I Am Fugaku Uchiha

In the bustling midst of Konoha's 45th-year calendar, the early days of June bore witness to a fierce confrontation in the Land of the Grass.

Here, the clash between Konoha and Iwa ninjas painted the fields with intensity.

Amidst the chaos, Akihiko, an Uchiha clan ninja, found himself released from the confines of the Suna defense camp.

The anticipation of battle had been building within him, and now he stood ready for action. Straightening his sleeves and twisting his neck, Akihiko couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I can't believe he finally let me go!"

For what felt like an eternity, Akihiko had been stationed at the Suna defense camp alongside Ituski's brother and over 2,000 clan members.

The monotony of the defensive post had left him yearning for the exhilaration of the battlefield. Now, that moment had arrived, and Akihiko was eager to make his mark.

As Akihiko descended upon the battlefield, the Iwa ninjas, locked in combat, were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Uchiha clan member. A wave of confusion swept over them as they questioned the unexpected turn of events.

"What the heck is going on?" murmured one Iwa ninja, bewildered by the sight of the Uchiha, who were traditionally known for defending Suna.

In the blink of an eye, the Iwa ninja found his gaze becoming unfocused, his eyes drawn irresistibly to the mesmerizing power of the Sharingan.

"Hey, moron, don't stare at the Sharingan!" scolded a swift Iwa ninja who rushed over, pressing his hand against the mesmerized man's back, channeling chakra to break the trance. The rest of the squad swiftly followed suit, joining forces to assist their comrade.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" The command echoed through the air as flames erupted from the hands of an Uchiha ninja.

In response, another Iwa ninja swiftly invoked the hand sign, "Earth Style: Earth Wall."

The clash of elements resounded as intense flames collided with the hastily summoned earth barrier, creating a loud bang that echoed across the battlefield.

"Die!"

"Not so fast!"

A swift clash of blades followed, with Sharingan eyes flashing as an Uchiha seki ninja engaged an Iwa counterpart.

The seki moved like a blur, seamlessly dodging attacks and retaliating with deadly precision. The Iwa ninja's face stiffened as the Uchiha swiftly moved to take his life.

As this deadly dance unfolded, dark clouds gathered unnoticeably in the sky. Unbeknownst to the Iwa forces, a sudden voice pierced the tension.

"Lightning Style: Kirin!"

A crack echoed as a small lightning bolt struck down, claiming the lives of three Iwa ninjas who had been too close for comfort.

It was revealed that, cunningly, a few Uchiha had manipulated fire jutsu to create a dark cloud, setting the stage for the unexpected lightning strike.

An Iwa captain, observing the turn of events, spotted a ninja standing on a rock behind the Uchiha, directing the lightning from the sky to hit their side.

A wave of dread swept through the Iwa ninjas as they questioned the extent of the Uchiha's elemental prowess. The realization hit hard: could every Uchiha wield such formidable tactics? Panic set in, leaving them with no time to prepare.

"Retreat!"

The order came abruptly from the Iwa captain, who saw no point in continuing the battle under these unforeseen circumstances.

The Uchiha, who had joined the battlefield unexpectedly, had turned the tide against the Iwa forces. Despite the initial ambush by a hundred men, the Uchiha's strategic brilliance had foiled their plans, prompting a hasty retreat as the Iwa ninjas fled the battlefield.

"So you're running away? How boring… Come on, let's go back and play some cards!" Akihiko nonchalantly sheathed his ninja sword and sighed, with disappointment in his voice.

At this juncture, Shikaku remained the commander of the defense line, but the Uchiha clan's involvement had diminished Iwa strength to a mere nine thousand.

The answer lay in the fact that Kirigakure Village had also mobilized troops, eager to seize an opportunity amid the chaos. Consequently, the number of ninjas on each side of the three-way defense line had dwindled to around 9,000, intensifying the conflict.

Learning from the experiences of the sand ninjas, other villages incorporated numerous aerial attack and reconnaissance methods.

To counter these enhanced assaults, the defenders strategically arranged their camp in a sparse formation, ensuring the presence of at least one kage-level ninja as a guardian. As a result, Fugaku's attempts at air raids had minimal impact on the fortified camp.

Fugaku had contemplated using force to intimidate the enemy before, but the Iwa ninjas were a different breed compared to their counterparts in Suna.

The village of Suna possessed only the Shukaku, and its inhabitants had never witnessed the raw power of a controlled-tailed beast. The current One-Tail remained untamed, sealed within a monk by the Suna for containment.

The dynamics were different in the remaining three villages; they harbored Jinchuriki, individuals held in them by tailed beasts. Fugaku, despite his prowess, had never faced off against a Jinchuriki, and uncertainty loomed over his confidence in handling such formidable opponents.

The distinction between tailed beasts and jinchuriki intrigued Fugaku. Recalling the Mangekyo Sharingan's ability to control tailed beasts, he pondered why the same control did not extend to Jinchuriki.

The setting of the story revealed that a Jinchuriki, being a human host to a Tailed Beast, possessed the unique ability to break free from any illusion with the assistance of their Tailed Beast, rendering the Sharingan genjutsu ineffective.

The intricacies of this dynamic raised questions, especially considering instances like Obito, the three-tailed Jinchuriki, controlling Yagura, the fourth Mizukage.

Yet, Fugaku grappled with the ambiguity, wondering how to reconcile this with the fact that Sasuke Uchiha, wielding the Mangekyo Sharingan, was thwarted by the eight-tailed Jinchuriki, Killer B.

The lack of a clear answer fueled Fugaku's caution. He hesitated to risk his life in enemy territory, wary of the unpredictable nature of Jinchuriki and their village leaders. The consequences of being captured by both Jinchuriki and Kage were too dire; it would be game over.

Following a successful defense against an Iwa attack, Fugaku decided to take a respite.

In a departure from the battlefield, he made his way back to Konoha Village. His sole motivation was to be present for his son, Uchiha Itachi, who was on the verge of turning two years old in just a couple of days.

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In the heart of the Fire Country, within the serene confines of Konoha Village, the sun bathed the landscape in its warm glow. Despite the grim realities of war looming at the borders, a semblance of peace prevailed within the village.

In a quaint house, a black-haired woman, Uchiha Mikoto, went about her chores, hanging clothes to dry. Her face lit up with a radiant smile, reflecting the pride she felt in her husband.

"Hello, beautiful, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?" A stranger in a kimono materialized, holding a rose in his mouth and speaking with a light-hearted tone.

Mikoto noticed the approaching stranger, and her already cheerful expression grew even more joyous. With a leap, she greeted the stranger.

The stranger, still holding the rose, looked surprised as Mikoto embraced him. "Hey, hey, we haven’t had tea yet; why are you so eager?"

"Haha, don’t act, husband; I know it’s you!" Mikoto laughed joyfully.

With a swift flash, the white smoke cleared, revealing Fugaku's true identity.

"Huh? Was it that easy to recognize me?" he mused, scratching his head with a hint of gloominess.

Fugaku had intended to tease his wife, hoping for a bit of hesitation, but Mikoto saw through his disguise effortlessly.

Mikoto, wrapping her arms around Fugaku’s neck, smiled sweetly. “Of course, who else in Konoha would dare talk to me like that? Who else could you be?”

"Yeah, true! Oh, this is for you!" Fugaku handed the rose to Mikoto, a thoughtful gesture from the flower shop owned by his fiancée, Yamanaka Inoichi.

The trio of Ino-Shika-Cho had found love amid the challenges of their ninja lives. With the war looming, they had decided to get married afterward, and Fugaku couldn't help but smile wryly at the thought of planning their weddings together.

Mikoto accepted the flower with a bright smile, proving that roses still held a special charm, even for female ninjas. Fugaku, witnessing his wife's happiness, couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment as he embraced her.

"By the way, I brought you some gifts. Where is our kid?" Fugaku inquired.