Author's Note:
Greetings, comrades. I've returned from the shadows.
After a brief silence, I'm back—and I bring with me a chapter worthy of the wait. It's a long one, a true banger crafted with the resolve of a shinobi walking a path of no return.
To those who waited patiently, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support has been my chakra through the storm. From this point onward, updates will come faster and stronger—like a barrage of well-placed kunai. I aim to complete this volume with unwavering speed and precision.
I'm also forging the path ahead, laying the groundwork for the next volume. If you have suggestions—be it plot twists, character arcs, or even a new anime world you'd like me to explore—feel free to drop them here. Your ideas are like intel to a strategist: vital and deeply appreciated.
Suggestion here.
Once again, thank you for standing by me. Together, we move forward like a squad on a mission—united, focused, and unstoppable.
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"As most of you already know…" Naruto's tone dropped lower, a little colder, his fingers gripping a handful of clan-representing toys. "The majority of shinobi in Konoha today—Genin, Chunin, Jonin—belong to just four clans: Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane."
He placed each toy individually in front of him, as though lining up suspects in a trial.
"Over eighty percent of our active shinobi corps are affiliated members from these four families, maybe by name, marriage, or loyalty."
That alone made a few people murmur—most in disbelief, some in understanding.
"But despite their numbers, tell me this—" he scanned the room, his eyes fierce yet calm, "—how many of them were ever seen on the front lines? In covert ops? In the bloody, cursed heart of war?"
Silence.
Not a word. Not a defense. Just uneasy shifting, even from those who once might've supported the old system.
"They were protected," Naruto went on, "cushioned from danger by the very leaders of their clans. Resources, ranks, influence—all handed to them without ever proving themselves. While the rest of us bled."
He didn't need to name names. The room felt heavy with unspoken truths.
"Now tell me—aside from participating in the First Great Ninja War, what exactly have these four clans done for the village?"
Again, no answer. No rebuttal. Just shame. Just silence.
Naruto moved forward now, his voice harder but steady. "The Second and Third Great Wars were won not by them, but by the Sannin. By Sakumo Hatake. By my own father, Minato, Namikaze."
He pointed toward Tsunade, then toward Kakashi.
"And if you want to talk about clans who carried those wars—it was the Senju and Uchiha. The Senju stood until only Tsunade remained. The Uchiha fought… even while the village whispered behind their backs."
He took a breath. One filled with quiet fury.
"Every drop of blood we lost… every genius shinobi buried in silence… was because of those four clans clinging to power. We don't even know how many bloodlines disappeared during their rule."
He paused, glancing at his mother now, his voice lowering again—but not in weakness, in reverence.
"If my mom hadn't survived… no one in the village would even remember the Uzumaki clan. Even now, she's not called the last of her proud lineage. She's referred to as 'the Fourth Hokage's wife.'"
There was a bitter weight behind those words. A truth twisted by time and politics.
"Not a hero of her own clan. Not a leader. Just… a footnote to someone else's legacy."
The silence that followed wasn't just from shame. It was from revelation. The fog was beginning to clear.
"Sorry, sorry." Naruto gave a sheepish bow, brushing his hair back with that familiar grin. "Guess I got a little too emotional back there."
"No, we understand, Naruto," Kushina said softly. Her hand rested on his shoulder—warm, steady, motherly. Her touch carried more than comfort; it carried legacy.
"Mom…" Naruto looked at her, surprised.
But her face—no, every face in that room—had changed. No longer confused, no longer haunted by shadows of doubt. They were ignited with purpose, painted with a fierce, unspoken resolve.
Naruto smiled widely, a grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes. A smile only a man who'd finally found family could wear.
"Where did we leave off?" he asked, glancing back at the battlefield of toys, frozen mid-conflict like actors awaiting their cue.
"You left off at Kushina-kaa-san's legacy," Karin piped up, her voice clear but soft, almost reverent.
"Ah, right," he nodded, the weight of it coming back to him.
"I won't drag it too long," Naruto said, the cheer dimming, replaced with the quiet steel of truth. "What I just told you… It's only the surface. The shallow end of a much deeper betrayal. There are so many shinobi whose names were erased, whose graves are unmarked, whose stories we'll never know. And that loss is on them."
He tapped one of the four elder clan toys with his finger, then moved them aside slowly.
"Now…" His voice dipped lower. "Let's talk about their most recent masterpiece. The final stroke in their twisted calligraphy—the extermination of the Uchiha Clan."
The air grew colder.
Fugaku's jaw tensed. Mikoto's expression darkened, pain tightening her brow. And Sasuke… Sasuke didn't blink. He sat still, eyes locked forward, as if any movement might shatter what remained of his soul.
But it wasn't just them. Every person in the room felt it—like a gust of wind across an ancient battlefield. The silence screamed.
"This massacre…" Naruto began slowly, "could've been prevented. So easily. All they had to do was talk. Just once. Just sit down and talk."
He picked up two toys—one for the Hokage, one for Fugaku—and placed them side by side.
"But they didn't. They acted like diplomats in public—speeches, meetings, and fake negotiations—"
Then, Naruto shifted the Hokage toy behind the Uchiha one, placing a tiny kunai in its hand.
"—and behind the curtain, they were sharpening the dagger."
A stunned stillness fell across the room. No one spoke. Not even Orochimaru.
"Instead of understanding the pain of a proud clan crushed under suspicion, instead of extending a hand… they chose silence. Instead of peace… they chose slaughter."
His tone didn't rise. It didn't need to. The truth spoke louder than any shout ever could.
"But even in such a poisoned climate," Naruto said quietly, voice full of reverence, "a kind soul rose above it all… willing to carry a burden no one should ever have to bear."
He reached for a new toy—a younger one, sculpted differently, eyes calm yet distant.
"This," Naruto said, holding it up for everyone to see, "is Shisui Uchiha."
He placed the toy gently between the Uchiha clan and the Hokage figures. Not behind. Not in front. Between.
"He didn't stand for rebellion. He didn't stand for blind loyalty. He stood for peace. And in that, he carried the weight of two worlds—his clan, and his village."
Naruto paused, letting the silence sink in before he continued, "Shisui had the Kotoamatsukami… a genjutsu so powerful, it could rewrite a person's will without them ever knowing. He could've used it for control. For domination. But he chose restraint. He chose faith. He believed in diplomacy, not domination."
He looked around the room.
"And because of that belief… they feared him."
Naruto's hand trembled slightly as he moved the Hokage and elder toys closer to the Shisui figure, then slowly laid Shisui on his side.
"They said it was for peace. But the truth? They feared his strength. They feared what he might become. So they chose fear over faith. And the one who could've saved everyone… was silenced."
Tsunade shut her eyes tightly. Even Orochimaru turned his gaze downward.
"And after that," Naruto said solemnly, "the burden fell to someone even younger."
He reached for a toy that bore a striking resemblance to Fugaku, but with softer features. Determined eyes. A silent pain sculpted in miniature.
"Itachi Uchiha."
As the name left his lips, Fugaku's shoulders tensed. Mikoto clutched her hands, knuckles white. Her breath hitched. The image of her little boy—gentle, brilliant, torn by duty—flooded her mind.
Sasuke said nothing. But his face… oh, his face. It was a storm. A battlefield of emotions crashing into each other. Anger at the betrayal. Sorrow for his brother. Confusion. Rage. Grief. Love.
Naruto didn't look away. He wanted Sasuke to feel this. To understand it.
"Itachi loved the village more than he loved his clan," Naruto said, gently placing the Itachi toy behind the elder figures, facing the Uchiha toys like a reluctant executioner. "He was trained to believe that the greater good justified the greatest pain. That sacrifice was noble. That silence was strength."
He locked eyes with Sasuke then.
"And for years… he carried the shame. Alone. Unthanked. Hated. By the very people he died to protect."
Naruto's voice cracked slightly—raw now. Human.
"We don't talk about Shisui. We don't remember Itachi correctly. Because to do that… we'd have to admit that this village—our home—sacrificed its best sons out of fear."
He looked around at all the stunned faces, then slowly sat down.
Naruto's voice softened, the teasing edge fading, replaced by a steady warmth."Sasuke… what do you think of your brother?"
The room fell still.
Sasuke blinked, caught off guard. His jaw clenched. He hadn't said a word the whole time. Itachi's name echoed in the room—partly because of the ghosts that name carried... and partly because his parents were right beside him.
His silence cracked, voice lashing out like a blade."He's a murderer. He killed our clan. Our people."The words came sharp, but beneath them… sorrow trembled like a barely held dam.
Mikoto's hands flew to her mouth, tears already falling. She pulled Sasuke close, clutching him like she could somehow protect him from the truth retroactively. Fugaku sat frozen—eyes wide, shoulders heavy—as if the years that separated his sons pressed down on him all at once.
He looked at Naruto. A plea. A silent, desperate, "Please..."
Naruto gave a small nod. I got this.
Sasuke suddenly turned on him, his voice rising."And you—!" he spat. "I thought you were my friend! You knew all this, and you kept it from me?!"
Naruto didn't flinch. He just smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head."Well, yeah… Sorry about that. But you've got a head hotter than a ramen pot left on full flame. If I told you the truth back then, you would've stormed the Hokage's office and tried to throw him out the window."
Despite the rage boiling inside him, Sasuke blinked in confusion.
"…You're not one to talk. You're literally the most hot-headed person here."
That earned a round of laughter—light, genuine, a brief break in the emotional storm. Karin leaned over, grinning, "Facts. Big facts."
Naruto shrugged with a grin. "Maybeee…"
Fugaku gave Naruto a small, grateful smile. The kind a father gives to someone who just pulled his son back from the edge.
Naruto's gaze settled on Sasuke again. This time, more serious."Alright, back to business. Let me ask you one more thing… Itachi. He had someone he loved more than anyone—maybe two people. You know who?"
Sasuke scoffed. "How the hell should I know?"
Naruto didn't say a word. Just slowly pointed… at Sasuke.
Sasuke stared. "What…? Me?"
Everyone turned to look at him.
Naruto's voice softened again, rich with emotion."Itachi loved his little brother more than anything. He would've torn the world apart for you, Sasuke. He gave everything… just to make sure you lived."
Sasuke's eyes widened—but only for a heartbeat.
Then his expression crumbled into rage.
"No. No! He didn't love me! He put me in a genjutsu loop of massacre! Again and again—do you know what that does to a kid?! Did he ever stop to think what I felt?! He killed my parents right in front of me!"
Naruto didn't deny it. His voice stayed steady.
"You're right. He did. He put you through hell, Sasuke. But he had a reason. A reason only someone in chains can understand."
Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He shot up from the couch, stormed over, and grabbed Naruto by the collar. His hands trembled with fury.
"STOP IT! Don't talk about that murderer like he's some kind of saint!"
The room grew tense. Sasuke still had Naruto by the collar, knuckles white, fury trembling in his fingertips.
The others rushed forward, trying to pull him back—but Naruto remained calm, his eyes locked on Sasuke's with a steady, unshaken gaze.
"Tell me, Sasuke…" Naruto asked, gently prying the hands off his shirt. "When did you awaken your Sharingan?"
Caught off guard by the question, Sasuke paused, then slowly stepped back and sat down again, jaw still clenched.
"…After the massacre," he muttered.
Everyone returned to their seats in uneasy silence.
Naruto leaned forward slightly. "Exactly. After the massacre. Do you know why?"
Sasuke shook his head. "No."
"The Uchiha don't awaken their Sharingan through training," Naruto said. "It's pain. Raw, emotional agony. That's the trigger. The loss of someone deeply important—friends, family, lovers… anyone who carves their place in your heart."
Fugaku took it from there, his voice low, filled with memory."You awakened yours the night you lost me and your mother. That grief—it branded your soul. Same with Itachi… he awakened his Mangekyō the night Shisui died."
There was a pause. Then Fugaku continued, tone heavier.
"I awakened mine… during the war. I watched too many comrades die—friends I trusted, bled with. That pain gave birth to this."
He slowly lifted his head, and as his chakra flared ever so slightly, the Mangekyō Sharingan unfurled in his eyes.
The pupils glowed crimson like embers in twilight. Two black concentric circles framed the iris—sharp, precise.Three curved scythe-like blades spun out from the inner ring, each tipped with a red dot, forming a haunting triad.Between them floated three tomoe—shadows orbiting in perfect symmetry.
A quiet awe swept the room.
"This is my Mangekyō," Fugaku said, the glow in his eyes like fire held still. "Its design echoes the traditional Sharingan… but its abilities are far from ordinary."
He took a breath. "I have four distinct powers."
"First—my left eye: a genjutsu-based ability. I call it Gokan Shihai — Total Control of the Five Senses. I can twist what my enemy sees, hears, touches, smells, and tastes. They're helpless against attacks they cannot perceive."
"Second—my right eye: Mirai Zanshō, or Premonition of Ruin. It lets me project visions of the future into my enemy's mind—visions of loss, failure, and death. And it's not just seeing... it feels real. Even seasoned shinobi hesitate when they're convinced they've already lost."
He let that linger before he continued, voice darkening.
"Third—when combined, these eyes unleash a forbidden illusion. One that strips all five senses while showing you your inevitable demise. You are blind, deaf, paralyzed... yet you see your death approaching, and can't even scream."
He paused, letting the silence drive in the horror."I called it Shikō Meiun—Judgment of a Doomed Mind."
Everyone was still.
"And lastly," Fugaku added, voice returning to even ground, "my Susanoo—like all Mangekyō users. A massive chakra warrior. Ultimate defense… nearly impenetrable."
He let his eyes fade, returning to their natural black.
"That is the Mangekyō Sharingan I bear. Not just a weapon, but a curse of grief. And every Uchiha who awakens it… pays a price."
"But… Father," Sasuke's voice cracked, low and trembling with rage barely held back, "even if what you said is true, Itachi had no right—no right—to put me through that hell."
His voice faltered, but the venom in it didn't.
Naruto raised his hand calmly."I'll take it from here."
Sasuke turned to him again, eyes narrowed but listening.
"He did it… because of that pain, Sasuke," Naruto said gently, "because he knew what pain would awaken inside you. And he chose to become your pain."
Sasuke's breath caught.
Naruto continued, voice steady like a storm that's already passed."He knew that to awaken the Mangekyō, you had to lose something… someone. And what greater pain than your own brother betraying you? He made himself your nightmare, just so you'd be strong enough to survive what came next."
"He wanted you to kill him," Naruto added. "To finally overcome that mountain of hate—and in doing so, gain the strength only Mangekyō can give."
"But that wasn't the end of his plan."
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly.
"You know the Mangekyō Sharingan," Naruto said, "it's powerful—but it comes with a cost. Overusing it slowly robs you of your sight. That's why most Mangekyō users don't rely on it for every battle—it eats away at your vision every time you tap into it."
He let that weight settle.
"But there's one way to overcome that curse."
He looked Sasuke dead in the eye.
"By transplanting the eyes of someone close—someone with the same blood. Then, you awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. No more blindness. No more limitations. Pure, boundless power."
He paused.
"That's why Itachi pushed you to hate him. To kill him. Because he wanted you to take his eyes. He gave up his name, his clan, and even his place in your heart—just to give you a future."
Sasuke stared, numb. The weight of those words crashed through him like waves. Betrayal and love—twisted into the same blade.