I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

The Nine-Tailed Fox's roar gradually weakened.

Minato stood on the Hokage Rock, covered in blood, his golden hair disheveled by the wind.

Kushina lay beside him, her face as pale as paper, her chakra nearly depleted. A large wound lay on her abdomen, left when the Nine-Tails was extracted; blood seeped from between her fingers, staining her clothes crimson.

"Kushina..." Minato's voice trembled.

"Minato." Kushina's voice was soft, as soft as the wind. "Seal the Nine-Tails inside Naruto. Quickly."

Minato's lips trembled. "You'll die."

"I know."

Kushina smiled.

That smile was fleeting, like light reflecting off a blade. "But Naruto will live. He will inherit my will, he will inherit yours. He will become a hero of Konoha."

Minato didn't speak again. He lowered his head and formed a hand seal.

Corpse Demon Sealing?

Right.

It is a sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan.

Kushina had taught him the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, which didn't require sacrificing life force, only enough chakra. But Kushina's chakra was already depleted, and she could only replenish it with her life force.

Kushina reached out and placed her hand on Minato's hand.

The two people's chakra intertwined, forming a massive sealing array.

The Nine-Tails' chakra was pulled out from the void, and the red, violent, molten chakra churned within the sealing array.

"Split it in two." Kushina's voice trembled, but her hands were steady. "Naruto is too young to bear the full weight of the Nine-Tails. Give him half, and you take the other half."

Minato's pupils contracted. "I—"

"You are the Hokage." Kushina looked at him. "You need power. The village needs you."

Minato remained silent.

The light from the sealing array illuminated the entire night sky.

The Nine-Tails' chakra was torn in two. One half turned into golden light and surged into Naruto's small body; the other half turned into red light and disappeared into Minato's chest.

Naruto cried, and his voice was loud and clear.

He seemed to realize that someone important was about to leave.

Minato swayed slightly, gritted his teeth, and didn't fall.

Kushina's hand fell to her sides.

"Kushina!" Minato hugged her.

Kushina's eyes were still open, looking at Minato, looking at Naruto. A smile played on her lips. "Naruto... I'm counting on you."

Her hand slipped from Minato's grasp and hung limply on the ground.

Minato lowered his head, his forehead pressed against Kushina's, his shoulders trembling, but he made no sound. Naruto cried in his arms, his voice loud and clear, as if he were calling for his mother.

-

Shuoge stood on the distant ruins, watching this scene. His knife was behind him, his hands hanging at his sides. His face was expressionless, but his hands were clenched tightly.

The Nine-Tails has been released, and Kushina has already suffered severe injuries.

She has been able to hold on until now purely because of the immense and powerful life force of the Uzumaki clan.

Now, he has exhausted his life force to seal the Nine-Tails.

She is doomed.

-

The Nine-Tailed Fox disappeared.

The sky returned to black, and the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, its pale light shining on the ruins.

Konoha Village was in ruins, with collapsed buildings, corpses, and cries of agony everywhere.

Minato stood up, hugged Naruto, and stood on the Hokage Rock.

His clothes were covered in blood, and it was impossible to tell whether it was his or Kushina's.

His face was wet with tears, but the wind had dried them.

He looked down at the village for a long time.

"Naruto, from this day forward, you are the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha." His voice was soft. "But you are not a calamity, you are a hero. I will let everyone know."

Naruto cried himself to sleep in his arms.

Minato turned around and looked at the ruins in the distance—the Third Hokage's body had been lifted from under the rubble by the Anbu and placed on a white sheet. No one noticed the unusual nature of his wounds; the Nine-Tails' chakra had concealed everything.

"The Third Hokage has sacrificed himself." A member of the Anbu knelt before Minato. "Hokage-sama, please take charge."

Minato remained silent for a moment. "Issue the order: Konoha is entering a state of emergency. All ninja are to be deployed for rescue and reconstruction. A high-level meeting will be held in three days."

"Yes."

The Anbu withdrew. Minato, holding Naruto, stood on the Hokage Rock, gazing at the darkness before dawn.

Sakugo jumped down from the ruins and walked behind Minato. Minato didn't turn around; he just stood there.

"The Third Hokage..." Minato's voice was soft. "Did he say anything?"

"No," Shuoge said calmly. "He was already dead when I arrived."

Minato didn't ask any more questions. He lowered his head and looked at Naruto in his arms for a long time.

-

The sun rose in the east, its golden light shining on the ruins, on the broken walls and rubble, and on the people who were still searching for their loved ones.

Konoha Village still stands, though scarred and battered.

Sakugo turned around and walked towards home. His sword was behind him, and his hands hung at his sides. Behind him, Minato, holding Naruto, stood on the Hokage Rock, watching the sun rise.

The war is over.

The Nine-Tailed Fox's rampage has also come to an end.

The Third Hokage died, the Fourth Hokage lived, and Naruto became a Jinchūriki.

Shuoge changed some things, and also witnessed some things that could not be changed. In his pocket, Shisui's shuriken was still there, the crooked "Mirror" character digging into his waist.

He quickened his pace and headed towards the Uchiha headquarters.

……

……

……

Seven days after the Nine-Tails' rampage, the ruins of Konoha Village had not yet been completely cleared.

The Hokage Building was also half collapsed, and Minato's temporary office was set up in a small room in the Anbu base.

He sat behind a desk, surrounded by piles of documents—casualty reports, supplies lists, and reconstruction plans.

Naruto was sleeping in a cradle next to him, which Kushina had made herself. Minato had dug it out of the ruins and cleaned it.

When Shuoge knocked and entered, Shuimen was looking down at a report. He didn't look up, his voice slightly hoarse: "What is it?"

"I'd like to talk to you." Shuoge closed the door and sat down opposite the water gate.

Minato put down his pen and looked at him.

After the Nine-Tails Night, Minato hardly slept at all.

He had deep dark circles under his eyes, and his golden hair had faded, but his eyes were still bright.

With half of the Nine-Tails inside him, he needed time to adapt, but this power did help him get through the most difficult few days.

"What are you talking about?"

"Uchiha." Sakugo's voice was flat. "About the security force."

Minato didn't answer immediately. He leaned back in his chair and looked at Shogo.

The young man was wearing a secret service uniform, with a mask tucked into his waistband and a knife resting against the table.

The three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated in its socket, not intentionally, but out of habit. Minato had known him for a long time—on the northern front, Sakugo was his most capable ninja.

He trusts this person.

"you say."

"The security force is a pit of fire," Sakugo said. "The Uchiha are guarding it, offending all the clans in Konoha. It's a thankless task. Continuing to guard it will only deepen the conflict."

Minato nodded. "So, what's your suggestion?"

"Disband the security force. Security duties are transferred to the Hokage's direct security forces."

Sakugo looked into Minato's eyes. "But the Uchiha need a new role. Not one of catching thieves or mediating disputes, but a deeper, more subtle one."

Minato's brow twitched slightly. "Go on."

"The Senju clan chose to integrate into Konoha, becoming Konoha itself. The First, Second, and Third Hokage—they all had Senju blood flowing in their veins. The Senju are Konoha, and Konoha is the Senju."

Sakugo's voice was calm. "The Uchiha need to take a different path. Not to blend in, but to hide in the darkness, becoming the shadow of Konoha. As long as Konoha exists, the shadow exists. Leaves may wither, but roots will not. Nor will the shadow."

Minato remained silent for a long time. He looked at Sakugo, and there was something in his blue eyes—not surprise, but scrutiny. He was assessing the young man's words, considering their weight.

"You mean, make the Uchiha clan another 'Root'?"

"Not Danzo's root."

Shuoge shook his head. He did not agree with Danzo's kind of "root". What makes a person human is that he has seven emotions and six desires.

To train people into mere tools, mere knives...

In the end, it will only backfire on you.

"Danzo's Root is a tool of ambition, a shadow hanging over Konoha. The 'shadow' I'm referring to is Konoha's shadow. Where there is light, there is shadow. Konoha needs light, and it needs shadow. The Hokage is the light, and the Uchiha are the shadow."

Minato tapped his fingers twice on the table. "How exactly do I do it?"

"The Uchiha clan relinquished its security force, and its elite ninjas were incorporated into the 'Kage,' directly under the Hokage. They were tasked with carrying out top-secret missions such as assassination, intelligence gathering, infiltration, and protection. Orders were issued directly by the Hokage and were not subject to the control of the elders."

Sakugo paused. "I'm in charge of communications. I relay the Hokage's orders, and I report back on the Kage's actions. I'm a member of the Uchiha clan, and also your Anbu."

Minato looked at him. "You've found yourself a good position."

"Not a good location."

Sakugo's voice was flat. "It's a bridge. A bridge between the Uchiha and the Hokage. Neither side fully trusts the other, so they need someone both sides can trust."

Minato leaned back in his chair, looking at Naruto in the cradle.

Naruto was sleeping soundly, his little fists clenched and his mouth slightly open.

Kushina is gone, but he is still here.

Minato lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

"The Third Hokage wanted to reform the security force, but never took action. Danzo is dead, but the roots remain. The elders at the top won't easily agree to disband the security force."

"Their consent is not needed," Sakugo said calmly. "You are the Hokage. You have the authority to issue orders directly."

Minato smiled briefly, like light reflecting off a blade.

"you're right."

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside the window were ruins, crowds rebuilding, and people still searching for their loved ones.

Konoha Village was destroyed, but it will rise again.

Minato turned around and looked at Sakugo.

"I agree to your proposal in principle, but on a few conditions."

"Please speak," Shuoge said with a serious expression.

"First, members of the 'Kage' must join voluntarily; they cannot be forced. If any Uchiha members are unwilling, they can switch to other jobs."

"That's just how it is."

"Secondly, I will directly issue the 'Kage' missions, but the mission content must be in the interests of Konoha and cannot become a tool of the Uchiha."

That's how it should be.

"Third—" Minato looked into Sakugo's eyes. "You must guarantee that the Uchiha will not betray Konoha."

Sakugo stood up and looked at Minato. His three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated in his eye sockets.

"The Uchiha are the shadow of Konoha; the shadow exists only as long as the real body exists."

Minato stared at him for a long time.

Then he reached out his hand.

Sakugo grasped his hand. The two hands clasped together, one the Hokage's hand, the other the Uchiha's hand.

Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on the two of them.

"Go talk to Fugaku." Minato released his grip. "If he agrees, we'll carry it out."

Sakugo didn't say anything more, pushed open the door and walked out. Naruto in the cradle turned over and continued sleeping. Minato stood by the window, watching Sakugo's figure disappear into the ruins.

The light is here.

The shadow should be there by now.