The Shimura Actually Has Ice Release

While Takeshi was burning the midnight oil, training hard, Obito sat uneasily on his knees at home, stealing glances at Fugaku who sat not far away.

As soon as Obito had been "escorted" home, he saw Fugaku chatting and laughing with Grandma. Several clansmen were also busily organizing various supplies.

Once it was confirmed that all the essential living goods had been properly arranged by the escorting clansmen, Fugaku and the others sat down to have dinner together—leading to the current scene.

"Fugaku-sama, I heard that Obito did something to Yōwan—" Grandma spoke up after dinner with a hint of worry, but Fugaku interrupted her:

"Don't worry. Yatsushiro has already looked into the matter thoroughly. It was entirely Yōwan and his gang who brought it on themselves. Obito had nothing to do with it."

"Obito's parents both sacrificed their lives for the Uchiha clan. How could I possibly let the blood and tears of our warriors be shed in vain?"

Fugaku spoke with a righteous and noble air.

But Obito's grandmother was no fool. Her age had brought her wisdom. She had her own judgment about what kind of man Fugaku truly was.

At least until today, Fugaku had always been a conservative fence-sitter.

When faced with multiple provocations from Uchiha Wada, their clan head always chose to compromise in every possible way.

This sudden change today... Something had definitely shifted—and the key likely lay with Obito.

Casting a complex glance at the small Obito beside her, Grandma couldn't tell if this was a blessing or a curse.

She sighed and patted Obito on the shoulder.

"Well? Hurry up and thank Fugaku-sama, Obito."

Reminded by his grandmother, Obito quickly stammered:

"Th-thank you, Fugaku-san—ah, no, I mean, Fugaku-sama."

"This is part of my duty. By the way, Obito, when did you meet Takeshi?" Fugaku waved his hand with a smile, modestly brushing off the praise before smoothly steering toward the main topic.

"Uh… I think… it was today?" Obito replied uncertainly.

He was pretty sure he'd never seen that somewhat cute-looking guy before. So why had he appeared out of nowhere to help him?

Obito racked his not-so-sharp brain, trying hard to come up with an answer.

"Oh? Is that so. And what about Kakashi?" Fugaku continued, already starting to piece together the clues in his mind.

"I ran into him before. We played together for a few days," Obito recalled Kakashi more clearly.

"Hmm..." Fugaku muttered, connecting the dots one by one.

Danzo's never-before-mentioned son suddenly appeared today—and he seemed to get along very well with Sakumo and Kakashi. Plus, today he helped Obito, who was being bullied...

Had Danzo... allied with Sakumo?

But then why involve Obito?

Was Danzo trying to show goodwill to him?

After all, how coincidental was it that someone beat up the grandson of the hawkish faction?

Linking all the clues, Fugaku arrived at an outrageous conclusion:

Danzo was trying to win him over.

Recalling Danzo's unusually calm attitude today, Fugaku became more certain of this deduction.

In the past, Danzo always approached him aggressively. But today, he'd actually had a peaceful conversation.

If it wasn't to win his favor, why else would Danzo act like that?

There had long been rumors that Danzo was at odds with the Third Hokage. It seemed those rumors were likely true. This so-called assistant to the Hokage was now gathering strength to challenge the Third's administration.

Then... would siding with Danzo lead to something better?

Fugaku fell into internal conflict again.

Compared to the still-vigorous Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo was not only physically crippled, but also far weaker. After all, the Third was the "Professor of the Shinobi World," someone who had gone toe-to-toe with the only known Kekkei Tōta user, Ōnoki, many times without falling behind.

In comparison, Danzo looked... pitiful.

Perhaps it's best not to take a clear stance yet. Let things remain ambiguous for now—and use this opportunity to suppress the hawkish faction within the clan.

With his mind made up, Fugaku raised his head under the nervous gazes of Obito and Grandma.

"Is that so? Then Obito, you'd better maintain a good relationship with them. In the shinobi world, having a close friend is a rare fortune."

"Y-yes, I understand, Fugaku-sama." Obito nodded vigorously.

Even if Takeshi seemed like a scheming trickster, and Kakashi looked like a cold, gloomy jerk, in Obito's heart, they were already his friends. He didn't need Fugaku to tell him that.

Satisfied with the response, Fugaku finally stood up. After bidding farewell to Obito's grandmother, he left their home.

Now that his goal had been achieved, it was time to go home and deal with his own affairs.

A son, huh? Hmph, as if he couldn't have one himself. No—he'd have two!

Thinking of Mikoto waiting at home, Fugaku felt strength well up within him.

Danzo? Sakumo? They were nothing compared to his own!

...

The next morning.

"Blegh!"

Bright and early, Takeshi crashed straight into the wall again. Yakushi Nono, standing nearby, calmly pulled him out and started treating him.

On the side, Yamanaka Akira had taken on the role of "whip master." The moment Takeshi slacked off, he lashed out with precision.

Because Yamanaka Akira wasn't exactly skilled in medical ninjutsu, Danzo, feeling that training time was being wasted, recalled a certain "wandering priestess" who had long since left Root. He led a team to find her overnight.

At first, Yakushi Nono had no intention of rejoining Danzo to help him. Although she was shocked to learn that he had a son, she knew full well how dangerous Danzo truly was.

But Danzo had made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

Money. Lots and lots of money. A regular supply of funds for the orphanage.

Helpless for the sake of the children's survival, Yakushi Nono agreed to Danzo's request and became his subordinate once again—helping train Takeshi.

Danzo was very pleased with this. Compared to the funds he was funneling into Orochimaru's research, this amount was practically pocket change. Round it up, and it was still profit.

"All done." After quickly treating Takeshi's injuries, Yakushi Nono stepped back.

"Go! Takeshi, keep going!" Seeing Takeshi still lying on the ground unwilling to move, Yamanaka Akira swung his whip again.

"Damn it. Getting whipped every day?" Takeshi shouted as he was lashed back into action. He charged at Aburame Ryoma—only to be smacked back into the wall again.

[Hmm, this job's not so bad. I get to watch Danzo's kid get beat up.]

As Yakushi Nono dug Takeshi out of the wall yet again, her resistance to the job wasn't as strong as before.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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