Land of Fire, Konohagakure.
The Uchiha clan compound.
Uchiha Sasuke walked along the road, his eyes filled with hatred, confusion, and fear…
There was even a faint sense of unreality.
The once lively compound, bustling with people, was now completely deserted.
Ants licked at the blood that hadn't been fully cleaned away. Crows let out eerie cries, making the place feel like a haunted house—cold and lifeless.
Because half a month ago, a horrifying massacre had taken place here.
The rogue ninja of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Itachi, had slaughtered every member of the clan and left without looking back.
The once-renowned Uchiha clan from the Warring States era had nearly been wiped out completely!
And the only two survivors were…
Sasuke arrived at a simple small building. At the entrance stood a young man with a handsome face.
He looked about seventeen or eighteen, with long limbs, flowing black hair, and the signature good looks of the Uchiha clan. On the back of his clothes was the same fan-shaped clan crest as Sasuke's.
"Brother Uchiha Kuro…" Sasuke's voice was hoarse.
"Sasuke, you're back from the hospital." Uchiha Kuro looked at the boy in front of him and smiled gently, his voice soft. "How's your body? Still feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
"The once-great Uchiha clan now has only the two of us left. We absolutely can't afford anything to happen to either of us."
Sasuke's lips trembled. He bit them tightly, as if trying to suppress the sob that was about to escape.
That's right!
The Uchiha clan… only the two of them remained!
One was himself, deliberately spared by Uchiha Itachi.
The other was this lucky Uchiha Kuro!
The reason Uchiha Kuro survived was because, before the massacre, Chūnin Uchiha Kuro had left the village on a mission and hadn't returned for half a year. Konoha had already declared him dead.
Yet after the massacre, he unexpectedly came back.
Just a few hours apart!
If he had returned a little earlier, he would have died as well!
"Thankfully… thankfully there's still Brother Uchiha Kuro!" Sasuke bit his lip so hard it nearly bled.
Otherwise, he truly didn't know how he could face everything alone.
"It's alright, don't worry." Uchiha Kuro gently patted his back. "Don't cry. We are the last members of the Uchiha clan—we represent its honor."
"Men of the Uchiha… would rather bleed than shed tears…"
"Mm!" Sasuke wiped his tears forcefully, rubbing his eyes red.
Although Uchiha Kuro had always been somewhat of a background figure within the clan…
Now that only the two of them remained, Sasuke suddenly felt a sense of family warmth from him.
Uchiha Kuro comforted him softly for a while.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "Sasuke, as the son of the clan head, you should inherit the position of Uchiha clan head… Although you're still young, I won't treat you as a child."
"So, what are your plans from here on?"
"Brother Uchiha Kuro… me, the brother of a butcher—how could I be worthy of being clan head?" Sasuke gave a bitter smile, filled with self-mockery.
"But while I was in the hospital, I thought about it a lot…"
"I will revive the clan, and then—"
His eyes were filled with hatred.
"I will personally kill that man!"
Though he was only seven years old, killing intent surged from him.
But soon, he restrained it and looked up.
"Brother Uchiha Kuro, what about you?"
"I know my own strength quite well." Uchiha Kuro smiled bitterly, self-deprecating. "Revenge… isn't something I can hope for right now. So I plan to focus on one thing—do everything I can to revive the Uchiha!"
"Mm!" Sasuke nodded firmly. "In that case, let's work hard together, Brother Uchiha Kuro!"
"We'll train diligently, make a name in the ninja world, and properly restore the Uchiha clan!"
However, Uchiha Kuro shook his head.
"No, Sasuke. Your understanding of reviving the Uchiha is too narrow."
"You think reviving the clan means producing a powerful ninja?"
"No!"
Uchiha Kuro gestured at the empty, lifeless compound around them.
"Look at this place. With only you and me left, even if we train like mad and both become top-tier powerhouses like our ancestor Uchiha Madara, we still wouldn't be qualified to say we've revived the Uchiha!"
"What the Uchiha needs most… is population!"
"We should start by having children!"
Sasuke instantly froze in place.