#Uzumaki_Clan – (2) Continues.
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The meeting went on for a while, discussing future matters regarding the Uzumaki clan.
"Naruto, there are only a few months left before you begin elementary school. I'll be enrolling you in the private school in Konoha. What do you think?"
"Any school you choose is fine with me, Grandma Mito," Naruto replied, bowing slowly to the clan head without objecting.
"That's good. I've already informed your uncle Mikael to handle the enrollment."
(She's already made her decision. She wouldn't have enrolled me anywhere else even if I'd refused…) Naruto thought to himself, sarcastically. In truth, he didn't feel the need to study much—he would be far ahead of the others regardless.
"I just hope you don't end up as useless as your mother," Oshino said slowly and coldly.
"What do you mean?" Naruto responded, equally slow, staring at his uncle.
"As I said. Your mother was of no use to the clan in any way—foolish, talkative without action, temperamental, always blaming others for her own failures. A wasteful, foolish girl who only knew how to consume food. And on top of that, she married into the Namikaze family!!"
"Oshino-san!!"
Yukiteru shouted in anger as he stood up.
"Calm down, both of you," Mito Uzumaki said coolly.
"Take back what you said!!"
Naruto's voice rang out, full of rage. He would not stand for his mother being insulted like that—even if she wasn't his biological mother, he knew how much Kushina had suffered for his sake! She was like a real mother to him!
"She is my mother. I won't allow you to insult her, even if you are her father! Maybe I don't have the right to speak to you in this disrespectful manner, but I won't let anyone insult someone I love!"
Oshino's anger deepened as he glared at Naruto. "You're nothing but a bastard! Not even a legitimate child. I don't understand why a demonic brat like you should be the main heir of our pure and noble clan! You're filth—born of a filthy, cursed affair!!"
Gasps filled the room—this secret wasn't even known to the legitimate branch of the family.
Ella covered her mouth in utter shock, her expression darkening. It was like a bomb had just gone off in the room.
"Oshino, how dare you!!" Even Mito couldn't bear to hear such things spoken aloud—she stood, yelling furiously at him.
"Yes, you're right. I'm an illegitimate child, born from a forbidden relationship. But none of that matters. The blood that flows through your veins also flows through mine!" Naruto clenched his fists with sorrow, lowering his head.
"You don't realize the shame your mere existence brings!"
"You can't possibly understand how much I've suffered!!" Naruto shouted, looking straight at Oshino, his eyes filled with tears he didn't want to shed.
He continued screaming in anguish, tears streaming harshly down his small cheeks. "You have no idea what it's like to suffer alone—to feel like life itself is forbidden to you. To feel less than human. To feel like trash! You could never understand!"
His words shocked everyone present—even Oshino stared at him in a mix of anger and surprise. Naruto continued, voice unwavering despite his tears:
"I am an Uzumaki. Just like you, like him, like all of you. We all share the same blood! Why can't we understand each other? Why can't we live together without feeling inferior to one another? Why can't we destroy this system where the strong devour the weak like beasts?!"
He lowered his head, then spoke quietly:
"I will change this system. When I become the clan head, I won't let these things happen again. I won't let the clan fall into such a disgraceful state!"
Then he sat down and slowly began to wipe away his tears.
Mito Uzumaki sat down quietly, a small smile forming as she thought, (At his age, to say such powerful and moving words... This boy is hiding something remarkable.)
She sighed softly and spoke with composure,
"We'll end the meeting here for today. As usual, we'll reconvene in two months. You're all dismissed."
After her announcement, Naruto was the first to leave, saying nothing, his eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his blond hair.
Yukiteru and Ella watched him leave with sorrowful expressions. There was nothing they could do about this—not after everything that had been said.
Yukiteru also sighed and walked away, followed quickly by his daughter. She caught up to him and began walking beside him, prompting him to glance at her curiously.
"Will Naruto–kun be okay?" Ella asked sadly, speaking to her father.
"Don't worry, Ella–chan. Naruto–kun will be fine, I'm sure of it. And look—hasn't he already become a strong young man?" Yukiteru smiled, gently ruffling her hair.
Ella smiled happily and replied, "Yes!"
"Let's go visit Yuna. I think she's waiting for us."
"I'm waiting for my little sister to arrive!" Ella beamed, taking her father's hand as they walked toward Yuna's room.
"She's due any day now, right? Isn't your mother in her eighth month?"
"Haha, yes, yes!!"
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#Uzumaki_Clan – (2) End.
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Meanwhile, back to Naruto—he had returned to his room and locked himself in again. His room was very large, like a private suite, filled with toys, books, and manga. It was clean and beautifully arranged.
With white walls decorated with golden lines, the room sparkled brightly. Even the chandelier above was coated in gold, adorned with candle-like lights.
Naruto walked to his bed and lay down, his eyes still hidden beneath his blond hair. He turned to the side coldly and muttered:
"Is this really what you wanted...? Mom... Is this truly the best solution?"
He sighed, then placed his hands over his head.
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Elsewhere—specifically, back in Uchiha territory!
In a large room decorated in traditional Japanese style, a child sat in front of a television, playing a war game.
"I won!"
A few moments later, the game shouted congratulations to the boy.
"You're brilliant, Sasuke," a calm voice said behind the child. A fourteen-year-old stood there, watching quietly.
"Ni–san!!" Sasuke smiled brightly and threw himself into his older brother's arms.
"You still do this every time I visit? When will you grow up?"
"I don't want to grow up!!" Sasuke puffed out his cheeks in childish frustration, clinging to his brother as if he might vanish the moment he let go.
"We'll all grow up someday, Sasuke—and become men like Father and Uncle."
"Itachi!! I don't want to be scary like Uncle Madara! Or a pervert like Uncle Kizuna!"
Itachi chuckled softly, patting his brother's head. "That's fine. Be however you wish—until the butterfly comes that'll make you grow whether you want to or not."
Sasuke tilted his head in confusion. "A butterfly? You mean the one you told me about before?"
"Yes. That butterfly…"
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#To_Be_Continued.