The domineering Uchiha drove the Third Hokage mad!

Chapter 562 Mikoto, become my woman for Itachi's sake!

Upon hearing the system notification in his mind, Uchiha Mitsunori's eyes narrowed slightly before quickly regaining their composure.

The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan is the ultimate power of the Uchiha clan. It eliminates the side effects of the ordinary Mangekyou Sharingan, eliminates concerns about vision decline, and allows the Sharingan's power to be unleashed to its fullest potential.

If it were anyone else, they might have been overjoyed. But the three members of the Uchiha clan didn't even show the slightest ripple on their faces.

The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan held immense allure for him.

But for him, it was at most just icing on the cake.

Uchiha Mitsunori didn't immediately go forward; he simply stood quietly under the tree, gazing at the mother and child in front of the tombstone from afar...

He secretly pondered how to gain Uchiha Mikoto's favor... and make her willingly stay by his side...

He knew very well that Uchiha Mikoto was not the kind of woman who coveted power or fawned over those in power.

Using force to coerce her would only backfire. Not only would it fail to complete the mission, but it might also make her feel disgusted with him.

Time passed slowly, the drizzle gradually thinned, and the clansmen who came to attend the funeral held umbrellas, bowed to Fugaku's tombstone, and then left in a hurry.

They all knew that Mikoto needed peace and quiet at the moment and did not want to be disturbed.

In the end, only Uchiha Mikoto and young Itachi remained in the cemetery, still standing quietly in front of the tombstone, immersed in endless sorrow, unable to extricate themselves.

Uchiha Mikoto was dressed in an elegant black dress, which was already soaked by the drizzle and clung tightly to her slender body, making her look even more frail, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

A few strands of hair clung to her pale cheeks, obscuring her eyes and brows; only her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed the grief in her heart.

Her hands were pressed tightly to her sides as she stared intently at Fugaku's name on the tombstone, her eyes empty and filled with despair.

Tears mingled with rainwater, slowly sliding down her cheeks, silent and still, yet more heart-wrenching than loud wailing.

The little itachi, who is just over five years old, is wearing a small black outfit and stands next to Mikoto, shivering slightly, clearly from the cold rain.

He glanced at his haggard mother beside him, her pale face upturned, her eyes brimming with tears.

He went to the battlefield when he was just over 4 years old, witnessed too much death, and knew he would never see his father again.

After an unknown amount of time, the rain gradually stopped, and a faint glimmer of light appeared on the horizon. The dappled sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell on Mikoto and Itachi, bringing a slight warmth.

The rainwater in the air gradually evaporated, filling the air with the fresh scent of grass and trees after the rain, but it still couldn't dispel the sadness and heaviness between the two.

In the distance, a few sparrows chirped and chattered in the treetops, breaking the deathly silence of the cemetery, but also making the sorrow seem all the more jarring.

Uchiha Mitsunori slowly put away the paper umbrella in his hand, and walked forward slowly, his steps extremely light.

He walked up to Mikoto and stopped, his gaze falling on Fugaku's name on the tombstone.

"Mikoto, the rain has stopped, but you and Itachi are both soaked. Itachi is only five years old and his body is weak. He can't take this kind of hardship. He still needs you to take care of him, so you can't fall down."

Mikoto Uchiha's body stiffened abruptly, as if she had been abruptly pulled back to reality from her sorrowful thoughts.

She slowly turned around, bowed slightly, and then looked at the man beside her.

Her delicate body tilted slightly upward, tears still silently streaming down her pale cheeks. Her swollen eyes were filled with helplessness and confusion, like a lost traveler unable to find her way forward.

"Thank you for your concern, Sanfeng. I'll stay a little longer and then take Itachi back."

Looking at her red and swollen eyes and her wet appearance, Uchiha Mitsunori felt an even stronger pity for her.

He didn't try to persuade her any further, but simply waved to the tribespeople waiting not far away, signaling him to step back: "You all go back first, I'll take care of things here."

Upon seeing this, the two tribesmen immediately bowed and replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty, we obey!"

They dared not linger and immediately used the Instantaneous Movement Technique to disappear from sight.

In the cemetery, only three people remained... Uchiha Mitsunori, Uchiha Mikoto, and young Itachi.

The atmosphere grew increasingly quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds in the distance and the soft rustling of the wind through the treetops remaining.

Uchiha Mitsunaga gently patted Itachi's head, his usual sternness gone: "Itachi, although your father is gone, he certainly hopes you can grow up healthy and happy, to be a brave and strong little man, and protect your mother, right?"

Uchiha Itachi raised his head, looked at his haggard mother beside him, and then at his gentle Uncle Sanfeng, a hint of hesitation appearing on his small face.

He was silent for a moment, then nodded gently: "Okay... Uncle Sanfeng... I will be a brave little man and protect my mother..."

Uchiha Mitsunaga patted Itachi's head again and said in a deep voice, "Itachi, go wait up ahead for a while. I need to say a few words to your mother, okay?"

Itachi Uchiha released his grip on Mikoto's small hand and slowly walked away with his tiny steps.

Only two people remained in the cemetery; the atmosphere was quiet, with the occasional chirping of birds in the distance.

Uchiha Mitsunori's gaze fell on Mikoto, watching her silently shed tears: "Mikoto, I know you are very sad right now. Fugaku's departure is a huge blow to you, and I can feel your sadness and helplessness."

"But Fugaku is gone. You can't live in sadness forever, you can't stay immersed in the memories of the past."

"Itachi is only five years old. He can't live without his mother, and he can't lose your companionship and care. You need to be strong and give Itachi a warm home. If you continue to be so depressed, you will not only hurt yourself but also Itachi. This is not what you want to see, is it?"

He wanted to awaken her, to help her become strong again, to make her understand that she wasn't alone, that she still had Itachi.

Mikoto Uchiha lowered her head and remained silent, tears welling up in her eyes, indistinguishable from raindrops.

She kept telling herself that she couldn't live in sadness forever. Itachi was still young and needed her. She couldn't give up...

Seeing her silently weeping and trembling, Uchiha Mitsunori's eyes hardened: "Mikoto, for Itachi's sake, become my woman."

"I will take good care of you and Itachi, and give you a warm home. I will give Itachi warm fatherly love, and I will let Itachi grow up healthy and happy, and give him a complete childhood."

Mikoto Uchiha abruptly raised her head, staring at the man before her in disbelief, almost unable to believe her ears: "Mitsumine, you... what did you say? Say it again?"

She couldn't believe that this man, who had just become the Fourth Hokage of Konoha and was extremely prestigious, would say such a thing to her.

She was just a woman who had just lost her husband, a widow with a young child.

He was the Hokage of Konoha, the pride of the Uchiha clan, and a figure revered and respected by countless people. There was a world of difference between them. She had never imagined she would have any connection with him, much less that he would make such a request.

Uchiha Mitsunori looked at her shocked expression and the disbelief in her eyes, but his gaze remained sincere.

He didn't loosen his grip on her wrist, but tightened it slightly, and said softly again, "Mikoto, I know you're shocked, I know you can't believe it, but what I'm saying is true."

"Mikoto, for Itachi's sake, become my woman! I will take good care of you and Itachi, and protect you for the rest of your lives. This is not a joke, it comes from the bottom of my heart."

Mikoto Uchiha's mind went blank, as if she had been struck hard, buzzing, with the words spoken by Mitsumine echoing in her ears, her heart filled with chaos and struggle.

She pulled her hand back forcefully, as if burned, and hugged it tightly to her chest. She took a small step back, her eyes filled with panic and resistance.

"Mimine...we're not right for each other...we're really not right for each other...I'm Fugaku's widow, a woman with a child. I'm not good enough for you, and I can't hold you back..."

Her voice was hoarse and trembling, filled with helplessness and inferiority.

She knew that there was no possibility between them. She couldn't ruin Mitsuhide's life because of herself and because of Itachi, and she couldn't let others gossip and criticize Mitsuhide and the Uchiha clan.

Seeing her resistance and the inferiority and panic in her eyes, Uchiha Mitsunori was neither angry nor did he force her. He simply shook his head gently, his tone still gentle yet firm.

"Mikoto, if I say it's suitable, then it's suitable. There's no such thing as being a good match or not, or whether it's a delay or not. It's just a matter of whether I'm willing, and whether you're willing to give me a chance, give yourself a chance, and give Itachi a complete family."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, and slowly said, "You should know that this is after the war, and the village's fighting strength has declined significantly, putting us in a difficult situation."

"Before the war, Konoha had over 20,000 ninjas, but after this catastrophe, and the Third Hokage's conspiracy, we now only have over 6,000 left. Do you understand what that means?"

"This means that Konoha's strength is far from what it used to be, and it can no longer withstand any storms or wars."

"Our Uchiha clan is a top-tier bloodline limit clan in the ninja world, possessing the strongest Sharingan, and is the backbone of Konoha."

"But if we lose the village's protection, if we become disunited, then our fate will be even worse than that of the Uzumaki clan. We will be coveted and besieged by other ninja villages, and ultimately meet our demise."

"I'm marrying you not only because I want to take care of you and Itachi, but also for the future of the Uchiha clan."