The Shimura Actually Has Ice Release

"Damn, that old bastard actually made Fugaku-sama lower his head."

Obito, who was standing nearby, was also stunned by Fugaku's actions. He nearly couldn't suppress his voice.

"Idiot, keep your voice down."

Kakashi punched Obito on the head, signaling him to shut up.

"Hey, you bastard—"

Obito clutched his head, glaring angrily at Kakashi.

"That's right, Obito, keep your voice down."

Takeshi also slammed a fist into Obito, landing it right where he wasn't covering.

"Hey, you too?!"

Obito turned to Takeshi, fuming with frustration.

"What's with all the 'hey hey hey'? His name is Kakashi, and I'm Takeshi. Remember it. We're the ones who saved your life, so you owe us big time. Be ready to repay us like a horse or an ox."

Takeshi turned his head away, ignoring Obito's expression.

"Damn it, you two—"

Obito, originally touched by their rescue, now felt all of that emotion vanish. At this moment, he just wanted to show them what it meant to be a true Uchiha.

Hmph. I'm not scared. 

Takeshi, sneaking a glance at Obito's indignant face, almost burst out laughing.

...

On the other side, the "confrontation" between Fugaku and Danzō was still ongoing.

To call it a confrontation was generous—it was really just Fugaku backing down.

Fugaku knew perfectly well how his clansmen treated Obito on a daily basis.

But that's just how the Uchiha were.

Clansmen could do as they pleased, but the clan head had far more responsibilities to consider.

Fugaku, who spent most of his energy trying to balance relations with the village, simply didn't have the time to concern himself with the bullying among the children.

"Since Clan Head Fugaku understands, I won't overstep my bounds. This is merely kids playing around—no need for us adults to interfere."

Danzō, who had only intended to give the Uchiha a warning, accepted the opportunity to back off. His sudden reasonableness even made Fugaku question if the man before him was really that old bastard Danzō.

"Oh, that old bastard is a parent? I feel bad for whichever unlucky soul is his kid."

Having grown up hearing stories about Danzō, Obito gaped, completely forgetting that he'd just been beaten up by the other two. He nudged Takeshi with his elbow, grinning mischievously, not noticing the look on Takeshi's face.

"You think you're funny?"

Takeshi stared blankly at Obito, deadpan.

"Uh..."

Even someone as slow-witted as Obito sensed something was off—but he couldn't quite figure out what.

"Being a parent, huh..."

What Obito had picked up on, Fugaku naturally noticed too.

There were only three children present. Eliminate the obviously distinguishable Kakashi, and the remaining options were...

So that's it. Danzō is his real father! Scratch that

That black-haired, adorably cute kid!

Fugaku broke into a cold sweat from his realization.

That Danzō had a child?!

Just how shocking was this revelation for Fugaku? Let's put it this way: if someone told him one day that Danzō and the Third Hokage were a couple, it wouldn't shock him as much as the fact that Danzō had a child.

Damn it. No wonder this minor incident stirred up the old bastard. Fugaku had originally submitted so quickly because he thought this was a trap set up by Danzō and Sakumo Hatake, and he was afraid of falling for it.

Not good—Yakume had just tried to attack Danzō's child! The Uchiha clan's relationship with the village leadership was already tense, and now this could give the top brass a perfect excuse to punish them.

When exactly did Obito start cozying up to these two?

"What's your name, young man?"

Fugaku forced a smile.

"Takeshi. Shimura Takeshi."

Danzō spoke the name, emphasizing the pronunciation of "Shimura."

Obito looked like he had just uncovered some grand secret. He turned to Takeshi and said,

"Hey, did you hear that? That old bastard's son has the same name as you! Isn't that weird... uh..."

There it was—Obito finally realized what was off just now.

"You... he..."

Obito looked helplessly at Takeshi's refined little face, then at Danzō's wrinkled mug, utterly incapable of connecting the two as father and son.

"What a dumbass."

Kakashi had had enough of this clown show. He was already regretting ever talking to Takeshi—no, regretting ever knowing him.

"I think you should just stop talking, Obito."

With a look of pity, Takeshi shook his head.

This guy really didn't care that Jonin-level shinobi could hear him clearly. All those insults he'd just hurled at Danzō had probably already been jotted down in Root's little black book.

Looks like our second Sage of Six Paths is going to be eliminated before he can even get started.

"That's a fine name."

Fugaku turned to Takeshi with a sincere, apologetic smile.

"I'm terribly sorry for the trouble. I'll make sure to properly discipline Yōwan and the others once we're back."

Takeshi nodded in response.

"Then I'll leave you to it, Fugaku."

Waving his hand, Danzō signaled Fugaku to stop lingering, then walked over to Takeshi.

He first glanced at the trembling Obito, then at Kakashi, who had turned away in silence, and finally landed his gaze on Takeshi.

"Come home early."

With that, Danzō led his Root subordinates away.

...

"Ahem, Clan Head..."

Seeing Danzō leave, Obito breathed a sigh of relief and looked fearfully at Fugaku nearby.

When Fugaku noticed Obito looking his way, he nodded slightly, glanced at Takeshi and Kakashi, and said nothing more. He simply told Obito that someone would question him in detail about the incident once they were back at the clan compound.

Then he forcibly dragged Yakume and the others away.

"Captain, we're just going to leave like this?"

Still unwilling to give up, Uchiha Yakume looked back at Takeshi and the others with gritted teeth.

"Enough. Let's fully investigate the matter before doing anything. I know Obito—he's not the brightest, but he's not someone who picks fights without reason."

Fugaku cut him off coldly.

"But—"

Yakume tried to argue.

"But what? Why didn't you say all that in front of Danzō?"

Seeing his clansman remain stubborn, Fugaku's tone sharpened with anger.

Realizing the clan head was angry, Yakume finally shut his mouth, though his eyes still burned with unwillingness.

"Don't get involved in this again. I'll have someone else investigate it."

Knowing that nothing good would come from leaving it to Yakume, Fugaku decided to take the matter into his own hands.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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