On the way home, Naruto chattered endlessly, but Kenichi remained silent, only nodding from time to time.
It wasn't because he was cold or aloof. The hot-tempered Uchihas had mostly followed Itachi when he left Konoha.
Kenichi was actually one of the gentle, dovish Uchihas. The reason he kept quiet was because ANBU were watching them the whole time. He didn't want to bring any trouble down on the Uchiha.
After all, Naruto was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Once he confirmed Naruto had safely reached home, Kenichi left under the ANBU's watchful gaze.
"See you, Uncle Kenichi!" Naruto waved from behind him. Even though Kenichi hadn't spoken on the way, at least he hadn't looked at him with eyes full of scorn.
For the lonely and sensitive Naruto, that was enough to make him happy.
Kenichi didn't turn back. Only after Naruto saw him disappear into the distance did he finally step inside his house.
At the entrance, Naruto flicked on the light.
Dirty clothes and smelly socks were scattered everywhere. Unwashed dishes piled high in the sink. The floor was a mess, garbage strewn all around.
Naruto looked around his shabby home, then at the neatly packaged new clothes and shoes he'd just received.
In the past, he had been used to this environment. But now, all of a sudden, it felt unbearably filthy.
Carefully, he hung up the new items on a hook, still wrapped in their packaging.
Then he rolled up his sleeves, filled a bucket with water, and began tidying up.
Late into the night, his small house blazed with light. Naruto was full of energy.
Outside, the ANBU glanced at one another, puzzled as to why Naruto was suddenly working so hard in the middle of the night.
Still, as long as Naruto wasn't running around outside, they weren't worried. They'd just report it.
Children's moods shifted quickly. Just earlier, Sasuke had been in good spirits, but as he walked with Natsuki toward the ruins of the old clan compound, his smile faded.
The new settlement lay several miles further on, past the ruins.
Sasuke's young mind was crowded with questions he wanted to ask his father.
He unconsciously quickened his pace.
Meanwhile, Natsuki was mulling over Kakashi.
There was no doubt Kakashi was a genius.
But he'd been brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire. As a scion of a noble clan, he had sunk into depression after the battle at Kannabi Bridge, squandering his talents.
Receiving the Sharingan had rapidly boosted his power, but also capped his potential.
Not being able to deactivate it was bad enough.
With the ability to copy almost anything, laziness came easy.
He'd coasted from start to finish, and in the end only got to experience Obito's double Kamui.
Otherwise, he was always more ornamental than essential.
His temperament could only be called indecisive. Obito slaughtered countless people, killed their teacher and his wife, ravaged the ninja world, leaving countless families broken.
Yet the first time Kakashi fought him in Kamui's dimension, he held back. His judgment was clouded—because it was Obito, he couldn't bring himself to strike. If he had, the story might have gone very differently.
As for Naruto, Natsuki's kindness toward him was a kind of investment. But it was also genuine. He truly felt Naruto's childhood was unbearably tragic.
Too much pain he should never have borne, too much suffering needlessly inflicted.
The dirty politics between the Third Hokage and Danzo had to spill onto a child.
And glorifying suffering was even crueler than suffering itself. If Naruto could simply be surrounded by love, there would never be any problem of the Nine-Tails running wild.
Just look at that kid with the sand from Sunagakure—he was driven insane by it.
Naruto's childhood wasn't much better than Gaara's. He might not have faced assassination attempts, but every villager's scorn was like a blade cutting into him.
It was only because Naruto was the reincarnation of Asura that he didn't turn dark and wipe out Konoha himself.
"Father, I'm home." Natsuki and Sasuke arrived at the new clan compound.
The place was still full of unfinished buildings.
But Natsuki wasn't the type to exploit the workers. He always let them go home on time.
After all, overtime meant higher pay, and right now, the Uchiha only needed livable housing.
Fugaku had already been informed of Sasuke's return. He was sitting inside drinking tea.
When Sasuke walked in, Fugaku actually smiled—a rare sight.
"You're back. How was it, spending time with your teacher, Natsuki?"
Natsuki entered alongside Sasuke.
"Teacher?" Sasuke looked confused.
Natsuki hadn't said anything about becoming his master.
Fugaku frowned. "Natsuki, you didn't tell him?"
Natsuki laughed. "It's late. I just wanted to bring him back. We'll talk about apprenticeship tomorrow. I'll be off now."
Leaving Sasuke with Fugaku, he leisurely took his leave.
The more familiar he grew with Fugaku, the more casual he became, unconcerned with formality.
He knew Fugaku only wore a stern face because his position demanded it. In truth, the man was a pragmatist.
"Father, why did Brother and Shisui leave the village? Some people said they defected!"
"Why was our compound destroyed? And why did you resign as head of the police force?"
As soon as Sasuke sat down, the questions spilled out in rapid-fire succession.
He had only been gone half a month, yet everything about the clan had changed.
Fugaku's habit was to maintain a cold face, projecting authority in front of his son.
But Natsuki had already told him this was pointless—it would only push Itachi and Sasuke further away.
Remembering that, he softened his expression a little. "Your brother and Shisui left to find a better future for the clan. Don't believe everything people say."
"If they truly defected, why hasn't Konoha arrested us?"
"As for the compound, if it's destroyed, we'll just rebuild it. As long as there are Uchihas, we can always build more."
Sasuke nodded slightly, though still puzzled.
Fugaku smiled. "As for stepping down as captain of the police force, that was because the work kept me too busy. Didn't you always complain no one trained ninjutsu with you?"
"Your brother won't be back for a while. So I'll train with you myself."
Sasuke's eyes widened. His father had always been stern and distant. To win his approval, Sasuke had endured no small hardship.
Now his father was saying he would personally practice with him?
Sasuke pinched himself to make sure he wasn't trapped in a genjutsu.
"Ow!" He pinched so hard he yelped.
Fugaku actually laughed aloud.
Sasuke had never seen his father so easygoing. A smile crept onto his own face. "Then, Father… when will Brother and Shisui come back?"
"When you graduate from the Academy, your brother will return."
"Eh? That long?" Sasuke pouted. The Academy lasted six years.
That meant six years without seeing his brother. Far too long.
Fugaku saw his son's disappointment. "You're an Uchiha. Don't let something so small dampen your spirit. It's not like you'll never see them again."
"Mm!" Sasuke nodded, encouraged.
"Then, Father, what did you mean about apprenticeship?"
"I intend for you to become Natsuki's student."
"Apprentice?" Sasuke tilted his head. He didn't dislike Natsuki. "Is Natsuki-senpai strong?"
"Strong?" Fugaku repeated the word.
"Very strong." He nodded with certainty.
"Stronger than Brother? Stronger than Shisui?" In Sasuke's eyes, Itachi and Shisui were the strongest Uchihas.
"Natsuki is the number one Uchiha today." In Fugaku's view, Natsuki was already the most formidable—both in intellect and ability.
Even before awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, Natsuki had been impressive. Now, he would only soar higher.
Shisui might also possess Mangekyō, but he was younger and lacked Natsuki's maturity. He wouldn't be able to defeat him.
"The number one Uchiha?" The image of Natsuki-senpai, kind and approachable, suddenly glowed in Sasuke's mind with a radiant aura.
"I think Natsuki-senpai should be number two."
"Oh?" Fugaku asked curiously. "Then who's number one?"
Sasuke answered without hesitation. "Of course it's you, Father! Otherwise, why would you be the clan head, and Natsuki only the deputy?"
Fugaku froze, then burst into hearty laughter.
His laughter echoed far and wide.
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