"Don't stare at me like that; you can't force me to agree with just a look. So, I'll ask you—do you agree or not?"
Kisaragi took a sip of the tea he had poured.
"If you don't agree, then I'll leave."
As he said this, Kisaragi stood up, looking as if he were about to leave.
"Wait, are you really going to quit fighting for the patriarch's seat and support me in becoming the head of the Uchiha clan?"
Although Uchiha Fugaku wanted to kill Kisaragi to ease his anger, he was indeed a bit tempted. What if Kisaragi was serious? After all, everything had already happened between Kisaragi and Uchiha Mikoto, and it was impossible for him to marry Mikoto now anyway. So, what would he lose by giving her to Kisaragi? Even if Kisaragi was playing him, he had nothing more to lose.
"I've already said it. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. If you don't, there's no point in me giving you any guarantees."
Kisaragi's words were blunt. Whether Fugaku chose to believe him was his decision.
Fugaku's expression shifted. He couldn't fully trust Kisaragi, but the thought of Kisaragi stepping aside in the fight for the patriarch's position was undeniably tempting.
"Why would you choose to support me as the patriarch? What's in it for you? Don't tell me it's just for Uchiha Mikoto."
Not only did it seem disadvantageous, but it could even be harmful to Kisaragi. Uchiha Fugaku couldn't believe that someone like Kisaragi would give up power just for a woman. After all, he wouldn't do something so foolish.
Moreover, the hatred between Fugaku and Kisaragi couldn't be resolved. His father, Uchiha Nagisa, had been killed by Kisaragi, indirectly or not. In a way, it was Kisaragi's fault. Not to mention that Kisaragi had stolen his fiancée. The enmity between them would never go away.
"It may not benefit me, but it won't hurt me either. Even if you become the patriarch, do you think I'll have to listen to you?"
Kisaragi's words left Fugaku stunned for a moment. He was beginning to believe Kisaragi might actually be serious about stepping aside.
"Alright, I agree."
In the end, Uchiha Fugaku relented. After all, he had nothing to lose. What was already gone couldn't be taken back, so nothing mattered anymore.
[Ding, successfully tempted Uchiha Fugaku to betray his honor for power. Reward: Amaterasu, Evil Value +30,000.]
'Betraying honor for power… Well, I suppose a fiancée is close enough to a wife.'
' I expected a reward, but I didn't expect it to be this generous.'
The rich reward caught Kisaragi a bit off guard, but he had come here seeking it, and the better the reward, the more satisfied he was.
A smile spread across Kisaragi's face. Seeing this, Uchiha Fugaku grew even more displeased.
"Are you happy now?" Fugaku's tone was sour.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be? Hahahaha."
Kisaragi laughed arrogantly, more so than the villains from movies and TV shows. The more arrogant Kisaragi's laughter, the darker Fugaku's expression became. His happiness was built on Fugaku's suffering—how could Fugaku not be bitter?
'Just wait. Once I become the patriarch, I'll find a way to eliminate you.'
Of course, Kisaragi was unaware of Fugaku's secret vow. Even if he knew, Kisaragi would have smiled indifferently, planning to turn Fugaku's schemes against him.
"I'll be waiting for your good news tomorrow."
Kisaragi patted Fugaku on the shoulder, then turned and left.
Although Kisaragi hadn't received his reward immediately, it came to him after he returned home.
The Mangekyō Sharingan eye technique, Amaterasu, was absorbed directly into his eyes, and the cool sensation that followed left Kisaragi feeling slightly more comfortable.
"My ocular power has increased a bit."
Gaining this pupil technique also granted a boost in his ocular power, which was certainly a bonus.
Before evolving to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, ocular power was precious to Kisaragi.
"Too bad the eye technique I got is Amaterasu."
Kisaragi had hoped to get Kamui or Kotoamatsukami. Amaterasu wasn't all that impressive to him.
With Ryūjin Jakka in hand, why would Kisaragi even care for Amaterasu?
"System, can you display a status panel for me?"
Kisaragi called upon the system.
Though the system didn't respond verbally, a status panel appeared before him, listing all his abilities.
[Kisaragi Uchiha]
Age: 19
Strength: Peak Kage-level
Bloodline Limit:Mangekyō Sharingan
Eye Techniques: Tsukuyomi, Jikan Teishi , Amaterasu, Susanoo
Ninjutsu: Rasengan, Lightning Style: Chidori, Fire Style: Great Fireball, Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation, Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu…
Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes, Sharingan Genjutsu, Tree Binding Death, Nirvana Temple Technique…
Taijutsu: Uchiha Clan Taijutsu, Konoha's Strong Fist
Kenjutsu:*Uchiha Swordsmanship, Drawn Blade Technique
Weapon: Ryūjin Jakka
It was a comprehensive panel, listing all of Kisaragi's abilities.
"My strength has reached the peak of Kage-level? I didn't expect that after breaking through to Kage-level, I would hit the peak so quickly."
This was understandable. A Mangekyō Sharingan alone could bring someone to the peak of Kage-level.
If Kisaragi unleashed Ryūjin Jakka, his combat power would likely surpass Kage-level.
However, Ryūjin Jakka's Shikai couldn't be maintained for long, and Kisaragi needed more chakra. Unfortunately, he didn't possess a Sage Body.
Even if it wasn't the perfect Sage Body like Senju Hashirama's, an ordinary Sage Body would still bring a significant chakra boost.
At that level, it wouldn't even be called chakra anymore; it would be considered Senjutsu.
Though the Uchiha clan was known for having large chakra reserves, it paled in comparison to those with a Sage Body or exceptional talents.
There were only two ways to solve his chakra problem: either acquire a Sage Body or become a Jinchūriki of a tailed beast.
Of the two, Kisaragi preferred the first option.
Unfortunately, a Sage Body wasn't cheap, and Kisaragi didn't want to settle for anything less than a perfect one like Hashirama's.
With a Sage Body like Hashirama's, Kisaragi would never have to worry about chakra again.
However, while the Sage Body was desirable, it was far too expensive.
Kisaragi still had his sights set on obtaining the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Compared to the Sage Body, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was Kisaragi's immediate priority. With it, he could use his pupil techniques without restraint.
And only with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan could he wield the full-body Susanoo, unlocking its true power.