Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

Leaf.

Ichiraku Ramen.

Even if the ninja world is turned upside down, business here remains booming.

Naruto sat at the bar, with seven or eight empty bowls stacked high in front of him.

He was slurping noodles with gusto.

Kushina Uzumaki sat beside him.

She didn't order any food; she just rested her chin on her hands and looked at her son with a tender expression.

"Mother!"

"I learned a new ninjutsu yesterday!"

"How about that? Aren't I amazing!"

"..."

Naruto ate while mumbling incoherently.

He frantically searched for topics, speaking at an extremely fast pace.

It seemed that as long as he kept talking, the meal would never end.

"Naruto, you've grown up."

Kushina reached out and ruffled Naruto's golden spiky hair.

Naruto abruptly stopped eating his noodles.

He lowered his head, his shoulders twitching slightly.

pat.

A tear fell into the noodle soup, creating a ripple.

"Mother……"

Naruto put down his chopsticks and turned to look at Kushina.

"Are you really leaving tomorrow?"

Kushina forced back the stinging pain in her nose.

She casually flicked Naruto's forehead.

"You brat."

"How can a boy cry so easily!"

"Mom can see you grow up safely in the Pure Land, and make so many good friends like Sasuke and Sakura."

"Mom is already very content."

She pulled Naruto into her arms.

Listen.

"You should eat properly from now on and not be a picky eater."

"Take a shower on time every day and make sure your body is clean."

"Also, don't always eat ramen; eat more vegetables."

Naruto nodded frantically in her arms, his tears soaking Kushina's clothes.

"Mother……"

"I will... I will be obedient..."

Kushina closed her eyes, concealing the deep reluctance within them.

She silently recited it in her heart.

"Watergate".

"Our son is really strong."

……

Hatake's residence.

In the spacious courtyard.

Two white blades flashed and crossed like lightning.

Sparks flew everywhere, and the clang of metal against metal was deafening.

Sakumo Hatake wielded a white dagger, his movements bold and unrestrained, fierce and incomparable.

He held nothing back, each move aimed straight for the vital points.

Kakashi's right eye was tightly closed, while his left Sharingan was spinning wildly.

He also held a short knife in his hand, the blade crackling with lightning.

but.

From beginning to end.

Kakashi was forced to retreat repeatedly by Sakumo Hatake.

"Too slow!"

"Kakashi!"

Sakumo Hatake shouted loudly.

The short sword was aimed directly at Kakashi's throat at a tricky angle.

Kakashi's breathing became more labored.

He gripped the knife in a reverse grip and narrowly parried the fatal blow.

The father and son clashed without much verbal communication.

Sakumo Hatake used the last moments of his life to etch the essence of the Hatake clan's swordsmanship into Kakashi's muscle memory.

when!

A crisp sound.

Kakashi's short sword was knocked away and stuck diagonally in the soil some distance away.

Sakumo Hatake's sword tip stopped in front of Kakashi's nose.

The courtyard fell silent.

Only Kakashi's heavy breathing could be heard.

Sakumo Hatake sheathed his sword.

He stepped forward and patted Kakashi on the shoulder forcefully.

"Kakashi."

"You are now the highest-ranking officer in the Empire's Dark Guard."

"Your job is to deal with the darkest corners of the empire and bear the sins that are unimaginable to ordinary people."

"But you must remember."

"No matter how deep the darkness you are in, your heart must always be turned toward the light."

"Do not repeat my mistakes, and do not let darkness consume you."

Kakashi knelt on one knee.

He lowered his head, tears streaming down his face and falling onto the bluestone slab.

"Father...I understand."

……

Uchiha Shrine.

The main hall was brightly lit.

Uchiha Kagami sat upright in the main seat.

Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui knelt respectfully below.

Looking at these two younger people.

A hint of relief flashed in Uchiha Kagami's eyes.

"Lord Chiba, you are truly an incredible genius."

"The Mangekyou Sharingan's centuries-old curse of blindness was completely broken by Orochimaru using Wood Release cells."

"This is an immense stroke of luck for the Uchiha clan."

Fugaku Uchiha lowered his head deeply, his face full of shame.

"Kagami-senpai."

"We were once blinded by suppression from higher-ups and almost went down the path of rebellion."

"If it weren't for Lord Chiba..."

Uchiha Kagami raised his hand, interrupting Fugaku's confession.

"Let's not dwell on the past."

"Since we are living in this new empire, there must be new rules."

"From this day forward, the Uchiha clan must abandon that laughable arrogance!"

"We are no longer Konoha's police force; we are the sharpest sword in Lord Chiba's hand!"

"It is also the strongest shield protecting the empire!"

"..."

Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha trembled.

They all bent down in unison, their foreheads touching the tatami mat.

"I will heed the teachings of my predecessors!"

"The Uchiha clan is willing to go through fire and water for the empire!"

……

Inside the Hyuga main family mansion.

The atmosphere here is terrifyingly serious.

Several ancient Hyuga ancestors resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation technique surrounded Hyuga Hiashi.

One of the elderly men, whose forehead was covered in wrinkles, was looking through a research report that Orochimaru had sent him.

"Incredible..."

"That's incredible."

"Our Byakugan actually has the potential to evolve!"

"The ideas that Lord Chiba has provided are simply unheard of!"

Hiashi Hyuga stood to the side, sweating profusely, nodding repeatedly.

"Yes."

"Lord Chiba said so."

"The Empire will fully support the Hyuga clan's Byakugan evolution research!"

"..."

The old man put down the report.

He looked at Hyuga Hizashi beside him.

Or.

He was looking at the Caged Bird Seal on Hyuga Hizashi's head.

"Nizu."

"This... is used to protect the caged bird with white eyes..."

"The empire is now unified, and no foreign enemy will covet our eyes anymore."

"These outdated rules and regulations..."

"If necessary, abolish it completely!"

Upon hearing this...

Hiashi Hyuga's heart pounded.

Abolishing the caged bird is tantamount to abolishing the main family's branch family.

This is a momentous event that overturns the ancestral rules of the Hyuga clan!

But Hiashi Hyuga quickly came to his senses.

He had this idea several years ago.

the reason is simple.

Chiba's overall structure is all-encompassing.

But he would never tolerate a family that sows internal divisions and oppresses its members appearing at the heart of the empire.

If the Hyuga clan wants to survive, they must abolish the Caged Bird Seal!

"yes!"

"I will implement it as soon as possible!"

"..."

……

The next morning.

Inside Orochimaru's laboratory.

All the spirits resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation have now assembled.

Chiba stood in front of the large screen.

He was wearing a custom-made black trench coat and had a tall, straight figure.

Orochimaru stood beside Chiba.

His gaze swept over the dead, his eyes filled with fervor and reluctance.

These are all invaluable and excellent experimental subjects!

Each body holds the most important secrets of the ninja world.

Releasing it back to the Pure Land like this is simply a waste of its resources!

But in front of Chiba.

Orochimaru didn't dare utter even a single "no".

"Chiba!"

"Well done!"

"I have complete confidence in entrusting the ninja world to you!"

"We're down here, waiting to see you create a truly harmonious world!"

Hashirama Senju strode forward.

He reached out his large hand and patted Chiba heavily on the shoulder.

"Don't forget, your surname is Senju."

"No matter how far the empire develops, the bloodline of the Senju clan must continue!"

"Those thousand-handed descendants in the capital..."

"Select the most talented children and rebuild the Thousand Hands Clan."

"No matter how flourishing the empire may be, its roots must remain firmly planted in the Senju family!"

Tobirama Senju shoved his older brother aside.

He walked up to Chiba and gave him earnest instructions.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"This matter has already been put on the agenda."

Chiba nodded.

In fact.

He had already sent his secret service to handle this matter.

However, the descendants of the Thousand Hands have varying levels of talent, so it will take some time to develop them.

Chiba gave his assurance.

A look of satisfaction finally appeared on Tobirama Senju's face.

the other side.

Sakumo Hatake, Kagami Uchiha, and others also bowed to Chiba in greeting.

They are paying homage to the supreme ruler of the empire.

Chiba accepted it calmly.

He raised his right hand and waved it gently in mid-air.

Orochimaru.

"Let's get started."

Orochimaru sighed reluctantly.

His hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals, afterimages flashing across his chest.

Finally, put your hands together in prayer position.

"Impure World Reincarnation - Release!"

hum!

A blinding white light shone in the laboratory.

The dust covering everyone was peeling off at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The ascension of the soul has begun.

Outside the laboratory door.

The relatives who had been waiting for a long time let out suppressed sobs.

"Mother--"

Naruto broke through the Anbu's obstruction, clung to the glass of the door, his face covered in tears and snot.

Kushina's body has become semi-transparent.

She turned her head and looked at Naruto outside the door.

There were no tears in her eyes, only the most radiant smile.

She waved vigorously at Naruto, her lips moving silently.

"Live well, Naruto."