Reviving the Uchiha Clan!

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to enroll at the Ninja Academy." Uchiha Fugaku—no, my father. My father spoke to me.

"..." Another bombshell hit, and my mind went completely blank. I could only give a passive response.

Everything had changed too quickly. I still couldn't accept it.

Lord Fugaku and I walked side by side along the main road through the Uchiha clan grounds. Clan members passed us from time to time, bowing respectfully.

"Lord Clan Head, young master Akatsuki."

"Good day, Lord Clan Head. Good day, eldest young master Akatsuki."

"My lord... young master... congratulations..."

The greetings and praise never stopped along the way. Some congratulated Lord Fugaku on having an eldest son, while others congratulated me on rising from an unknown street urchin to the eldest young master of the Uchiha Clan.

Many of them were envious, too.

With that intimidating presence beside me, I managed to keep a smile on my face at first. By the end, my expression had gone completely stiff.

At that moment, I understood Uchiha Itachi.

Damn! He must have gotten those smile lines from grinning so much!

"You've been in meetings for a long time. You must be tired." Fugaku patted my shoulder. The force was so heavy that I trembled and coughed twice.

He meant the clan assembly that had just ended—the one where they'd announced that I was the Uchiha Clan Head's eldest son.

"Go home and visit her tonight. From now on, you'll have to spend less time with her."

"What?"

Once I understood what he meant, my expression froze completely.

My home was nothing like the Clan Head Mansion.

When I came back here, I could rush excitedly into the courtyard, shout for Mom as I took off my tight wraps and ninja sandals, and toss them wherever I pleased.

Because my mother would clean up after me.

I could walk straight into the kitchen, scoop up some fragrant hot soup without a care for manners, and grab food right off the table.

Because my mother always had a meal ready for me.

Once I was full, I could lie down on the wooden floor and completely relax, falling into a sound sleep without a care in the world.

Because my mother was quiet and never disturbed my rest.

My mother was willing to let me impose on her, and I was happy to impose on her. Here, I would always be a child.

This was what home meant.

But today was different.

I pushed open the door, weighed down by my thoughts. My mother was just as I'd left her, sitting in a chair and working on some simple handicrafts.

Strands of hair fell over her profile. Everything was bathed in the glow of dusk, as lovely as a scene from the past.

Hearing the noise at the door, she turned toward me, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to make me out.

When I'd been a babbling toddler, she'd rushed over and swept me into her arms. This time, I was the one who ran to her and hugged her tightly.

I sank into her embrace, breathing in that comforting scent as I burrowed into her warmth. The fatigue I'd accumulated on the way eased away.

No matter what anyone said, she alone was my mother in this world.

After we'd had our emotional reunion, we talked long into the night. My mother's perspective went far beyond my own.

"Akatsuki, you were born to be a ninja. You have your own path to follow."

Mother held my hand.

"I can't help you, but the Clan Head can."

I said nothing.

I knew she was telling the truth, but I couldn't deny what I felt. I didn't want to go to some unfamiliar family, meet a strange father and mother, and maintain a fake relationship with them, whether they wanted to use me or we were using each other.

Ever since I was born, I'd worked hard for my mother. But now, I was drifting farther and farther away from her.

This wasn't what I wanted.

"Mom, I don't want to go." In that moment, I wasn't an adult. I was a child, a spoiled child pleading with his mother.

"I don't want to go. I want to stay with you."

She wiped away her tears and drew me into her arms, pressing her forehead against mine.

"You can still come visit me after you move in with the Clan Head."

"Just go. Stay by Lord Fugaku's side, and your path will only grow wider."

A parent's love for their child meant planning far into the future.

I buried my face in my mother's embrace, my eyes blurred with tears.

I hadn't understood that saying before, but now I thought I understood it a little.

By the dim candlelight, Mother spread out my scarf and began to mend it. The black scarf was ragged and worn. It had shared plenty of hardships with me over the past six months.

"Mom, the Clan Head gave me a new name. He calls me Akatsuki now," I said.

"Akatsuki...?" Mother froze for a moment. After a pause, she managed a smile. "That's a lovely name, Akatsuki. It sounds so impressive."

"What's impressive about it? It sounds like a monster's name..."

I'd read the saying "A red moon is ill-omened, and evil spirits are sure to appear" in books in both my previous life and this one.

Hearing that, Mother turned away without saying a word.

When she turned back, she had finished mending my scarf.

"Akatsuki... you'll be moving to the Clan Head Mansion tomorrow. Listen to Mom, all right?"

She knew I always listened to her.

The next morning, while it was still dark, I sat on the porch putting on my shoes. Uchiha Fugaku had already appeared at the door.

Mother took my hand and led me outside. She bowed respectfully to the Clan Head, then turned to me and bowed again. Something struck me in the heart. I pulled my hand out of Fugaku's and took a single step forward, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me.

Mother gave me a long look, then turned away without hesitation and walked along the stone path I'd run down countless times. I watched her pass through the covered walkway, growing farther and blurrier until the door closed and I couldn't see her anymore.

"Come on, Akatsuki." Fugaku started walking, leading me away by the hand. He wore formal ninja attire today, and looked dignified and imposing.

"I want to talk to you about enrolling and graduating early."

What the hell? My sorrow vanished in an instant, replaced by shock.

Damn it! I hadn't even started school, and we were already talking about graduating early? Did he think I was some kind of immortal?!

I shook my head, trying to clear away the muddle in my thoughts, and listened carefully to my father's lecture.

Along the way, Fugaku told me about many things: the wars between Konoha and the surrounding ninja villages, the village's structure, the clan's current affairs, and the long-standing conflicts of interest and personal grievances between the Uchiha Clan and the Konoha High Command.

My head spun as my heart raced. I'd suddenly come face-to-face with a whole new ninja world. I realized how ignorant I was. I knew nothing about any of it.

Beneath Konoha's mighty tree, everything was intertwined at the roots. What lay hidden there was terrifying.

"The Konoha High Command has been suppressing and keeping the Uchiha Clan in check for a long time. Akatsuki, you're a genius of the Uchiha Clan, and my eldest son. It's your responsibility to shoulder the great task of reviving the Uchiha Clan!"

Here it came! I knew this position wouldn't be easy to handle!

The greater the power, the greater the responsibility!

"You must graduate early as the Uchiha Clan's eldest son. Once you grow strong as quickly as possible, you'll be able to deter those coveting our clan. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" My mind was still reeling. After a moment, I replied solemnly, "I'll definitely do it, Father."

"I won't bring shame to the Uchiha name!"

This was like being in elementary school and already having to prepare for the college entrance exam! Did it have to be this intense?!

I couldn't remember the details of Konoha's recent history, but in general, the great nations were constantly at war, while the smaller villages launched endless raids. Everyone was short on manpower. The children at the Ninja Academy were all clamoring to graduate early. Geniuses like Hatake Kakashi were even graduating at the age of five, turning into war machines.

Monsters!

My fingers tightened. Fugaku thought I was nervous and frowned. "With your abilities, graduating early shouldn't be difficult, right?"

After becoming my father in name, Fugaku's tone hadn't changed at all. He was as cold as he'd been when treating subordinates—no, more like slaves.

I rolled my eyes inwardly, nodded, and gave him another string of respectful replies and perfect assurances. Only then was he satisfied.

Fugaku, Fugaku. You really are my own father!

As we walked through Konoha, I saw a few adults leading their children to school at the Ninja Academy. The children beamed with smiles, while their parents' faces were full of affection.

I glanced up at my father in name. He always wore the same deadpan expression, and the pressure he gave off kept me from showing anything else on my face.

If this went on, I'd get smile lines too!

That wouldn't do!

I slowly relaxed my brows and facial muscles, trying to change the Uchiha Clan's premature aging problem by improving my appearance.

"In a year, there'll be a Genin exam. Once you pass, you'll become a ninja." Uchiha Fugaku really knew how to drop bombshells. His previous sentence had made me suck in a sharp breath; the next made my hair stand on end.

If I ended up with Sasuke's spiky hair, it would probably be his fault, too.

My brows knitted together again. I was full of complaints and had no way to let them out. I was practically giving myself internal injuries, yet I still had to keep saying, "I won't let the clan down!" and "I won't disappoint Father and Mother!"

Sigh.

After just one day as the Uchiha Clan's eldest young master, I was already exhausted in body and mind.

Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Itachi. You were the eldest son for thirteen years. I, Akatsuki, salute you as a true talent. When you massacred the clan, you finished Fugaku off with two strikes. You must really have had enough.

You were so young, yet you had to bear the responsibility and mission of reviving the entire clan. A pang of sympathy and sadness flickered through me, then instantly turned to anger and frustration.

Damn it! It was a shame he hadn't been born yet. That unlucky eldest son had become me instead!

Thinking of Uchiha Itachi sent my emotions swinging up and down.

The clan massacre had always been a shadow hanging over my heart.

No one wanted to die.

Besides, the story had already changed.

I'd actually inherited the position of eldest son, and it filled me with endless hope.

Maybe the Uchiha Clan's fate would be different in this life.

No—it would definitely change!