The sudden scolding left Naruto completely stunned.
Why are they scolding the Third Hokage again?
Before Naruto could even ask, one of the Uchiha clan members spoke up sharply:
"I've said it before—the Third Hokage's rule was weak and incompetent! He only maintained the most basic foundations of Konoha's regime, nothing more!"
He pointed toward Naruto, voice filled with bitterness.
"Look at the Fourth Hokage! He gave his life to seal the Nine-Tails, and yet his own son—Naruto Uzumaki—was left behind as a Jinchūriki. What kind of miserable life did he live in this village as a child?!"
Mikoto Uchiha's gaze softened as she looked at Naruto. For a moment, sorrow filled her heart.
Back when she was pregnant with Sasuke, Naruto's mother—Kushina Uzumaki—had also been pregnant. The two women would occasionally meet in the hospital's obstetrics ward and chat briefly, sharing the joy and struggles of impending motherhood.
She had known that Naruto carried the Nine-Tails within him. What she hadn't known back then was that he was also the son of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and Kushina herself. Only the Third Hokage and the two shinobi who had accompanied Minato that fateful night had known the truth. Hiruzen had immediately ordered the information sealed, forbidding it from being revealed.
Of course, over time, many had guessed the truth. Minato's death coincided too perfectly with the sealing of the Nine-Tails, and Naruto's appearance left little doubt for those who had known Kushina.
Shikaku Nara, for example, had figured it out long ago. He had been close friends with Minato, often teaming up with him and Chōza Akimichi for missions in their youth. He knew enough to recognize Naruto's parentage, though even he never said it aloud.
Mikoto sighed softly.
After the Nine-Tails' attack, the village grew cold and distrustful toward the Uchiha clan. Similarly, Naruto was shunned because he was the Jinchūriki of the beast that had destroyed their home. And so, the Uchihas and Naruto remained distant from one another.
By contrast, Sasuke's early years had been filled with warmth. Before the night of the Uchiha massacre, he had grown up surrounded by the love of his family. As the son of Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head, Sasuke had been respected both within the clan and the village.
Naruto, however, had been forced to endure scorn, hatred, and isolation from almost everyone around him.
One Uchiha clansman muttered, voice tinged with pity:
"It's really hard to believe this kid endured all that. Ostracized, criticized, treated like a monster—and yet, he didn't turn into one."
Another nodded. "Yeah… it's not easy at all."
A third scoffed, glaring at the absent Hokage. "That old Third Hokage—besides throwing a bit of money at the problem, what else did he ever do? He really let us down!"
"Exactly! From this point of view, we were right to rebel! What kind of future could there ever be under his rule?"
Another voice chimed in darkly: "It seems Orochimaru did the right thing!"
"Yes, beautifully done. Killing that old man was the best move!"
...
Off to the side, Orochimaru blinked in astonishment.
He had never once imagined that one day, people would actually praise him for killing his old teacher, the Hokage.
The world truly was full of surprises.
While the discussion grew louder, Naruto finally spoke up, raising his voice:
"The past is in the past. Besides, the Third Hokage is already dead! You all saw the projection earlier—Uchiha Madara himself was manipulated by Black Zetsu, which led to the Fourth Shinobi World War. What we should be focusing on now is preparing for possible future wars!"
The Uchihas fell silent.
Then one scoffed dismissively. "Future wars? We're already dead! There are barely a handful of us left here. What does it matter to us anymore?"
Another snarled, rage filling his voice. "No matter what excuses Itachi had, he still slaughtered my family. I'll never forgive him!"
"Yes! Revenge is all that matters—kill him!"
A calmer voice interrupted, "What's the point? He's already died once."
Sasuke stepped forward, eyes cold.
"Strictly speaking, I am the head of the Uchiha clan now. You've all been resurrected by my jutsu. If any of you refuse to fight alongside me, I won't hesitate to send you back to the Pure Land myself."
His words froze the crowd into silence.
Resurrection was no small gift. Many of them still mourned the loved ones they had lost, but the chance to walk in the world again—even temporarily—was irresistible. They weren't about to throw it away.
Sasuke continued:
"And as for your families… I'll find another way. After the clan was exterminated, someone must have gathered the bodies. I'll track them down. If it's possible, I'll resurrect them as well."
The Uchiha fell silent once more. This time, however, it was out of gratitude rather than fear.
Family was everything to the Uchiha. For Sasuke to promise to bring back their loved ones was more than they could have hoped for.
Naruto glanced at him, already knowing what Sasuke was hinting at—he'd need Kabuto Yakushi's help for that. Kabuto was an expert in unearthing graves and performing Edo Tensei. Unfortunately, he was currently busy monitoring the White Zetsu army remnants. For now, only those whose bodies Sasuke had already recovered could be summoned.
Just as Naruto was about to speak, a loud boom split the air. A figure descended from the sky, crashing into the ground with an explosion of dust and debris.
Everyone gasped.
"This… this is!!!"
The figure that emerged from the smoke was none other than Uchiha Madara.
After agreeing to travel with the other Kage for diplomatic visits, Hashirama had been preparing for days. But just as they were about to leave, Madara suddenly sensed an enormous surge of Uchiha chakra.
Confused, he had immediately rushed off.
"Madara! Wait!" Hashirama had shouted, but Madara ignored him.
Worried for his brother, Tobirama followed. Behind him, the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage, curious about the commotion, also gave chase.
Now, Madara landed first, eyes narrowed in disbelief.
Hashirama soon appeared beside him. "Madara, why did you rush ahead like that?!"
"Brother!" Tobirama called, landing nearby.
A moment later, both Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, and Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, appeared as well.
Across from them, the Uchiha clansmen stared in stunned silence.
"This… is this real?"
"First Hokage?! Second Hokage! The Third! And the Fourth Hokage too?!"
"Look! That man—could it be… our ancestor, Uchiha Madara?!"
"It's him—it looks exactly like the statue in the Valley of the End!"
Hashirama himself froze at the sight of so many Uchiha.
"What… what's going on here?!"
Tobirama scowled, his eyes narrowing. "Uchiha are being resurrected again… wuwuwu—!"
Before he could finish his usual insult, Hashirama clamped a hand over his younger brother's mouth.
"Can't you change your catchphrase already?!" Hashirama hissed.
The Third Hokage stepped forward, his face lined with guilt and weariness.
"Fugaku?"
Fugaku Uchiha inclined his head stiffly. "Third Hokage-sama."
The respectful address only ignited the fury of the other Uchihas.
"Captain! He's the one who abandoned us! Because of him, Danzo was able to manipulate Itachi into exterminating our entire clan!"
"That's right!"
Several turned to Madara, desperation in their eyes.
"Ancestor, look at what became of your descendants! Wiped out—completely wiped out!"
Others turned to Hashirama, voices bitter.
"Shodai Hokage, this is the peace you promised us? The so-called harmony of your dream? Because of that old Third Hokage, our entire clan was erased from history!"
"Yes, Lord First—tell us, is this your definition of peace?!"
Madara's expression darkened, while Hashirama clenched his fists.
For the Uchiha, Hashirama was still the God of Shinobi—their respect for him was immense. Madara, their legendary ancestor, was beyond reproach. Even Tobirama, despite his harshness, still commanded some grudging respect.
But the Third Hokage? He was hated with every fiber of their being.
As for the Fourth Hokage, most held mixed feelings. They respected his sacrifice, but they also knew the Nine-Tails' attack had been orchestrated by an Uchiha. Guilt weighed heavily upon them whenever they looked at Minato—or Naruto.
Naruto himself was a living reminder: the son of a hero, yet treated like a monster.
And so, inevitably, all the blame fell on one man.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage—the weak, indecisive leader who failed both the Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
The Uchihas' collective anger rose like a storm.
And together, they pointed their fingers at the Third Hokage.
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