Chapter 241 — A Change in Mentality, Fearless of Anyone
After Uchiha Ryoichi finished his report, he stood quietly to the side. Seeing the Clan Head deep in thought, he remained silent, waiting for Fugaku's judgment.
Fugaku, meanwhile, hesitated.
How was he supposed to handle this transmigrator?
What worried him most wasn't the boy's arrogance or lack of discipline—it was the possibility that the brat had a cheat, a "golden finger" like his own.
What if this kid had something absurd like:
a copying ability that could steal his powers,
a system that rewarded Kekkei Genkai or Sage bodies,
or a plug-in that instantly granted S-rank jutsu?
Fugaku had read too many fanfics back in his old world to dismiss that possibility.
Tch… headache.
He pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation.
"Husband."
A soft, gentle voice came from behind. A pair of slender hands slid to his temples, massaging with practiced tenderness.
Mikoto.
She didn't understand the situation, but she could see he was troubled. Without asking anything, she simply eased his tension the way she always had.
Fugaku leaned back, resting his head against Mikoto's full, warm chest.
He looked up at her.
Most women looked awkward or unattractive from this low angle—but not Mikoto. Even from beneath, she was serene and beautiful, her expression gentle, her presence calming.
A sensible, elegant wife who never disturbed him unnecessarily.
Fugaku closed his eyes, letting himself enjoy the moment.
After a long breath, he opened them again.
The hesitation was gone.
In its place was cold clarity.
It doesn't matter whether that brat has a golden finger.
If he dares to target me—he dies.
Fugaku was not some defenseless native.
He was a transmigrator too.
He had a system of his own.
And he was the strongest man in the entire shinobi world.
Fear another transmigrator?
Before even meeting him?
Ridiculous.
The weak throw punches at the weak.
The strong draw blades at the strong.
And Fugaku—the Fifth Hokage, the strongest Uchiha in history—feared no one.
"Mikoto… thank you."
He took her delicate white hand in his own, speaking softly.
Mikoto smiled faintly. She still didn't ask questions. She simply met his gaze with wordless encouragement.
Fugaku's mind cleared.
"Ryoichi," Fugaku said, straightening, "I want you to investigate that boy. Go to his home. Ask his mother how he has behaved recently—any changes, any abnormalities. Everything strange must be checked."
Even though Fugaku was already sure the kid was a transmigrator, verifying the circumstances was crucial.
He needed to know how the transmigration occurred—did something trigger it? Were there signs beforehand?
If a second transmigrator arrived someday, Fugaku needed advance warning.
He refused to be blindsided again.
Even the kindest person has dark thoughts in the middle of the night.
And when they gain power, those thoughts multiply a hundredfold.
No one was perfect.
Prevention was the only true defense.
"Yes, Clan Head!"
Ryoichi bowed and prepared to leave immediately.
Fugaku stood as well.
"Good. Now let me see for myself… what kind of golden finger he possesses."
His Eternal Mangekyō spun to life, scarlet light flashing.
The aura he released was overwhelming—like a lion awakened.
Both Mikoto and Ryoichi froze, stunned by the pressure he radiated. They couldn't understand why Fugaku viewed that random brat outside with such seriousness.
Ryoichi didn't question it. The Clan Head's orders always came first.
He sprinted out to carry out the investigation.
Fugaku stepped into the courtyard.
---
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yota had been staring eagerly at the doorway ever since Ryoichi entered. His heart was pounding with anticipation.
His "savior."
His target.
Uchiha Fugaku.
He couldn't wait to see what differences existed between this real-world Fugaku and the anime version.
At last—the door opened.
A tall figure stepped out.
Not Ryoichi.
Yota's eyes lit up.
Finally. Fugaku!
But then he saw them—
scarlet eyes, spinning like pinwheels.
"M–Mangekyō…? Why is he using Mangekyō—?"
The thought barely formed before his mind went blank.
His consciousness snapped.
He fell instantly into the Eternal Mangekyō's genjutsu.
Yota had made one fatal miscalculation:
He assumed Fugaku was a normal native character.
He had no idea the Hokage standing before him was also a transmigrator—one who already suspected him.
And thus, Yota walked right into the trap without a shred of defense.
Fugaku stepped forward, Mangekyō glowing.
He had prepared multiple layers of techniques—genjutsu, Tsukuyomi, instant-kill options—ready to unleash them the moment something went wrong.
But he hadn't needed any of them.
The boy collapsed without resistance.
Fugaku stared down at him, speechless.
…That was too easy.
It felt like punching full force into a pillow.
A strange, anticlimactic frustration settled in.
---