Chaos' Chaotic Snippets

2. My Ninja Way.

│1st Person POV of Uchiha Fugaku│

[The Land of Fire, Village Hidden in the Leaf (Konohagakure)...]

Of all the time to regain my memories, it had to be on the night of the Kyuubi Attack. On top of that, I only regained my memories after the fight concluded. If it had happened just an hour or two before the attack, I could have at least tried to do something to change the outcome in our favor.

FUUCCCKKKK!

And I can't even vent my emotions outwardly without bringing undue attention onto myself. Seriously, this sucks.

As I reached the Uchiha Compound, I noticed the absence of some guards at the gate. Well, there wasn't much to guard to begin with.

The gate and much of the Uchiha Compound were destroyed during the attack. Most of the clan members were also busy with various tasks such as keeping an eye on the civilians, taking note of the degree of damage to the Clan Grounds, etc.

Entering the Clan Compound, my thoughts once again returned to my unique circumstances. While walking towards the Clan Head's home, I took the chance to properly examine my memories of this life.

Hmm… Just as ROBert said, even though I didn't have my previous life's memories, I still had my mannerisms and my previous life's personality. But still, that guy screwed me over by having my last life's memories locked till now. ROBert had said that I would have regained my memories sometime after my 12th birthday. I thought 'sometime' would be some weeks or a few months, at most a year. He didn't elaborate that 'sometime' would be another 12 years. I am 24 years old now.

An even more discouraging fact is that I am the same age as Minato in this world. In Canon, Fugaku had been about 40 years old when he died. That means he would have been 30 to 35 years old when the Kyuubi Attack happened in Canon.

If that had been the case and I had regained my memories at 24, I still would have had 6 to 11 years to prepare for the Kyuubi Attack. Instead, I am the same age as Minato in this world. Sage dammit, I want to punch something really bad right now.

In this world, the most suitable age to grow in strength is from 10 years old to 18 years old. I am long past that stage. Without some sort of cheat, I will not reach the level of strength required to face the upcoming threats. Cheat that I don't have.

ROBert was of the opinion that just Fugaku Uchiha's innate potential and my meta-knowledge would be enough for me to face all the dangers of this world, provided that I worked HARD to unearth that potential and cleverly exploit my meta-knowledge.

I had agreed with him at that time and didn't beg for any kind of cheat to make my life smooth sailing. I was already happy with my second chance at life and that I would have been reincarnated as Fugaku Uchiha. I didn't think or want to ask for more.

However, If I had known that I would regain my memories at the age of 24, I definitely would have tried to beg for some kind of cheat. Maybe.

Still, the situation is not that bad, I think. Because, even without any metaknowledge, 'I' had abused my Sharingan to learn quite a wide variety of skills.

In addition to learning most of the Jutsus available in the Uchiha Library, I also used my Sharingan to learn and MASTER all kinds of Jutsus I had witnessed being used during my time on the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War.

Like the majority of Uchiha Clan, my Chakra Affinity is also Fire Nature. However, by the time the Third Great Ninja War ended, I became proficient in performing all Five Chakra Nature Jutsus, just like the Third Hokage, though not as proficient as him.

Additionally, I didn't neglect other fields like Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Iryo Ninjutsu, etc. I even learned the basics of Fuinjutsu from Minato and Kushina.

Honestly, I think that even without my Mangekyou Sharingan, I am capable of going toe to toe with the current Third Hokage.

I remember reading somewhere that Hiruzen was about 68 or 69 years old when he died. Assuming this to be true, I am sure that he is already past his Prime as he is now at least 58 years old right now. So, I am confident in facing him now and not losing even without using my Mangekyou Sharingan, provided that he didn't summon Enma.

Still, I know this level of strength isn't enough if I want to have a chance at changing the future in my and my family's favor.

It is also worth noting that I don't have much practice with my Mangekyou Sharingan abilities. I awakened the Mangekyou at the end of the War. After that, I have been hiding the fact that I have awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan from everyone, knowing what these eyes represent. Only Mikoto knows this secret.

On top of that, only one of my two Mangekyou Sharingan abilities is useful in combat and the ability is such that I have to frequently use it in order to make full use of its potential.

Discarding those thoughts for now, I focused on the current situation of the Uchiha Clan.

In this reality, the previous Uchiha Clan Head was Mikoto's Father and I am now the Uchiha Clan Head because I married Uchiha Mikoto and also because of my strength.

Our marriage wasn't solely political as 'I' had been dating Mikoto since we were 15. When I began to gain recognition as Wicked Eyed Fugaku during the early days of the Third Great Ninja War, the former Clan Head approved of our relationship and passed on the Clan Leadership to me after we married.

I was 17 at that time and then a year later, Mikoto gave birth to Itachi. It was at this time that Mikoto decided to retire from active Shinobi duty to take care of our son. This also allowed her to not participate in the War anymore. It was a fortunate event as the War was becoming increasingly worse as time passed.

Then, five years later, just a few weeks after Itachi's 5th birthday, the Third Great Ninja War ended. It was also during this time that Minato became the Fourth Hokage.

Fortunately, I didn't make the absolutely retarded decision of taking Itachi to see the battlefield during the War to make him see the 'reality of our world'.

While Itachi still yearns to become a strong Shinobi and has already been training for over a year now, his primary reason for doing so is to be just as strong– if not stronger– as his awesome Father.

Itachi is six years old now and will enroll in the Konoha Shinobi Academy when the new term starts.

Arriving at my home, I saw that while it sustained some major damage, the area where our rooms were located was intact. That's a relief as Itachi and Sasuke still have some space to rest when the rebuilding of the village begins.

I saw one of my trusted subordinates standing just outside the door to my house, waiting for me.

After exchanging polite greetings, I ordered him, "Arrange for a Clan Meeting in three hours. Also, send someone to invite Hatake Kakashi to meet with me in an hour. Pass him the message that if he doesn't come within an hour, the Uchiha Clan will do everything in its power to take back the Sharingan given to him by Uchiha Obito."

"As you wish, Fugaku-sama!" Uchiha Hikaku saluted before he used Shunshin and disappeared out of my sight.

I then entered my home through the mostly intact door and found that Mikoto was already waiting for me. With a small smile on my face, I said, "I am back."

"Welcome back." Mikoto returned the greeting with a small of her own. Even though she was smiling now, I could see the tiredness in her eyes. I am sure I will see the same tiredness in my own eyes if I look in the mirror. It's been a long night, after all.

"How are Itachi and Sasuke?" I asked. From what I remembered from the anime, Itachi and Sasuke had been alone in the house during the Kyuubi Attack and when Mikoto arrived to check on them, Itachi saved her from some falling debris.

Before the Kyuubi Attack, Mikoto and I were taking a walk as she couldn't sleep because her best friend was going to give birth. She had wanted to accompany Kushina during that time, however, the village politics wouldn't allow for such a thing to happen. On one hand, I am glad because if Mikoto had been with Kushina, she likely wouldn't have survived the night. On the other hand, I am furious at the amount of suspicion and scorn that the Uchiha face from the village.

I will change this situation, no matter what.

"They are asleep now." Mikoto said before continuing with a look of pride on her face, "You know, when I arrived to check on them during the attack, Itachi saved me from some debris. My baby boy is already so strong. I am so proud of him!"

My smile became wider as I replied, "Of course he is strong. He is our son, after all."

Mikoto let out a soft, tinkling laugh at that declaration. Then, she suddenly adopted a somber expression before closing the distance between us and hugged me tightly, "I am glad you came back fine."

"I am also relieved to know that nothing happened to you and our sons." I replied before cupping her face and giving her a tender kiss on the lips.

I couldn't help but smile at seeing the faint dust of pink on her cheeks. Even after being married for years and giving birth to my two sons, she is still getting embarrassed at such a simple show of affection. I love her, and our sons. More than anything in this world. And I will do whatever it takes to give them a happy and fulfilled life. None of us will ever succumb to the Curse of Hatred! No matter what!

This is my promise, my dream, and my Ninja Way!!!

=+=+=+=< Scene Break >=+=+=+=

│3rd Person POV │

[The Land of Fire, Village Hidden in the Leaf (Konohagakure), Uchiha Clan Compound...]

Uchiha Fugaku sat alone in the meeting room of the Uchiha Clan. The meeting room was one of the few fortunate locations within the Uchiha Clan Compound that survived Kyuubi's rampage.

Fugaku was waiting for Hatake Kakashi to arrive in the meeting room. He didn't have to wait for long as the white-haired teen entered the meeting after a few minutes.

"You called for me, Fugaku-sama?" Kakashi asked with an expressionless tone, however, Fugaku was able to sense the slight anger hidden in the depths of his eye.

With a slight nod, Fugaku said with a gesture, "I did. Please take a seat," Once Kakashi sat down in front of Fugaku, he continued, "First of all, I am sorry for summoning you in such a forceful manner at this time. I know that Minato and Kushina's death is affecting you harder than everyone in the village. However, given the current situation in the village, I need to have this conversation with you now."

Kakashi's anger greatly lessened upon hearing Fugaku's words. Now much calmer than before, he asked politely, "What do you wish to talk about, Fugaku-sama?"

"Earlier in the meeting held by the Third Hokage, we concluded that the Kyuubi didn't get out of the seal by itself. You did notice the three-tomoe pattern of the Sharingan in Kyuubi's eye before Minato summoned his toad on its head, didn't you?"

Kakashi's eyes sharpened as Fugaku paused for a moment before continuing, "Also, the Kyuubi appeared right in the middle of the village and I don't think Minato would have chosen Kushina's delivery location to be anywhere near the center of the village.

"That's why we have come to the conclusion that someone must have summoned the Kyuubi in order to destroy our village. Someone powerful enough to extract the Kyuubi from Kushina even when Minato was together with her when she was giving birth."

Fugaku saw a fiery rage flicker in the eyes of the white-haired teen before him with his hands gripping his knees tightly.

Then, Fugaku continued to share whatever happened in the meeting with Kakashi. How he was suspicious that someone with Mangekyou Sharingan was out there who could launch another attack on Leaf at any moment.

Before he could continue, however, Fugaku was interrupted by Kakashi asking a question, "What is Mangekyou Sharingan, Fugaku-sama?"

"Oh right, you don't have any information about the Mangekyou, right?" Fugaku asked rhetorically, "Kakashi, only the Uchiha Clan and some select few people outside the Clan knows about the Mangekyou Sharingan, so keep this information to yourself, alright?"

Once Kakashi nodded, Fugaku started explaining, "After suffering a traumatic event, the Sharingan can evolve into the Mangekyou Sharingan, granting unique, user-specific special jutsu to the user in addition to the Sharingan's standard abilities.

"However, there's a steep cost to use the Mangekyou Sharingan as continued and prolonged use of it can cause blindness."

Fugaku stopped speaking as he noticed Kakashi getting lost in his thoughts for a moment before a look of realization flickered in his eye.

"You have awakened the Mangekyou, haven't you?"

Kakashi's attention came back to the present as Fufaku's question registered in his mind. Although he wanted to answer in the negative, Kakashi knew that lying wasn't an option at this moment. He reluctantly nodded his head.

"Alright. Keep this fact to yourself and don't share it with anyone unless absolutely necessary. Now that Minato is no longer among us to protect you, many people inside and outside the village would be itching to get their hands on your Sharingan. If they knew that your Sharingan has already evolved into Mangekyou, they wouldn't spare any efforts to get their hands on it. So, you must keep this fact a secret, alright?"

Kakashi was slightly shocked upon hearing what the Uchiha Clan Head said. He thought for sure that Fugaku would try to get back Obito's Sharingan now that he knew it had evolved into Mangekyou. He didn't expect the other party to express concern.

His shock must have been noticed by Fugaku as the latter snorted and said, "Hmpf! You thought I was going to demand you hand over your Mangekyou Sharingan, didn't you? Do you suspect that I will stoop so low to take away the eye given to you by my own Clan member? Not to mention you are the last student of Minato and he was my best friend.

"He treated you as he would have treated his own son. So, you can trust me when I say that I will protect you and take care of you to the best of my abilities, I will do so. No matter what."

Kakashi ducked his head, hiding his glistening eyes. Seeing this, Fugaku stepped forward and brought the trembling teen into his embrace, and said, "If you feel like crying, don't hold back."

Kakashi stiffened in his arms, but Fugaku held firm.

"It's alright to cry, you know," Fugaku said softly in a comforting voice that Kakashi never expected to hear from the normally stoic Uchiha Clan Head, "You are not weak for feeling this way, Kakashi."

Kakashi's breath hitched in his throat as Fugaku's words reached his numb heart. His mind, usually so well-guarded, couldn't keep up with the wave of emotions that hit him all at once.

Fugaku's words, though few, reminded him of a lifetime of loss. Kakashi, who had never truly allowed himself to grieve over the death of his father, his friends, and teammates, and now his sensei and his family, found himself fighting an impulse he hadn't realized was so strong.

It's alright to cry...

A simple phrase, but it was one that stirred something in him. The dam, which had held firm for so long, was beginning to crack.

Tears started streaming from his eyes for the first time in a long while.

"Kakashi, as Minato's student and the one who received a Sharingan from one of my Clan members on their deathbed, I already see you as part of my family. Not by blood, but by the bond we share—a bond that is unshakable, no matter what. With that in mind, I would like to formally adopt you into the Uchiha Clan, so I can ensure your protection and care from here on out.

"What do you think, Kakashi? Would you like to become a part of the Uchiha Clan?" Fugaku asked, shocking Kakashi to the core.

"Why…?" Kakashi's voice broke as he spoke, the words coming out in a whisper, barely audible even in the quiet room. "Why would you do this for me? What are you trying to accomplish by doing this?"

In a gentle tone, Fugaku answered, "Apart from giving you a family, I don't have any other motives, Kakashi."

Kakashi flinched, his chest tightening in a way that made it difficult to breathe. The pain of losing Obito and Rin was still so raw, so sharp, and now, just a few hours ago, he lost his Sensei. Fugaku's words felt like a knife, slicing through the walls Kakashi had spent years constructing around his heart.

Family.

It was a word that had come to mean less and less to him as time went on.

The very idea of family felt so distant, almost out of reach. After losing his own father, Obito, then Rin at his own hands... He was just beginning to feel like he was part of a family again with Minato-sensei and Kushina-san. Even that was taken from his hands in such a cruel manner.

But here Fugaku was, offering him another chance—offering something Kakashi had been yearning for almost his whole life.

However, even though a part of him wanted to accept this offer right away, another part of him, reared its ugly head in his mind and whispered, 'What if, by accepting Fugaku's offer, you are going to doom this family too?'

Kakashi's hands balled into fists at his sides, and he shook his head slightly, as though trying to fight off the tide of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him.

"I don't think," Kakashi whispered harshly, his voice cracking. "I don't think I should be a part of another family ever again. I am not deserving of such a thing."

Fugaku's gaze softened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Instead, he slowly pulled back just enough to look Kakashi in the eye, the older man's expression one of quiet understanding, and something else—something far more fragile.

"You deserve to be part of a family, Kakashi. Let nobody else state otherwise, not even yourself." Fugaku said in a gentle but stern voice. "You're not alone, Kakashi. I won't let you be."

The sincerity in Fugaku's eyes was enough to make Kakashi's breath catch once more. It was overwhelming.

"I... don't know what to say," Kakashi mumbled, his voice hoarse.

"You don't need to say anything now," Fugaku replied softly. "Take your time to make this decision. However, whatever decision you make, remember that I will always be there for you, just like Minato would have been there for my sons if I had died instead."

The silence that followed felt almost sacred—like a bridge that was being built between them, piece by piece, with nothing but understanding as the foundation.

Kakashi finally let out a shaky breath before he lowered his head slightly, "I think I should go now."

Fugaku nodded in response. He rested his right hand on Kakashi's shoulder and said, "Take care, Kakashi. Also, make sure to not tell anyone about your Mangekyou Sharingan if you don't want others to covet it, alright?"

Seeing him nod, Fugaku continued, "When you have time, explore what ability your Mangekyou gave you. If you have any problem or need any help, come to me. I will look through the Clan Archives to help you in whatever way I can."

Fugaku gave Kakashi's shoulder a firm squeeze, then pulled his hand away and stepped back, letting the teen leave the meeting room.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

A/N: Here's the second chapter. Enjoy!

If you see any mistakes, please don't hesitate to point it out.

If you like this, then please give it some Power Stones, Save it in your Library, and Post a Review if you feel like doing it.

Lastly, Shameless P@treon & Coffee plug...;

👉 patreon.com/ChaosWriter;

👉 buymeacoffee.com/ChaosWriter;

You will get access to 7 Advance Chapters in the Collection Of Snippets there.

Also, while your support would be appreciated, don't feel pressured to join. I'll upload stuff outside it and not keeping it behind a paywall forever.

Good day. See ya guys later.