Naruto evolution system

Chapter 123: Dialogue

At the same time, outside the Uchiha clan compound, Namikaze Minato appeared in a flash.

Unlike Baishi, who operated without restraint, Minato adhered strictly to his principles, whether out of respect for others' privacy or self-discipline. As such, he had refrained from leaving Flying Thunder God markers all over Konoha.

Because of this, even though he was anxious to meet Uchiha Fugaku as quickly as possible, he could only teleport to the entrance of the compound.

Yes, upon realizing the Uchiha clan was in serious trouble, Minato's first instinct wasn't suppression—it was communication.

This was one of the reasons many within the Uchiha clan had come to trust him.

When Minato appeared, the two Uchiha chunin guarding the entrance quickly bowed and greeted him:

"Fourth Hokage-sama!"

"Hmm," Minato nodded, then briskly walked into the Uchiha compound, heading straight for Fugaku's residence.

Seeing his urgency, the two guards exchanged glances but said nothing. After all, this wasn't the first time Minato had come here.

---

Uchiha Clan – Fugaku's Residence

Uchiha Fugaku abruptly stood up, his expression dark and severe.

He had long suspected that some within the clan were becoming restless, but he hadn't anticipated that the situation had grown so critical.

To think he was still unaware of it until Minato told him—despite being the clan head.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Fugaku looked at Minato and said with a steady, but cold tone:

"Fourth Hokage, you have my word. I will resolve this matter, and Uchiha Setsuna will be returned to custody."

The words were calm, yet the underlying chill was unmistakable.

Fugaku was an exceptionally contradictory figure. He didn't align fully with the hawks or the doves of his clan. His love for the clan was often overshadowed by his love for his sons.

Even during the infamous coup in another timeline, his resolve for rebellion had more to do with external pressure than personal conviction.

Perhaps it was for this reason that he silently allowed his own son to slaughter their people.

But in this timeline, things were different.

Thanks to Minato surviving the Nine-Tails attack, and Baishi revealing the identity of the culprit behind it, the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha clan hadn't deteriorated to the brink.

With Minato working tirelessly to bridge the gap, Fugaku no longer felt the immense pressure he once did.

Seeing the progress that had been made, Fugaku was determined not to let anyone disrupt it.

Even if it required harsh measures—even if he had to eliminate traitors—he wouldn't hesitate.

Sensing the subtle killing intent in Fugaku's voice, Minato quickly interjected:

"Fugaku-san, let's not act hastily. There's more to this situation than meets the eye."

"Oh?" Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Do you have something to share, Fourth Hokage?"

"Yes," Minato replied, carefully choosing his words. "Not long ago, my ANBU team confirmed that the one who broke into the high-security prison and freed Uchiha Setsuna was most likely Uchiha Obito."

Thanks to the Yamanaka clan's Mind Link Technique, Minato had been receiving real-time reports even while he was here. Just moments ago, the ANBU had identified the intruder.

"Uchiha Obito? The one who unleashed the Nine-Tails?"

Fugaku's eyes narrowed as he asked the question.

Minato nodded solemnly, his expression grave. "Yes, it's him."

He paused briefly before adding, "I suspect the recent unrest within the Uchiha clan is his doing."

---

Ordinarily, Minato wouldn't have revealed this. After all, admitting it would expose the fact that Konoha had been monitoring the Uchiha clan.

While Fugaku was undoubtedly aware of the surveillance, it was an unspoken truth—something both sides tacitly ignored.

By bringing it up openly, Minato shattered this fragile understanding.

Moving forward, Konoha would no longer have the justification to spy on the Uchiha. Doing so would only inflame tensions and confirm accusations of special treatment.

Minato understood this, but he still spoke up.

His primary concern was the greater good—he needed Fugaku to understand that this wasn't just about a simple prison break. It was a deliberate attempt to destabilize Konoha.

Furthermore, Minato likely saw this as an opportunity to prove the village's trust. By acknowledging the surveillance and ending it, Konoha could take a step toward true reconciliation with the Uchiha.

This was Minato's way—a balance of pragmatism and idealism.

Fugaku, a shrewd man himself, understood all of this. He remained expressionless but let out a cold snort before saying:

"Regardless of Uchiha Obito's plans, the Uchiha clan will not become his pawns."

With that, Fugaku began issuing orders. Moments later, fully armed Uchiha clansmen gathered, and Fugaku, accompanied by Minato, headed toward Uchiha Yatsushiro's residence.

As clan head, Fugaku was well aware of the factions within his people. Coupled with Minato's intelligence, he had a strong suspicion that Yatsushiro and his associates were behind the current chaos.

---

Elsewhere – Uchiha Yatsushiro's Residence

Inside the dimly lit room, Uchiha Yatsushiro and several others stood respectfully before a frail figure: Uchiha Setsuna.

"Setsuna-sama, you've suffered much!" Yatsushiro said with reverence.

Uchiha Setsuna, his body gaunt and emaciated, gave them a brief, dismissive glance before turning his attention to Uchiha Obito.

Through his cracked mask, Obito's Three-Tomoe Sharingan gleamed faintly.

Setsuna's hoarse voice broke the silence, raspy as sandpaper:

"Who are you?"

Faced with this question, Obito hesitated. Before Setsuna, who was familiar with Uchiha Madara, he couldn't claim to be Madara himself.

Moreover, his identity had already been exposed by Baishi. There was no point in hiding it.

"Uchiha Obito," he replied.

"Uchiha Obito…" Setsuna murmured the name, his sharp eyes narrowing. After a moment, he added:

"Your Sharingan… it's not ordinary. That space distortion—that was your Mangekyo ability, wasn't it?"

Setsuna's eyes suddenly widened, and in the next instant, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated.

A surge of mental energy shot toward Obito, attempting to cast a genjutsu.

However, the gap between the Mangekyo Sharingan and the standard Three-Tomoe Sharingan was insurmountable. With a mere thought, Obito dispelled Setsuna's genjutsu and reflected it back.

Setsuna froze, his expression momentarily blank before recovering.

Staring at Obito's spinning Mangekyo Sharingan, Setsuna's face grew somber. After a long silence, he sighed and muttered:

"The Mangekyo… the Mangekyo…"

The words echoed like a lament.

As he spoke, the glow in his own Sharingan faded. His chakra, still weak from long years of imprisonment, had been exhausted.

(End of Chapter)

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