Silence!
Absolute silence!
The entire meeting room was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
Even Shisui, who was twitching on the ground, stared blankly at Itsuki.
What did this guy just say?
Did he seriously just say "daddy"?
Did he mean… poop?
It had to be!
"Uchiha Itsuki!!!"
A furious roar echoed through the room.
Fugaku's eyes were blood-red, his Sharingan spinning dangerously, almost forming the unique pattern of a Mangekyo Sharingan.
But!
He didn't make a move.
That's because someone from the Nara clan had used Shadow Imitation Jutsu to hold him in place.
Barely holding him, though.
If Fugaku fully lost control and lashed out, he would undoubtedly break free.
Itsuki waved his hand nonchalantly, saying, "Come on, no need to get all worked up. Can't you see I'm trying to seek justice for Lady Mikoto? We've got important matters to handle right now!"
"You…"
Fugaku was nearly choked with rage.
How dare this guy act annoyed?
He's practically acting like he's my father now, and yet, he's the one who's annoyed?
Unbelievable!
If Itsuki knew what Fugaku was thinking, he would probably laugh coldly… *Father?* You're thinking way too small.
A respectable man wouldn't settle for just being a "father," especially when it comes to a beauty like Mikoto.
"This… uh…"
The Cloud envoy was stunned.
What's going on here?
This Uchiha, who seems barely in his teens, is definitely Itsuki Uchiha, right?
This guy is a somewhat famous shinobi.
But since when did he become Uchiha Mikoto's father?
Has something terrifying happened in Konoha?
"Hey, hey, hey, why aren't you saying anything?"
Itsuki stared coldly at the Cloud envoy, "So, you're the one planning to take my sweet dau—cough, I mean, Lady Mikoto, to Kumogakure?"
He had to correct himself because Fugaku's gaze had become even more terrifying.
Itsuki was a sensory ninja, and he could vaguely sense that Fugaku was on the verge of using his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Itsuki sighed inwardly: *Still too young!*
He can't even handle this little bit of provocation.
With that kind of temperament, how can he be entrusted with great responsibilities?
No wonder the Uchiha clan ultimately perished at his hands!
The Cloud envoy smiled bitterly inside. He had just been mouthing off, and now this guy had come out of nowhere.
They had spies in Konoha.
They knew full well that the man standing before them had blown up Danzo's little treasures.
And just a few days ago, he had publicly fought against members of the Root and taken out a dozen of their shinobi.
Otherwise…
Why would Kumogakure have trusted Root's words and agreed to cooperate with them, only to be ambushed and lose over two hundred of their elite shinobi?
Damn it, Root must have gone mad!
"Actually, it doesn't necessarily have to be Uchiha Mikoto…"
The Cloud envoy forced an awkward smile under Itsuki's icy gaze.
"Then who do you want?" Itsuki shot back. "Koharu Utatane?"
He waved dismissively towards Homura Mitokado and said, "Pack her up and send her off. And remember, no returns or exchanges."
Homura Mitokado: "..."
Koharu Utatane: "..."
"Itsuki Uchiha, have you had enough?"
Koharu Utatane shouted in anger.
This meeting was supposed to be overseen by Homura Mitokado, with her providing assistance on the side.
But now, this arrogant Uchiha had just offered her up as if she were some kind of gift?
Had he even considered her feelings?
This was too much!
"What?"
Itsuki frowned. "The Cloud envoy already said that if we don't give them what they want, they'll go to war. Sending you would prevent a war and save countless lives. Isn't that a good thing? Besides, isn't this the very essence of your 'Will of Fire'?"
"Elder Koharu, just sacrifice yourself for the greater good."
"I…"
Koharu felt like coughing up blood.
You believe in the *Will of Fire*?
Who are you trying to fool?
Your actions are more like spitting on the Will of Fire and stomping it into the ground.
And besides, the Will of Fire shouldn't be used against her! She wasn't buying that nonsense.
That was something Hiruzen Sarutobi used to fool the gullible.
She glared at Itsuki with a dark expression, "Itsuki Uchiha, stop talking nonsense!"
"How am I talking nonsense?"
Itsuki protested. "Tell me where I'm wrong! Go ahead, say it! Say it!"
Koharu was gritting her teeth, but she couldn't say a word in response.
There were many things she couldn't say, even though everyone knew exactly what was going on.
"This… I didn't mean that!"
The Cloud envoy was beside himself with awkwardness.
Koharu Utatane?
Why would he want an old hag like her?
Was he supposed to bring her back to Kumogakure and worship her as some kind of ancestor?
Come on, he didn't need another grandma!
Thinking about the Raikage's demands for money and strategic materials, he glanced at Koharu again...
Damn!
If he actually brought this old relic back, the Fourth Raikage would probably marry them off on the spot.
A funeral marriage!
Itsuki frowned, "Then who do you want? Don't tell me…"
"Stop! Stop!"
The Cloud envoy quickly interrupted, "Let's all stay calm, Konoha friends. We are here for peaceful talks, so let's not jump to conclusions."
"Damn it!"
Itsuki cursed and shouted, "You were ready to take my swe—uh, I mean, Lady Mikoto, and now you're accusing me of jumping to conclusions? You from Kumogakure are crossing the line!"
"I'm telling you right now, if you don't give me a proper explanation, we're not moving forward with this!"
The Cloud envoy looked at Itsuki with a pained expression. "What exactly is Uchiha Mikoto to you?"
You're way too worked up, aren't you?
Or have you really convinced yourself that you're her father?
Homura Mitokado interjected, "They're just… friends!"
"Friends?"
The Cloud envoy looked utterly bewildered.
This friendship seemed way too… deep.
Deep... Strong!
He turned his head to look at Fugaku and cautiously asked, "So, you are...?"
Fugaku's face was as dark as coal!
Who am I, and you don't know?
What are you pretending for?
You're nothing but someone who likes to stir up trouble, not worth being on the main stage.
Fugaku let out a cold snort, his icy eyes turned toward Itsuki.
"Matters related to Mikoto will be handled by me, Itsuki. There's no need for you to get involved."
Itsuki looked doubtful and said, "Can you handle it?"
Fugaku calmed his emotions and said, "Let's continue the talks."
He coldly stared at the Kumogakure emissary and said, "Don't bring up any more unreasonable demands, or an alliance between Konoha and Iwagakure isn't off the table."
The Kumogakure emissary chuckled coldly and turned to Mitokado Homura, saying, "So, this is Konoha's attitude in negotiations?"
"Fugaku!"
Mitokado Homura shouted sternly, "Don't speak nonsense. This is a diplomatic discussion between two countries. Remember, I'm the one responsible for the talks."
Fugaku gave a cold sneer.
Itsuki, testing the waters, said from the side, "How about I take over?"
Fugaku whipped his head around, staring him down and said, "Do you think you're better than me?"
"Maybe a little!"
"Hah!" Fugaku let out a laugh, as if he'd just heard the biggest joke.
He was the Uchiha clan leader!
He was the head of Konoha's police force!
Itsuki Uchiha was, at best, a Jōnin.
How could he compare himself to Fugaku?
Just because he liked to mess around?
"Fine, then you do it!"
Fugaku sneered, stood up, and swapped places with Itsuki.
He seated Itsuki diagonally across from the Kumogakure emissary, next to Mitokado Homura.
But as Itsuki was about to sit down, both the emissary and Mitokado Homura's expressions changed instantly.
Mitokado Homura barked, "Fugaku, this is a high-level negotiation. Itsuki is just a regular Uchiha. You're being ridiculous!"
Fugaku remained expressionless, his eyes fiercely locking onto Mitokado Homura and the emissary. "He can represent the Uchiha now."
"That's absurd..."
"Would you prefer I pass the position of clan leader to him right now?"
Fugaku coldly declared, "I can hand it over to him right this moment!"
"Not long ago, the Hokage himself said that he wouldn't interfere in the internal matters of the ninja clans!"
Kumogakure's emissary and Mitokado Homura were struck into silence.
Now you're listening to the Third Hokage? Where was this attitude before?