Deep in Uchiha Juuzan's heart, there was an unknown sense of guilt.
To encourage his growth, from the time this child could remember, he faced him with the same stiff and rigid demeanor he showed to outsiders.
Never had he offered a word of praise or compliment. When he graduated from the ninja academy with the top marks, all he said was, "As expected of my son."
He turned a blind eye to the anticipation and yearning on his son's face. Even when he lost his teammates and was at his lowest, longing for comfort, not a word was said to soothe him.
He ignored the pain and confusion in his eyes, instead congratulating him on unlocking the Sharingan, the clan's famed kekkei genkai.
All he ever showed him was a cold and indifferent back. Yet, unbeknownst to others, he closely monitored Fugaku's every move, constantly worrying about his health and safety, never letting it show.
This child had never once let him down, becoming a formidable force among the younger members of the clan, winning unanimous recognition from the elder generations.
He handled tasks with extreme prudence. Whether it was challenging missions assigned by the Hokage or intentional difficulties posed by certain clan elders, he managed everything smoothly.
Even if something unfortunate were to happen to him in the impending Shinobi World War, Fugaku would still be capable of bearing the Uchiha name and the future of the clan.
"However, it's about time I found a suitable marriage match for him!" Uchiha Juuzan thought, looking at the upright, heroic youth barely in his twenties before him.
"Father, Uchiha Toshiro presents himself as rather mature, with clear thinking and structured opinions on the potential war. He didn't resist graduating early from the ninja academy as the clan arranged. Instead, he showed a vigorous pursuit of secret techniques and power and even inquired about the clan's secret vaults. Speaking with him is no different than conversing with an adult,"
Fugaku recounted his interactions with Toshiro faithfully and shared his thoughts as well.
Unaware of his father's inner thoughts, Fugaku couldn't have known that soon he would meet a beautiful wife and later father an exceptionally gifted son. Many years on, his grown son would take an entirely different path, plunging the Uchiha clan into an abyss.
Upon hearing his brother's account and his son's evaluation, Uchiha Juuzan didn't rush to voice his opinion. Instead, he asked his son to fetch a thick book from the bookshelf and carefully perused it.
"Found it, Uchiha Toshiro - turns out he is Masahiko's son!"
Flipping through the genealogy recorded in the clan's archives, it didn't take Uchiha Juuzan long to find Toshiro's entry. He also found the names of his father and grandmother, which were somewhat familiar to him.
No matter the world, whether it was an organization or a clan, when deciding to nurture someone, a detailed investigation into their background is always conducted, and the Uchiha clan is no exception.
"If he is Masahiko's son, then his background is solid, being a pillar of the third branch within the clan!"
"He's the grandson of Chiri? With such talent, it's no surprise. I wonder if he has the capability to unlock the Mangekyou Sharingan?"
Uchiha Juuzan's mind wandered to the extraordinary woman who quelled the internal strife in the clan, even creating the forbidden technique "Izanami" that could change one's fate.
He also recalled the most significant internal conflict in the clan's history.
After Uchiha Madara defected, to seize the vacant clan leader position, leaders born from the first and second branches led their subordinates, relying on the Mangekyou Sharingan and the clan's forbidden technique "Izanagi," to fight and kill each other.
During the turmoil, Uchiha Baru, seeking power, used Izanagi to kill his rivals. However, the conflict didn't end there, as others also aimed to kill Baru. The elite of the clan slaughtered each other until Uchiha Naka remained as the last one standing.
To save Naka and end the internal strife, Uchiha Chiri created the Izanami technique, successfully stopping the war.
Despite this, the clan paid a heavy price. Members of the first and second branches were almost entirely wiped out. Chiri's third branch, which primarily handled support and logistics, also suffered great losses.
Three pairs of Mangekyou Sharingan resulted in one death and two being gravely injured. Had it not been for the Second Hokage fearing the First Hokage's reaction and the newly established village's instability, resulting in a reluctance to annihilate the clan…
If it weren't for Chiri, who developed Izanami to quell the strife, further fighting would have had unimaginable consequences for the clan.
Every time he thought of it, he felt a throb of regret. The clan's predecessors acted mindlessly - as if having one traitor, Uchiha Madara, wasn't enough. With three pairs of Mangekyou Sharingan, the clan could have aimed for the Second or even Third Hokage position.
But instead, they fought among themselves till exhaustion, suffering great losses and being kicked out of power, not daring to make a peep.
Sighing deeply as he retracted his scattered thoughts, Juuzan looked at his son Fugaku.
The future of the clan relied on these young ones. "Since that's the case, Fugaku, take him to the secret technique vault tonight and let him choose a technique he fancies... considering he is Chiri's grandson, I wonder if he possesses a great talent in illusions."
Given his solid background, unlike other inwardly rebellious individuals, Uchiha Juuzan was not stingy with nurturing him. If he yearned for power, the clan would provide the step, to see how far he could go.
"Additionally, Juzou, I'll leave these young ones to you for guidance in the future!"
He trusted his brother Juzou completely, knowing that despite his youthful unrealistic fantasies, he had gradually come to terms with reality as he aged.