Uchiha Masaki and Uchiha Fugaku returo the mansion.

  The father and son did not sleep but sat fag each other in silehin the room.

  After a long pause, Uchiha Masaki finally broke the silence. "What do you think about this Sora, Fugaku?"

  Uchiha Fugaku raised his head to meet his father's gaze. "Father, are you asking about Sora's strength as a shinobi, his character, or something else entirely?"

  "Then tell me everything," Uchiha Masaki replied calmly.

  Uchiha Fugaku spoke solemnly. "To be ho, I personally don't know much about Sora. Wheered the Ninja Academy, I was already two years ahead of him. However, I've heard bits and pieces over the years. After all, he became somewhat of a 'celebrity' at the academy."

  "Celebrity?" Uchiha Masaki frowned.

  "Yes," Fugaku nodded. "Since he wasn't officially reized as a member of our Uchiha , many used him as a scapegoat to vent their grievances against us. Whearted at the academy, he was frequently bullied. However, by his sed year, that ged. There was a boy in his css—a prodigy named Namikaze Minato. Yes, the same Namikaze Minato who ter became a disciple of Jiraiya-sama, one of the Sannin."

  Fugaku's expression darkened slightly. "In terms of talent, Sora was sed only to Minato in their year. Despite that, there were others who couldn't accept his presence. One girl, in particur, would resort to insults when she couldn't beat him."

  "What did Sora do?" Masaki asked, intrigued.

  "No matter how harsh their words were, Sora never retaliated. He tolerated it all in silence. He refused to engage, no matter how provoked."

  Uchiha Masaki frowned deeper. "He had the strength to fight back, yet he chose to ehis Sora must have incredible patience."

  Fugaku's tone grew heavier. "But there was one exception—an ihat caused quite a stir. Three years after he joihe academy, a traudent joined his css. She had striking red hair and quickly became a target for bullying. However, she was strong—strong enough to defeat anyone who challenged her."

  Masaki's frown remained, but his eyes narrowed with i. "Go on."

  "One day, one of Sora's cssmates, out for revenge against the traudent, involved his older brother, a genin. Sora intervened and nearly severed the genin's limbs. The situatioed rapidly, but it seems Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama happeo be in the vilge that day. They arrived just in time to stop him."

  Masaki's expression hardened as he absorbed the story. After firming the timelih Fugaku, he ected the events. Just a few days after this i, Sora submitted the Thunder Breathing Teique to Sarutobi Hiruzen, likely as a means to appease the vilge.

  "Fugaku, is there more?" Masaki asked.

  Fugaku nodded. "Yes. I also heard that Namikaze Minato resent during that i. Supposedly, Sora defeated him that day."

  Not long after, Namikaze Minato became an appreo Master Jiraiya.

  At the same time, Minato began initiating versations with Sora whehey crossed paths at the Academy. They sparred on a few occasions but sihen…

  "Namikaze Minato has never defeated Sora," Uchiha Fugaku cluded.

  Uchiha Masaki's eyes widened in shock. "Are you saying that even after training under Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, Namikaze Minato has never once beaten Sora?"

  Uchiha Fugaku nodded firmly. "That's correct. Their battles only took pce that year. Afterwards, Namikaze Minato graduated early ahe vilge to train with Jiraiya-sama. Even in their final match before Minato's graduation, Sora was victorious."

  Uchiha Masaki was visibly stunned by this revetion.

  Adding to his shock, he recalled that Orochimaru had taken Sora as his apprentice just a month ago. In other words, even without training from a legendary Sannin at the time, Sora had relied solely on his ialent and strength to surpass Minato—a prodigy in his ht.

  "Without even using the Sharingan, Sora has shown exceptional talent," Uchiha Masaki muttered as if trying to rationalize the situation.

  Masaki then asked, "By the way, Fugaku, who was the traudent you mentioned earlier?"

  Fugaku thought for a moment. "I believe her name was Uzumaki Kushina."

  Uchiha Masaki's expression froze, his demeanour ging noticeably.

  Notig his father's rea, Fugaku asked curiously, "Father, is this Uzumaki Kushina special?"

  Uchiha Masaki's expression turned serious. After a moment of silence, he said, "Fugaku, as my successor and future head of the Uchiha , it's time you learned some secrets.

  Yes, Uzumaki Kushina is very special. She holds signifit importao Konoha. You're aware, of course, that Uzumaki Mito, wife of the First Hokage, is the current ails Jinchūriki."

  Fugaku nodded solemnly. "Yes, Father. You once expihat Jinchūriki is those who are tailed beasts and are often regarded as the military power of a nation."

  Masaki tinued, "That's correct. Uzumaki Mito, whose full name is Uzumaki Mito, also has red hair, just like Kushina. You've likely already guessed what I'm about to say."

  Fugaku's eyes widened as he ected the dots. "Is Uzumaki Kushina… a Jinchūriki?"

  Masaki shook his head. "Not yet, but she will be. Uzumaki Kushina has been chosen as the ails Jinchūriki. This is a closely guarded secret within Konoha, known only to a few at the highest levels."

  He sighed heavily before tinuing. "Lady Mito is nearing the end of her life, and Konoha must prepare for the transition. As a fellow member of the Uzumaki , Kushina has beeed to i the role."

  Masaki's tone sharpened as he asked, "Fugaku, does Sora have a close retionship with Kushina?"

  Fugaku answered without hesitation. "Yes, their retionship is very close."

  Masaki sighed deeply. "Then there's no ce."

  Fugaku tilted his head, fused. "No ce for what, Father?"

  Masaki expined, "Fugaku, the ails Jinchūriki, is not just a tai is a on of Konoha. Such a person will always remain uhe Hokage's prote. No ot even ours, y any cim to them.

  For Sora to have such a strong bond with Kushina and for the Hokage to allow it without interference, coupled with Orochimaru taking him as a disciple—this is a clear sign. Sora will never return to the Uchiha . Even if we wele him back, it's impossible for him to reie."

  Masaki's frustration alpable. Losing a sman of such talent, someone who had awakehe Sharingan, was a bitter pill to swallow.

  Fugaku, however, saw the situation more clearly than his father.

  "In my opinion, Father, even if the were to wele Sora back, he would never agree. Otherwise, he wouldn't have acted as he did—disabling Uchiha Yuu and Uchiha Kazuma."

  Masaki frowned but didn't interrupt.

  Fugaku tinued, "The fact that Sora revealed his Sharingan during that i shows that he's no longer ed with the Uchiha or its opinion of him. He's moved on. I believe reciliatioween Sora and the Uchiha is no longer possible."

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