Chapter 13: A Visitor in the Dead of Night

After leaving the flower shop owned by Haiyi in the mountains, Douhuan Uchiha returned to the Uchiha clan territory.

However, Douhuan did not rush home; instead, he went to the residence of Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku was somewhat surprised by Douhuan’s late-night visit but still welcomed him into the house.

After Mikoto Uchiha served tea to the two men, she quietly left the living room.

Fugaku appraised this young man who had forcefully taken his position as clan head. He bore no resentment over Douhuan’s usurpation. To be honest, he had secretly hoped someone would take over the troublesome Uchiha clan. Moreover, since Douhuan had assumed leadership, he had swiftly unified the clan’s hearts and suppressed any murmurs of armed rebellion. Even Fugaku had to admit that the tactics displayed during this process were impressive.

“Douhuan, the Security Division has posted the notice recruiting civilian ninjas as per your instructions. However, the village’s civilian ninjas are still hesitant, so only a handful of applications came in today, mostly from newly graduated Genin,” Fugaku reported.

“Genin are more than enough for trivial duties like guarding stalls from petty thieves,” Douhuan replied. “Besides, with clan-provided ninjutsu, we won’t lack recruits.”

“As long as you have it figured out. However, Douhuan, I’ve already done the calculations. Based on the standards you set yesterday, the clan’s funds can only last three months at most. Otherwise, we’ll have to start selling off our ancestral property,” Fugaku warned.

“I told you not to worry about money. I’ve already secured the funds. In a few days, someone will deliver them to us,” Douhuan said after sipping his tea.

“Then why did you come tonight...” Fugaku’s curiosity deepened. It couldn’t be just for a cup of tea at this hour.

“I came about Itachi,” Douhuan said.

“Itachi, huh.” Fugaku sighed. “I’ve heard about what happened at the Shimura clan gate today. Sending him to the Anbu was a hasty decision on my part.”

“Sending him to the Anbu wasn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Douhuan said calmly. “But letting him go to the battlefield so early—that was truly reckless.”

“Is that what you think?” Fugaku looked at Douhuan, pursing his lips.

“Itachi was a precocious child, but you exposed him to the darkness of this world too soon. He’s thoughtful, but when his knowledge cannot support the heights of his thoughts, disaster is inevitable,” Douhuan said. “I once heard a wise man say, ‘Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.’ That’s what this means.”

“In the end, it’s my fault as his educator.” Fugaku sighed deeply, then glanced toward the firmly closed front door. “If you’re there, come out.”

The door to the living room slid open, and Itachi Uchiha entered, still wearing his Anbu mission attire.

“Father, clan head,” Itachi greeted both men with a bow.

“You don’t have to be so formal when you’re off duty,” Douhuan waved dismissively.

“Brother Douhuan,” Itachi nodded in acknowledgment.

“You heard what Brother Douhuan just said, right?” Fugaku asked then.

Itachi bowed his head in silence.

Seeing this, Fugaku could only sigh. As a father, he was not skilled in communicating with his son. Itachi’s worldview was already set; mere words wouldn’t sway him.

“Brother Douhuan, there is something I want to ask you,” Itachi broke the silence.

“Go ahead.”

“If one day, the clan and the village must go to war, what would you do?” Itachi lifted his gaze to meet Douhuan’s eyes.

“As long as I’m here, that day will never come,” Douhuan said firmly.

“What if it really comes to that?” Itachi pressed further.

“Itachi, step back,” Fugaku said in a low voice, clearly angry.

Douhuan smiled calmly. “The village sent me to the battlefield when I was nine. It’s the clan’s blood that gave me the strength to survive.”

“If that day ever comes, I will do everything in my power to stop you!” Itachi said, staring intently at Douhuan.

“Itachi Uchiha, you are too presumptuous.” Fugaku’s temper flared. Although he had long suspected Itachi’s allegiance had shifted away from the clan, he did not expect him to be so blunt.

“It’s fine.” Douhuan motioned for Fugaku to calm down, then looked at Itachi with a smile.

“Itachi, you are the genius of the clan. I believe one day you will have eyes like mine. But you cannot stop the course of fate. You may not understand what that means now, but when you do, you won’t be troubled by such questions.”

Douhuan stood up with a smile and addressed Fugaku, “Elder Fugaku, I won’t keep you any longer. Please continue to oversee the Security Division.”

With that, Douhuan took his leave.

When Douhuan returned to his small room, it was already past midnight.

The clan was preparing a new residence for him as the clan head, but for now, he still had to stay in this modest little place.

Lighting a lamp, Douhuan began carefully maintaining his ninja blade.

By rights, as a Jonin assigned to the Security Division, he seldom took village missions, but it was unusual for him to live in such a cramped room of less than thirty square meters. The reason was his treasured chakra-infused blade named Swift Thunder. Crafted entirely from chakra metal, Douhuan had poured all his savings into it.

“Since you’re here, show yourself,” Douhuan suddenly said aloud as he polished the blade.

No response.

“I don’t know if this strike will kill you, but you’ll have to pay for this room,” Douhuan smiled slightly as faint sparks of electricity appeared on the surface of the chakra blade.

A figure dropped down from the ceiling beam. White, tousled hair framed a masked face, with the forehead protector worn diagonally to cover the left eye. It was none other than Kakashi, who had crossed paths with Douhuan earlier that morning.

“Oh, it’s Senior Kakashi. I thought you’d wait a while before coming to see me,” Douhuan said with a smile as he sheathed his blade. “Have a seat.”

Douhuan gestured for Kakashi to sit at the other end of the table, then arranged a set of tea utensils and began boiling water.