Chapter 483: Fugaku: Tsunade Is Here? Am I Coming at a Bad Time?

Konoha's surveillance of the Uchiha clan wasn't as extreme as it would be after the Nine-Tails incident, but it was far from lenient.

The ANBU practically monitored the Uchiha district openly, barely stopping short of outright warning them, "Don't make any trouble—you're being watched."

Thinking about entering Konoha's power center without gaining the leadership's trust and easing their vigilance? That was nothing short of a pipe dream.

"What are you suggesting, Clan Head?"

"The current Hokage is aging. We need to build a good relationship with Tsunade to stabilize our position.

"Unlike the Hokage and the Elder Council, Tsunade doesn't hold a grudge against the Uchiha. This is an opportunity."

"To foster a relationship with her, we must work through Yagami Takuya."

The room fell into contemplative silence.

Fugaku Uchiha's words were blunt but true.

To eliminate the leadership's distrust and gain their acceptance, they needed to start with Tsunade.

Approaching her directly was out of the question; Takuya was the best intermediary.

But was Takuya someone they could easily approach?

Certainly not.

In the dim underground meeting room, many Uchiha cast glances at the elders who had previously clashed with Takuya.

"Why are you all looking at me?"

One elder glared back, stroking his beard.

"If apologizing to Yagami Takuya is what it takes to win his favor, then I'll swallow my pride and offer my apology, even if it means stepping down as an elder!"

Regardless of whether they were hawks or doves, the elders all shared the same ultimate goal: the prosperity of the Uchiha.

Their approaches differed, but they were united in purpose.

When the situation called for it, they were willing to make sacrifices.

"Count me in!" another elder declared.

What's a little embarrassment or loss of face?

For the sake of the clan, it was a small price to pay.

Takuya might have once been considered an outsider—a half-blood who didn't behave like a typical Uchiha.

But now, Takuya was undoubtedly a powerhouse with Uchiha lineage.

No matter how much he denied it, his blood ties to the Uchiha and his possession of the Sharingan couldn't be erased.

The willingness of these elders to apologize was the best course of action, even if Takuya might not accept it.

Fugaku stood and bowed deeply to the elders, his gratitude sincere.

"Regardless of the outcome, I, Fugaku Uchiha, must thank you on behalf of the Uchiha. I will personally visit Yagami Takuya to discuss this matter with him."

"Clan Head…"

For a moment, many in the room were moved by Fugaku's gesture.

Meanwhile, Takuya was oblivious to all of this.

Having slept the entire day, he had just woken up—more accurately, his hunger had forced him out of bed.

He hadn't even reached the kitchen when the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, Takuya raised an eyebrow at the person standing outside.

"What's this about?"

Hadn't he already asked Mikoto to relay his message? Why was Fugaku here anyway?

"I…"

Fugaku looked slightly awkward, uninvited as he was.

Takuya had made it clear through Mikoto that he didn't want to meet or discuss any Uchiha matters. Yet here Fugaku was.

"Fine, come in."

Since he was already here, it didn't feel right to turn him away.

In the past, Takuya wouldn't have given him the time of day—especially during Fugaku's haughty "I'm the young master" phase.

But the current Fugaku was a changed man, tempered by reality. Considering the benefits he had given Mikoto, Takuya decided to show some courtesy.

"Thank you."

Fugaku stepped inside, removing his shoes at the door.

He had considered bringing a gift but decided against it, recalling how poorly such gestures had gone over in the past.

"Take a seat."

Takuya gestured for him to sit while he retrieved two bottles of water from the fridge.

Tea? Too much effort at the moment.

"Who's here?"

Just as Fugaku settled on the sofa, a familiar voice rang out from the bedroom. His body tensed, and his movements became stiff.

No way… Am I interrupting something?

No wonder Takuya had looked so irritated when he opened the door.

Fugaku's worst fears were confirmed when Tsunade, her hair a mess and yawning sleepily, emerged. She grumbled as she walked:

"I told you, no more late nights—I'm too busy for this… Wait, what are you doing here?"

Tsunade froze when she spotted Fugaku on the sofa.

Fugaku immediately jumped to his feet and bowed.

"Tsunade-sama."

What kind of dangerous nonsense were you muttering just now? Anyone hearing this would get the wrong idea!

Takuya, exasperated, placed the water bottles on the coffee table.

"Alright, you two talk."

Tsunade waved dismissively and headed for the bathroom.

Takuya, annoyed, shot back:

"What do you mean 'you two talk'? This is for you to handle!"

With Konoha's prison incident fresh in everyone's minds, Fugaku's visit clearly had a purpose. Takuya had no interest in playing mediator.

"Me?"

Tsunade blinked and pointed at herself.

"Who else? I'm not wasting my time playing the middleman."

Giving her a gentle push toward the living room, Takuya headed to the kitchen.

"You two talk it out. I'll make some food."

So it's me he's here to see.

Still a bit groggy, Tsunade washed up in the bathroom. Once her mind cleared, she realized Fugaku really had come for her.

Initially, he had intended to meet Takuya, but with her present, Takuya had deflected everything to her.

Tsunade didn't waste time on formalities. She got straight to the point:

"Let me be blunt. As long as your Uchiha clan behaves itself, I can ensure that your lives won't be negatively affected in any way."

Targeting the Uchiha?

Spare me. I'm already swamped as it is.

While Tsunade admired her granduncle Tobirama Senju, she believed his approach to handling the Uchiha had been excessively harsh. Over the generations, things had only worsened.

The Uchiha were now in a pitiable state—targeted despite doing nothing wrong.

Though, to be fair, the clan bore some responsibility for their predicament.

Madara Uchiha's rebellion and the chaos it caused, which led to Hashirama Senju's early death, as well as the dangerous lengths some Uchiha went to for power—such as awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan—had all contributed to their plight.

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