"What the Patriarch is suggesting is that now is not the best time to launch a coup."
"The right time will be when Shisui and Itachi have fully matured."
An older man with a fair complexion and a mole above his left eyebrow remarked. This was Uchiha Mamoru, the second elder of the Uchiha clan, known for being one of the few rational voices among those clamoring for a coup every day.
"That's correct. While Shisui and Itachi are incredibly talented, they are still too young. Their strength has not yet reached its peak."
"Indeed, given that, now isn't the best time for a coup."
"In a few years, when they have both grown stronger, that will be the perfect time to strike!"
Convinced by Fugaku's "logic," many members of the Uchiha clan began to agree and couldn't help but look forward to that future. It would only be a few more years before Shisui and Itachi reached their full potential. Once the clan had two powerful individuals like Minato, how formidable would the Uchiha clan become?
By then, they wouldn't fear even going against the entire village of Konoha.
"…"
Despite the support from their fellow clansmen, Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Tsukasa remained silent. Although Setsuna had always opposed Fugaku and looked down on him for his weakness, he had to admit that Fugaku's reasoning made sense. The Uchiha clan was filled with young geniuses, and their strength was still growing. Now truly wasn't the best time for a coup.
"Let's conclude today's meeting here. Remember, everything discussed today must remain confidential," Fugaku said, letting out a long breath as he stood up and announced the end of the meeting.
He had finally managed to persuade them to postpone the coup. As for what would happen in the future, it would have to be dealt with one step at a time. He couldn't help but feel it was his bad luck to have been thrust into the role of Uchiha Fugaku, the last head of the Uchiha clan.
After leaving Naka Shrine, Fugaku returned to his home.
"You're back?" A gentle voice greeted him as he approached the entrance.
Standing there was a beautiful woman dressed in a kimono, her long black hair flowing down her back, and a soft smile gracing her lips. She was Uchiha Mikoto, the wife of the man whose body he now inhabited.
Though she was already a mother of two, she had maintained an enviable figure, one that could easily rival that of any young woman. Moreover, she had a mature charm that only came with age, like a fully bloomed peony.
"Yes," Fugaku replied, a twinge of guilt in his voice. Although he now had Fugaku's body, the person inside was someone else entirely—someone from another world. Facing Mikoto, he felt a deep sense of guilt.
After briefly responding to Mikoto, he mimicked Fugaku's usual mannerisms and walked toward the study he remembered.
Once he had closed the study door behind him, he sighed in relief, finally having a moment to sort out his chaotic thoughts.
"I never imagined I would end up here, in Uchiha Fugaku's body," he murmured bitterly.
Somehow, he had been transported through time and space and became Uchiha Fugaku, the man destined to die on the night of the Uchiha clan's massacre. It was a grim fate—a terrible start to his new life.
If time travel beginnings could be rated as easy, normal, or difficult, then his was definitely difficult.
"I have to change things, or I'm doomed," he thought to himself with a sigh. The difficulty of his start couldn't be changed, no matter how unacceptable it was. What he needed to do now was alter the course of events to avoid his impending death. He couldn't just sit and wait for it to happen.
"Humph, Uchiha Itachi!" The thought of Itachi, who would later massacre the Uchiha clan and kill him, made him snort in disdain. If it were up to him, he would never allow Itachi to kill him without resistance.
Though he was now in Fugaku's body, technically speaking, he and Itachi were not father and son. As such, he felt little emotional burden about potentially having to fight Itachi. Even if there had been a true father-son relationship, that wouldn't be a reason to simply lie down and die.
The original Uchiha Fugaku had been foolish, failing to resist just because his son was the one who attacked him.
"But even if I resist, without some changes, the Uchiha clan will probably still be annihilated," he thought, furrowing his brow.
Though Konoha claimed Itachi was solely responsible for the massacre, in reality, he wasn't the only one. Besides Itachi, there was also Uchiha Obito, the man lurking in the shadows, stirring up trouble.
With his current strength, it would be difficult to contend with someone like Obito.
If he wanted to stand a chance, he needed to find a way to enhance his current strength and become even more powerful.
"It's too bad the 'cheat' ability hasn't arrived yet," he lamented. It had been several hours since he found himself in Uchiha Fugaku's body, but unfortunately, the usual "cheat" powers that often come with such a situation hadn't appeared.
It seemed he hadn't been granted the protagonist's advantage in this world.
"Without a cheat ability, I'll have to use my knowledge of future events to strengthen myself," he mused, tapping his fingers on the desk.
Currently, he had the Mangekyō Sharingan, which placed him at Kage-level strength. To improve further, there were two options.
The first option was to transplant the Mangekyō Sharingan from someone with close blood ties to evolve it into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, a state where it wouldn't cause blindness from overuse. The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan not only prevented blindness but also provided even greater power.
After obtaining the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, his strength would naturally increase.
The second option was to transplant Hashirama's cells. These cells could prevent the Mangekyō Sharingan from causing blindness. After transplanting Hashirama's cells, even a normal Mangekyō Sharingan wouldn't lead to blindness.
This was how Uchiha Obito could use his Mangekyō Sharingan without restraint, without worrying about going blind. Once the Mangekyō Sharingan had no restrictions, his strength would naturally increase.
"Both methods can boost my strength. If used together, I might even be able to evolve into the Rinnegan, just like Madara!" Fugaku's eyes gleamed with determination.
Since he had come to this world and become Uchiha Fugaku, there was no reason to simply wait for death. He had to use his knowledge of future events to grow stronger and ensure his survival.
(End of this chapter)