"Are you sure Orochimaru wants to visit me?" Uchiha Fugaku looked at Shisui in front of him, his expression somewhat uncertain.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru told me himself." Shisui nodded affirmatively. He felt a hint of joy in his heart, thinking that he had become a person who could ease the relationship between the village's higher-ups and his clan. He was genuinely happy.
"Did he mention the reason?" Fugaku suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked further.
As the head of the Uchiha clan, he didn't mind the higher-ups visiting him once in a while. What he cared about was the significance behind this personal visit from Orochimaru, who was currently the most promising candidate to become the Fourth Hokage.
"Lord Orochimaru didn't say, but I guess it might have something to do with that Technology Development Department." Shisui shook his head, but still offered his speculation.
"The Technology Development Department?" Fugaku pondered. This department, established by Orochimaru himself, had drawn quite a bit of attention lately, including from the heads of major ninja clans and elite Jonin.
Compared to independent Jonin, the heads of ninja clans were more inclined to consider the implications of such actions.
In Fugaku's eyes, believing that Orochimaru had a high chance of becoming the next Hokage meant that the Third Hokage was paving the way for his disciple's future.
Up until now, only a handful of departments within the Leaf Village had the authority to recruit, train, and deploy specific ninja personnel.
One was the Leaf's ANBU, along with the Root, which was a sub-branch of ANBU; another was the Medical Department established by Tsunade; and the Intelligence and Interrogation Department, which handled information gathering and interrogation.
And now, there was Orochimaru's Technology Development Department.
"Please tell Orochimaru that I will be waiting for him at home." Fugaku nodded. Though he wasn't skilled at making decisive decisions, that didn't mean he was oblivious to the current situation or unwilling to ease the tension.
Ever since he became the head of the Uchiha clan, his greatest wish had been for his clan members to be able to integrate into the village, and for the next generation to produce an Uchiha Hokage!
All the clan members dreamed of this wish.
However, Fugaku hoped to achieve this dream through peaceful means. The radicals within the clan, on the other hand, were considering using force to take over if the village didn't agree.
The chance for the Fourth Hokage seemed slim. Even if the Third Hokage was willing to take in an Uchiha disciple now, it wouldn't amount to much. But for the Fifth or Sixth Hokage, there was still hope.
As long as Orochimaru could become the Fourth Hokage!
Kagami passed away too early!
Looking at Shisui in front of him, Fugaku sighed inwardly once more.
---
The next day.
Orochimaru's team finished training in the forest.
After receiving accurate information from Shisui, Orochimaru immediately led his team and followed Shisui to the Uchiha clan's territory.
"It's Lord Orochimaru!"
"What is he here for?"
"I heard he's here to visit the clan leader."
"Is it because he values Shisui's talent and wants to officially take him as a disciple? Even though he's not an Uchiha, it's still a good opportunity."
Many members of the Uchiha clan were surprised to see Orochimaru and his team inside their territory. It was rare for someone to visit the Uchiha clan grounds, especially one of the higher-ups from the Leaf Village.
This area was mostly frequented by members of the Anbu, delivering missions and intelligence.
"Orochimaru-sama," Uchiha Fugaku bowed respectfully at the entrance, inviting Orochimaru inside.
"Is this your child, Itachi?" Orochimaru noticed the boy being held by a woman. He stepped forward and gently patted the child's head. "Shisui mentioned to me that he's a very talented Uchiha."
Fugaku's face immediately brightened. For him, having his child's talent and strength acknowledged by a shinobi of Orochimaru's level was an honor!
Such things were common in the ninja world.
For example, the title of the "Sannin" originated from the recognition of the Rain Shinobi demigod, Hanzo. Regardless of why Hanzo gave them that title or whether Orochimaru and the others saw it as humiliating, gaining the acknowledgment of the strong was one of the quickest ways for weaker ninjas to rise to fame.
The group sat down at a table in the courtyard. Orochimaru's golden eyes glanced at the family of three seated across from him. He took the initiative to speak, "Fugaku-kun, you should be aware of my Technology Development Department, right?"
"Yes," Fugaku nodded. The establishment of this department was well-known among the Jonin; it would be impossible for him to claim ignorance.
"Are you interested in investing in it?" Orochimaru asked abruptly.
"Invest? Are you referring to manpower, or something else?" Fugaku's heart tensed up for a moment. He wasn't afraid of providing some personnel, but he feared that Orochimaru was trying to make the Uchiha Clan pick a side without offering any real commitment.
The Uchiha Clan wasn't at a dead end yet; they were still one of the prestigious clans in the village. As clan head, even if he leaned towards Orochimaru's side, he couldn't immediately agree to anything that would force them into an alliance.
"Manpower, resources, money," Orochimaru laid out his terms openly. "The establishment of the Technology Development Department is bound to produce some results.
There has already been some progress with the First Hokage's Wood Release, but I think it's not enough. If the Uchiha are willing, I'm willing to provide some technological support to your clan."
"I don't quite understand what you mean. Are you referring to support in the form of ninjutsu?" Fugaku frowned.
As a powerful clan, the Uchiha clan didn't lack ninjutsu, and they were especially adept at using their Sharingan in combat. The copying ability of the Sharingan had allowed them to amass an impressive collection of jutsus over the centuries.
"The Mangekyo!" Orochimaru softly uttered the word that caused Fugaku's expression to change dramatically.
"The Mangekyo?" Fugaku's voice rose, almost breaking. He stared at Orochimaru in shock. If it weren't Orochimaru sitting across from him, he would have thrown him out the moment he heard this.
"I can help research how to unlock the Uchiha's Sharingan more effectively, as well as methods to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. All I need is your clan's cooperation in providing the necessary information and resources," Orochimaru confirmed his offer.
"A Mangekyo Sharingan?" Fugaku's voice rose to a pitch almost breaking as he stared in shock at Orochimaru. If it were anyone other than Orochimaru sitting in front of him, Fugaku would have immediately dismissed them for such words.
"I can help you study how to make the Uchiha clan awaken the Sharingan smoothly, and even discover the method to unlock the Mangekyo Sharingan. As long as you provide the necessary information and resources," Orochimaru affirmed confidently.
"This is unbelievable." Fugaku's hands were trembling. Itachi looked at his father in confusion, not understanding why the usually composed and stern man would suddenly become so agitated.
But his sharp mind made sure to remember the word *Mangekyo*, which had shaken his father so deeply.
"Nothing is impossible. Think about it. If the Uchiha clan could possess a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, even if it's not on par with Madara Uchiha's, it would still solidify the clan's status and prestige, wouldn't it?"
Orochimaru's voice was calm and steady, but to Fugaku's ears, it sounded like the whisper of a demon, one that knew how to tempt and manipulate.
"I need to call a clan meeting." Fugaku frowned, thinking it over for a moment before sighing deeply. He then bowed slightly to the man across from him.
"I'll be waiting for your response. Oh, and let me share a secret with you—the Senju clan's Wood Release experiment has already succeeded. There is now a test subject who possesses the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai."
As Orochimaru stood up to leave, he suddenly paused and turned his face slightly, dropping yet another bombshell that left Fugaku's mind reeling.
Wood Release?
The Senju clan, who had almost completely merged into the village through intermarriage with other clans, had regained the power of Wood Release?
Fugaku found himself struggling to maintain his composure as he thought about it.
****
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