Uchiha Clan Fugaku's Residence
The atmosphere inside the room was calm and quiet.
Soft evening light entered through the windows while the smell of tea slowly spread through the residence.
Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki were sitting together, talking quietly with each other.
But soon—
Their attention shifted toward the conversation happening nearby.
At the other side of the room, Minato Namikaze sat facing Fugaku Uchiha.
And the topic being discussed instantly made the atmosphere heavier.
"Fugaku Senpai..."
Minato's voice was calm, but there was clear exhaustion hidden beneath it.
"Kakashi is already deeply troubled because of the Sharingan."
For a brief moment, Minato lowered his eyes slightly.
"That boy has already lost too many people close to him."
The room became quieter.
"You witnessed everything yourself."
Minato slowly looked back at Fugaku again.
"And now..."
His voice softened slightly.
"...the Sharingan is the last remaining proof of Obito's friendship with him."
There was even a faint trace of pleading in Minato's tone now.
"Please try to understand his situation."
Minato spoke sincerely.
For Kakashi's sake—
He was willing to lower himself and ask this much.
Even if he knew how shameless this request sounded to the Uchiha clan.
Meanwhile, Fugaku quietly listened to every word.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes stayed serious.
"Minato..."
Fugaku finally spoke.
"Bloodline limits have always been the most sacred possession of a clan."
His voice remained steady and controlled.
"And Obito was still just a child."
A brief silence spread through the room.
"He did not have the authority to decide who the Sharingan should belong to."
Kushina and Mikoto quietly listened from the side.
The atmosphere had already become noticeably tense.
Then Fugaku's expression darkened slightly.
"And yet..."
His gaze slowly lowered for a moment.
"...he still made that decision."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only heaviness.
"Even if it was during his final moments..."
Fugaku slowly looked back at Minato.
"...that decision was still wrong."
Minato's expression gradually became grim after hearing those words.
Meanwhile, Fugaku continued calmly,
"If we do not take back the Sharingan now..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...then fear will eventually spread throughout the Uchiha clan."
The evening wind quietly brushed past the open windows.
"People will begin wondering if outsiders can freely obtain and research our bloodline abilities."
The room instantly became silent after those words.
Even Kushina's expression changed slightly.
Because everyone present understood something clearly.
This matter was no longer only about Kakashi anymore.
Minato Namikaze quietly listened to Fugaku's words.
And the more he listened—
The clearer he understood the situation.
Even if Fugaku Uchiha personally agreed with him...
The rest of the Uchiha clan would never accept it easily.
"Fugaku-senpai..."
Minato spoke again after a brief silence.
"Is there truly no way for the Uchiha clan to reconsider this matter?"
His expression became more serious.
"Because this issue is no longer only about the Sharingan itself."
Fugaku quietly looked at him without interrupting.
Minato slowly continued,
"Sharingan places a massive burden on Kakashi's body."
His voice had become heavier now.
"Because he isn't a Uchiha, his chakra reserves are constantly drained just from using it."
Even Mikoto and Kushina quietly listened now.
"But even then..."
A faint, helpless smile appeared on Minato's face.
"...Kakashi continues using the Sharingan."
For a moment, Minato lowered his eyes slightly.
"Honestly... I personally wished he would stop using it."
The room became silent again.
"But Kakashi is not using the Sharingan as a symbol of power."
Minato slowly looked toward Fugaku once more.
"To him..."
His voice softened slightly.
"...it is the moment of his friendship with Obito."
The evening wind quietly entered through the open window.
For the first time since the conversation began—
Fugaku's expression changed slightly.
A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.
'If the Sharingan truly places such a burden on non-Uchiha...'
His fingers lightly tapped against the wooden table.
'...then perhaps the clan's fear of outsiders freely using or researching it is exaggerated.'
That thought quietly crossed Fugaku's mind.
Because if even someone as talented as Kakashi struggled under the burden of a single Sharingan—
Then ordinary outsiders would have even less chance of using it properly.
Still—
Fugaku did not allow those thoughts to show on his face.
The room remained quiet for several moments.
Then finally—
Fugaku slowly spoke.
"Minato..."
His voice remained calm.
"I will do my best to see what I can do."
Minato's eyes slightly widened.
"But..."
Fugaku's expression became serious once again.
"Do not take that as a promise."
The atmosphere softened slightly, but the heaviness remained.
"The final decision..."
Fugaku slowly looked toward Minato.
"...still belongs to the clan."
Minato quietly stared at him for a moment before finally smiling faintly.
At the side, Kushina Uzumaki also let out a small breath of relief.
Even Mikoto Uchiha's tense expression softened slightly.
At the very least—
The conversation had not completely broken apart.
After some more discussion, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki finally left the Uchiha residence.
The evening air outside had already become colder.
Fugaku quietly stood near the entrance while watching their departing figures disappear down the street.
For a long moment—
He remained silent.
The wind lightly moved through the courtyard as distant village noises echoed softly through the night.
Then slowly—
A thoughtful look appeared in Fugaku's eyes.
'Allowing Kakashi to keep the Sharingan...'
He silently thought to himself.
'...could be seen both as a virtue of the Uchiha and as a warning to others.'
His gaze darkened slightly.
Because if the village saw Kakashi constantly suffering under the burden of the Sharingan—
Then people would naturally understand one thing.
The Sharingan was not some simple power outsiders could use freely.
It carried a price.
And at the same time—
Allowing Kakashi to keep it would improve the Uchiha's image throughout the village.
Mercy.
Understanding.
Respect toward a dead clansman's final wish.
Fugaku slowly narrowed his eyes.
And perhaps most importantly—
It would place Minato in the Uchiha clan's debt.
A future Hokage owing the Uchiha goodwill was not something insignificant.
For the first time since this entire issue began—
Fugaku finally saw a possible path forward.
"...I just hope the clan understands this."
He quietly muttered to himself.
Nearby, Mikoto Uchiha heard his words and slowly looked toward him.
The exhaustion hidden beneath Fugaku's calm face did not escape her notice.
While Fugaku Uchiha struggled between protecting the clan and preserving its image—
far away from the Uchiha residence—
The atmosphere inside the Hokage Office was completely different.
An eagle messenger had just arrived carrying an urgent report from the battlefield.
The room remained silent as Hiruzen Sarutobi carefully read through the message sent by Jiraiya.
And slowly—
A smile appeared on his old face.
Nearby, Koharu Utatane noticed his expression and raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What is written in the report?"
Without saying much, Hiruzen quietly handed the scroll toward her.
Koharu opened it and carefully read through the contents.
For the first time in days—
Even her tense expression relaxed slightly.
Then suddenly—
A small laugh escaped from her mouth.
"Excellent."
Her eyes moved across the report once more.
"So the Mist has finally stopped the war with us."
There was clear relief in her voice now.
"Konoha has truly won this Shinobi War once again."
The atmosphere inside the office noticeably lightened.
Because right now—
The entire war situation had already begun shifting in Konoha's favour.
The Sand Village had already shown willingness to sign a ceasefire agreement.
The Cloud Village was also preparing for peace negotiations after suffering continuous losses.
As for the Stone Village—
Although they had avoided directly confronting the Uchiha forces head-on, they had constantly relied on attack-and-retreat tactics during the war.
But after the destruction of Kannabi Bridge—
They had gradually begun withdrawing from major conflicts.
And now—
The last remaining threat, the Mist Village, had also stepped back after facing defeat at Jiraiya's hands.
Koharu slowly lowered the report.
"There is only a little time left now."
Her voice became calmer.
"After that..."
She looked toward Hiruzen.
"...the Five Great Villages will likely begin peace talks once again."
For the first time in years—
The end of the war finally felt close.
Homura Mitokado was also quietly reading the report from the side.
After a few moments, he slowly spoke.
"Sending Jiraiya there was a good decision, Hiruzen."
His old eyes moved across the report once more.
"He didn't include many details..."
Homura adjusted the scroll slightly in his hand.
"...but he did mention that Shinnosuke and Might Duy are both currently being treated at the camp."
His expression relaxed slightly.
"That alone is good news."
To Homura—
Simply surviving an encounter against the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist was already an achievement.
Especially for someone like Shinnosuke Sarutobi.
Nearby, Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly nodded after hearing that.
For the first time in a long while—
The atmosphere inside the office carried a sense of relief.
Then suddenly—
Hiruzen slowly turned toward Koharu Utatane.
"But still..."
A faintly helpless look appeared on his face.
"The Seven Swordsmen of the Mist managed to cross the border while Commander Fugaku was inside the village."
The old Hokage lightly sighed.
"That still doesn't feel right."
As he spoke, Hiruzen calmly summoned an ANBU shinobi into the office.
The masked shinobi immediately knelt before him.
"Inform Fugaku about the battlefield report."
The ANBU silently nodded before disappearing instantly.
Meanwhile, Koharu and Homura looked at each other for a brief moment.
Then both of them smiled slightly in amusement.
Because everyone inside the room understood what Hiruzen was doing.
Even while praising the victory—
He still hadn't forgotten to pressure the Uchiha a little.
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Author note:
This chapter was quieter compared to the previous battlefield chapters, but honestly, these kinds of political and emotional chapters are some of my favourites to write.
I wanted to show that the Sharingan issue is not something simple where one side is completely right and the other side is wrong.
From Minato's perspective, the Sharingan is Obito's final wish and the last bond Kakashi has left.
But from the Uchiha perspective, the Sharingan is part of their clan identity, history, and bloodline. Letting it remain outside the clan naturally creates fear and distrust.
I also wanted Fugaku to feel less like a cold clan leader and more like someone trapped between the village, the clan, politics, and public image.
And yes... Hiruzen was still quietly applying pressure on the Uchiha, even though the good news was intentional.
The war may be ending soon, but some conflicts inside Konoha are only beginning.
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