"S-Sasuke—your eyes…!"
Naruto pointed, stunned. "They changed!"
Neji exhaled slowly, his expression complicated.
"That's the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
A subtle heaviness settled over him. With this, Sasuke had widened the gap between them yet again.
And if the box of paradise could really grant wishes…
A forbidden thought flickered through Neji's mind—
Remove the Caged Bird Curse Seal.
But almost as quickly, logic smothered the spark.
The box didn't truly grant wishes—it simply unleashed Satori.
Satori had enough power to trigger Sasuke's evolution, yes…but could it really break a deeply rooted Hyūga sealing technique?
Unlikely.
If it had that kind of power, Kitazawa wouldn't have sealed it so easily.
Neji's eyes softened.
Besides… life now was far better than before. With the right people guiding the village, his curse had begun to feel less like chains and more like a fading shadow.
"I awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan…?"
Sasuke blinked rapidly, disbelief flashing in his widening eyes.
He remembered his wish.
He remembered the surge of power—Satori's influence—and then unconsciousness.
The box had closed. Satori was sealed.
He expected everything to vanish along with it.
Yet the Sharingan remained.
"Huh? The tomoe disappeared again!" Naruto blurted.
Indeed—Sasuke's eyes had reverted to normal.
Emotion, instability, and adrenaline still governed his control.
"What?" Sasuke looked immediately to his brother.
"You awakened it through an external trigger," Itachi explained calmly. "So for now, your Sharingan will activate on instinct, not intention. When we return, I'll train you. Soon, you'll control it at will."
Relief washed over Sasuke—followed by swelling pride.
"I really awakened it…" He couldn't stop the grin creeping up his face.
"Heh… haha—"
He cut himself off, hand covering his mouth, suddenly aware of how ridiculous he sounded.
After all… he remembered the fight.
The confidence.
The arrogance.
He remembered treating Naruto and even Itachi like stepping stones.
A flush crept across his cheeks.
He turned away, unable to meet their eyes.
Kitazawa watched with an amused sigh.
Sasuke wasn't celebrating the Sharingan—he was celebrating the rush Satori had given him.
A power that wasn't truly his.
Now? He was stronger—yes.
But he was not the unstoppable force he imagined.
Just then, three glowing lines appeared in Kitazawa's vision:
Mission completed: Assist Uchiha Sasuke in awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Reward issued: Invisible Sharingan Activation.
A flood of information poured into his mind.
Just as the name implied—his Sharingan could now activate invisibly.
No visible tomoe.
No obvious eye change.
Even his Chakra signature could remain masked—unless he cast genjutsu.
Enough stealth to turn an argument, interrogation, or assassination into a silent victory.
One glance. One thought. No warning.
Perfect.
Another set of lines followed:
Mission completed: Defeat Satori.
Reward issued: Contract Seal.
Kitazawa's expression sharpened.
The Contract Seal—one of the Uzumaki clan's most dangerous sealing arts.
A technique capable of severing summoning contracts.
It was the same jutsu Minato once used to break Obito's link with the Nine-Tails.
Its applications were vast:
Disable enemy summoning beasts.
Break alliances between Shinobi and sacred clans.
Neutralize tailed beasts in emergencies.
In Orochimaru's case, Kitazawa could have severed his contract with Ryūchi Cave—
instantly cutting him off from Manda and the serpents.
Some shinobi could simply reform a contract later…but in the right battle, in the right moment—
This technique could change the fate of nations.
Kitazawa exhaled, grounding himself.
"Bring Mui here."
Two ANBU immediately bowed and sprinted toward the prison.
The mission wasn't over yet.
Not until the final loose ends were tied.
Moments later, two ANBU returned—dragging Mui forward.
He looked nothing like the stubborn, determined warden from before.
Now he was empty, hollow—his spirit crushed.
The reason was simple: Kitazawa had forced him to watch everything.
The wish.
Satori's release.
Its defeat.
With that, the truth had become impossible to deny.
The box never granted anything.
It only released Satori—and fed on sacrifice.
Which meant his wish… Muku's resurrection… was nothing but a lie.
Kitazawa studied him quietly.
"So," he asked, voice calm, "what will you do now?"
Mui blinked, startled by the question.
"You're… you're not going to kill me?"
Kitazawa raised a brow.
"And what would be the point? You broke the rules. We broke the rules. Consider it even."
Silence swallowed Mui.
His entire life—the schemes, the betrayals, the sacrifices—had been fueled by a single goal.
Now that goal was gone.
"…Then kill me," he muttered, voice brittle. "There's nothing left."
Kitazawa sighed softly, then asked:
"Even if your son can't be revived… aren't you worried about the girl he loved?"
Mui's head snapped up.
"…Ryuzetsu."
Emotion flickered back into his eyes.
"How do you know about her?"
"Konoha investigates thoroughly," Kitazawa replied with a faint smile.
Ryuzetsu—Mui's childhood friend.
A kunoichi who eventually joined Kusagakure's ANBU, risking her life day after day.
A girl who, in another timeline, would give up her life to save Naruto.
Kitazawa continued:
"Kusagakure is split right now—Kusabana and Kusanomi. Ryuzetsu's faction is at a disadvantage. She could be killed at any time."
Slow realization spread across Mui's face.
"You're… you're not just telling me this. You want something."
Kitazawa smiled.
"A future Hokage shouldn't just protect Konoha."
His eyes sharpened.
"He should reshape the entire shinobi world."
A familiar notification chimed in his mind:
Mission triggered: Secretly control Kusagakure and establish a new leader.
Reward: Eight Trigrams Seal.
Perfect.
He looked back at Mui.
"With your strength, you're the strongest in Kusagakure. Becoming its leader isn't difficult."
His tone lowered.
"And I'd rather cooperate with someone who once fought for love than with a power-hungry fool."
Mui swallowed hard.
"You want… me to rule Kusagakure?"
"With Konoha backing you," Kitazawa corrected, "anyone could."
A long silence followed.
Then—slowly, firmly:
"…I accept."
His voice trembled, not with fear—but with purpose.
Ryuzetsu would live.
His son's name wouldn't fade.
Kitazawa nodded, satisfied.
"Itachi."
Itachi stepped forward instantly.
"You'll stay here. Help him take control. Once he's leader, return."
"I understand, Lord Kitazawa."
Behind that calm tone was clarity:
He'd cast a subtle genjutsu—insurance.
Not control, just a silent safeguard.
Kitazawa smirked inwardly.
Reliable as ever.
"I'll return to Konoha first," he said. "The ANBU units are under your command until this is settled."
Sasuke waved enthusiastically.
"Big brother! See you soon!"
This wasn't a farewell full of emotion—it was purely excitement.
He had achieved what he wanted, and now wanted nothing more than to run home and brag to Fugaku.
Neji watched quietly.
So… that was it?
No personal test, no trial—just observation?
Hinata simply smiled, content.
Being part of Kitazawa's mission was enough for her.
With the box sealed and Kusagakure in transition, Kitazawa led his students back toward Konoha.
The ANBU would handle transporting the box—it would arrive a few days later.
At Konoha's gates, Kitazawa stretched and exhaled.
"I'll report to the Hokage. All of you—go home and rest."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei!"
Sasuke sprinted off instantly—pure joy radiating from him.
Kitazawa chuckled.
"Impatient as always."
Hands in his pockets, cloak rustling in the winter wind, he turned and headed toward the Hokage Tower—already thinking about the next step.
Uchiha Clan Compound
"Dad!!"
Sasuke burst through the door like a firework that couldn't wait to explode.
Fugaku looked up from the tea table—rare timing, since he was actually home today.
"You're back," he said calmly, though Sasuke's expression already told him the mission was anything but ordinary. "How did it go?"
"It went perfectly!"
Sasuke puffed out his chest, practically vibrating with excitement.
"And—Dad—there's something you'll never guess!"
Mikoto peeked from the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands.
"Where's Itachi?" she asked. "He didn't come home with you?"
"He stayed behind to finish the mission," Sasuke said quickly. Then, unable to hold it any longer, he declared with absolute pride:
"I awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
Both Fugaku and Mikoto froze.
Not shocked.
Not surprised.
Paralyzed.
Activating two tomoe at seven had already been record-breaking—but a three-tomoe Sharingan at eight?
That wasn't genius.
That was legend.
"…Let me show you!" Sasuke said, lifting his hand toward his eye—and then stopped.
Right.
He didn't know how to activate or deactivate it yet.
Awkwardly clearing his throat, he instead explained everything—the mission, the box of paradise, Satori, the fight, the wish.
His parents listened in silence.
It was unbelievable… yet far too detailed to be a lie. And Itachi would confirm everything later anyway.
Finally, Fugaku exhaled—a slow breath turning into a grin, then into laughter.
"Hah. As expected… you truly are my son."
If Sasuke was already at this level, then Mangekyō was practically inevitable.
And with his connection to Kitazawa…
Hokage was no longer a dream—but a trajectory.
Fugaku laughed harder—fully, proudly, without restraint.
Hokage Office
Kitazawa entered the building and let out a relieved breath as warmth washed over him.
January in Konoha was unforgiving.
He made his way upstairs, knocked, and entered when Tsunade granted permission.
"Tsunade-sensei," he reported. "Mission completed."
Tsunade leaned back, studying him with a lazy grin.
"A mission led by you failing? That would be the real miracle."
She lifted a brow. "Where's the box of paradise?"
"With ANBU. It's heavy—it'll take two extra days to transport."
"Once it arrives, have the sealing unit secure it. That thing is dangerous."
Kitazawa shook his head.
"That would be a waste. I want to dismantle it and reforge it into ninja tools."
Tsunade blinked.
"The box of paradise was said to be crafted by the Sage of Six Paths. Can it even be dismantled?"
"No idea," Kitazawa replied simply. "Which is why I plan to call every blacksmith and toolmaker in the village and find out."
Tsunade snorted—amused, impressed, resigned.
"…Fair enough. If it can be reforged, the result could be terrifying."
Kitazawa nodded, then shifted topics.
"There's also the matter of Mui—the warden of Hōzuki Castle. I've arranged for him to become the new leader of Kusagakure."
Tsunade waved a hand dismissively.
"If you trust him, I won't interfere. And the previous leader deserved worse than death for what he did to Karin and Rina."
Small villages existed because the Great Nations allowed them to. Their politics weren't urgent—just useful.
Kitazawa continued:
"During the battle, Itachi used the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Tsunade's relaxed expression vanished.
"Are you certain?"
"The tomoe had evolved," Kitazawa confirmed. "A triangular shuriken pattern. And the power was far beyond the three-tomoe stage."
Tsunade leaned back again, thoughtful.
"The Uchiha clan… two Mangekyō awakenings in a single generation: first Shisui, now Itachi."
"At least," Kitazawa added lightly, "both stand firmly on Konoha's side."
She nodded.
"Itachi revealing it means he trusts this village."
Kitazawa's lips curved.
"Or maybe… he trusts you."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"The old man retires and suddenly you think you're brave enough to talk back?"
"I didn't say anything," Kitazawa replied innocently.
"…I should throw you out of the office."
She didn't—mostly because Kitazawa was standing just far enough away.
Kitazawa cleared his throat.
"One last report: Sasuke awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
Tsunade blinked.
"…Another one?"
Kitazawa nodded.
"With the right guidance? His chances of awakening Mangekyō are at least ninety percent."
Tsunade exhaled.
"Good thing you're his teacher. Otherwise, one day the Uchiha would give me a headache."
Her gaze softened—but only slightly.
"There was a time when the Uchiha were feared because their power led to instability. Because strong emotions fueled their evolution."
She tapped her desk.
"But with you holding Wood Release… I'm not worried. Not anymore."
Kitazawa smiled.
Neither was he.
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