Just as said before, Yorin took Ashura's little cub as his godson—Minato had no objections; he even welcomed it. Publicly or privately, it was a good thing. As for Kushina, her heart was even bigger: before she'd finished nursing she was already talking to Minato about baby number two. Who knows if the next one will be named Boruto or Himawari.
The next moment, Yorin popped onto the boulevard with baby Naruto in his arms.
Konoha's commercial district, after more than half a year, was even more bustling. Thanks to absolute security, huge capital and resources poured in. Capital naturally flees to safety—like how the Napoleonic wars supercharged English finance. Konoha was much the same.
At least until the myth "Konoha will never be attacked—its shinobi always fight at the border" is broken, not only Fire Country magnates but even merchants from nominally hostile nations are happy to trade here.
People everywhere, carts streaming past, stalls selling everything—little Naruto had never seen such a sight; he froze, neck swiveling as he clung to his godfather for a bit of safety.
Yorin keeps his word—even to kids. If he says he'll show you the world, he shows you the world. He even had plans: when Naruto's older, take the kid to "nightclubs for field study," to inspire future "Harem Technique" ideas.
Even if that earns a parental manhunt, Yorin's willing. It's all for the child.
Yorin: "We'll bring your grand-master too, have him demo 'I'll take ten at once!'"
Maybe Yorin's face looked kindly; baby Naruto clapped and gurgled.
Yorin: "Good—we'll take that as a yes."
So the two "men" strolled the street; by the time they'd gone from one end to the other, Naruto had a longevity lock, sachet, rattle, and tiger-head cap hanging off him. Yorin bought a second set too.
One Flying Thunder God mark later, he blinked into the Uchiha compound with Ashura-cub, and the second set got used.
He handed the boy to Uchiha Sasuke—his second godson. Whether Sasuke liked it or not, Aunt Mikoto certainly did. "So extravagant, spending so much on him!" she said—beaming, so clearly pleased.
Yorin tousled Indra-cub while cooing, "Happy to see godfather?"
Whether from same-clan instinct or higher baby IQ, Sasuke seemed genuinely delighted, smiling up and reaching for Yorin—who promptly set him beside Ashura-cub and let the brothers begin their eternal war.
With babies, "war" usually ends in tears and adults stepping in. Not these two. Even when the pinches hurt, neither cried. Clear as day: born enemies.
For now, everyone just thought the pair was adorable. No one saw the seeds of a future Valley of the End.
Uchiha Yorin: "Should be all right. History's already been rewritten for good."
He told himself that, watching them with equal warmth. As an expensive godfather he'd keep the bowl level—though if push came to shove, he did like Sasuke a hair more.
But Naruto has both parents, won't be despised as a "fox brat"—he shouldn't grow into that maladapted, people-pleasing kid from the original timeline… right? He should be fine.
Still, Yorin brooded. Both boys could grow into continent-crushing titans—perfect for building his Konoha Empire. But if the Indra–Ashura blood-feud never ends, they become "White-Crown One and Two," dueling to prove "who's strongest," and the world burns; his empire goes up in smoke.
Yorin: "Is it too late to gender-swap Sasuke? Land of Demons has a way to make it permanent, right? If sacrificing one 'pillar' ends the millennia war and brings peace—that's a bargain. Even the Sage would be comforted."
Mikoto, unaware of the villainy—turning her son into a daughter—just saw Yorin doting on the babies and smiled. "If you like children so much, why not marry and have a few of your own?"
Yorin: "Ah, well…"
The harem makes it… complicated. Convincing them to share a boyfriend isn't the same as share a husband. And having kids? Boy or girl—or… other? His head hurt.
Even the ever-resourceful Yorin sometimes meets a headache. Mikoto dropped it and started planning her own campaign to push him into marriage.
The calm broke when a messenger arrived.
"Sunagakure has named its price."
It was an Anbu—mask on, but in full Gestapo kit, somehow even more ominous now.
"Oh?"
Yorin perked up; Mikoto, considerate, scooped up the babies and left.
"Speak."
Even if it was mostly for show, Konoha and Suna were still nominal allies. Among the Five, Suna was the most likely to stay with Konoha in the looming war.
Though in the original, Suna joined the "Konoha Crush"… barely a decade from now. Hard to imagine a "friend" turning mortal foe after a mere ten years—unless they'd never been a real friend.
Uchiha Yorin: "Maybe Iwa or Kumo makes a better ally than Suna… what am I thinking."
While he pondered, the Anbu bowed and delivered, heavy voice grim: "Suna declares it's willing to ally with Konoha—but first we must agree to one condition."
Yorin was already annoyed.
Really? You're poor, so you're righteous? Sounds like we're begging you—and okay, in a sense, we are: no one wants that barren sanddump unless it has oil.
Which, hm.
Oil?
Yorin: "So—what's their condition?"
"They say…" The Anbu sounded like a Wehrmacht officer reporting to a trembling Führer—minus any 'ally' to share the blame: "They say we must hand over Pakura—then they'll ally."
Yorin dropped his red-blue pencil and roared, "That's why I'm furious!"
Decision made.
He would declare that the Wind Country's sands hid vast oil.
In the next few days, every Konoha-aligned paper began trumpeting a brand-new technological revolution—driven by internal combustion and "new energy," with oil at the core. Those who had oil would rule the age.
After months of cultivation, Konoha Daily was one of Fire Country's biggest papers. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em"—other media crossed-invested with Yorin; everyone made money.
So this time, when Konoha spoke, the rest helped amplify it. Soon all Fire Country was abuzz about "oil."
Wind Country reprinted it for free (of course)—and the story reached Suna. Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, was briefly delighted. Half right or not, it could be true. Beneath Wind's poor sands lay not just placer gold but a lot of oil.
Because this world's tech tree is bizarre, coal, oil, engines—exist, but never became mainstream. Chakra and ninjutsu are too convenient.
(Though in Boruto's time, Mist fields carrier groups. What powers them—bunker fuel or diesel? Surely not chakra turbines…)
"Whatever—it's good news."
Rasa thought: even half true, it's a windfall for Wind and Suna.
Wind is dirt poor. At the first Five Kage summit, they begged for land instead of two tailed beasts—they simply couldn't afford the beasts.
He didn't yet grasp the iron law: everything destiny gives has a price.
Wind's land just got valuable—great. But Yorin quietly removed their "it's not worth the fuel to invade us" passive.
Without sending a single soldier, with not one shuriken thrown, Uchiha Yorin dealt Suna a heavy blow.
It fully detonated at year's end. Fire Country wasn't the only one to hear; the other three did too.
"Could it be true?"
"Feels promising."
"Wind's lucky—free fortune."
"Jealous as hell—why not our country… (continue.)"
Soon every Kage's desk—Konoha included—had a contingency: If true, then attack Suna's oil.
Even if no one actually attacks, you need the plan. You can't improvise an invasion.
Then those plans were "leaked" via diplomacy and spies—landing on Rasa's desk.
Rasa: "…What?!"
Four villages, four attack drafts—terrifying enough to make this seasoned jonin faint. Luckily, Suna had its own medic legend: Chiyo hauled him back.
He barely caught his breath before barking, "Quick—summon Uchiha Yorin! Tell them Suna will renew the alliance—pledge ourselves to Konoha! We're faithful! I'll even offer my daughter—beg him, for Wind and Fire's sake, to pull us up!"
And with one small trick, Yorin flipped the board.
Where Konoha once made concessions to keep Suna, now Suna groveled to Konoha.
If he wanted to be petty, he could sneer: Where were you earlier? But fear pushes people into dumb moves; spurned, Suna might run to Kumo.
So Konoha smiled as if nothing had happened, arms open, graciously forgiving a little tantrum.
Rasa himself came to Konoha to proclaim alliance. Wind and Fire "returned" to old days—like Britain and France in the world wars.
…
"What a humiliation."
In the five-star Konoha Grand Hotel, Rasa clenched his fists.
The décor and service were top-tier—far better than poor Suna. Rumor said Konoha's ANBU chief—soon-to-be Hokage's aide—Uchiha Yorin had designed them.
"Future Konoha will be the world's center. Crowds will come. Let's make them feel at home—and charge them hard," he'd pitched.
Konoha's shabby inns were upgraded to five-star.
"As a Kage, to come begging the enemy… disgraceful. Remember it," he told his guard. "One day we'll be equals—not a lesser vassal."
Suna guards: "…"
Buddy, that opening and your conclusion… a bit far apart?
Still, better to swallow pride than lose lives. Rasa's realism would ease Konoha's Anbu listening behind the walls; Yorin would be satisfied.
…
Though not formally Hokage's aide yet, people—home and abroad—felt Yorin already eclipsed Danzō. If Sarutobi and Danzō had been light and shadow, Minato and Yorin were twin suns.
Some even whispered: "You can risk offending Minato. Don't offend Yorin. The former gives you a clean death; the latter makes you beg for one."
Rasa could feel it. Fortunately, Yorin had a weakness: women.
For Pakura—he'd risked offending Suna. Rasa couldn't fathom it—but it won. Such a man, better ally than foe.
He looked at his pride and joy: his daughter Temari. Strong-willed and pretty—timeline shifted by Yorin: Sasuke was born months early; by butterfly effect, Temari fifteen years early—now eighteen.
"Temari."
"Yes, father."
"It's time you sacrificed for the village."
"You'll reside in Konoha—officially a diplomatic envoy. But your real mission: get close to Uchiha Yorin. At any cost, make him soften toward Suna." He stressed at any cost.
"Yes, I understand, Father!" Her face did not change; still, Rasa scolded:
"Use titles at work!"
"Yes, Lord Fourth Kazekage!"
"Good…"
He hesitated. He did love his daughter, but feared she'd fail: "Your stance—any resistance?"
"How could there be..."
Temari smiled—confident, a touch predatory. "To drop a single stone on the board and change the world in a blink—such a man is the finest prey. Even without orders, I'd make my move."
~~~
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