The Third Hokage looked at Fugaku and smiled, "You and Mikoto are still very young. Have you ever considered giving Itachi a little brother? That way, there would be one more person he can protect."
As soon as this question came out, Fugaku's face turned red.
As the young clan head of the Uchiha clan, at this time he was still strong and vigorous. At home, he had a wife in her prime, as beautiful as a flower. Naturally… he worked diligently every night.
However, despite this, Mikoto's belly still showed no signs of movement. Itachi was already two years old, yet she had not conceived again.
But in front of the Hokage, he always behaved properly and seriously. He solemnly said, "Actually, I really have had that plan. I've even thought of the second son's name. It's just that I don't know when this second son will descend into the world."
The Third Hokage became interested, "Oh, Fugaku, what name did you have in mind for your second son?"
Uchiha Fugaku glanced at Hiruzen. In fact, after learning that the old ancestor Madara was not dead, and the rising star Obito had grown to quite a formidable level, his fear toward the Konoha higher-ups had greatly diminished, he no longer felt afraid.
But he still wanted to maintain good relations with the Third Hokage. Besides, Hiruzen's father, Sarutobi Sasuke, truly was a great hero of Konoha, someone even he greatly admired.
So, he said, "Sasuke. I plan to name my second son Uchiha Sasuke."
Hiruzen was stunned and couldn't help but look at Uchiha Sasuke himself. So their family had been living so miserably. He clearly already had three tomoe in his Sharingan, yet Fugaku actually hadn't paid attention to their situation.
'Looks like Konoha needs a thorough investigation. One, to resolve some historical leftover issues, and two, maybe to discover some promising young talents to provide sufficient combat power for the village.'
Thinking of this, the Third Hokage smiled, pointed to the now completely stiff Uchiha Sasuke, and said, "Fugaku, that name you can't use anymore, because someone else already took it."
"Taken?", Fugaku turned his head to look at Sasuke.
Just one look, and he was shocked, 'Isn't that the Akatsuki uniform? This man is from the Akatsuki? Is this another trick from Obito?'
Fugaku knew that Obito was currently on a mission in the Land of Rain, and since Obito had large-scale teleportation ability, sending someone to Konoha was nothing unusual.
He instinctively stared carefully at Sasuke, wanting to see what purpose Obito had for sending an Akatsuki member into Konoha.
However, in the next moment, after clearly seeing Sasuke's appearance, an indescribable feeling of closeness rose within him,
As if this man had his blood flowing through his veins.
He quickly shook his head and threw away some unrealistic imaginings in his mind, no longer caring about the Akatsuki's intentions.
Because, from the cold chakra this person emitted, Fugaku was very sure, this man was one of his clan.
It's just that his appearance looked extremely familiar, so familiar it couldn't be more familiar, yet also very strange.
For a moment, he simply couldn't find a matching person in his mind.
He couldn't help but ask, "Who are you… Have we met somewhere before?"
Hiruzen saw Fugaku's expression, seeing someone familiar but not recognizing them, and the last bit of doubt in his heart disappeared.
Previously, seeing Sasuke and Obito sneaking around, he had suspected whether they were ninja from another village, or maybe even spies.
But now that he's someone Fugaku recognizes, then he must be a solid Konoha Uchiha.
As the head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku managed a clan of nearly a thousand people, so forgetting some people's names was perfectly normal. Even he himself couldn't always remember the names of all his Anbu members.
So, Hiruzen smiled and said, "Fugaku, this is your subordinate. His name is Uchiha Sasuke. He is your clansman. His past was a bit pitiful. You should pay more attention to him."
His past was a bit pitiful? Pay more attention?
Big Obito felt like he almost couldn't hold it in anymore.
However, upon hearing this name, Fugaku wasn't surprised at all. Instead, he looked at Uchiha Sasuke again and suddenly understood, "So that's it. Your name is Sasuke? A good name, very fitting for you."
Then, for some unknown reason, he couldn't help but want to care about Sasuke. A deep concern, not just putting on a show in front of the Third Hokage.
He couldn't help but say, "Sasuke, can you tell me about your experiences? I'm sorry for neglecting you before, but please rest assured, from now on, I definitely will take good care of you."
Uchiha Sasuke stared blankly at the younger-looking version of Fugaku than he remembered. Listening to the sincere words of concern coming from Fugaku's mouth, his heart, frozen since the night of the clan's extermination at age six, was melted at this moment.
The cold expression on his face could no longer be maintained. Unknowingly, tears had already started to flow.
He cried, feeling very wronged, very sad.
Fugaku saw Sasuke crying in sorrow. For some reason, he originally wanted to continue comforting him, but now he felt Sasuke's current appearance was too disgraceful and embarrassing for him.
Fugaku couldn't help but take on the majesty of the clan head and said sternly, "Wipe away your tears. I don't care what great grievances you've suffered. But remember, you are an Uchiha. No matter what, you must never be as weak as you are now!"
At the side, Hiruzen saw Fugaku's instant face-change and was a bit dumbfounded.
'Isn't Fugaku's attitude toward Itachi quite gentle? Why is he so harsh toward Sasuke? Is it because he's not his biological son, so he can be strictly scolded and disciplined?'
'Also, weak?'
Hiruzen really didn't see anything weak about Sasuke. Just now, he was arguing with him, the Hokage, quite fiercely. He even released killing intent at him and almost started a fight?
'Is this the Uchiha?'
'Uchiha Fugaku is supposed to be part of the moderate faction, yet the moderate says the radicals are too weak.'
Originally, when Hiruzen heard such intel from the Anbu who specialized in monitoring the Uchiha, he thought they were jokes. But now, it turns out… the rumors were true.
At this moment, Sasuke realized that Father had returned to the version of him he knew best, fully showing the majesty of the clan head.
He couldn't help but obediently comply, immediately raising his hand and wiping away his tears.
"You can rest assured, I won't be weak anymore," Then, Sasuke once again resumed his cold expression. In fact, he even felt a little unwilling in his heart.
Father always disliked this or that about him, constantly comparing him to Itachi. In every comparison, he looked down on him more, always thinking he couldn't do anything right.
But now, he too had carved out a name for himself. He was one of the strongest in the ninja world. At this moment, he especially wanted to prove himself in front of his father.
So, he said coldly, "Don't treat me like a child. I'm much stronger than you think."
Fugaku suddenly felt a burst of anger, similar to the kind of anger when a son dares to talk back to his old man. Even though he didn't know where the anger came from, after all, he wasn't the father of this Akatsuki Uchiha in front of him.
But still, he said coldly, "Uchiha training grounds. Prove it to me. I want to see your strength. In this match, my son Itachi will also be watching. Don't talk big only to be overtaken by Itachi in a few years."
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