watched all this unfold—your sensei's son—and yet, you turned a blind eye. All because of the Hokage's orders."
"You say you agree with your father's choice… but haven't you already denied him by following orders you knew were unjust? "
Realizing it was Kakashi, Fugaku's mind sparked with a new idea.
Despite being an ANBU Commander, Kakashi was never close to the Third Hokage, not after Sakumo's death… nor after seeing Naruto suffer.
In other words, Kakashi could be swayed.
And if a Mangekyō-wielding, Kage-level ninja like Kakashi could be brought to the Uchiha's side—or even made neutral—it would be a massive advantage in the looming conflict with the Third Hokage.
Kakashi's heart was shaken by Fugaku's words. Behind the mask, his face twisted with emotion.
He forced himself to suppress it, answering coldly:
"Fugaku, the past and the present are different."
"Please have your wife end contact with Naruto… or we'll be forced to intervene."
"I understand."
Fugaku knew the situation was at its limit. If it escalated into a full fight, things would spiral out of control.
He turned to Mikoto.
Mikoto had already noticed what was going on.
She reluctantly said goodbye to Naruto and began walking back, concern written all over her face.
She knew that this contact would bring trouble for both her husband and their clan.
Yet, she had still chosen to do it.
"Don't worry."
Fugaku smiled gently and gave her a reassuring look.
The trouble they now faced… was exactly what he wanted.
Seeing Mikoto step away from Naruto, Kakashi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't want to fight Fugaku.
Not only because the Hatake and Uchiha clans were on good terms but also because he didn't want to fight this couple—who had done what he himself lacked the courage to do.
He looked at Fugaku and said,
"Clan Head Fugaku, the Hokage requests your presence at the tower."
"Fugaku…" Mikoto's face turned anxious.
"It's fine. I'm just going to the tower. Nothing to worry about."
Fugaku smiled at her calmly.
His relaxed demeanor reassured her—he clearly had a plan.
"You take Sasuke home first. I'll be back soon."
With that, he turned toward Kakashi, nodded slightly, and walked toward the Hokage Tower.
Kakashi left several ANBU behind to tighten surveillance on Naruto, then followed with the rest of his team.
But what had happened today deeply shook him.
For the first time, a thought crossed his mind—
Maybe it's time to leave ANBU.
His father had ended his life not only because of public scorn but because the Third Hokage had done nothing to defend him.
And now, the Fourth Hokage's son was suffering the same fate—neglected and isolated, also under the Third's watch.
He could no longer deny it.
He had always buried his resentment deep inside…
But today, Fugaku's words had struck like a match to dry powder.
And he could no longer put the fire out.