Naruto: I am Uchiha Fugaku

After the meeting concluded, the three elders, Uchiha Onko, and others departed from the Naka Shrine. However, Uchiha Fugaku remained. He approached a section of the meeting room floor and prised open a wooden panel.

Creeaaak—

The floorboards gave way, revealing a passage with stone steps. Lighting a lamp, Uchiha Fugaku descended the stone staircase into an underground chamber. Once he lit the chamber's lights, a spacious area, roughly several hundred square meters, became visible. Against the far wall stood a rectangular stone monument intricately carved with mysterious runic script.

This was the Uchiha clan's most renowned monument, predating even the clan itself, left behind by the Sage of Six Paths. Only those who awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan could decipher its contents.

"...Two opposing forces become one, birthing all of creation..." Uchiha Fugaku activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and read the inscription aloud. He was aware of this chamber and the monument's existence but had never come to examine it. He knew that Black Zetsu had long since altered the monument's message, erasing the Sage of Six Paths' original words. Uchiha Madara himself had been misled by Black Zetsu's altered inscription, integrating Hashirama Senju's power into his own to awaken the Rinnegan.

"It's an artifact left by the Sage of Six Paths, after all. It might have other uses. I can't leave it here." Uchiha Fugaku produced a sealing scroll and sealed the monument within it. Uchiha Obito knew about this secret chamber and the monument, and there was always a risk he might infiltrate Konoha and take it. Even if tampered with, an artifact from the Sage of Six Paths could still hold unforeseen value, and losing it to Obito would be a shame.

A New Secret Lair and Unexpected Spore Clones

Leaving the secret chamber and the Naka Shrine, Uchiha Fugaku headed to a nearby building. Inside, he activated a hidden mechanism, granting him access to another secret room. This room comprised a large hall connected to various stone chambers. Some of these chambers housed scrolls, while others stored precious chakra metal weapons. This place had always been a secret chamber managed by successive clan leaders, safeguarding numerous valuable Uchiha artifacts. After the secret room beneath his study was compromised, he had moved its contents here as well.

In the hall, numerous figures sat or lay, each an exact replica of Uchiha Fugaku, totaling thirty-three. These were the spore clones Uchiha Fugaku had been creating over the past few days. By keeping them here, he provided them with a living space and could also entrust them with guarding the valuable items in the secret room.

"While their numbers can grow through accumulation, their weak combat ability is a significant drawback!" Uchiha Fugaku mused, looking at his spore clones with a hint of regret. If each of these clones possessed strength comparable to his own, or even slightly less but still Kage-level, thirty-three Kage-level clones—what a sight that would be! He could overthrow the Third Hokage, seize firm control of Konoha, then lead Konoha to flatten the other four great ninja villages and unify the ninja world. But alas, it was just a fantasy. These spore clones, far from Kage-level, couldn't even reach Jōnin rank; they only possessed Genin-level strength. Their combat ability was simply too weak for battle.

"Speaking of which, White Zetsu clones vary in strength. While most of them are weak, similar to my spore clones, the stronger ones, like Spiral Zetsu, can reach Kage-level." He wondered how White Zetsu managed to create such powerful spore clones as Spiral Zetsu. He had considered capturing the original White Zetsu to interrogate it about the method for creating Spiral Zetsu. "Even if I could get the method for making Spiral Zetsu, it would probably be difficult to mass-produce such special individuals," he speculated. Spiral Zetsu was clearly an extremely unique individual; even the original White Zetsu likely couldn't mass-produce them. Otherwise, there wouldn't be just one Spiral Zetsu, but many, and the Akatsuki's strength would be even greater.

A Breakthrough in Spore Clone Creation

Putting those thoughts aside, Uchiha Fugaku began his daily spore clone creation. Recently, he had been using his excess chakra to create and accumulate spore clones.

"Spore Clone—"

A tiny, almost invisible spore squeezed out from the flesh of his palm, then rapidly expanded as chakra was poured into it.

"Hmm...?" A look of surprise and uncertainty crossed his face. The amount of chakra expended had already reached his usual quota for a spore clone, yet this one was still only a child, not fully developed. This was clearly abnormal.

He continued to infuse chakra, and the spore clone continued to grow. The chakra consumed reached the equivalent of two normal spore clones, but this clone was still underdeveloped, only about ten years old. The chakra consumed then reached the equivalent of three normal spore clones, and it was still an adolescent, around fifteen or sixteen. He continued to infuse chakra. When the chakra consumed reached the equivalent of four normal spore clones, it transformed into a young adult, resembling a younger version of himself. He could sense that this spore clone was still not fully developed.

He continued to infuse chakra. Even after consuming the equivalent of five spore clones' worth of chakra, it was still incomplete. Only when his chakra was almost completely depleted did this spore clone fully develop, growing to look exactly like him.

"It actually consumed so much chakra!" Sweat beaded on Uchiha Fugaku's forehead from the massive chakra expenditure. Wiping his brow, he gazed at this spore clone, created with almost all of his chakra, and couldn't help but be astonished. What was so special about this spore clone that it required such an immense amount of chakra?

With his chakra nearly depleted, it was impractical to use his Sharingan to examine the clone's physical condition, so he employed another method to test its uniqueness.

"Attack me with taijutsu!" he commanded the spore clone, and it immediately moved. Taking a step forward, it delivered a straight punch towards him.

Boom—

He blocked the spore clone's punch with his arm. However, the clone then raised its leg and spun, delivering a kick. He stepped back, dodging the kick, and the clone pursued, swinging its right hand in a chop towards him.

Boom, boom, boom!

After a dozen exchanges, he had assessed the spore clone's physical condition. No longer holding back, he suddenly exerted force, batting away the clone's hand. With a skillful strike, he slapped the spore clone, pushing it away.

"That's enough!" The spore clone was about to attack again, but he stopped it.

"It's truly different from a regular spore clone!" Uchiha Fugaku exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise as he looked at the now-still clone. Leaving other aspects aside, in terms of pure physical prowess, this spore clone was easily comparable to an average Jōnin.

This is a significant development! It seems Uchiha Fugaku has stumbled upon a new, more powerful type of spore clone. What do you think this could mean for the future of the Uchiha clan and Konoha?

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/Shinazuki