Throne Of The Uchiha

Goodbye, Hyuga Ning

Fugaku was no stranger to the ways of Konoha's leadership. Once the higher-ups seized control over something—even if it came at the expense of the village's future—they seldom relinquished it.

The protective barriers surrounding Konoha were monitored constantly, with a dedicated Barrier Team ensuring the security of every entrance. Although the village gates looked unremarkable, they were crucial choke points—controlling them meant controlling the village's flow of information and power.

"This kind of setup is the result of political compromise," said Uchiha Tenjo, his tone composed. "Without overwhelming strength, one has no choice but to yield in places that don't cost too much. Even someone as powerful as the Sandaime Hokage must yield on certain policy matters."

Fugaku nodded slowly. He could understand the rationale behind the clan's compromises. Uchiha leadership had strategically given up less critical positions to safeguard their core interests. This maneuver not only shielded vital clan power but gave some Uchiha a way to integrate into the wider village structure.

Talented Uchiha could apply to become part of the standard shinobi forces or—if they were truly exceptional—be recruited into the Anbu, the elite covert ops unit operating directly under the Hokage. While joining the Anbu might once have been seen as abandoning clan loyalty, that line was blurrier in this era, when clan-village tensions hadn't yet exploded.

The deep-rooted bias against the Uchiha, planted during the reign of the Second Hokage, had festered through the decades. The first real shift came only when Namikaze Minato, then rising through the ranks, accepted an Uchiha—Obito—as his student.

Who could have predicted that this seemingly ordinary Uchiha would awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan after a tragic accident, and later become the force responsible for unleashing the Nine-Tails on Konoha, killing Minato and Kushina, and plunging the Uchiha further into suspicion and disgrace?

"I understand your dilemma, Father," Fugaku said gravely. "If we can't uproot the problem, the clan will continue to pay the price in silence."

For three consecutive days, Fugaku performed patrol duties with the Konoha Military Police Force—the Uchiha-led guard. Surprisingly, he heard no gossip about his assignment. Even clan members who had long criticized Tenjo said nothing about Fugaku returning to the guard rather than taking up more prestigious command.

To the Uchiha, the Police Force wasn't just a job. It was a symbol of clan pride. Whether or not one served full-time, every Uchiha was bound to it by blood and duty. Outsiders saw little difference between a Uchiha and a guard.

Even the higher-ups who habitually marginalized the Uchiha refrained from making a fuss. Fugaku understood: it was another silent truce in a long string of unspoken compromises.

After completing a full week of duty, Fugaku stepped outside the Police Force headquarters. Just as he adjusted his flak jacket, an Anbu with a cat-patterned mask appeared before him.

"Uchiha Fugaku. The Hokage has summoned you."

Without waiting for a response, the masked shinobi vanished in a blur.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes, mentally calculating. His two-month leave still had over a week remaining. The Hokage wouldn't call him in early unless something urgent had happened—either on the front lines or within the village.

With practiced precision, Fugaku performed the Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique), quickly catching up to the Anbu agent. He noted the other's skill—impressive for a Chūnin—and pushed himself harder. In a burst of chakra, he overtook the agent completely, leaving the masked figure blinking in astonishment.

The Hokage Tower was busier than usual. Shinobi from various departments shuffled in and out. Fugaku greeted a few familiar faces before reaching the top floor and knocking.

To his surprise, not just the Sandaime Hokage, but also his advisors—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—were present. These two, once comrades of the Second Hokage, remained powerful voices in Konoha politics.

Fugaku gave a formal bow. "Hokage-sama. Mitokado-senpai. Utatane-senpai. Uchiha Fugaku reporting."

The advisors nodded curtly and stepped aside, signaling their noninvolvement in what was to follow.

The Sandaime took a long drag from his pipe. "No need for formality, Fugaku. I'm afraid I have to cut your vacation short."

"This is no issue, Hokage-sama," Fugaku replied. "If the village needs me, I will answer."

Sarutobi nodded. "Your performance during the Rain Country campaign left a strong impression. Unlike many children of prestigious clans, you show neither arrogance nor entitlement.

"Before I assign your mission, I want your opinion on something."

"I'm listening."

"The current class at the Academy is about to graduate. With the war looming larger each day, these fresh Genin may be deployed far sooner than in peacetime. I'd like you to serve as their jōnin sensei—to teach them survival, tactics, and the will of fire."

Serving as a team leader wasn't just a teaching role. It was a means to shape loyalty, ideology, and legacy. Hokage personally selected these mentors because they molded the next generation's loyalty. The Senju faction had preserved its grip on Konoha by ensuring its ideals passed down from teacher to student, generation after generation.

In Fugaku's mind, this approach had merits—but it also came with risks. The most loyal students could still go rogue. Orochimaru, once a Sandaime student, became a criminal who nearly destroyed Konoha. Obito, Minato's own student, betrayed the village and became its worst enemy.

Clearly, no method was foolproof.

Fugaku saw through the offer. It wasn't just an assignment. It was also a test—and a way to bind him closer to the village. If he accepted, he would likely avoid being rotated back to the battlefield for some time, provided the front in the Rain Country didn't escalate further.

Then, a knock sounded.

The door opened, and Hyūga Ning entered, followed by three other shinobi. Both he and Fugaku seemed slightly surprised. They exchanged glances—a subtle nod of acknowledgment.

"Now that everyone's here," the Sandaime said, rising from his chair, "I'll explain your assignment.

"From this moment, the five of you will form Elite Unit 006—a specialized task force meant to handle missions beyond the capacity of regular teams. Uchiha Fugaku will serve as team captain."

He paused, letting the gravity of the announcement settle.

"Our intelligence from the Land of Earth suggests that Ōnoki plans to send reinforcements to the Land of Rain. Negotiations are underway with the Earth Daimyō and key military officials.

"Your mission: infiltrate enemy territory and eliminate the Logistics Minister of the Earth Country, along with several high-ranking officials of the logistics division. Their deaths will delay enemy reinforcements and buy us time."