[This Chapter Is Sponsored by ItsDragonking! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]
Under the starry sky.
The Uchiha clan's area still exuded a lively atmosphere, and the faces of the Uchihas there also showed a hint of a smile.
Since they moved to the outskirts of the village, it felt like living in a prison, unlike now, where countless people have settled and joined, bringing life back to the clan area.
Ninjas often have families, and the increase in population naturally means more needs—snacks, treats, night markets. The appearance of these demand-driven shops led to more interactions among the newly joined members, naturally increasing communication.
The Uchihas seemed no longer so indifferent, having experienced the taste of loneliness and ostracism, they cherished this atmosphere even more.
Similarly, the ninja families who joined recently, initially felt a bit strange and fearful, given that this was the land of the strongest bloodline clan. But as time passed, they started accepting each other, and they enjoyed an unprecedented sense of security.
The strongest Uchiha clan and the Police Force, lacking a sense of security?
In the courtyard of the clan head, young Sasuke was excitedly waving a kunai under the starlight.
"Teacher Yoru, how is my taijutsu?"
A panting Sasuke showed an expression eagerly awaiting praise, and Uchiha Yoru, sitting on the wooden floor under the eaves, smiled and nodded after seeing him.
"It seems, Sasuke, you've learned quite a lot at the ninja academy."
Hearing the praise, young Sasuke showed an excited smile. After all, he's just a child, almost wagging his tail if he had one.
"I came first in the entrance test."
Sasuke said proudly, and Uchiha Yoru laughed heartily at this scene.
"Alright, Sasuke, since you came first, I'll give you a reward. I will personally teach you shuriken techniques."
"Really?" Sasuke laughed excitedly, and Uchiha Yoru nodded gently.
But in his heart, he was secretly muttering that one of the destiny twins was right in front of him, and it would be foolish not to seize the opportunity to bring him into his camp.
In the large house opposite the courtyard, once the clan head's house, now the second floor was lit up. Uchiha Itachi, having completed his mission, was sitting at the table, reading the red-covered book 'My Struggle', his eyes more fervent than ever.
As Uchiha Itachi diligently made different notes every time he read, suddenly a familiar hearty laugh was heard.
Through the window, he saw the figures of Sasuke and his teacher. Seeing this, Uchiha Itachi showed a look of guilt.
"Teacher, you've sacrificed too much for the Uchiha, for the Will of Fire."
In Uchiha Itachi's eyes, his teacher, for the sake of the clan and the true Will of Fire, his grandfather sent his daughter over, though it was also to protect himself and his brother, it was equally for the clan.
With these sacrifices, his teacher showed no discrimination, but was even so kind to Sasuke.
Even! His own teacher, being the clan head, is still unmarried. Although he has many women in private, in his own words:
"He is now full of obstacles and dangers for his ideals and ambitions, so he doesn't want his children to be born and bear the dangers he brings, and at the same time, make the children's mother suffer."
The teacher's exact words: if he fails, they should abandon him without hesitation, never look back, one sacrifice is enough.
Therefore, Uchiha Itachi feels even more guilty. When he compares himself to the current Hokage, he shows an angry look.
"Teacher made such a big sacrifice, but at the beginning of Konoha, the Sarutobi clan was an unknown small clan. After the first, second, and third wars, they developed into a big clan, while the once-great Senju clan is on the verge of collapse, Uchiha is isolated, and Hyuga is divided."
"Only the teacher deserves to be Hokage, not you!" At this moment, Uchiha Itachi's eyes become more determined.
The new and old clan heads' houses are separated by only one courtyard. As Itachi reads intently, time flies by.
"Sasuke, look how late it is, go back and find your brother to wash up and rest early."
"Yes, Mother."
Under the warmth of the conversation, Sasuke sticks out his tongue at his mother and happily jumps over the courtyard wall to find his brother.
Uchiha Mikoto respectfully walks up to Uchiha Yoru. Over time, the two have become accustomed to each other.
"Sasuke really owes you a lot."
Mikoto has seen all of Yoru's care and concern for Sasuke. Her initial fears and worries are now gone.
Facing Mikoto, Uchiha Yoru bluntly shakes his head and sighs, "Mikoto, you should know how dangerous what I'm doing is, so please don't worry and fear, and fully cultivate Itachi and Sasuke."
Facing this young man, Uchiha Mikoto feels complex emotions. Compared to the former Fugaku, the two are almost incomparable, not in strength, but in mind, vision, and courage.
She knows what the young man in front of her wants to do, and his current achievements have already made a significant leap forward that the Uchiha clan hasn't made in years.
"Yoru, I believe in you."
Looking at Mikoto's firm eyes, Uchiha Yoru smiles, shakes his head, and mutters casually, "But don't worry, if I fail, Itachi and Sasuke have the potential to become the new clan heads, just like our ancestor Madara."
"I'll warn Shisui and the others, the Uchiha clan should remember to dissociate."
If Uchiha Yoru fails, he will bear all the blame, and the Uchiha clan will play the role of justly destroying their kin, with a new clan head abandoning the former one.
Just like when they founded Konoha together, when Uchiha Madara decided to leave, it felt as if the entire clan had abandoned him.
“Yoru!”
At the gentle call, Uchiha Mikoto's eyes trembled. A man full of ambition and fighting spirit is the most charming, especially one who possesses such daring and courage never before seen in this world.
He would rather go to hell alone than compromise the safety of everyone who supported him.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi, just outside the wall and having heard his brother’s words, trembled slightly.
“Itachi, what's wrong?”
Looking down at Sasuke's confused and innocent gaze, Itachi smiled, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination.
“Sasuke, you must believe in Teacher Yoru. He is the greatest person in this world, even akin to a god.”
From his books, he saw his teacher’s grand ideals and the fearless courage to implement them. In Itachi's eyes, calling his teacher a god among men was not an exaggeration.
Entering the house with his brother, Sasuke looked hesitant. Then, with a nervous heart, he asked quietly, “Brother Itachi, I heard someone say that Teacher Yoru is actually my biological father.”
Shocked, Itachi looked at Sasuke’s innocent, simple, and nervous eyes, his own face showing determination, “Sasuke, in your heart, you should regard Teacher Yoru as a father, even surpassing a father.”
Uchiha Sasuke is definitely not the biological son of Teacher Yoru, but in Itachi’s eyes, such a great man deserved even more than a fatherly regard from Sasuke.
Young Sasuke, seeing his brother not only not angry but also speaking these words, was momentarily stunned, then realized in his heart.
So, it's all true. No wonder I look so much like Teacher Yoru, no wonder he's so kind to me. That's why.
Sasuke even understood why he and his brother always lived in this yard while their mother would go to Teacher Yoru’s house at night.
In the large house next door, Uchiha Izumi, her face flushed red, was tidying up the house. In the light of the fire, behind the white paper door, she could clearly see the shadows of two people.
Especially through the crack in the door, she could clearly see Mrs. Mikoto's well-proportioned figure as she changed clothes.
“Yoru, let me do below.”
“Mikoto, be careful not to choke.”
“Look, these are my new silk stockings and high heels. Do they look beautiful?”
It seemed that because they were separated by a door, the voices were clear yet somehow muffled.
Outside the door, Uchiha Izumi sat respectfully, fully embodying the role of a servant in a major clan. Her duty was to go in later to wipe the clan head's body and tidy up the messy room.
Clearly, this wasn’t the first time for Izumi, but each time, her legs were tightly closed, her eyes fixated on the gap, and she even activated her Sharingan.
It seemed she was afraid of missing anything. This was all part of her learning, which she would need to use in the future.
…
Under the night sky of Konoha, following the aftermath of the Great Ninja War, Konoha, the most fertile of the Land of Fire, is rapidly recovering economically.
The shops under the night are bustling with the increasing number of ninjas returning to the village.
In a yakiniku restaurant, in a larger private room, a group of young ninjas are excitedly clinking glasses in what is clearly a rare class reunion.
"Yūgao, you were the class beauty of our class, and now even more so, a great beauty of the village."
"Yes, it's said that our batch produced a cold beauty, and that's you, Yūgao."
"Among our peers, Yūgao seems to be the first to become a special jonin. Congratulations."
Once a class of nearly a hundred students, now less than ten sit in this private room. Although half are absent on missions, this shows the harsh elimination rate of ninjas.
Facing her classmates' flattery, some are jealous, some envious, and some are sycophantic. Amidst the myriad human emotions, Uzuki Yugao rarely shows a strained smile.
Raising her glass high, she says to her classmates, "Don't make fun of me."
Here, at least no one knows about her past. After all, some discussions are quietly held in the police department, essentially meant for her ears.
Once she's back home, no one dares mention it. Who would dare? Criticizing the head of the police department and the Uchiha clan head would not just be scandalous, but could cost them their jobs.
Moreover, while there are struggles for power at work, home is a haven where all troubles are set aside, so no one speaks of distressing matters.
Thus, any gossip and criticism are limited to a small circle, unless something sensational like Orochimaru or White Fang happens.
"Haha, Yūgao, our class beauty, now a special jonin. Next time we have a reunion, remember to bring your boyfriend and show us whether he's a senior or junior from another batch."
Faced with her classmates' teasing, Uzuki Yugao seems to recall something, but she quickly suppresses the bitterness in her heart and puts on a smile.
"What boyfriend? Don't talk nonsense."
"Wow, Yūgao, you're still single after all these years? Tell us what your requirements are." A female classmate, genuinely curious, wonders what choices this civilian genius from their class would have.
Even the sitting Hayate Gekko showed a moved expression, not to mention the other men. Although they knew it was wishful thinking, they all perked up their ears nonetheless.
Faced with everyone's curiosity, Uzuki Yugao shook her head with a bitter smile and sighed, "Maybe I've experienced too much on the frontlines. I now want to rest for a while, open a flower shop, and take care of children in an orphanage. As for my requirements..."
At this point, Uzuki Yugao's eyes became misty, unconsciously recalling the figure that had accompanied her for three years, but she murmured the opposite of what was in her heart.
"That person doesn't need to be very handsome, nor very strong, nor very rich. Just being able to accompany me in the flower shop, reading books, and taking care of children in the orphanage is enough."
Despite thinking of that person, Uzuki Yugao shook her head, secretly determined to forget everything. From the moment she made up her mind, she knew she was from a completely different world than him.
He could try to hide as much as he wanted, but he couldn't stop the shine of the sun. He was a person who naturally lived under everyone's gaze.
And she herself, was just an ordinary civilian, at most a little talented.
However, Uzuki Yugao didn't realize the impact her words had on everyone. Everyone was stunned.
Some even murmured in secret, perhaps it was because Uzuki Yugao had been through the brutalities of war for so long that what she now wanted most was tranquility.
Likewise, after experiencing so much, didn't they also find that a simple life was what they desired most?
But even so, if a simple life could be accompanied by beauty, that was a common wish for everyone, and many people's eyes lit up with excitement.
Hayate Gekko, more excited than ever, showed a flush of color on his pale, weak face, looking at Uzuki Yugao with determination.
Ever since he learned that Uzuki Yugao had become a special Jonin, he felt a bit lost, being just a Chunin himself. In front of Yugao, he no longer had the casualness he once did.
This was a disparity, but now it seemed he had reignited his fighting spirit. However, Hayate Gekko still noticed the fervor in many people's eyes and made a secret decision.
He couldn't wait any longer. Although he now perfectly controlled his Transparency Jutsu and was confident of becoming a special Jonin within a year, he didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"Come on, let's celebrate for our Konoha."
"Cheers."
Amidst laughter and joy, Uzuki Yugao always seemed a bit absent-minded, with that figure occasionally surfacing in her mind.
The former struggled to escape from the torment, but at this moment, she seemed to realize that she had lost the most important thing.
It is only when one loses something that they realize how important it was.
[This Chapter Is Sponsored by ItsDragonking! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]
Under the starry sky.
The Uchiha clan's area still exuded a lively atmosphere, and the faces of the Uchihas there also showed a hint of a smile.
Since they moved to the outskirts of the village, it felt like living in a prison, unlike now, where countless people have settled and joined, bringing life back to the clan area.
Ninjas often have families, and the increase in population naturally means more needs—snacks, treats, night markets. The appearance of these demand-driven shops led to more interactions among the newly joined members, naturally increasing communication.
The Uchihas seemed no longer so indifferent, having experienced the taste of loneliness and ostracism, they cherished this atmosphere even more.
Similarly, the ninja families who joined recently, initially felt a bit strange and fearful, given that this was the land of the strongest bloodline clan. But as time passed, they started accepting each other, and they enjoyed an unprecedented sense of security.
The strongest Uchiha clan and the Police Force, lacking a sense of security?
In the courtyard of the clan head, young Sasuke was excitedly waving a kunai under the starlight.
"Teacher Yoru, how is my taijutsu?"
A panting Sasuke showed an expression eagerly awaiting praise, and Uchiha Yoru, sitting on the wooden floor under the eaves, smiled and nodded after seeing him.
"It seems, Sasuke, you've learned quite a lot at the ninja academy."
Hearing the praise, young Sasuke showed an excited smile. After all, he's just a child, almost wagging his tail if he had one.
"I came first in the entrance test."
Sasuke said proudly, and Uchiha Yoru laughed heartily at this scene.
"Alright, Sasuke, since you came first, I'll give you a reward. I will personally teach you shuriken techniques."
"Really?" Sasuke laughed excitedly, and Uchiha Yoru nodded gently.
But in his heart, he was secretly muttering that one of the destiny twins was right in front of him, and it would be foolish not to seize the opportunity to bring him into his camp.
In the large house opposite the courtyard, once the clan head's house, now the second floor was lit up. Uchiha Itachi, having completed his mission, was sitting at the table, reading the red-covered book 'My Struggle', his eyes more fervent than ever.
As Uchiha Itachi diligently made different notes every time he read, suddenly a familiar hearty laugh was heard.
Through the window, he saw the figures of Sasuke and his teacher. Seeing this, Uchiha Itachi showed a look of guilt.
"Teacher, you've sacrificed too much for the Uchiha, for the Will of Fire."
In Uchiha Itachi's eyes, his teacher, for the sake of the clan and the true Will of Fire, his grandfather sent his daughter over, though it was also to protect himself and his brother, it was equally for the clan.
With these sacrifices, his teacher showed no discrimination, but was even so kind to Sasuke.
Even! His own teacher, being the clan head, is still unmarried. Although he has many women in private, in his own words:
"He is now full of obstacles and dangers for his ideals and ambitions, so he doesn't want his children to be born and bear the dangers he brings, and at the same time, make the children's mother suffer."
The teacher's exact words: if he fails, they should abandon him without hesitation, never look back, one sacrifice is enough.
Therefore, Uchiha Itachi feels even more guilty. When he compares himself to the current Hokage, he shows an angry look.
"Teacher made such a big sacrifice, but at the beginning of Konoha, the Sarutobi clan was an unknown small clan. After the first, second, and third wars, they developed into a big clan, while the once-great Senju clan is on the verge of collapse, Uchiha is isolated, and Hyuga is divided."
"Only the teacher deserves to be Hokage, not you!" At this moment, Uchiha Itachi's eyes become more determined.
The new and old clan heads' houses are separated by only one courtyard. As Itachi reads intently, time flies by.
"Sasuke, look how late it is, go back and find your brother to wash up and rest early."
"Yes, Mother."
Under the warmth of the conversation, Sasuke sticks out his tongue at his mother and happily jumps over the courtyard wall to find his brother.
Uchiha Mikoto respectfully walks up to Uchiha Yoru. Over time, the two have become accustomed to each other.
"Sasuke really owes you a lot."
Mikoto has seen all of Yoru's care and concern for Sasuke. Her initial fears and worries are now gone.
Facing Mikoto, Uchiha Yoru bluntly shakes his head and sighs, "Mikoto, you should know how dangerous what I'm doing is, so please don't worry and fear, and fully cultivate Itachi and Sasuke."
Facing this young man, Uchiha Mikoto feels complex emotions. Compared to the former Fugaku, the two are almost incomparable, not in strength, but in mind, vision, and courage.
She knows what the young man in front of her wants to do, and his current achievements have already made a significant leap forward that the Uchiha clan hasn't made in years.
"Yoru, I believe in you."
Looking at Mikoto's firm eyes, Uchiha Yoru smiles, shakes his head, and mutters casually, "But don't worry, if I fail, Itachi and Sasuke have the potential to become the new clan heads, just like our ancestor Madara."
"I'll warn Shisui and the others, the Uchiha clan should remember to dissociate."
If Uchiha Yoru fails, he will bear all the blame, and the Uchiha clan will play the role of justly destroying their kin, with a new clan head abandoning the former one.
Just like when they founded Konoha together, when Uchiha Madara decided to leave, it felt as if the entire clan had abandoned him.
“Yoru!”
At the gentle call, Uchiha Mikoto's eyes trembled. A man full of ambition and fighting spirit is the most charming, especially one who possesses such daring and courage never before seen in this world.
He would rather go to hell alone than compromise the safety of everyone who supported him.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi, just outside the wall and having heard his brother’s words, trembled slightly.
“Itachi, what's wrong?”
Looking down at Sasuke's confused and innocent gaze, Itachi smiled, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination.
“Sasuke, you must believe in Teacher Yoru. He is the greatest person in this world, even akin to a god.”
From his books, he saw his teacher’s grand ideals and the fearless courage to implement them. In Itachi's eyes, calling his teacher a god among men was not an exaggeration.
Entering the house with his brother, Sasuke looked hesitant. Then, with a nervous heart, he asked quietly, “Brother Itachi, I heard someone say that Teacher Yoru is actually my biological father.”
Shocked, Itachi looked at Sasuke’s innocent, simple, and nervous eyes, his own face showing determination, “Sasuke, in your heart, you should regard Teacher Yoru as a father, even surpassing a father.”
Uchiha Sasuke is definitely not the biological son of Teacher Yoru, but in Itachi’s eyes, such a great man deserved even more than a fatherly regard from Sasuke.
Young Sasuke, seeing his brother not only not angry but also speaking these words, was momentarily stunned, then realized in his heart.
So, it's all true. No wonder I look so much like Teacher Yoru, no wonder he's so kind to me. That's why.
Sasuke even understood why he and his brother always lived in this yard while their mother would go to Teacher Yoru’s house at night.
In the large house next door, Uchiha Izumi, her face flushed red, was tidying up the house. In the light of the fire, behind the white paper door, she could clearly see the shadows of two people.
Especially through the crack in the door, she could clearly see Mrs. Mikoto's well-proportioned figure as she changed clothes.
“Yoru, let me do below.”
“Mikoto, be careful not to choke.”
“Look, these are my new silk stockings and high heels. Do they look beautiful?”
It seemed that because they were separated by a door, the voices were clear yet somehow muffled.
Outside the door, Uchiha Izumi sat respectfully, fully embodying the role of a servant in a major clan. Her duty was to go in later to wipe the clan head's body and tidy up the messy room.
Clearly, this wasn’t the first time for Izumi, but each time, her legs were tightly closed, her eyes fixated on the gap, and she even activated her Sharingan.
It seemed she was afraid of missing anything. This was all part of her learning, which she would need to use in the future.
…
Under the night sky of Konoha, following the aftermath of the Great Ninja War, Konoha, the most fertile of the Land of Fire, is rapidly recovering economically.
The shops under the night are bustling with the increasing number of ninjas returning to the village.
In a yakiniku restaurant, in a larger private room, a group of young ninjas are excitedly clinking glasses in what is clearly a rare class reunion.
"Yūgao, you were the class beauty of our class, and now even more so, a great beauty of the village."
"Yes, it's said that our batch produced a cold beauty, and that's you, Yūgao."
"Among our peers, Yūgao seems to be the first to become a special jonin. Congratulations."
Once a class of nearly a hundred students, now less than ten sit in this private room. Although half are absent on missions, this shows the harsh elimination rate of ninjas.
Facing her classmates' flattery, some are jealous, some envious, and some are sycophantic. Amidst the myriad human emotions, Uzuki Yugao rarely shows a strained smile.
Raising her glass high, she says to her classmates, "Don't make fun of me."
Here, at least no one knows about her past. After all, some discussions are quietly held in the police department, essentially meant for her ears.
Once she's back home, no one dares mention it. Who would dare? Criticizing the head of the police department and the Uchiha clan head would not just be scandalous, but could cost them their jobs.
Moreover, while there are struggles for power at work, home is a haven where all troubles are set aside, so no one speaks of distressing matters.
Thus, any gossip and criticism are limited to a small circle, unless something sensational like Orochimaru or White Fang happens.
"Haha, Yūgao, our class beauty, now a special jonin. Next time we have a reunion, remember to bring your boyfriend and show us whether he's a senior or junior from another batch."
Faced with her classmates' teasing, Uzuki Yugao seems to recall something, but she quickly suppresses the bitterness in her heart and puts on a smile.
"What boyfriend? Don't talk nonsense."
"Wow, Yūgao, you're still single after all these years? Tell us what your requirements are." A female classmate, genuinely curious, wonders what choices this civilian genius from their class would have.
Even the sitting Hayate Gekko showed a moved expression, not to mention the other men. Although they knew it was wishful thinking, they all perked up their ears nonetheless.
Faced with everyone's curiosity, Uzuki Yugao shook her head with a bitter smile and sighed, "Maybe I've experienced too much on the frontlines. I now want to rest for a while, open a flower shop, and take care of children in an orphanage. As for my requirements..."
At this point, Uzuki Yugao's eyes became misty, unconsciously recalling the figure that had accompanied her for three years, but she murmured the opposite of what was in her heart.
"That person doesn't need to be very handsome, nor very strong, nor very rich. Just being able to accompany me in the flower shop, reading books, and taking care of children in the orphanage is enough."
Despite thinking of that person, Uzuki Yugao shook her head, secretly determined to forget everything. From the moment she made up her mind, she knew she was from a completely different world than him.
He could try to hide as much as he wanted, but he couldn't stop the shine of the sun. He was a person who naturally lived under everyone's gaze.
And she herself, was just an ordinary civilian, at most a little talented.
However, Uzuki Yugao didn't realize the impact her words had on everyone. Everyone was stunned.
Some even murmured in secret, perhaps it was because Uzuki Yugao had been through the brutalities of war for so long that what she now wanted most was tranquility.
Likewise, after experiencing so much, didn't they also find that a simple life was what they desired most?
But even so, if a simple life could be accompanied by beauty, that was a common wish for everyone, and many people's eyes lit up with excitement.
Hayate Gekko, more excited than ever, showed a flush of color on his pale, weak face, looking at Uzuki Yugao with determination.
Ever since he learned that Uzuki Yugao had become a special Jonin, he felt a bit lost, being just a Chunin himself. In front of Yugao, he no longer had the casualness he once did.
This was a disparity, but now it seemed he had reignited his fighting spirit. However, Hayate Gekko still noticed the fervor in many people's eyes and made a secret decision.
He couldn't wait any longer. Although he now perfectly controlled his Transparency Jutsu and was confident of becoming a special Jonin within a year, he didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"Come on, let's celebrate for our Konoha."
"Cheers."
Amidst laughter and joy, Uzuki Yugao always seemed a bit absent-minded, with that figure occasionally surfacing in her mind.
The former struggled to escape from the torment, but at this moment, she seemed to realize that she had lost the most important thing.
It is only when one loses something that they realize how important it was.
