In the Uchiha clan grounds, a spacious square.
The square was crowded with countless shinobi.
The crowd exchanged glances, with a bustling murmur of surprise.
“Genma Shiranui, you’re here too?”
“Raidō Namiashi, you came as well!”
“Hahaha, the three of us are finally back together again!”
The three of them were part of Minato Namikaze’s guard team, capable of using the Flying Thunder Formation for space-time teleportation.
As the group of shinobi conversed, a mix of shock and joy spread among them.
The surrounding shinobi were all their former comrades or war allies from the Third Shinobi World War.
After not seeing each other for a long time, they were overjoyed to reunite.
“It looks like that man has gathered us all here.”
Their hearts pounded with excitement.
Although no one mentioned his name directly, every shinobi present knew who it was.
Namikaze Mirai, the Fourth Hokage’s brother.
He was summoning them!
After three years, that man had returned to Konoha and had finally come to find them!
“Lord Mirai is here!”
Someone suddenly announced, and the crowd fell silent. All eyes, filled with hope and admiration, focused on the approaching figure.
The familiar blond hair gleamed in the sunlight.
Namikaze Mirai’s blue eyes sparkled with a smile as he surveyed the gathered shinobi.
“Everyone, thank you for waiting.”
This simple sentence made the shinobi standing there feel a sting of emotion, their eyes growing moist.
They had waited three years for these words.
“Lord Mirai, you’ve finally come back.”
“Yes, it’s hard to believe it’s been so long.”
The crowd buzzed with excitement, their emotions a mixture of joy and complexity.
They had once followed Namikaze Mirai and had glorious times.
Namikaze Mirai scanned the familiar faces before him, now marked by time.
“Everyone, I know that during my absence, many of you have faced exclusion, marginalization, and lost your former positions…”
“But now, I am back.”
“Join me, and let’s reclaim everything we’ve lost!”
His former subordinates breathed heavily, their blood boiling as if a fire had been ignited within them.
“Reclaim everything!”
“Reclaim everything!”
Their powerful voices echoed into the sky.
…
In the Hokage building,
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood close to the window, watching the departing shinobi forces. The glass reflection showed his somber expression.
The formation of that unit was luxurious, with no fewer than a hundred Jonin.
Such a force heading to the battlefield would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the war’s outcome.
Yet, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt no joy.
His heart was heavy.
Because that was Namikaze Mirai’s unit.
From its formation to personnel selection to deployment, this unit hadn’t gone through his approval as the Hokage.
Moreover, it was primarily composed of Uchiha clan members, and notably, the more radical ones.
These Uchiha members were usually under intense surveillance by the Anbu.
These Uchiha madmen could cause massive trouble if not watched closely.
Now, Namikaze Mirai had formed them into a unit and sent them to the battlefield.
After this battle, the Uchiha clan’s reputation in the village would likely improve significantly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt resentful but helpless.
In other times, he could use balancing tactics to suppress the Uchiha’s achievements, assigning them to tasks like escorting, defending, and support.
But now things were different.
With Kumogakure’s army at the gates,
and the frontline retreating,
if he continued to suppress the Uchiha, the other clans would likely raise objections even before the Uchiha did.
He had to use this power,
no matter how unwilling he was.
“Danzo, Namikaze Mirai has reassembled his former subordinates.”
Koharu Utatane’s worried voice came from behind, causing Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression to harden.
“When did this happen?”
“Just recently. The unit that just departed likely includes his former subordinates.”
Although she couldn’t see Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face from her angle, Koharu Utatane could infer his feelings from his hunched posture.
She wanted to offer comfort but didn’t know how to start.
She took a breath and delivered another shocking piece of news.
“The Jinchuriki has also been taken by him.”
“What?!”
Even though Hiruzen Sarutobi was already shocked, this news startled him further.
How old was the Jinchuriki?
Namikaze Mirai was taking him to the battlefield too.
Did he have such confidence to protect Naruto among thousands of troops?
Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his fists in frustration.
He had been prepared to reclaim the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki once Namikaze Mirai and most Uchiha forces left Konoha.
As Konoha’s ultimate weapon, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki must not, could not, fall into Uchiha hands!
This was the best opportunity.
The Anbu were already assembled.
They were just waiting for his command.
But he hadn’t expected Namikaze Mirai to take the Jinchuriki to the battlefield.
“Hiruzen, he probably guessed our plan, which is why he took Naruto.”
Koharu Utatane’s eyes were complex.
This was the only possibility.
Namikaze Mirai understood their intentions and had absolute confidence in himself.
No matter how much Kumogakure threw at him, they couldn’t take Naruto from his side.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a few steps back and collapsed into his chair.
His eyes were lifeless.
…
In the Uchiha clan grounds,
three-year-old Sasuke Uchiha noticed something strange.
The clan grounds had suddenly become much quieter, and his playmate Naruto was nowhere to be seen.
Faced with these odd phenomena, Sasuke instinctively wanted to find Itachi.
“Nii-san!”
He pushed open Itachi’s door but found no one inside.
“Strange, where did Nii-san go?”
After searching around, Sasuke only found an envelope on the table.
He recognized the handwriting on the cover: To my dear brother
“It’s a letter from Nii-san.”
Curious, Sasuke opened it and read the contents inside.
[My dear brother, by the time you read this letter, I should have already left.]
[Sasuke, don’t be sad about my sudden departure. I have things I must do.]
[All along, I have been confused and pained by the village and the clan, until the day I met Lord Mirai.]
[He was like a ray of light in my dark world, guiding me forward. That was when I understood my path.]
[Sasuke, take care of yourself. I have gone to the front lines.]
[If all goes well, when I return, Konoha will no longer be the Konoha of the past.]
—Your loving brother
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