In the dimly lit underground laboratory, a pair of snake-like eyes focused intently on the tools in their hands.
On the operating table, a mangled, bloody experiment lay in ruin—it had failed.
"Hissss…"
From the cracks of the earth, a white snake slithered forth, its sound making Orochimaru pause. He set down his tools and removed his gloves.
The snake opened its mouth, spitting out a scroll. Orochimaru picked it up and unrolled it. His pupils narrowed sharply.
Danzō… dead?
Uzumaki Sora?
The Wood Release of Senju Hashirama… and the Mangekyō Sharingan, Susanoo?
"Sensei… it seems you underestimated the Fourth Hokage far too much…"
Uniting the Uchiha as a foundation, and now, using Danzō's downfall to draw in other Konoha clans with secret arts and bloodline techniques…
Such methods… Could this really be something taught by someone like Jiraiya?
Closing the scroll, Orochimaru began organizing every scrap of data and research notes in the lab.
Clearly, with Danzō's fall, this place was no longer safe. And perhaps… even Konoha itself was no longer safe for him.
The secrets of chakra, the secrets of life, the countless jutsu of the shinobi world… there was still far too much left to study.
Konoha… is no longer a place I can remain.
"Big brother, how long until I awaken the Sharingan?"
Inside the dango shop, Uchiha Izumi puffed out her cheeks, both stuffed with dumplings, looking almost like… a little guinea pig.
Uchiha Yun poked her cheek with a finger and replied,
"What Sharingan? I've told you already—you can only awaken it through pain. And honestly, most people who awaken it… end up a little broken."
Izumi glanced at her brother suspiciously.
"Then, big brother… are you a little broken too?"
"Uh!"
Bonk!
Unable to answer, Yun flicked her on the forehead.
"Once you graduate, I'll speak with the Fourth Hokage. I'll have you placed in the same team as me. After you reach chūnin, I'll move you into the Academy as a teacher. That's the safest path for you."
Izumi blinked in surprise. He's already planned all this for me?
She didn't really like fighting or killing anyway. Like that one day when ROOT operatives suddenly appeared—if her brother hadn't been there, she would've been in real danger…
"Sasuke, this is Aunt Kushina and little Naruto. Go on, say hello."
"Remember, Naruto, call him 'big brother'…"
Not far away, voices caught Yun's attention. So… the destined meeting of those two main characters begins here?
The fate of Indra and Asura, entwined across generations—how much had he already changed it?
The two-year-old Naruto, just learning to walk, toddled up to Sasuke and reached out to hold his hand.
Smack!
Unfortunately, their first contact ended with little Sasuke slapping Naruto's hand away.
Turning to his mother, Sasuke said firmly,
"Mom, I don't know him."
Naruto stared blankly at his reddened hand, on the verge of bursting into tears.
Mikoto hurried over, soothing Naruto's hand gently, before looking at her son.
"Mommy and Naruto's mommy are good friends. When you start at the Academy, Naruto will be in your class. You two need to get along, okay?"
Beside her, Kushina's eyes sparkled as she looked at Sasuke.
"Mikoto, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sasuke's grown even more handsome. He looks just like his big brother."
Perhaps it was that last part that swayed him, but Sasuke proudly lifted his chin.
"I'll become a powerful ninja, just like my brother."
Naruto, who had only just learned a few words, tilted his head upward.
"Ni…nja?"
Kushina ruffled his hair with a smile.
"Just like your father. He's a ninja who protects the whole village."
Naruto understood that much, and began happily shouting "Papa!" again and again.
But Sasuke lowered his head, his little face suddenly downcast. After a moment, he looked up and asked quietly,
"Mom, why don't I have a dad like big brother and I?"
The words froze the air. Even Kushina stopped Naruto's cheers, guilt flickering in her eyes as she glanced at Mikoto.
"I'm… so sorry, Mikoto."
Mikoto shook her head softly. Kneeling down, she looked Sasuke in the eyes and said gently,
"Sasuke, you and Itachi do have a father. He's a great ninja who protects this village. When your brother returns, he and I will take you to see him."
Sasuke nodded seriously. But beside them, Kushina's eyes carried a trace of guilt.
After all, Captain Fugaku's death… had begun because of her.
"How about this, Sasuke? Auntie will buy you dango. As much as you want!"
A child's heart doesn't linger long in sorrow. At the promise of endless sweets, both boys' eyes lit up, their sadness forgotten.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yun sighed to himself. Fugaku's death might not have been bad for the Uchiha politically, but for the children… it was another matter entirely.
As the two mothers and children entered the dango shop, they crossed paths with Yun and Izumi. For a moment, their eyes met.
Yun stood, smiling warmly.
"So, this is Itachi's little brother? Last time I saw him, he was still wetting his pants."
Sasuke's face went red instantly.
"You're lying! I don't wet my pants!"
Yun chuckled, then glanced at Naruto. The boy looked exactly as he remembered—hair the same golden shade as the Fourth Hokage's.
At the moment, though, Naruto was hiding behind Kushina, still sulking from Sasuke's slap.
"This is the Fourth's son, isn't he? Same hair color, about two years old now?"
Kushina nodded.
"You're Uchiha Yun, right? Minato mentioned you. He said you and Shisui helped him out a great deal recently."
Yun gave a slight bow.
"It was nothing. Just what had to be done."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yun gave Naruto and Sasuke a final glance, then urged Izumi to greet them before taking his leave.
Whew…
He had the sudden urge to draw blood samples from both boys. One tube each wouldn't be enough—ten, at least.
After Yun departed, Mikoto turned to Kushina.
"That boy… he's only nine, isn't he? Could he really have been of help to the Fourth Hokage?"
Kushina smiled.
"Mikoto, are you asking about what happened the other night? I'm not too sure myself, but both Uchiha Yun and Uchiha Shisui were present."
Both of them?
Mikoto's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly whispered,
"Kushina, Shisui has been working so hard to ease tensions. The Fourth, he—"
Slap!
Kushina threw an arm around her friend's shoulder, leaning in to murmur,
"What are you thinking? Relax. Yes, a Konoha elder died that night. But for the Uchiha… it was a blessing. That much, Minato accidentally let slip."
Releasing her, Kushina scratched her head with a grin.
"Besides, I hated that old man anyway. Since he's dead, that's the end of it."
Only then did Mikoto's heart ease. But behind her, little Sasuke had silently taken in every word.
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