Morning.
Uzushiogakure.
It was time for Uzushiogakure's important annual festival…
The Shinigami Festival!
The winter snow had long melted. Though the chill of February lingered, the gentle spring breeze could not be held back. This morning, unlike the previous days of light rain, warm sunlight slowly spilled from the blue sky, dispelling the last traces of cold. Small blades of grass quietly pushed through the soil.
Unnoticed, the once snow-white scenery had completely vanished.
"Nagato, Nagato!" A blue-haired girl knocked on the door, shouting loudly. "Are you still sleeping?"
"It's so late already!"
"Everyone's outside, come out and play!"
Yet…
The door remained closed.
The little girl pouted, her cute brows furrowing as she slapped the door hard.
Thud! Thud!
"If you don't get up, we'll ignore you!"
"Even Yahiko woke up earlier than you!"
The girl puffed her cheeks angrily. "Hurry up and open the door, no more sleeping in!"
Beside her, an orange-haired boy with spiky hair sighed. "I told you it's still early. Most people aren't even awake yet."
Right now…
It was only seven in the morning.
And since today was a holiday, most people probably weren't working, so they were still resting.
"Yahiko, that's not the right attitude." Konan said seriously. "Both of us came from the Land of Rain. Back then, we never slept until seven or eight."
"Everyone had to go out looking for food by five or six in the morning."
"Some even stayed awake all night, curled up in a corner, afraid of enemy ninja breaking in."
"Yeah." Yahiko forced a smile. "It's been almost a year since we came to Uzushiogakure."
"Life now is something we never could've imagined before."
"So we can't afford to slack off." Konan nodded firmly. "The people in the Land of Rain are still suffering."
Then, she proudly raised her chin. "Besides, I'm now a citizen of Uzushiogakure!"
"Me too." Yahiko scratched his head. "My dad got his citizenship a few days ago."
"Really?" Konan's eyes lit up. "Then we can go to school together, just like Nagato!"
"Yeah." Yahiko smiled. "Study hard with Nagato."
"And protect Uzushiogakure together."
"If only the Land of Rain could be like Uzushiogakure." Konan sighed wistfully. "Then everyone could live a good life."
"It's a shame." Yahiko nodded, then suddenly brightened. "If the Land of Rain were closer to Uzushiogakure, maybe Lord Jun could—"
Creak—
Before he could finish, the door opened.
"You guys are way too early." Nagato rubbed his eyes, yawning. "It's not even time yet."
"You're the one who's late!" Konan huffed. "If we were still in the Land of Rain, you'd starve like this."
"But I've always lived in Uzushiogakure." Nagato yawned again. "Three meals a day, meat every time. A cup of Kamizuru Clan's S-rank honey water in the morning, milk at night. The only bad thing is Mom won't let me eat sweets all day. Otherwise, life's pretty good."
Besides…
Today was the festival, so his mom would probably come back after finishing some work at the factory.
"..."
This guy…
Konan and Yahiko narrowed their eyes, glaring at Nagato.
They suddenly felt an urge to punch him.
"Come in." Nagato rubbed his eyes, stepping aside. "Let me wash up first." He gave them a reproachful look. "Even if it's the festival, you don't have to be this early."
"The fun part is at night. There's stalls and fireworks."
"Yeah!" Konan's eyes sparkled. She nodded eagerly, looking at Nagato with envy. "You're so lucky, Nagato. You've always lived in Uzushiogakure."
"Mom and Uncle said it wasn't always this good." Nagato took out honey and poured them each a cup of honey water. "Even though we lived on an island without war, people still went hungry. Some even froze or starved in winter."
"But after Lord Jun was born, Uzushiogakure slowly got better."
"So Lord Jun is truly a great man." Yahiko said solemnly. "He'll definitely bring true peace to the ninja world."
"Right, right!" Konan clasped her hands in admiration. "Lord Jun is amazing!"
"Here, honey tea. This is S-rank honey." Nagato handed them two cups of pale yellow honey water. "They say drinking it regularly is good for your health. It increases chakra reserves and improves control."
"I know, I know!" Konan nodded. "Kamizuru Clan's S-rank honey! It's legendary, you can't even buy it!"
The highest grade sold in Kamizuru's honey shops was only A-rank, and even that was expensive.
"After my mom got promoted, she bought me some C-rank honey." Konan stuck out her tongue, looking at the cup in her hands. "Even C-rank is super expensive."
"Yeah, my family bought some too." Yahiko sighed. "Same as Konan, just C-rank."
"Nagato, where did you get yours?"
So jealous.
Hearing Yahiko's question, Nagato lowered his head, silent for a moment. "My dad gave his life for this. And this house too."
He…
Had never seen his father since birth.
"..."
Konan and Yahiko fell silent.
"Sorry, Nagato, I…" Yahiko looked at him apologetically, unsure what to say. Finally, he spoke solemnly. "Your father must've been a hero."
"Yeah." Nagato smiled. "He's my idol!"
"Lord Jun said it's because of heroes like him who sacrificed for Uzushiogakure that we have the country we do today."
"So…"
"I'll become a hero like my dad." Nagato looked at Yahiko and Konan with determination. "After graduation, I'll join the military. Become a soldier of Uzushiogakure."
"Like my dad, I'll protect Uzushiogakure."
Yahiko and Konan exchanged glances, then stretched out their hands, looking at Nagato seriously. "Us too!"
"Nagato, let's work hard together."
"Let's make Uzushiogakure even stronger!"
Seeing their small fists extended, Nagato froze, then smiled.
"Let's do our best together!"
He raised his right fist, and slowly…
Three small fists bumped together.
"Girl, why did you drag me out?" Madara grumbled, glaring at the Uchiha youngster. "What's so fun outside?"
He had been perfectly content lounging on the balcony, enjoying the spring breeze and dozing off. Why did he have to come out?
It was crowded, full of people everywhere.
"Grandpa Madara, this isn't good." Uchiha Mikoto ignored his complaints, smiling. "You're starting as a homeroom teacher soon. If you keep scowling, you'll scare the kids."
And…
"Staying home all the time isn't healthy for an old man."
Mikoto looked at him seriously. "Elderly people need to go out more."
"Hmph, I just had a check-up. Even the doctor said I'm fine." Madara snorted. "Nothing's wrong with me."
Besides…
He glanced down at the wheelchair he was sitting in.
How was this any different from lying at home?
Stupid youngster.
"Don't be like that." Mikoto chuckled, pushing the wheelchair. "The weather's great today, and it's Uzushiogakure's Shinigami Festival. It'll be lively!"
"I've lived long enough to see everything." Madara scoffed. Wasn't this just the Uzumaki Clan's ancestral festival? The Uchiha had one too, except…
The Uzumaki had turned theirs into a national event.
Did she think he, Uchiha Madara, had never seen an Uzumaki festival before?
"Of course, Grandpa Madara is amazing." Mikoto pushed the wheelchair, smiling. "But since we're out, why not walk around with me?"
"Hmph." Madara snorted. "Don't do this again."
"Thanks, Grandpa." Mikoto grinned, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. This too." She pulled out a stack of papers from her ninja pouch. "The academy gave me this list today."
She handed it to Madara.
"It's the students you'll be teaching next semester."
"Students?" Madara took the list, unfolding it slowly. He skimmed the names. "Kamizuru Clan?"
He'd heard of them. Honey sellers. Tobi had bought some before—pretty tasty.
Muroto…
That was a Chinoike name.
Back in the day, he'd taken a mission from the Land of Lightning to guard the Chinoike.
To think they'd all ended up in Uzushiogakure.
Interesting.
"Mokushukuma…" Madara's eyes narrowed. As the Uchiha's rival, how could he not recognize this kid's lineage? Even with a changed name, he knew—this was a Senju.
To think…
He, Uchiha Madara, would become a teacher to a Senju. What would Hashirama's face look like if he knew?
It'd be hilarious. And…
"This time, I win again, Hashirama."
Madara smirked. "How amusing."
Seeing his smile, Mikoto nodded in satisfaction. Grandpa Madara was fine, just always scowling like someone owed him billions.
"Uchiha Clan." Madara turned to the last page and froze. He looked back at Mikoto. "This is your family's kid, right?"
"Yeah." Mikoto smiled. "Please take care of him, Grandpa."
Madara nodded, then kept reading. The records were detailed—home addresses, parents' names.
But…
To think the Uchiha would end up under his guidance again.
Back then, the clan had chosen peace over following him, leading to his downfall.
Yet now, they were nearly wiped out.
Pathetic.
But what should he teach them?
As Hashirama's rival, he knew some of his techniques. But taijutsu…
His best skills were Uchiha-style.
As Madara pondered…
"Mikoto."
A deep voice called from behind.
Mikoto turned to see a young man. "Good morning, Clan Head."
"Morning." Uchiha Fugaku nodded expressionlessly, then fell silent, his gaze fixed on the old man in the wheelchair. Again, this old man. Why did he always feel something strange around him?
Almost as if…
His Mangekyō wanted to activate on its own.
"Clan Head, are you on patrol?" Mikoto glanced at Fugaku's uniform. "That's tough." Then, noticing his stare, she introduced, "This is Grandpa Madara. The academy's new taijutsu instructor. He'll be Uchiha Iketo's homeroom teacher."
Homeroom teacher?
Fugaku's eye twitched. Had he misjudged?
Looking at Madara's indifferent expression, Fugaku hesitated, then bowed slightly. "Please take care of the Uchiha children."
He straightened, addressing Mikoto. "I'm on duty. Be careful."
Then he left.
"The Clan Head and Grandpa Madara are so alike." Mikoto watched Fugaku's retreating back. "Both cold on the outside, warm inside."
"Tch." Madara sneered. "Let's go."
Alike?
What nonsense. Even if this Uchiha leader had awakened the Mangekyō, his strength…
Was nowhere near Uchiha Madara's.
And…
"Darkness festers in his heart." Madara muttered.
The Uzumaki brat…
What was he planning with the Uchiha?
"Huh?" Mikoto blinked. "Grandpa, what did you say?"
"Nothing." Madara said flatly. "To the market. I'm hungry."
"You dragged me out before breakfast. Hurry up."
"Sure, Grandpa." Mikoto giggled. "I'm hungry too. I heard Uzushiogakure has amazing food."
"Let's try some!"
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━