Sasuke entered the dimly lit hall silently, his expression as cold as steel. He did not waste time on greetings, nor did he offer explanations. Instead, he simply stood next to his father, Uchiha Fugaku, his gaze sweeping over the gathered clan members. His Rinnegan glowed faintly, demanding attention without a single word.
He finally spoke, his voice sharp and laced with finality:
"You still don't understand what I made clear earlier. If anyone dares to object, I can send him back right now—never to be reincarnated again!"
The weight of Sasuke's words pressed heavily upon the room. Instantly, silence fell. Even the faint whispers that had lingered before were cut short.
Sasuke's gaze softened slightly when it fell upon a young Uchiha boy among the crowd. The boy's eyes reflected both fear and sorrow. He had been among the clan members cut down during the massacre, a commoner who had never even awakened the Sharingan. He had never sought power or glory—only a peaceful life within the clan. Yet, in the night of blood and betrayal, he had been slain mercilessly by Itachi's blade.
Sasuke took a step forward, his voice firm but not without compassion.
"Do you want to return now? I can undo the Edo Tensei binding you without harming your soul."
The boy trembled, his lips parting hesitantly.
"No… no, I don't want that. I still want to see her… to see what she looks like now."
A quiet sigh escaped Sasuke's lips. He understood. These people had been denied so much, stripped of futures, robbed of closure. His Rinnegan pulsed faintly as he turned back to address the entire hall.
"You have no reason to complain anymore. What has happened, has happened. You are here now—reborn, even if in this incomplete form. When the time is right, I will bring you all back completely. Not as souls bound by Edo Tensei, but as living, breathing members of the Uchiha once more."
The declaration struck the clan like a thunderclap. Murmurs erupted almost instantly.
"Impossible…"
"He must be lying. How can flesh and blood be restored?"
"There's no way…"
Many Uchiha shook their heads, refusing to believe. Yet, a few of the more perceptive among them stared intently at Sasuke's Rinnegan—the eyes that symbolized both the Sage of Six Paths' power and the hope of their future.
Sasuke's voice cut through the disbelief like a blade.
"Nothing is impossible. I carry the power of the Sage of Six Paths. There exist jutsu that transcend death itself. When the time comes, I will take you away from Konoha. We will build a new home—our own village, our own nation. A village of Uchiha alone. That is my promise to you."
The air shifted immediately. Hope—something the clan had not felt in decades—ignited within their hearts.
"That's…!"
"Yes!"
"Follow Chief Sasuke!"
Cheers and cries of agreement broke out. For the first time since their slaughter, the Uchiha clan members dared to dream again.
Fugaku's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his usually stern face. His son had achieved in moments what he himself had failed to do in his lifetime—earn not only the clan's obedience, but also their faith.
Mikoto's lips trembled with emotion as she watched. Her son—once the small boy she had tucked into bed—now stood as the pillar of the Uchiha's future.
Although many of them still held affection for Konoha, the massacre had carved a permanent scar. They had once sought reform, not rebellion—merely a change in leadership. Yet, instead of dialogue, they were met with steel and blood. Even those who had no hand in politics, who had no will to resist, were slaughtered indiscriminately.
Itachi's blade had been merciless, but Sasuke knew the truth—Itachi had been manipulated. Shimura Danzō's poisonous words, his so-called "sacrifices for the village," had cornered his brother.
Now, Sasuke had inherited both the pain and the will to change everything.
He raised his voice again.
"You all know the truth. Naruto resurrected you to make amends with me… but also because greater enemies still exist beyond this world. The Ōtsutsuki threat is not gone. If we are to survive, the Uchiha must grow stronger. Train your Sharingan, refine your ninjutsu, and cast aside bitterness. We cannot undo the past, but we can shape the future. Even if you no longer wish to protect Konoha, then protect this world—for only with the world intact will we secure the resurrection of our clan."
His words carried conviction, and the Uchiha listened. Purpose filled their once-empty eyes. Slowly, they dispersed, each with a new determination burning in their hearts.
When the hall was finally quiet, Fugaku and Mikoto led Sasuke back to their home. As they entered, Fugaku placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Sasuke… you are far greater than I ever was."
Sasuke allowed himself a rare smile. To hear such praise from his father was no small thing.
Though Mikoto and Fugaku had little appetite, Sasuke had not eaten since the previous day. Mikoto went to the kitchen and returned with freshly made noodles, setting the steaming bowl before him with motherly care.
"Here, Sasuke. Eat it while it's hot."
Sasuke gave a short nod, eating quietly. Mikoto's heart swelled as she watched. He had grown so much, yet in that moment, he still looked like the little boy who once clung to her kimono.
After a pause, Mikoto spoke softly.
"Sasuke, your mother has something to ask."
Sasuke lifted his gaze. "Go ahead, Mom."
Mikoto smiled faintly, though her tone carried weight.
"The other day, Naruto's mother, Kushina, came to visit. You may not remember, but when you were just a newborn, she held you in her arms."
Fugaku frowned slightly, but did not interrupt. He knew where this was going.
Mikoto continued.
"Kushina told me that Naruto is engaged. And… Hinata is pregnant."
Sasuke froze mid-bite. His chopsticks clattered lightly against the bowl.
"What? Naruto got Hinata pregnant?!"
Shock flooded his expression. For all his knowledge of the future, this development had caught him off guard. His mind immediately leapt to the image Naruto had once shown him—Boruto, the son of Naruto and Hinata.
"So… that boy Boruto will be born earlier than expected," Sasuke muttered. His chest tightened as fragments of the future replayed in his thoughts—Boruto possessed, his eye blinded by a kunai, his body trembling in pain.
A sharp pang lanced through Sasuke's own eyes, and he instinctively touched them.
Mikoto chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"See? Even you're surprised. Naruto doesn't waste time, does he? Engaged and expecting already… all at once."
Sasuke exhaled through his nose.
"No wonder he kept pressing about getting engaged. He's trying to cover it up. That idiot really went and did it out of order."
He clenched his jaw, irritation flickering across his face.
Mikoto tilted her head, her smile curious.
"Sasuke, are you upset that Naruto is getting married?"
Sasuke shook his head, though his voice was laced with frustration.
"I'm happy for him… of course I am."
But Mikoto's maternal intuition caught the nuance. She glanced at Fugaku, but her husband feigned ignorance. With a sigh, she turned back to her son.
"Sasuke, you're older than Naruto. If he's getting married and having children, it's time you thought about it too."
Sasuke groaned, setting down his chopsticks. "Mom…"
"Don't 'Mom' me," Mikoto scolded lightly. "Your brother is hopeless in this regard, so my hopes rest with you."
Sasuke frowned. "Hopeless? What do you mean?"
Fugaku cleared his throat.
"Your brother has a childhood friend—Uchiha Izumi. You met her after she was resurrected. You remember her, yes?"
Sasuke nodded slowly. Her gentle face lingered in his memory.
Fugaku's voice grew heavy.
"We had no objection to Itachi being with the one he loves, but Izumi—like us—was brought back through Edo Tensei. Their bodies are not living, not truly. They cannot… move forward like that."
Mikoto sighed, her voice tinged with sadness.
"I had hoped for a daughter-in-law, but your brother insists he won't make the wrong choice again. He refuses to let her go. So, we must wait. If one day the clan is fully resurrected, perhaps then…"
Her eyes softened as she looked at Sasuke.
"Which means, my hopes now lie with you. Besides…" She gave him a teasing smile. "Don't you already have girls who care for you? Sakura, Karin… even Naruto says you could marry more than one."
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperation flashing across his features. The crushing weight of responsibility pressed down on him—not only the survival of the Uchiha, but now, even his mother's expectations for marriage.
The feeling of being cornered into such matters was far more suffocating than facing any battlefield.
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