Walking through the Uchiha compound, Mikami's gaze swept across the surrounding streets. He occasionally shook his head, his expression one of detached observation, giving off an air of profound contradiction.
No wonder this clan is destined for ruin.
The Uchiha were a prestigious shinobi family from the Warring States Period. Centuries of accumulated power, coupled with their role alongside Senju Hashirama in founding Konoha, had once placed their prestige at its zenith.
But what goes up must come down—a principle as old as time itself. The Uchiha grew arrogant, viewing themselves as a uniquely gifted lineage, aloof from the other clans. Their pride inevitably bred resentment within Konoha's wider circle.
What struck Mikami as most foolish, however, was the clan's internal opulence. Their compound was like a small court within the village—extravagant, insular, almost as if they had carved out their own kingdom. It gave the impression of a cuckoo occupying another's nest.
If he were the Hokage, Mikami mused, he too would be deeply wary of such a display.
Arrogant fools.
His steps halted before the largest building in the district. His eyes turned cold as he took in the residence of Uchiha Fugaku. He quickened his pace.
---
Inside a Secluded Chamber
"Fugaku, do you truly intend to send Mikami to the front? He cannot mold chakra. Sending him to war is sending him to his death. He… he is still our son."
The beautiful woman's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. Whether he was talented or not, Mikami was her child. A mother's love knew no bounds.
"Mikoto, silence!"
The stern man turned sharply, his face cold and severe. "That failure is not my son!"
He continued, voice low and venomous. "The Third Hokage's intention is transparent—he seeks to use this war to weaken the Uchiha's strength. Do you think I cannot see such a simple stratagem? If that useless boy can die serving the Uchiha's greater cause, then at least his life will have had some purpose. Mikoto, we are still young. We can have another."
Uchiha Fugaku's face was etched with bitterness. His hatred for Mikami stemmed from the boy's very existence—a perpetual embarrassment, a weakness his political rivals used against him. Many within the clan eyed the position of patriarch hungrily.
"If not for him, would I face such ridicule from the elders?" Fugaku spat. "All of Konoha knows the Uchiha patriarch sired a failure. Some even whisper 'like father, like son' to mock me!"
The sheer vitriol in his words was chilling, making the bond of family seem fragile and conditional.
Uchiha Mikoto flinched, visibly wounded.
"Mikoto, I understand your pain," Fugaku said, softening his tone slightly, though his eyes remained hard. "But you must understand my position. I am the head of the Uchiha. I must consider the clan's future above all else."
"I understand, Fugaku."
Mikoto wiped her tears, the hesitation in her eyes hardening into resolve. In this world, the honor and standing of the clan came first. Everything else was secondary, even a mother's heart.
"Do not grieve. For one like him, lingering in shame is a worse fate. Dying on the battlefield for the glory of the Uchiha is a far more honorable end." Fugaku placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his words meant as comfort but landing with the weight of a verdict.
This was the shinobi world. Survival of the fittest. The weak were meat for the strong. A boy who couldn't hold a kunai was destined to be weeded out.
"But… will he agree to go willingly?" Mikoto asked, a sliver of doubt remaining.
"Hmph. Willing?" A cruel smirk twisted Fugaku's lips, his killing intent flaring. "He has no choice. The essence of this world is that the strong rule the weak. As the weak, he must have the awareness to be dominated. If he refuses…"
He left the threat hanging, but the implication was clear. He would not hesitate to eliminate his own son if it came to that.
---
BOOM!
A tremendous explosion suddenly rocked the foundation of the house. The couple exchanged a glance, shock and suspicion flashing in their eyes. This was the Uchiha patriarch's residence. Who would dare…?!
Fugaku's shock swiftly morphed into raging fury. To attack here was a direct insult to his authority, a slap to the face of the entire Uchiha clan!
---
BOOM!
Before he could storm out to punish the intruder, the wall of his private chamber erupted inward in a shower of splinters and dust. The sound of the impact was deafening.
"Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique)?" Fugaku thought instinctively, his body tensing.
The assault on the patriarch's home instantly mobilized the Uchiha. Shinobi began converging from all directions—this concerned the clan's dignity. Soon, a crowd had gathered outside the shattered room.
---
Interesting.
The commotion quickly drew the attention of other powerful figures across Konoha. Sensing the unusual chakra disturbance, several skilled shinobi from various clans paused their activities, their focus turning toward the Uchiha district.
Someone was making a move on Uchiha turf. This promised to be a spectacle.