Looking at the figure before him, Hayashi could not hide the surprise on his face.
Fugaku usually wore a black windbreaker, his hair neatly styled, his expression calm and polite, yet always carrying a faint sense of pride unique to the Uchiha.But today, everything was different.
His face was stiff and unreadable, yet sorrow lingered clearly in his eyes. He was no longer dressed as a ninja, instead wearing a loose, plain kimono. Even more striking was the thick bandage covering his left eye.
Was his eye injured?
Hayashi felt puzzled, but the thought of Izanagi never crossed his mind. After all, that forbidden technique was rarely used unless there was no other choice.
It had already been more than ten days since their last conversation. During that time, there were no rumors circulating in the village about the Uchiha clan. Hayashi also had not seen the team escorting the Sand Shinobi again, as if they had vanished overnight.
Judging from Fugaku's appearance, something serious had clearly happened.
Hayashi suppressed his doubts and was about to stand up when Fugaku placed a hand on his shoulder and, without caring about the dust, sat down beside him on the ground.
"The sunlight feels warm and comfortable," Fugaku said after a long pause, opening his remaining eye. "I never noticed it before."
Hayashi smiled faintly. "Things that are too ordinary are often the easiest to overlook."
"That's true," Fugaku replied softly. "Especially for a clan like ours that relies on eyes. We're used to staring far away, always thinking the mountain ahead is higher, and end up missing what's right in front of us.Now that I think about it, you never really felt like a typical Uchiha. Maybe that's because you don't carry these flaws."
Hayashi gave a wry chuckle. If Fugaku was talking about ambition and obsession, then yes, he was indeed an outlier among the Uchiha.
"If I were more like you," Fugaku continued, "maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way."
Hayashi asked calmly, "What happened? Was it an attack by the Sand Shinobi?"
Fugaku shook his head and briefly recounted everything that had happened.
He did not exaggerate or embellish anything. With Hayashi's connections, the truth would have been easy to uncover anyway, so there was no reason to lie. When it came to how he escaped in the end, Fugaku deliberately glossed over the details and said nothing about Izanagi.
After listening, Hayashi fell silent for a moment. "What were the clan's casualties?"
"Including me, only seven survived."
Hayashi shook his head slowly. "You were too impulsive. No matter how strong the Uchiha are, a single clan cannot face an entire hidden village head-on."
"I know," Fugaku said bitterly. "But it's too late now. The compensation for the fallen has already been distributed. As the one responsible, I've also resigned as captain of the ANBU unit."
Hayashi nodded. "Is there something you want me to help with?"
Fugaku gestured to his bandaged eye. "Something went wrong with it during the battle."
"Can it be treated?"
"It's blind."
Hayashi frowned. "What about transplantation?"
Fugaku shook his head. "The medical-nin in the clan said the optic nerves are completely destroyed. Simply replacing the eye won't work."
They had already tried. In the end, they only wasted a Sharingan without restoring his vision. Otherwise, Fugaku would not have come to Hayashi.
Hayashi said nothing, quietly thinking things through.
At this point, he was almost certain that Fugaku had used Izanagi. If Tsunade had not mentioned it casually before, and if the consequences were not so obvious, even Hayashi might have been deceived.
As for why Fugaku concealed it, the reason was clear enough. He was afraid Hayashi would demand compensation for knowledge of such a life-saving forbidden technique.
Hayashi laughed inwardly, but kept his expression neutral. "You want me to ask Tsunade-sensei to treat you?"
"Yes," Fugaku replied. "She treated the Hyuga clan head not long ago. His condition was similar to mine, so I thought…"
"That's true," Hayashi said. "But the risk is high. Otherwise, the Hyuga clan wouldn't have waited so long."
"I'm already blind," Fugaku said quietly. "How much worse can it get?"
Hayashi patted his chest. "Alright. I'll ask her. But you should know something first."
"What is it?"
"When I asked her to treat Mikoto, she charged me three hundred thousand ryo."
"…"
Hayashi sighed theatrically. "I'm her own student, yet when money is involved, she shows no mercy. Tsunade-sensei may look proper, but her medical ethics are questionable at best. You should prepare yourself."
Fugaku fell silent.
Three hundred thousand ryo was not impossible for the Uchiha, but if she charged that much even to her student, how much would she demand from him?
"In short," Hayashi said, "you'll need to explain this clearly to your clan head."
Fugaku nodded. "I will tell my father. No matter what, thank you for being willing to help."
Hayashi smiled. "No need to thank me."
They stood and walked toward the exit of the training ground. At the entrance, Fugaku suddenly grabbed Hayashi's hand.
"My father invites you to dinner at our home the night after tomorrow. You must come."
Hayashi considered it briefly, then nodded. "Thank you for the invitation. I'll be there."
Satisfied, Fugaku turned and headed back toward the Uchiha compound.
After returning home, an Uchiha Jonin approached Fugaku.
"Young clan leader, the clan head is waiting in the study."
"I understand," Fugaku replied, walking inside.
Only Uchiha Yama was in the study. He was reading when Fugaku entered, then looked up and motioned for him to sit.
"Father."
"How is it?" Uchiha Yama asked.
"Hayashi agreed to help," Fugaku replied. "But Tsunade may demand a high price."
Uchiha Yama nodded calmly. "As expected. Tsunade is from the Senju clan. Even if she's not bound by old grudges, she won't make things easy. Prepare for it."
Fugaku hesitated before asking, "Why not ask the Third Hokage? We suffered heavy losses. The village should take responsibility."
Uchiha Yama interrupted him. "Yesterday, Hiruzen Sarutobi showed me a letter from Sunagakure."
"A letter?"
"They accused us of ambushing them and violating the treaty."
Fugaku slammed his hand down angrily. "They're the defeated side. How dare they accuse us?"
"Yes, they're defeated," Uchiha Yama said quietly. "But were we not also defeated by Hashirama Senju?"
He leaned back heavily in his chair. "Otherwise, why would we be restrained by Hiruzen now? He places responsibility on us, and we can only endure it."
Fugaku clenched his fists. "Then are we supposed to just let our clan members die like this? Aren't we also part of Konoha? And what about Danzo Shimura? He clearly promised us that no matter what happened…"
A sharp slap echoed through the room.
"Enough," Uchiha Yama said coldly. "Never say something that foolish again. Remember this well. Promises mean nothing. Only what you control truly matters."
Fugaku stared at his father, stunned, then lowered his head. "I understand."
After a moment, Uchiha Yama sighed, his tone softening. "You are still the young clan leader of the Uchiha. Even with one eye gone, that does not change. One day, you will lead the strongest clan in Konoha. Your actions affect us all. You must learn restraint."
"Yes," Fugaku replied quietly.
"And if Tsunade can repair your nerves," Uchiha Yama continued, "I will give you my left eye."
"What?" Fugaku looked up in shock.
"Do not refuse so quickly," Uchiha Yama said calmly. "Blood ties matter to the Uchiha. Madara awakened greater power by transplanting his brother's eyes. I may never awaken higher power myself, but I place that hope in you. I am old, you are young."
Fugaku knelt on the floor, tears streaming freely. "Father, I swear I will restore the glory of the Uchiha."
Uchiha Yama laughed deeply. "I believe you. You are my son."
Fugaku wiped his tears. "Then what about you? We still have spare eyes in the clan…"
"Do not worry about me," Uchiha Yama said, touching his left eye with a faint, unreadable smile. "I have my own plans."