Naruto: Unhinged Uchiha

The funeral of Uchiha Douma was attended not only by members of the Uchiha clan but also by representatives from other major Konoha clans, and even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, made an appearance.

After the ceremony, Hiruzen approached Fugaku and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Fugaku. Your father and I were old friends. If you ever run into trouble, feel free to come to me."

Of course, the part about being old friends was neither a truth nor a lie.

While they were acquaintances, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Douma had never been on good terms, especially after the death of Uchiha Kagami.

So, his words were nothing more than polite formality.

That said, if the rivalry between Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Kanzou escalated, and Fugaku happened to be on the losing end, Hiruzen wouldn't mind stepping in to support him.

Not out of loyalty, but out of political motivations.

Despite Fugaku being older and more experienced, Hiruzen didn't see him as a true rival to Kanzou.

His faith in Fugaku's potential was limited.

Please don't take it the wrong way. Uchiha Fugaku is indeed a genius… and without a doubt the second strongest within the Uchiha Clan. But, he is the second strongest… not the strongest.

The strongest is Uchiha Kanzou… and he is also the more talented one, which makes Hiruzen more vigilant against Kanzou.

"Thank you, Sandaime-sama," Fugaku replied coolly.

He wasn't fooled.

He knew exactly how strained the relationship between his father and Sarutobi Hiruzen had been.

Though many in attendance appeared solemn and grief-stricken, more than a few were secretly celebrating Douma's death.

Kanzou included.

In fact, he was in an excellent mood.

Uchiha Douma, that old man, had been a major obstacle for Kanzou in the past.

"Back then, I focused only on improving my strength. I never paid that much attention to beautiful women more than I needed to... but some of them really are something else."

His gaze lingered on a gentle, elegant figure dressed in a black kimono again.

Uchiha Mikoto.

The future mother of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke in the original timeline, a classic Yamato Nadeshiko type. Soft-spoken, graceful, understanding, and deeply loyal. The perfect wife material by every standard.

At the ripe age of Nineteen, she currently belongs to Uchiha Fugaku, though the two haven't yet married as she is only his fiancée.

The Uchiha clan was known for its striking features, handsome men and beautiful women, and Mikoto was no exception. Heck, she was one of the most beautiful women in the Clan with a beautiful face, hourglass figure, and well-developed proportions.

Making her the woman of many men's dreams.

It's a pity that she was engaged to Uchiha Fugaku at a very young age, which made things awkward for many and cut off many people's hopes.

After all, Fugaku was the son of the Patriarch; for a woman to be engaged to him directly meant that she was off the dating pool, and no one would have a chance with her.

It was expected of all men and women to treat her as the future wife of the Patriarch, which meant respect and reverence, and everyone treated her that way.

Of course, Kanzou wasn't of that sort… and gazed at the very woman without any reservations.

Sensing someone's eyes on her, Mikoto turned to meet the gaze, only to notice that it was none other than Uchiha Kanzou.

And for some reason… this gaze was different from the gazes she was used to…

She frowned slightly.

The way Kanzou stared at her made her uncomfortable, like his eyes were piercing right through her clothes.

But she was a well-taught woman, so she quickly curbed her discomfort, not letting it show on her face, and gave a polite bow so as not to be disrespectful, before looking away.

Apart from following the basic courtesy as a fellow Uchiha, she had no further desire to interact with Kanzou.

She was well aware of the conflict between him and her fiancé and knew that in the future, they were bound to become enemies.

Of course, just because she didn't have any intentions didn't mean Kanzou thought the same.

"Captain, were you interested in Mikoto-san?"

Shin couldn't help but ask, noticing Kanzou's lingering gaze.

Satou chimed in from the side, "Mikoto-san is undoubtedly the most beautiful woman of marriageable age within our clan. No… perhaps not just marriageable women, but all women. She's definitely worthy of you, Captain. An ugly guy like Uchiha Fugaku? It'd be a pity to let him have her."

Shin asked, "Want me to go grab her for you?"

Kanzou responded with a calm, indifferent tone.

"You think I need your help to make her mine?"

"Heh... fair enough."

Both Shin and Satou chuckled.

But at the same time, they also understood that their Captain was soon going to make a move on her.

After all, Kanzou hadn't denied the prospect of making Uchiha Mikoto his; clearly, he was interested in the woman.

And that, in Shin and Satou's mind, was perfect.

Not only would Kanzou take the position of clan patriarch, but he might also steal Fugaku's fiancée while he was at it.

They shot a pitying glance at Fugaku standing in the distance.

Just then, a green leaf drifted down and landed on Fugaku's head, an oddly fitting image of his current misfortune.

'Quite strange, green color really suits his ugly mug…'

…

The day after the funeral, Uchiha Fugaku began pushing for the clan's leadership succession.

In truth, he had already wanted to claim the title of patriarch on the day of the funeral.

But unfortunately for him, many within the clan had opposed it.

Of the three elders of the Uchiha clan, only the First Elder, Uchiha Tadayoshi, supported Fugaku. The other two withheld their support, not out of loyalty or principle, but because they were waiting for the highest bidder.

If Fugaku offered them enough incentives, they would back him without hesitation. But if Kanzou made a better offer, they'd switch sides just as quickly. In the end, their loyalty lay with their own interests.

So, Fugaku's attempt to claim the position of clan head at yesterday's funeral fell flat.

Today, he was preparing to visit the Second and Third Elders.

Winning their support would make his path to becoming patriarch much easier.

While Fugaku busied himself with political manoeuvring, Kanzou had made his way to Uchiha Mikoto's residence.

Mikoto, whose parents had both passed away, lived with her grandfather, the First Elder.

But the elder wasn't home today. He was out assisting Fugaku in his efforts.

'Perfect for me…'

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