Integrating into the New Environment

"After all, Uchiha blood flowed through his veins too. Senior Fei Shi couldn't bear to see the Uchiha Clan wiped out like this."

Shisui chimed in as well.

"Is there anything we can do to help him? He saved us, so we can't just take without giving anything back."

After all, several hundred people were no small number, and they weren't shameless enough to do nothing.

Just then, Minato Namikaze spoke up:

"Don't worry, Clan Head Fugaku. We've already made all the arrangements. Explain what happened to your clansmen, and I'll have someone assign them work. Come with me and take a look around our base. That way, you'll have a better understanding of what we're doing."

Uchiha Fugaku didn't hesitate. With Shisui leading the way, he went to meet the remaining members of the Uchiha Clan.

After two hours of heated arguments, the remaining members of the Uchiha Clan accepted their fate and their new home.

The warmth of the civilians left them at a loss. They had never seen anything like it before.

Even the elders who had lived through the reigns of the First and Second Hokage had never witnessed a scene like this.

The First had treated the Uchiha Clan very well. Even after their clan head, Madara Uchiha, left Konoha and fought the First, that hadn't changed.

The Second Hokage had also placed plenty of trust in them. Their relationship with the civilians had been decent.

But they'd been treated differently when they arrived here. They'd never been welcomed by civilians like this before. Never.

Things had been all right after the Third Hokage took power, but after Kagami Uchiha died, the Third Hokage's attitude became ambiguous. Danzo and the other two elders' hostility had tarnished their reputation in Konoha.

Here, civilians and ninjas alike welcomed them enthusiastically. Everyone was saying, "Comrade, do you need a hand? Sir, let me help you. Friend, come this way. I'll take you to register and get your new home."

People helped carry their new furniture, bedding, and all kinds of household goods.

The older generation was moved to tears.

The middle-aged generation marveled that even the infamous Uchiha Clan could be welcomed. They planned to find their clan head and ask him more about the revolution he'd mentioned, so they could do their part.

The younger generation was even more moved.

When they were children, they hadn't known how dire their clan's situation was. By the time they grew up, the clan was already on the brink of disaster.

The warm atmosphere here lifted their spirits. Clan Head Fugaku had told them he wanted to lead the Uchiha Clan into the revolution.

What more was there to say? With an atmosphere like this and such warm, hospitable people, they were willing to follow them!

Seeing the various expressions on his clansmen's faces, Uchiha Fugaku smiled despite his usually stern expression.

Minato Namikaze divided the Uchiha Clan into several groups and stationed them throughout the base, where they would be responsible for security in their respective areas.

It was called a base, but in reality, it was a small town they had built themselves.

As for whether it was legal, one genjutsu could take care of that.

The town was thriving, covered about 1.5 square kilometers, and had a large population.

With the Uchiha Clan's arrival, they could set up police posts to handle routine patrols and security.

Of course, Minato Namikaze thoughtfully arranged several days of training for them, teaching those who would join the police force how to get along with people and why it was important to speak politely, among other things.

After completing their training, they could take up their assigned posts.

In their new surroundings, they studied earnestly and tried hard to set aside their pride, speaking to civilians and other ninjas as equals.

In less than a month, the Uchiha Clan understood what the revolution meant. Shunned by Konoha, they had found a home here and become part of this big family.

One day at work, the next out in the fields, learning farming from the civilians.

Since most members of the Uchiha Clan had fire, lightning, or water-natured chakra, irrigation had become much easier.

Ninjas had far more stamina than ordinary people, which made many tasks more efficient.

The ninjas were also full of enthusiasm. In their village, no matter how much they contributed, it was taken for granted, and they received little in return.

Here, things were different. Their contributions were met with sincere appreciation. The people's gratitude, the leadership's praise, and their compensation left them thoroughly satisfied.

"Clan Head, I need to talk to you."

As Uchiha Fugaku was discussing plans for the Uchiha Clan's future with the old and new elders, a young Uchiha entered.

"Oh, Shingetsu. What is it?"

The young man, Uchiha Shingetsu, was also a prodigy of the Uchiha Clan. Though he wasn't as talented as Shisui or Itachi, he was well-known among the younger generation.

"Clan Head, these past few days, we young people have discussed what Itachi did. We've learned that he's part of the revolution and understand why he did it. We still can't accept the killing of our own clansmen. We've heard he's carrying out extremely dangerous missions for the revolution, and that they're crucial. Though we can't accept what he did, we still hope he makes it back safely. When the revolution succeeds, I'll forgive him for his actions. I hope he returns safely and apologizes to the remaining members of the Uchiha Clan in person. That's how all of us young Uchiha feel."

Fugaku hadn't expected him to say something like that. Those words expressed the feelings of every young member of the Uchiha Clan.

For a moment, Fugaku didn't know what to say. Tears streamed down his face.

"Thank you. Thank you for giving Itachi a chance."

His son had killed his fellow clansmen. That was a pain Fugaku could never forget.

Although the clansmen had chosen him as their leader again, he was himself, and Itachi was Itachi. Itachi would still have to face the consequences one day. Though Fugaku was the clan head, there was nothing he could do about this.

He hadn't expected the younger generation to be willing to give his son a chance. He didn't know how to thank them.

If they refused to forgive him, would Itachi have to pay with his life? Would he be barred from returning to the clan forever, rejected by them? Or, even if he did come back, would he be unable to hold his head up around his fellow clansmen?

"Clan Head, we've thought about it too. We're willing to give Itachi a chance, just like the younger generation. I think if the Uchiha Clan staged a rebellion, Fei Shi wouldn't side with us. He'd help Konoha instead, since Lady Tsunade is the person closest to him. If that happened, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't just be wiped out; we'd be branded with shame and remembered as traitors for generations before vanishing into the tide of history. Heh, what he did actually saved the entire clan, even if it would make every clansman resent him... I'm still willing to give him a chance, just like the young people said."

"That's right, Clan Head."

"Ahem, Fugaku, you don't need to blame yourself so much. I've been through war; I can understand why he did it."

"Exactly. I heard it's a long-term undercover mission. Let him finish it and make a great contribution to the revolution."

"Thud!"

Fugaku bowed until his head struck the floor.

"Thank you! Thank you, everyone! I'll find a way to pass this on to him."