The title of Clan Head no longer belonged to Fugaku Uchiha. The leadership of the clan had returned to the hands of Madara Uchiha, though Fugaku still served faithfully as the Deputy Leader.
For reasons no one could truly grasp, the memories of that horrific night, the Uchiha Downfall, had begun to blur in the minds of the clan members. Only Itachi and Sasuke retained a crystal-clear recollection of it. Yet, every Uchiha knew that their current revival was entirely thanks to Kanon Uchiha, so they chose not to press for answers.
Though their memories of the past were hazy, Kanon's monumental achievements remained undisputed. Her legacy had allowed the Uchiha clan to finally hold their heads high, vindicated and proud. Furthermore, Madara's formidable presence gave the Uchiha a renewed sense of conviction, acting as a pillar of faith for the clan.
Across the entire shinobi world, the Uchiha now commanded immense respect, but Madara strictly commanded them to cast aside their historic arrogance.
This was the world Kanon had envisioned, a world where people could open their hearts to one another without deceit.
Afternoon in Konoha always brought a lazy, tranquil beauty.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled, golden patches along the pathways. The bright flecks danced gently with the breeze, as if whispering an ancient, endless tale. The air was thick with the scent of fresh earth and the subtle fragrance of blooming cherry blossoms and azaleas surrounding the village. Blended with the afternoon warmth, it was a scent that refreshed the soul.
Deep within Konoha, the Uchiha clan grounds, once a desolate, silent ruin devoid of any signs of life, had been fully reopened.
Led by Madara and Fugaku, and aided by the villagers, the other clans, and the specialized Wood Release of Hashirama and Yamato, the Uchiha compound had been completely rebuilt.
"Thank you, Hashirama-sama, Madara-sama," Fugaku expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
"Hahaha! We should be the ones thanking you, Fugaku!" Hashirama laughed heartily, resting his hands on his hips. "Your daughter, Kanon, was truly a magnificent child."
"Is that so... Since she was little, that child always yearned for peace. And now, she has vanished..."
"Perhaps she is still alive, simply continuing her journey and adventures somewhere out there." Madara tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky.
"Compared to our own family... Madara-sama, you actually seem more like Kanon-chan's true kin."
"What nonsense are you spouting? We are of the same bloodline. We are all family." Madara slapped Fugaku on the back. Fugaku nodded slightly, feeling a bit overwhelmed in Madara's presence. Generationally, Madara was his distant ancestor, yet right now, both Madara and Hashirama looked as though they were only in their twenties.
Just then, Tobirama, Izuna, and Sasuke walked over.
The three of them had been deep in conversation, with Itachi quietly listening by Sasuke's side.
"Anija, the reconstruction is mostly complete," Izuna reported to Madara.
"Hmm... then let's head back and eat." With that, Madara departed alongside Hashirama, Tobirama, and Izuna.
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look. Sasuke's "revolution" had long been abandoned, and he was deeply satisfied with the state of the world. His only lingering regret was the absence of Kanon.
As everyone prepared to head home, a figure suddenly materialized ahead, calling out to the group.
Itachi, Sasuke, and Naruto looked over to see Izumi, Rin, and Obito standing together.
"We told Mikoto-basan we'd whip up a massive feast today, so everyone has to come eat!" Izumi yelled, waving enthusiastically.
"Let's go, Nii-san. Come on, Naruto," Sasuke said, nodding as he responded to the three ahead.
…
The Fugaku Uchiha Residence.
"Hashirama! You bastard! Did you water down this sake?!" Madara roared, his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan spinning to life.
"I swear... I can't drink another drop!" Hashirama slammed his hands on the table, yelling back at Madara.
"You're the one who invited me to drink, you fraud! How are you already down for the count?!"
Madara's face was flushed red as he turned his wrath onto Fugaku. "And you, Fugaku! Can you even hold your liquor? How did a single case completely knock you out?!"
"Madara-sama... I really can't drink anymore," Fugaku groaned.
To the side, Mikoto watched the display with a gentle, close-eyed smile. Meanwhile, in another corner, Izuna and Tobirama were locked in a ferocious, pride-fueled drinking match, downing cups at a frantic pace.
"You bastard, how exactly did you invent the Flying Raijin Technique?! Hurry up and teach me!" Izuna demanded.
"Beat me in drinking, and I'll teach you," Tobirama countered coldly.
"You treacherous Senju old ghost! I'll drink you under the table if it's the last thing I do!"
"Inherently evil Uchiha old ghost. You think you can match my tolerance? Do you even know what it means to be the Second Hokage?"
The thunderous, drunken bickering of the old generation echoed from the dining room, making Naruto and the others in the adjacent living room a bit restless.
The rest of the Konoha 11 and Team Guy had gathered as well.
Izumi sat beside Itachi; Obito sat with Rin; Naruto sat next to Hinata; and Sasuke sat beside Sakura. Only Shisui sat slightly apart, sandwiched between Choji and Rock Lee.
"Say, Shisui-aniki, can you teach me your Body Flicker Technique?!" Kiba Inuzuka eagerly asked.
The question caught Shisui off guard. He looked at Kiba and patiently explained the core principles of his signature jutsu, but the mechanics left Kiba looking entirely bewildered and dazed.
Compared to the raucous table of the ancestors, this table was significantly quieter.
"To think... that was Kanon's ultimate goal all along..." Rock Lee said, hanging his head low.
"We all misjudged her..." Neji murmured, momentarily at a loss for words.
The mere mention of Kanon instantly cast a somber shadow over the room. Yet, no one felt that ache more deeply than Naruto, Sasuke, and Itachi. To Naruto, she was his dearest friend; to Sasuke and Itachi, she was their precious sister.
Though everyone had been restored in this new world, and there would be countless future opportunities to sit and talk like this, Kanon would never be a part of them again.
In the center of the living room sat a framed photograph of Kanon, Sasuke, and Itachi together. Looking at the five-year-old Kanon smiling so radiantly in the photo, many felt their eyes grow misty.
"I'll admit it..." Shikamaru said, his voice trembling slightly.
"Admit what, Shikamaru?" Naruto asked.
"All this time, I was the one who was wrong... Not just me. All of us owe Kanon an apology we can never give."
"Yeah..." Sasuke and Itachi nodded softly. If anyone carried the heaviest burden of guilt, it was the two brothers. Yet, despite everything, Kanon had chosen to gift them this happiness.
…
In a peaceful clearing, Asuma Sarutobi sat on a park bench under the warm sun, holding Kurenai's hand with one arm while cradling young Mirai Sarutobi with the other.
Since his resurrection, he had completely quit smoking. Gazing up at the clear sky, he recalled his fateful battle against Hidan, and the harsh words he had spoken back then, claiming Kanon had fallen into darkness.
Those words felt like a phantom slap to his face. In the end, Kanon's final act had been a miracle that brought the dead back to the Pure Land of the living.
He looked down at Mirai in his arms, then turned to look at his wife, who gave him a warm, tender smile.
Asuma felt a warmth flooding his chest. This peace, this life, was the future Kanon had brought back for everyone.
He silently swore that he would protect this hard-won happiness with his life.
…
The dinner hour had long passed.
Madara, Hashirama, Izuna, and Tobirama were all sprawled across the tatami mats, completely passed out. Fugaku lay beside them in a similar state, sound asleep from the alcohol.
"Hashirama... can you still dance...? I can still... drink..." Madara muttered in his stupor, before snoring loudly.
Hashirama had long since drifted into deep sleep.
The only entirely sober person left in the room was Mikoto, who was quietly clearing the tableware, while Izumi and Rin helped wash the dishes in the kitchen.
Obito and Naruto sat side-by-side, quietly discussing their old, shared dreams of becoming Hokage.
Out in the courtyard, Sasuke, Itachi, and Shisui were lightly sparring, while the other guests had already departed for the night.
After some time, Rin brought out a platter of freshly sliced watermelon for everyone.
"Obito! Naruto! You two need to wash your hands before you eat!"
"Hey, why are you only calling the two of us out?!" Obito complained, blushing slightly as he looked at Rin.
"Because you two are the most careless," Rin replied with a bright laugh.
Deflated like popped balloons, Obito and Naruto dragged their feet over to the sink.
In the courtyard, Sasuke and Itachi continued to exchange rapid taijutsu blows. Itachi's terminal illness had been entirely cured upon his revival; remarkably, his physical movements were fluid enough to match Sasuke, who had unlocked the Rinnegan.
However, Itachi was ultimately no longer a match for Sasuke's current strength. Within moments, Sasuke broke through his defense, sweeping his legs and sending Itachi crashing to the ground.
Watching his younger brother's growth, Itachi let out a proud, soft chuckle. Lying on the grass, he looked up and asked, "Sasuke, do you still remember?"
"Remember what?"
"Back when the three of us siblings used to lie out here in the courtyard to sleep... Do you remember what your dream was?"
Sasuke paused, drifting into the recesses of his memory, but the recollection surfaced instantly.
"My dream is to become a magnificent shinobi just like my big brother, and to win Father's approval!"
Those words echoed clearly in Sasuke's mind, sounding as though they had been spoken just yesterday.
Looking at himself now, he had long since become that magnificent shinobi. But the person who had stood beside him through it all was no longer there.
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NOTE: This fic has been completely translated. If you want to read the whole story head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]