Reviving the Uchiha!

"Tomorrow, I will send you to the Ninja Academy to register." Uchiha Fugaku—no, my father. My father said this to me.

"..." Another bombshell hit, leaving my brain a tangled mess, and I could only offer a passive nod of agreement.

The shift in identity had happened too fast; I still couldn't process it.

Lord Fugaku walked alongside me down the main road within the Uchiha compound, and from time to time, clansmen would walk by and bow respectfully.

"Lord Clan Head, Young Master Akatsuki."

"Greetings, Lord Clan Head, greetings, Young Master Akatsuki."

"My Lord... Young Master... congratulations... best wishes..."

Along the way, these greetings and praises never ceased. Some were congratulating Lord Fugaku on officially naming his eldest son, while others were congratulating me on my promotion from an obscure wild child to the eldest son of the Uchiha clan head.

Among the congratulations, there was no shortage of envy.

Because of the pressure of his presence beside me, I managed to keep a smile on my face at the start. By the end, however, my face had gone completely stiff, devoid of any expression.

In that moment, I understood Uchiha Itachi.

Damn it! Those nasolabial folds of his must have been smiled into existence!

"You must be tired after such a long meeting." Fugaku patted my shoulder, the force so heavy it made me shudder and cough twice.

He was referring to the clan meeting just now, the one that announced my status as the eldest son of the Uchiha clan.

"Go home tonight and take a look. From now on, you should see less of her."

"What?"

After understanding what he meant, my expression froze completely.

My home was different from the clan head's mansion.

Returning here, I could excitedly rush into the courtyard, shouting for Mother while kicking off my tight bandages and ninja shoes, tossing them wherever I pleased.

Because Mother would always tidy them up for me.

I could walk straight into the kitchen, ignoring all manners to scoop up fragrant, hot soup to drink, or grab food right off the table to eat.

Because Mother would always have a meal kept warm for me.

Once full, I could lie down on the wooden floor at will, relaxing completely, and fall into a sound, unguarded sleep.

Because Mother was quiet and never disturbed my rest.

Mother was willing to be bothered by me, and I was willing to bother Mother; here, I would always be a child.

This was what a home was.

But today was different.

I pushed open the door, heavy with my thoughts. Mother was just as I had left her, sitting in a chair, working on some simple handicrafts.

Her hair hung down, obscuring her profile, and everything was bathed in the glow of twilight, as beautiful as a scene from the past.

Hearing the movement at the door, she turned her head, eyes squinting slightly as she tried to recognize me.

Unlike when I was just learning to babble and she would fly over to embrace me, this time, I was the one who rushed forward first to hold her tightly.

I buried myself in her arms, inhaling that scent of comfort, burrowing into the warmth. The exhaustion from the day's journey was finally eased.

No matter what others said, the mother I had in this world could only be her.

After the emotional outpouring, we talked deep into the night; Mother's perspective was far beyond my own.

"Akatsuki, you are a natural-born ninja. You have your own path to walk."

Mother held my hands.

"I cannot help you, but the Clan Head can."

I remained silent.

I knew she was speaking the truth, but the feelings in my heart could not deceive me. I did not want to go to a strange family, to meet a strange father and mother, to maintain fake affections with them, or to be used by them, or to use each other.

From the moment I was born until now, all my efforts had been for Mother, but now, I was drifting further and further away from her.

This was not what I wanted to see.

"Mom, I don't want to go." At this moment, I was not an adult; I had become a child, a willful child acting spoiled toward his mother.

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

She wiped away her tears, pulled me into her arms with a pained heart, and pressed her forehead against mine.

"Going to the Clan Head's house doesn't mean you can't come back to see me."

"Just go. Follow Lord Fugaku, and your path ahead will only grow wider."

Parents love their children, and for them, they plan for the long term.

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

I didn't understand this saying before, but now, I seem to grasp a little of its meaning.

Under the dim candlelight, Mother unfolded my scarf and began to mend it. The black scarf was tattered and torn, having endured as much hardship as I had over the past half-year.

"Mother, the Clan Head has changed my name to Akatsuki," I said.

"Aka...tsuki?" Mother froze for a moment. After a short pause, she forced a smile. "That's very good. Akatsuki, it's a very imposing name."

"Imposing? It sounds like the name of a monster..."

A red moon is an omen of misfortune, a harbinger of vengeful spirits. Whether in my past life or this one, I had read that in books.

Hearing this, Mother turned her back to me and said nothing.

When she turned back around, the scarf had already been mended.

"Tsuki... Akatsuki, move into the Clan Head's estate tomorrow. Listen to Mother, will you?"

She knew that I had always been obedient to her.

The next morning, before the sky had even brightened, I was sitting on the porch putting on my shoes when Uchiha Fugaku appeared at the door.

Mother took my hand and walked out, bowing respectfully to the Clan Head before looking at me and bowing once more. Something struck my heart; I pulled my hand away from Fugaku's, took only a small step forward, and was immediately grabbed by the arm and brought to a halt.

Mother looked at me deeply, then turned away without a hint of lingering attachment, walking down the stone path I had run along countless times. I watched her back cross the corridor, growing smaller and more blurred until the door closed and she was lost to sight.

"Let's go, Akatsuki." Fugaku began to walk, pulling me along. He was dressed in formal ninja attire today, looking imposing and filled with authority.

"I need to discuss your enrollment and early graduation with you."

What the hell? My sorrow was instantly washed away by shock.

Damn it! I haven't even started school yet, and we're already talking about early graduation? Do you really think I'm some kind of prodigy?

I shook my head to clear the fog of confusion and listened intently to my father's lecture.

Along the way, Fugaku told me many things, including the wars between Konoha and the surrounding ninja villages, the structure of the village, the dynamics within the clan, and the long-standing entanglements of interests and grievances between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership.

My head spun and my heart raced. I had suddenly come into contact with a different ninja world. I realized how shallow I truly was; I knew nothing and understood nothing of all this.

So, beneath the great tree of Konoha, everything was intertwined, and the things hidden in the roots were truly terrifying.

"The suppression and wariness of our clan by the Konoha leadership have existed for a long time. Akatsuki, you are a genius of the Uchiha clan, and furthermore, my eldest son. You have a responsibility to shoulder the great cause of reviving the Uchiha clan!"

Here it starts, here it starts; I knew this position wouldn't be easy to hold!

With great power comes great responsibility, indeed!

"You must graduate early as the eldest son of the Uchiha to grow up as quickly as possible; only then can you deter those who covet our clan. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" My mind felt numb, and it took a moment before I replied with solemn words: "I will certainly do it, Father."

"I will never fail the name of Uchiha!"

This feeling—it's like just starting elementary school and already having to prepare for the college entrance exams! Do you have to play it like this?

I can no longer remember the history of Konoha from these recent years, but generally speaking, it was a time of endless wars between great nations and constant incursions by small villages; everyone was short on manpower. Children at the Ninja Academy were scrambling to graduate early. Geniuses like Hatake Kakashi were war machines who graduated from the academy at the age of only five.

Monsters!

My fingers tightened involuntarily. Fugaku, thinking I was nervous, frowned and said, "With your ability, early graduation shouldn't be a difficult task, right?"

After becoming my father in name, Fugaku's tone remained unchanged from before—cold, as if treating a subordinate... no, more like a slave.

I rolled my eyes in my heart while nodding on the surface, offering another string of respectful replies and perfect assurances, which finally satisfied him.

Fugaku, oh Fugaku, you really are my "dear" father!

Walking through Konoha, I saw adults leading their children to the academy. The children's faces were bright with smiles, and the adults' faces were full of affection.

I looked up at my father in name, who always wore a deadpan expression, suppressing me so much that I didn't dare show any other emotion.

If this keeps up, I'm going to develop frown lines!

That won't do!

I slowly relaxed my brow and facial muscles, attempting to change the Uchiha clan's fate of premature aging starting with my appearance.

"In one year, there will be a genin exam. Once you pass, you will become a ninja." Uchiha Fugaku truly never failed to shock me; the previous sentence made me gasp, and this one made my hair stand on end.

If I end up with Sasuke's spiky hair, it'll likely be his fault.

My eyebrows knit together again, and my belly was full of complaints I couldn't vent, leaving me feeling like I was suffering internal injuries. Yet, I still had to keep saying, "I will not fail the clan's expectations!" and "I will not let Father and Mother down!"

Sigh.

I've only been the eldest son of the Uchiha for one day, and I'm already physically and mentally exhausted.

Uchiha Itachi, oh Uchiha Itachi, you served as the eldest son for thirteen years; I, Akatsuki, respect you as a talent. Thinking back to when you wiped out the clan and finished off Fugaku in two strikes, you must have truly reached your limit.

At such a tender age, he already bears the responsibility and mission of revitalizing the entire clan. The bitterness and sympathy in my heart flashed for a moment, instantly transforming into anger and frustration.

Damn it all, it's a pity he hasn't been born yet, and this unlucky eldest son has become me!

Thinking of Uchiha Itachi, my mood fluctuated wildly.

The annihilation of the clan has always been a shadow hanging over my heart.

No one wants to die.

What's more, the plot has already changed now.

The fact that I have obtained this position of the eldest son has ignited infinite hope within me.

Perhaps, the fate of the Uchiha clan in this lifetime might actually change?

No, it will definitely change!