I Am Fugaku Uchiha

After the three of them exited the room, a heavy silence lingered within its walls. The aunt and the old man exchanged glances, both wearing furrowed brows, as they couldn't decipher Fugaku's thoughts.

Although curiosity danced in their eyes, they wisely chose to maintain their silence, cautious not to provoke the formidable man.

In the hierarchy of Konoha, the three advisors held esteemed positions just beneath the Hokage. Among them was Danzo, a figure of significant influence and power.

At the apex of his authority, he led his own elite ninja division known as Root, cementing his standing as one of the three advisors.

His aura was so commanding that he could easily be considered on par with the other two in this exclusive trio.

Danzo's reputation preceded him, and he often used his authority to instill fear and submission in those around him.

However, today marked an unexpected twist: Danzo, the formidable figure, found himself under threat. The very idea seemed beyond anyone's imagination.

Even Nono, who initially regarded Fugaku as simply fearless in the face of Konoha's elite Danzo, found herself staring in disbelief. Had he openly challenged the advisor?

What emboldened him to take such a daring stance, especially when he had previously acknowledged his lower rank compared to Danzo?

Breaking the awkward silence that had settled in the room, Nano addressed the situation, suggesting, "Aunty, you should take Urushi to sleep."

Recognizing the need for a private discussion, the aunt and the old man nodded in agreement and left with Urushi.

“Alright, Urushi, let’s go!” The aunt and the old man realized that they had something to discuss, so they left with their Urushi.

As Yakushi Urushi departed, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Fugaku. Numerous questions lingered in his mind, but he wisely refrained from asking them, realizing that the current moment was not the right time for such inquiries.

"I'm sorry?" Nono said.

Fugaku, momentarily puzzled, responded, "Huh? You... Why are you apologizing?"

He sensed her desire for a private conversation but found himself perplexed by her immediate apology.

"I'm so sorry... I made you offend Danzo-sama because of me… It's all my fault!"

Nono expressed guilt, weighing heavily on her. In her willingness to sacrifice herself as a potential spy, she recognized the distinction between her situation and Fugaku's. He represented a clan and remained a Konoha ninja, regardless of his strength.

Feeling responsible for putting Fugaku in a position of antagonism with Danzo, Nono observed the visible signs of his inner turmoil after Danzo's departure. His brows furrowed, and his countenance grew grim, reflecting the internal conflict he was experiencing.

He smiled upon hearing her apology. "Is that all?" he said. "Don't worry about it. I've had a beef with him for a long time. What I did was nothing serious. You don't need to feel bad. Besides, hey, I promised to protect you, right?"

Fugaku was well aware of Danzo's sinister intentions towards the Uchiha clan, understanding the longstanding animosity that existed between them.

He knew of Danzo's plots to orchestrate a massacre against the Uchiha and the attempts to claim the powerful Wood release for himself.

The clash between them was inevitable, merely a matter of time, and had little to do with Nono. It was a confrontation that had been brewing for reasons independent of her presence.

"Protect me?" Nono was taken aback when Fugaku declared his intention to protect her. A warm sensation filled her heart, momentarily making her think he was confessing. However, she didn't anticipate that he would act on those words.

Suddenly remembering something, she asked anxiously, "But... You said... Isn't it wrong to be the enemy of the whole Konoha? What if Hokage-sama knew?"

Hoping Fugaku would grasp her concern, Nono wondered if her earlier words had been a misstep, given the worry etched on his face.

To her relief, Fugaku responded with a reassuring smile, rising from his chair and speaking calmly. "You're overthinking it. Danzo may have a lot of influence, but he doesn't speak for all of Konoha.

Even the Hokage wouldn't bother me to say that in this situation. Besides, today's issue was Danzo's fault. Do you think his root lacks spies? Come on!"

Fugaku was well aware of the loyalty and secrecy ingrained in the members of Root, understanding their indoctrination and training from childhood, marked by a curse seal.

He dismissed any notion of their failure on a mission, convinced that there were others like Nono, if not at her level. He saw through the excuse of lacking talent, considering it absurd given Danzo's deliberate selection of these operatives.

Thank you!" Nono expressed her gratitude.

"Thanking me is not enough... If you really want to show your gratitude..." Fugaku smiled, drawing closer and whispering something in her ear. Nono's face flushed with embarrassment. "No, what if the kids see us? I..."

Nono’s face turned red. “No, what if the kids see us? I…”

"Don't worry, your orphanage has a curfew at nine, right? It's almost eight now, and the place is huge. Come on... Let's find a room away from the kids."

"Okay... You go ahead; I'll join you soon."

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Under the veil of night, as they made their way back to Konoha, three individuals clad in black robes followed their leader, whose expression remained stern.

"Lord Danzo, Uchiha Fugaku was arrogant. We should have seized the chance to eliminate  him." Torune Aburame remarked calmly.

Although he hadn't personally witnessed Fugaku's night raid on the Suna camp, he had heard stories about the formidable Uchiha.

Undeterred, Torune believed that the three of them, with Danzo at the helm, could take on Fugaku. After all, Danzo was a formidable ninja, and with Orochimaru by his side, they possessed a considerable force.

Danzo, maintaining his silence, saw fit to let Orochimaru provide his perspective. Orochimaru chuckled and stated, "Kekeke, if we fought him, I'm not sure who would win. But I know that if he tried to escape, we wouldn't be able to stop him. That would cause a lot of trouble!"

"Really? You think so too?" Danzo expressed surprise at Orochimaru's opinion.

Though he had considered the option before, he had exercised caution and restrained his impulses, fearing the potential consequences that Orochimaru now highlighted. Hearing Orochimaru confirm his thoughts, Danzo felt reassured that he had made the right choice.

"I learned about this event only this afternoon, when I got back to the base. I haven't had a chance to report it yet," Orochimaru explained, shedding light on the timing of his awareness regarding the confrontation.