Uchiha Madara was dead.
This should have been a world-shattering event, yet only three knew of it, and it sank like a stone into the ocean, causing no ripples.
Of course, that was not entirely accurate. Besides Fugaku, one of the other two witnesses was a clone, and the other a creation of Yin-Yang Release, neither truly human.
"What do we do next?"
After leaving the cave, White Zetsu looked at Fugaku and asked, "Are we going to find Nagato?"
"No rush," Fugaku replied. Standing in the sunlight, he squinted slightly, shading his eyes with his hand. "Nagato is only ten years old. There's no point in rushing. Besides, my strength is still too weak, my body hasn't fully recovered, and I haven't mastered Yin-Yang Release yet. We should take it slow."
"Alright, but that will take some time… hmm?"
Before he could finish, White Zetsu's expression shifted in surprise.
Fugaku had extended his palm upward, and without warning, a twisting tree root erupted from it—a clear manifestation of Wood Release.
"You… you can do it," White Zetsu said, eyes wide with amazement. Fugaku could now wield Wood Release.
Madara had only just explained the principles of Yin-Yang Release, yet Fugaku had already mastered a branch of it. He truly was extraordinary.
Black Zetsu remained silent, his expression unreadable, but internally he felt a pang of frustration. Indra's descendants seemed to grasp Ashura's powers with uncanny ease, whether it was Madara or now Fugaku.
"Truly worthy of being Hagoromo's descendants," Black Zetsu thought, a tinge of envy in his mind.
Born of the same mother, Hagoromo and Hamura's descendants could wield her power, but he—the youngest—didn't even possess a normal body.
Why was the gap between people so vast?
For millennia, rescuing Kaguya had been Black Zetsu's greatest wish. Now, the desire for a true body had been his spiritual pillar, the one constant that had sustained him.
Fugaku, putting aside the millennia-old musings of Black Zetsu, concentrated. He focused his chakra, attempting a stronger Wood Release.
Snap.
The twisting root broke and fell to the ground.
Fugaku surveyed the snapped branch and sighed. "No, it's still far from the Wood Release my father described."
White Zetsu offered encouragement. "It's alright. People have differences. Madara himself said only the First Hokage could compare to him. Even if you cannot match the First Hokage, basic landscaping is still impressive."
"You… you're really good at comforting people," Fugaku admitted.
"No need for politeness. It is my duty," White Zetsu replied.
Fugaku rolled his eyes and tried again. Each time, the root snapped under his control, falling to the ground. Frustration grew, and eventually, he lost interest.
Seeing Fugaku's sullen mood, White Zetsu, ever eager, began chattering. "Fugaku, you said poop—"
Fugaku interrupted sharply. "Didn't I tell you last time?"
"I know, but I want to experience it myself," White Zetsu said, grinning.
Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I've heard of a Ninjutsu called 'One Thousand Years of Death.' All it requires is a stick to experience… the sensation is similar to—"
"Are you serious?" White Zetsu looked baffled. "I've done intelligence work for years, and I've never heard of such a technique!"
Fugaku fell silent, remembering that Hayashi had mentioned this technique in passing. White Zetsu pondered seriously, while Black Zetsu muttered, "You're not actually going to try that, are you?"
White Zetsu's excitement barely contained itself. "Of course, aren't you curious too?"
Black Zetsu's expression darkened, though it was hard to tell beneath his shadowed features. He silently regretted his attachment to White Zetsu.
With the sun setting and the moon rising, the three of them sat quietly, each lost in thought.
Finally, Fugaku rose. "Seal off the underground space completely."
White Zetsu snapped to attention. "Understood. I'll leave some clones to ensure Madara's body is hidden."
"Mhm," Fugaku replied, falling silent once more.
Time passed, and Fugaku eventually murmured, "It's time to return."
White Zetsu looked surprised. "You mean back to Konoha?"
"Not me. You," Fugaku clarified.
"What do you mean?"
"I heard Madara say you can transform into others?"
"That's correct. Apart from a slight reduction in strength, there is no difference in other aspects. No one can tell."
"Then create a substitute, transform into my appearance, and go to Konoha."
White Zetsu's confusion deepened. Fugaku explained, "Although I no longer care for the position of Uchiha Clan Chief, controlling it will aid in hunting the Nine-Tails. At least, it will subtly weaken Konoha.
"And as for Uchiha Hayashi… he wants the position? As long as I live, that will never happen."
"Then will you return to Konoha?"
Fugaku paused, shaking his head. "Perhaps, perhaps not. I don't know. But until then, you are Uchiha Fugaku."
---
Meanwhile, in Konohagakure, the Hokage's office was tense.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat uneasily, a puff of smoke from his pipe drifting out the window. News had arrived from Shinnosuke: Hayashi had fought a major battle and been severely injured.
Based on the description of the battlefield, the Third Hokage's first thought was Uchiha Yama.
He knew Yama had secretly left Konoha, and while he assumed it was to find Fugaku, he never imagined an attack on Hayashi.
The crucial point: Hayashi had survived. Which meant Uchiha Yama was dead.
If any ordinary ninja had fallen, it might have been tolerable. But for the Uchiha to lose both their young clan head and the Clan Chief within a single year? That would shake the village.
The Third Hokage grimaced. Suppressing the Uchiha Clan was politically correct—but not like this. Stability, after all, was paramount.
When Fugaku had died previously, the Third Hokage had secretly rejoiced, believing Hayashi's rising prestige would allow him to control the Uchiha Clan and groom him into a figure like Uchiha Kagami.
His calculations had been sound—but no one could have foreseen this outcome.
Public opinion from other villages aside, the immediate concern was appeasing the Uchiha. If mishandled, it could spark the Third Great Ninja War.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's headache worsened.
Yet protecting Hayashi was simple in practice: no one had seen Hayashi strike Uchiha Yama, and the ANBU had been ordered to maintain absolute secrecy.
The problem was the inevitable exposure of Uchiha Yama's disappearance. Resolving that, and securing Hayashi as the Clan Chief, became the urgent task.
"We can only wait for Hayashi to recover and recall him from the Daimyo's residence," Hiruzen muttered.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter," he said.
An ANBU ninja, brown-yellow hair visible beneath a fox mask, stepped in and knelt.
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Nawaki, rise. How many times have I told you? No need for formality when it's just us… Aren't you and Minato monitoring the streets? Why are you here?"
Nawaki stood, voice urgent. "Hokage-uncle, while patrolling, Minato and I heard some troubling rumors."
"What rumors?" Hiruzen asked, unease gnawing at him.
"People are spreading word that Konoha's Lightning Flash killed Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Yama to become the Uchiha Clan Chief."
"What?!"
The Third Hokage sprang to his feet, anger flaring.
"Damn it, who started this?!"
---