What My Brother Couldn't Finish, Leave It to Me!

After digesting the intelligence Uchiha Fugaku had provided, Namikaze Mirai let out a breath, her eyes flickering slightly.

Mangekyo Sharingan?

There was actually a higher-level Sharingan.

She had never watched Naruto.

She only knew it was a very popular Japanese anime.

The occasional memes she had glimpsed on social media—"Eye Legend: Five Villages Brawl," "Gundams Fighting Aliens," "Black Zetsu Saves His Mother," and the like—were the extent of her knowledge of Naruto.

Could Eye Legend be referring to these eyes? My Gundam theory probably wasn't off, right?

And what the hell was saving his mother supposed to mean?

Could there even be some kind of explicit incest plot???

Namikaze Mirai's thoughts wandered for a moment.

Uchiha Fugaku watched Namikaze Mirai's expression and saw the gravity on her face gradually ease. Only then did the tightly wound knot in his heart loosen.

If possible, he absolutely did not want to make an enemy of Namikaze Mirai.

She was a terrifying woman.

Far more troublesome than the Fourth Hokage.

Most importantly, she no longer had any attachments.

Naruto was her only remaining family.

At a time like this, provoking this lone wolf would be incredibly foolish. "I more or less understand the situation."

Namikaze Mirai's sudden voice made Fugaku's heart leap again after it had just relaxed.

"The Uchiha had nothing to do with that night."

Namikaze Mirai narrowed her eyes.

Combining the intelligence she currently possessed with what Uchiha Fugaku had just told her, she had roughly formed a profile of the culprit.

Their identity was concealed, they lurked in the shadows, they possessed a Mangekyo Sharingan, and they very likely had a Space-Time Dojutsu.

Combined with the Wood Style traces found that night, it was not impossible that they also possessed Wood Style.

The reason she was certain the culprit's dojutsu was Space-Time in nature was because she understood Minato.

Only Space-Time could defeat Space-Time.

Those were Minato's exact words.

Her talent for Space-Time had always been lacking. Even with Minato's instruction, mastering the Flying Thunder God had been extraordinarily difficult.

However, she had also made tremendous gains during those three missing years.

Perhaps she could give it a try.

After dismissing the thoughts in her mind, Namikaze Mirai looked into Fugaku's eyes and spoke calmly.

"Now, it's time to discuss serious business."

Serious business?

Fugaku frowned, unable to understand what Namikaze Mirai meant.

As though she had not noticed his change, she looked wistful, as if recalling something.

"Ever since I returned to the village and learned what my brother and sister-in-law went through, I have had one thought: drive Sarutobi Hiruzen and his group out of the Hokage's seat."

"However, I cannot accomplish that goal alone. I need your strength."

The long conversation had left Uchiha Fugaku somewhat parched. He moistened his dry lips, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

It was not just him. Uchiha Setsuna, Inabi, and the others around them began breathing more rapidly, crimson appearing in their eyes.

Madness!

This was utter madness!

That was the only word they could use to describe Namikaze Mirai. Her words were nothing less than a declaration of war against all of Konoha's upper ranks!

"As far as I know, the Uchiha's situation is not good. So this is also an opportunity for you: stand behind me, or continue being those people's lapdogs."

Namikaze Mirai smiled, but that smile sent chills down everyone's spines.

A trace of tremor entered Fugaku's voice.

"May I know why?"

In his memories, Namikaze Mirai had never been someone who craved power.

Otherwise, after the Third Great Ninja War, she would have been an even stronger candidate than Minato to contend for the Hokage position.

But she had given it up.

She had willingly remained behind the scenes and silently assisted Minato.

Why?

Namikaze Mirai turned her head and looked out the window. From this position, she could see three-year-old Naruto playing with Sasuke, his smile bright.

"For that child. Is that reason enough?"

That child?

Fugaku followed Namikaze Mirai's gaze.

The Fourth Hokage's orphaned son? Although Sarutobi Hiruzen had tried his best to conceal Naruto's identity, as the Uchiha clan head, Fugaku naturally knew the connection.

"I keep thinking... if I had returned a few years later, if I had never returned, what kind of life would Naruto have lived? Would he have spent his entire life suffering under others' bullying..."

Namikaze Mirai closed her eyes and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with cold air.

"Whenever I think of it, anger rises in my heart."

"That child is the only thing my foolish brother left behind in this world. For his sake, is that reason enough?"

She opened her eyes. Faint arcs of lightning danced within those azure pupils, and the coldness in her gaze made Fugaku shudder.

He knew that this beast was truly enraged.

The consequences would be very serious.

"My foolish brother had some talent, but he was not ruthless or decisive enough. I tried my best to warn him, but still..."

"His death was far from as simple as it appeared. It was filled with strangeness and conspiracy."

"If I had not returned, then so be it. But since I have returned, there are some matters that absolutely cannot be let go."

"What my brother couldn't finish, leave it to me!"

"The Hokage's seat is mine, Namikaze Mirai!"

The hall fell completely silent.

Namikaze Mirai's final words were like a heavy hammer crashing down, echoing throughout the entire hall.

Uchiha Fugaku, Inabi, and the others all fell silent.

Amid the deathly stillness, a hearty laugh broke the silence.

"Namikaze Mirai? I, Uchiha Setsuna, acknowledge someone with that kind of spirit!"

Leaning on his cane, Uchiha Setsuna laughed happily. How long had it been since his blood had boiled like this?

Ever since Madara had left the village, the blood and pride in his body seemed to have fallen silent with him.

At last, Namikaze Mirai's words made the blood throughout his body boil. It was as though he had returned to his youth, to those glorious years when he followed Uchiha Madara!

For an instant, Namikaze Mirai's golden-haired face even overlapped with Uchiha Madara's.

Setsuna felt that he had grasped the future!

"Fugaku, how much longer are you going to hesitate? Could it be that all the fire in your blood has truly been worn away?"

Seeing Fugaku hesitate, Uchiha Setsuna slammed his cane down and spoke unwillingly.

When would this clan head finally grow a backbone?

Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath and closed his eyes, as though hesitating and struggling...

At last, he opened them and sighed.

"As long as it does not endanger the clan, I can stand with you."

Namikaze Mirai smiled faintly.

"As you wish."

She turned around, leaving the silent group behind as she pushed open the door and departed.

Outside, Naruto was playing with Sasuke. When he saw Mirai emerge, he excitedly ran over.

"Uncle, did you finish talking?"

Namikaze Mirai took his hand and led him outside.

Under the sunlight, their shadows stretched long.

"Uncle, you seem really happy."

Naruto looked up at his smiling uncle.

He did not know why Uncle was so happy, but if Uncle was happy, then he was happy too.

"Of course Uncle is happy!"

Namikaze Mirai smiled brilliantly.

Because Uncle was going to become Hokage!