In the dark underground laboratory, a pair of snake-like eyes flickered with cold calculation as pale hands moved swiftly, manipulating surgical tools with unnerving precision.
On the stainless steel table, a mutilated specimen—once human—twitched slightly before falling still. The experiment had failed.
*Hiss…*
A white serpent slithered up from beneath the stone floor. The sound made Orochimaru's movements still for a moment. Slowly, he placed the tools down and removed his gloves, the latex snapping slightly as they peeled off his fingers.
The white snake raised its head and opened its mouth. A scroll slid out, landing neatly on the table. Orochimaru picked it up, unfurled it, and as his golden pupils scanned the contents, they narrowed dangerously.
'Danzo… dead?'
'Uzumaki Sora…'
'A combination of Wood-style and Mangekyō Sharingan? Is that even possible?'
'So… Sarutobi-sensei truly underestimated the Fourth Hokage. How interesting.'
'Manipulate the Uchiha into an alliance. Use Danzo's downfall to rally the Kekkei Genkai and Secret Jutsu clans.'
'Was this really Jiraiya's doing…? No, this kind of subtlety doesn't suit him. But Minato-kun... you are finally learning to play the game.'
With a faint smirk, Orochimaru rolled the scroll up and began packing the data and materials scattered around the lab.
The fall of Danzo meant only one thing—Konoha was no longer safe. Not for someone like him. He'd survived in the shadows, but the shifting tides had made even the darkness uncertain.
The mysteries of chakra, the essence of life, and the forbidden ninjutsu of this world… there was still so much to learn.
It was time to move on.
Konoha had become... unsuitable.
…
"Onii-chan, when will I awaken my Sharingan?"
In the three-colored dango shop, Izumi sat across from her brother, cheeks puffed like a hamster, her voice slightly muffled as she bit into a sweet dumpling.
Uchiha Yun raised an eyebrow, poking her forehead playfully. "What Sharingan? I've told you already—it awakens through pain. You basically have to be a little broken inside to use it."
Izumi blinked, then tilted her head. "So… are you a little broken too?"
*Smack!*
Yun gave her a light flick on the forehead, sighing. "When we graduate, I'll speak to the Fourth Hokage and make sure we're placed on the same team. After you become a chūnin, I'll transfer you to the Academy to become a teacher. That way, you'll stay safe."
Izumi stared at him, stunned. Her entire path had already been planned?
She didn't love the idea of battle, not after the near brush with death at the hands of those Root operatives. 'If onii-chan hadn't been there...'
"Hey! Sasuke, this is Kushina oba-san and Naruto-kun. Say hello."
"Naruto, he's older than you, you can call him onii-chan!"
Voices carried from nearby. Yun turned his head toward the source. A moment of quiet recognition crossed his face.
'So… it begins.'
The meeting of the reincarnations of Indra and Asura. Uzumaki Naruto, only two years old, toddled up to the equally small Sasuke and reached out to grab his hand.
*Smack!*
Sasuke slapped it away with an expressionless face. "I don't know him." he said coldly, glancing at his mother.
Naruto stared at his hand, shocked, lips trembling like he might cry.
Mikoto leaned down quickly and rubbed Naruto's hand with concern, then gently scolded Sasuke. "Mom and Naruto's mom are friends. When you go to the Academy, you'll be classmates. So be nice to each other."
Standing beside her, Kushina beamed with pride. "Mikoto! It's been so long. And Sasuke-kun is even cuter now. He really does look like his big brother."
That seemed to work. Sasuke puffed out his chest. "I'm going to become a powerful ninja, just like nii-san!"
Naruto tilted his head. "Ninja…?"
Kushina ruffled his hair affectionately. "Just like Dad. Dad's a ninja who protects the whole village."
Naruto's face lit up. "Dad! Dad!" he squealed with joy, the word tumbling from his lips over and over.
But then, Sasuke's expression darkened. He lowered his head, pouting. "Mom… why don't I have a father?"
The air stilled.
Even Kushina's radiant smile faltered as she exchanged an apologetic glance with Mikoto. "I'm sorry… Mikoto…"
But Mikoto shook her head. She knelt down and looked Sasuke in the eye. "Sasuke, you and Itachi both have a father. And he's a brave ninja who helped protect Konoha. When your brother comes back, we'll go visit him together."
Sasuke nodded, though he didn't fully understand.
Kushina, who stood beside them, bit her lip. The guilt in her eyes betrayed her heart. Whatever the public story, she knew Fugaku's death had ties to her family.
"To make it up to you, Auntie will treat you to dango! As much as you want!"
Children, mercifully, never clung to sadness for long. Naruto and Sasuke's eyes sparkled, and they shouted in delight at the mention of sweets.
Yun, watching from his table, sighed.
'Fugaku's death might've loosened the chain on the Uchiha clan… but it's still a wound for the children. Even if the next generation doesn't remember the reasons, they carry the scars.'
The two families stepped into the dango shop. Their eyes briefly met Yun's.
Yun stood, offering a grin. "So, this is Itachi's little brother? Last time I saw him, he was wetting his pants."
Little Sasuke turned crimson, eyes widening. "Liar! I didn't wet my pants!"
Yun chuckled, then turned to Naruto, who peeked out from behind Kushina's leg. Blonde hair, blue eyes—Minato's son, through and through.
"Hokage-sama's son, right? With that height, he must be two already."
Kushina nodded. "You're Uchiha Yun, right? Minato's told me about you. He said you and Shisui helped him out a lot recently."
Yun offered a respectful bow. "Just doing my duty, Kushina-sama."
After some polite conversation, Yun gestured for Izumi to finish her dango, and the siblings quietly took their leave.
'Whew...'
'Maybe I should prepare some samples for those two... One vial might not be enough. I should give them ten.'
Behind him, Mikoto turned to Kushina. "That boy is only nine… Can he really help the Fourth Hokage?"
Kushina chuckled. "Are you asking about what happened the other night? I wasn't told everything, but I know this—Uchiha Yun and Shisui were both there."
Mikoto froze. "Shisui too? But he's just a child… The Fourth Hokage..."
*Fwump!*
Kushina suddenly pulled her into a hug, whispering, "Don't worry. Yes, a high-ranking official died that night. But it was someone who needed to go. Believe me, it's better for the Uchiha this way. Minato let it slip—he's relieved."
Letting go, Kushina scratched her cheek sheepishly. "I hated that old fossil anyway. We can just leave it in the past."
Mikoto finally let out a slow breath of relief.
But behind her, Sasuke had been watching. The words, the looks exchanged between adults—he didn't understand it all.
But he remembered.
And somewhere deep within him, a tiny flame flickered to life.
*****
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