Next Day
'With Shizune already my girlfriend… two main issues left to resolve before I leave to travel,' Naruto thought, his eyes focused, footsteps light but certain as he made his way through the village.
The early morning sun cast long shadows, the air smelled faintly of dew and earth—Konoha in her quietest, most peaceful form. Yet, Naruto's heart wasn't at ease just yet.
He walked through the streets, heading toward the Uchiha district.
It still carried an aura—pride woven into every rooftop and corridor, pain echoing through every polished stone. But things had changed. Not just in appearance… but in spirit.
Two guards stood at the entrance. Sharp eyes, poised stance—but their faces relaxed the moment they saw him.
"Good morning," Naruto greeted, offering them a nod.
They bowed slightly, respectfully.
"Lord Naruto," one said. "It's always an honor."
The words still felt surreal to him. Not long ago, he was the pariah, the outsider. But now—he was the bridge. The one who stood between what was broken and what could still be healed.
The Uchiha had once been seen as distant, aloof. Villagers whispered behind their backs, avoided eye contact, and silenced greetings with tight lips.
They'd been treated like ghosts—present, but unseen.
But now? The village had finally started to see them.
And in that newfound recognition, in every smile exchanged on the street, every shared laugh and nod, there was something powerful:
Belonging.
Naruto stepped through the gate, and it was like walking into a second home. The estate buzzed with life—children training in the yards, elders sipping tea under the shade of a maple tree. A woman hanging laundry waved to him. A boy sprinted past with a wooden sword, stopping mid-stride to grin and shout, "Hey, Naruto-niisan!"
He was greeted at every turn. Not as a hero. Not as the Hokage's favorite.
But as a family.
"Are you here to meet the clan leader?" one of the older shinobi asked with a light chuckle.
"Yes," Naruto smiled back. "Is he around?"
The man nodded, gesturing toward the main building. "He's inside. Just finishing a clan council meeting."
"Perfect," Naruto replied. "Thanks."
As he walked further into the heart of the compound, Naruto glanced around again—watching the Uchiha, not in pain or in fear, but in peace.
They had suffered. Lost so much. And yet, here they were, standing tall again.
This, he thought, was one of the things worth fighting for.
And now… it was time to settle one last matter—with Fugaku Uchiha.
Naruto reached Fugaku's house—Once a hollow, echoing shell of memories and mourning…Now, full of warmth.Yet beneath that warmth—grief still lingered like dust in the corners.
He stepped inside.
The scent of miso, wood polish, and sun-dried laundry filled the air, a comforting scent of family. But the tension was unmistakable.
Sasuke sat in a corner, arms crossed, face stormy.
Fugaku and Mikoto were beside him, their eyes shadowed by concern, trying to reach him—but clearly falling short.
Naruto exhaled through his nose.Sasuke, still brooding over Itachi, he thought.
Naruto had already told him—Itachi can handle himself. But Sasuke had inherited more than the Sharingan…He'd inherited the Uchiha stubbornness.
"Still stuck in a loop, huh… stubborn idiot," Naruto muttered, shaking his head with a sigh, then walked in like he owned the place—sunshine on his face, voice loud and warm.
"Fugaku-ojisan! Mikoto-obasan! Sasuke! How're you guys holding up?"
His tone was light—deliberately. Like pulling open thick curtains to let the light in.
Mikoto turned first. Her eyes softened the moment she saw him."Ah, Naruto… we're doing fine. How are Kushina and Minato?"
Naruto plopped down with that mischievous grin he'd definitely inherited from Minato and said, "They're doing great—finally taking some quiet time. No missions, no chaos, just peace, passion, and probably a few too many late-night dinners…"
He leaned in, lowering his voice playfully."I think I'll be hearing the pitter-patter of a new little sibling soon."
That drew a light laugh from both parents. Fugaku even cracked a rare smile, his shoulders visibly relaxing.
"Oh?" Mikoto teased, "So, what do you want? A baby sister or a brother?"
Naruto didn't miss a beat. "Sister. No doubt."
Both parents raised a brow. "Why?"
Even Sasuke turned his head slightly, ears twitching like a cat pretending not to care.
Naruto crossed one leg over the other and grinned like a fox."If it's a brother, he might turn out like Sasuke. I'm not ready for round two of that drama."
"NARUTO!" Sasuke roared, launching up from the floor like a spring-loaded trap.
Naruto bolted out of the room in a blur of motion, cackling all the way.
"Oi! Oi! That was a joke! Don't come at me with a katana! That's illegal in like—at least three countries!"
Sasuke was already out the door, his katana unsheathed—not to kill, just to chase, as always. His strides were fast, but Naruto's were faster.
Behind them, Mikoto and Fugaku didn't move to stop the chaos.
In fact, Mikoto giggled into her hand.Fugaku leaned back, sipping tea with a rare glint of humor in his gaze.
This was normal.This was routine.
Naruto was weaving through rooftops, laughing like a madman.Sasuke behind him, scowling, shouting, but always chasing.
They leapt over fences, soared across tiled roofs, and darted through clotheslines like children playing tag. The Uchiha compound came alive with the sound of footsteps, shouts, and occasional thumps.
But then—something changed.
Sasuke's scowl cracked into a grin.
A real one.
Wide, bright, youthful.
He wasn't just chasing Naruto anymore. He was laughing.Really laughing.
And for a brief moment—he forgot about Itachi, about burdens.
For a fleeting breath of time…
He was just a boy again.
They returned to the house with arms slung over each other's shoulders—bruised, dirt-smudged, and breathless with laughter. Real brothers not by blood, but by bond.
Their clothes were wrinkled, a few cuts lined their cheeks, and Naruto had a bump forming on his forehead, but both were smiling like idiots.
"Obasan, a little tea might hit the spot," Naruto called out playfully as he crashed down onto the floor with a thud.
"For you too, Sasuke?" Mikoto asked, already reaching for the teapot.
"Yeah… for me too, Mom," Sasuke muttered, his voice soft but genuine.
That one word—Mom—made her heart skip.
He hadn't called her that since returning from his brief, heart-twisting meeting with Itachi. His emotions had spiraled after that—hurt, betrayal, anger—and not just at Itachi. At Naruto too. Naruto, who had promised to help him and yet… hadn't dragged Itachi back.
He understood the logic. But emotions rarely listened to logic.
Still, after knocking Naruto around, throwing fists, trading punches, and laughing like old times, something inside Sasuke felt lighter. Not healed… but cracked open, finally breathing again.
Mikoto poured the tea, her hands practiced and graceful.The scent of roasted leaves curled through the room, grounding the mood.
Naruto and Sasuke took a sip in silence, the warmth of the cup anchoring them.
Fugaku, sharp as ever, leaned forward slightly.He didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"So, Naruto," he said, tone measured. "What did you come to discuss?"
Naruto chuckled, setting his cup down with a gentle clink."Straight to the point. That's what I like about you, Ojisan."
Then, his face shifted. The grin faded. His eyes sharpened.
"I don't know how much this'll affect you, but… I need to say it. And I want you to know—I won't let you down."
Mikoto smiled gently, a hand resting over her heart. She'd always thought of Naruto as another son. Too much weight on that boy's shoulders… and yet, he never slowed down. Always chasing peace, carrying burdens he never asked for.
But she didn't speak. She knew if she tried to tell him to rest, he'd just grin and talk his way around her.
Naruto exhaled."It's about Itachi."
The room went still.
Fugaku, Mikoto, and Sasuke shared glances—not of surprise, but of tension.
Naruto pouted slightly. "Oi, at least pretend to be surprised. You're ruining my dramatic reveal."
"Huh?!" Mikoto and Sasuke said in exaggerated unison, elbowing Fugaku until he deadpanned a "What?"
Naruto stared at them.That was so bad. He nearly gagged.But he let it slide.
"Alright, that's better. Now… the truth."
His tone lowered."Itachi has a disease."
All three froze. The shift in the air was instant.
Shock. Sadness. Grief. Fear.
"W-What?" Mikoto whispered, her hand clenching her robe.
"Don't panic. It's not that serious… yet," Naruto said quickly. "It's a bloodline condition. His body can't keep up with the power of the Mangekyō. If he keeps using it, he's going to burn himself out."
He paused.
"At this rate, he has maybe one or two years before it becomes life-threatening. But only if he keeps pushing himself."
Sasuke's fingers curled around Naruto's collar, lifting him slightly. His eyes were wild with rage and pain.
"Why didn't you say anything sooner?!"
Naruto didn't resist.
"Because I didn't want to interfere with your time together. You needed that moment… and he needed it too. He's my brother as much as yours, Sasuke. I won't let him die. That's not just a promise…"
His hands rose and gripped Sasuke's wrists gently, firmly.
"…that's a vow."
Sasuke stared into his eyes, breathing hard. There was no deception there—just conviction, raw and unwavering.
Finally, he let go, dropping Naruto back onto the floor with a thud.
"…baka," Sasuke muttered, turning away.
Naruto dusted himself off, smiling faintly. "Heh."
Fugaku remained silent, his expression unreadable.But his clenched fists slowly relaxed.The weight of grief didn't vanish—but now, it had direction.
And that made all the difference.